The Top of Utah has many great attractions.
HISTORIC BOX ELDER COUNTY
Your adventure begins with bird-watching at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, a 74,000 acre National Wildlife Refuge with a stunning brand new visitor’s center near Brigham City. You’ll see thousands of birds during every season including shorebirds, up to a half-million ducks and geese, over 30,000 tundra swans, northern harriers, rough-legged hawks, bald eagles, prairie falcons, and many more. Visit the Golden Spike National Historic Site where East met West in 1869 when the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads joined the nation with the driving of the Golden Spike. Get up close to steam locomotives and enjoy a reenactment of this legendary event. While you’re in town, don’t miss buffalo steaks and burgers or famous fried chicken at Maddox Ranch House and hand-dipped chocolates from Idle Isle Candies—both are decades-old traditions. Take a leisurely drive down Utah’s colorful Fruit Way. This two-mile stretch of historic Highway 89 meanders past more than 10 family-owned fruit farms where you can sink your teeth into a wide variety of the freshest fruits and vegetables of the season as you head through Sardine Canyon (Highway 89) to beautiful Cache Valley.
CACHE VALLEY’S HIDDEN TREASURES
Cache is pronounced “cash” and is a French word that means “to hide or store one’s treasure.” You’ll find plenty of hidden fortune in this high mountain agricultural valley known for outdoor adventures, hands-on heritage experiences, and performing and fine arts. Mountain biking, canoeing, fly fishing, bird watching, hiking, rock climbing, skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling are a few outdoors attractions. Stop in at the American West Heritage Center, a 160-acre living-history center where you can experience firsthand the history of the Old West. Depending on the day, you’ll visit with Native Americans, mountain men, farmers, and pioneers. They’ll keep you busy living life like they did through games, activities, crafts, and food, music, wagon rides, and more. For a true taste of the area you’ll enjoy the Cache Valley Food Tour where you can sample famous foods made in the area including cheeses, chocolates, coffee, cookies, honey, fruit, ice creams, and pastries. The city of Logan is home to Utah State University, a dozen art galleries and specialty shops, great examples of early Mormon pioneer architecture, and the stunning 1923 Ellen Eccles Theatre, home of the renowned Utah Festival Opera company and other nationally touring productions. Between Logan and Bear Lake you’ll drive through dramatic mile-high limestone cliffs along the Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway, a 45-minute road trip through forested canopies along the winding Logan River.
B E A R L A K E B E A U T Y
One glimpse of Bear Lake and you’ll know why it’s known as the Caribbean of the Rockies. Its intense turquoise water spans 20 miles long and 8 miles wide and you won’t find better boating, sailing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, or wakeboarding anywhere. Feel the rod-bending excitement of a Bear Lake cutthroat on the end of your line. Sail off into the sunset. Sip a famous fresh raspberry milkshake. Try horseback riding, hiking, and cycling. Perfect temperatures make for perfect days of golf at three challenging courses. During winter months you can’t beat the rush of snowmobiling on more than 300 miles of groomed trails in powder that’s ranked in the Top 10 best snowmobiling destinations in the country. Explore America’s past and discover the stories of the hearty souls who settled this area. Don’t miss M i n n e t o n k a Cave—a fascinating 9-room cave of stalactites, stalagmites, and banded travertine. The Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located on the north shore of Bear Lake. Idaho and Utah State Parks provide stunning scenery as a backdrop to beautiful Bear Lake.
