Tara Bone, contributing writer
To help you make the most of the summer sun while it lasts, the following lists are full of summer activities available in Cache Valley. An elaborate vacation far from home isn’t necessary to make summer memories. There are free and budget-friendly activities happening right here in our beautiful communities.
Remember, summer fun doesn’t always mean a “formal event” or camp. Sometimes slip-n-slides and water balloons do the trick, so, also included are favorite everyday summer pastimes shared by local parents. Hopefully, this will get your summer creative juices flowing.
Grab your sunglasses, rip these pages out to use as a guide, and soak in every last ray of sunshine before it slips away!
We want to hear from you! What are your favorite summer activities in Cache Valley? Post them on Instagram and tag @cachevalleyfamilymag.
Local Activities and Events
North Logan Cemetery Memorial Day Program —May 27, 11 a.m. to Noon at 2500 North 2000 East.
Free and open to public, the event includes a veteran speaker, bag pipe music, and refreshments.
Park Hopping — Pack a picnic and discover which Valley park is your family favorite, from Smithfield’s Mack park with horseshoe pits and biking spots to Hyrum’s Canyon Park, located 7 miles up Black Smith Fork Canyon with hiking trails along the way. Discover splash pads, volleyball courts, and Frisbee golf courses galore.
Summer Reading Program — Celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the moon landing with your local library, signup for “A Universe of Stories.” Some libraries feature children, teen, and even adult summer activities.
Hike — Get the AllTrails app or visit alltrails.com to explore the surrounding mountains.
Favorites:
- Wind Caves or Witch’s Castle in Logan Canyon
- One of the First Dam trails, at the mouth of Logan Canyon: Canyon Road, Highline, Bonneville Shoreline, Canyon Gateway, or Ray Hugie Hydro Park
- Mendon Peak Trail in Mendon
- Old Juniper Trail in Logan Canyon
Bike — Get the Trailforks app or visit trailforks.com for local mountain biking trails. Favorites from the folks at Joy Ride Bicycles in North Logan:
- River Trail through Logan Golf Course
- Lundstrom Park Path
- Green Canyon Trail
Geocaching — Find over 650 treasures hidden throughout Cache Valley. Register at geocaching.com.
Historic Exploring — Discover Cache Valley’s past; go to the Cache Valley Visitor’s Bureau to pick up a copy of the Historic Barns of Northern Utah: A Self-Guided Driving Tour.
Local Competitive Men’s Baseball Games — Community teams include Smithfield Blue Sox, Logan Royals, Providence Wolverines, and the Hyrum Hornets. Pick up schedules at city websites/offices.
Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art (NEHMA) — Free and open to public. Family art day is the second Saturday of each month from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Explore the Utah State campus with the NEHMA sculpture walk, checkout all 35 sculptures, and end with Aggie Ice Cream! artmuseum.usu.edu
Golden Spike National Historic Site — Located in Promontory, over an hour drive from Logan. The site is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the driving of the last spike of the Transcontinental Railroad. Activities throughout the season. nps.gov/gosp
USU’s Museum of Anthropology — Free family Saturday events 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. anthromuseum.usu.edu
Hyrum Museum — Free and interactive exhibits. Group tours available and free family movie nights at historic Elite Hall. hyrumcitymuseum.org
Zootah at Willow Park — Hours and info at willowparkzoo.wixite.com
American West Heritage Center — Take a picnic and enjoy pioneer-era experiences from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Summer camps: BB guns, shooting sports safety, farm life, archery, and tomahawks. Storytime: Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., pre-register by calling 435-245-6050.
Get an $80 annual family membership for center activities, including Baby Animal Days, the Pioneer Day festival, Fall Festival, and Cache Valley Mountain Man Rendezvous. awhc.org
Stokes Nature Center — Free and family-friendly, open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Checkout the Canyon Jam Concert Series, an eight-part concert series from June to September at Second Dam.
Summer camps: Youth fly fishing and hiking. logannature.org
Bear River Bird Refuge — Bring a bird guide and binoculars for this free adventure. fws.gov
Cherry Peak Resort — Redneck waterslide, mountain biking, Frisbee golf, and summer concert series. skicherrypeak.com
Little Bear Bottoms — Redneck waterslide: perfect for family reunions or youth group activities. Call Paul at 435-770-5231
Nibley Firefly Park — There are fireflies in Cache Valley! Visit the park grand opening in June. Some trails are open; near Nibley’s Heritage Park. nibleycity.com
Logan Tabernacle Summer Concert Series — Free live music open to the public every weekday at Noon during summer. See Tabernacle Facebook page or the Cache Valley Visitor’s Bureau for schedule.
Four Seasons Theatre Company’s Little Mermaid — Happening in June, this family-focused and budget-friendly production promises to be full of magic. fourseasonsthreatre.org
Community celebrations and parades all summer — See the 2019 parade and festival roundup on page 44 of this issue.
Water — Picnic, fish, swim, canoe, paddleboard, and boat.
Possible locations:
- First Dam, Second Dam, and Third Dam in Logan Canyon
- Bear Lake, Garden City
- Hyrum Lake State Park, Hyrum
- Porcupine Reservoir, near Avon
- Newton Reservoir, Newton
- Oneida Narrows, near Preston
- Cutler Wetlands, Benson
- The Logan Aquatic Center
- Riverdale Resort
- Downata Hot Springs
- Crystal Springs
- Lava Hot Springs
Everyday Summer Fun
- Star-gazing with pillows and blankets on the trampoline
- Backyard marshmallow roasts with ghost stories
- Nerf wars (with mom and dad)
- Bubbles — big, small, in a machine
- Kite flying
- Roller blading
- Sidewalk chalk (or trampoline) art — DIY homemade chalk
- Water games: Slip-n-slide, water guns, balloons, and shaving cream
- Dinner on the porch
- Homemade fruit popsicles/snow cones
- Paper airplane contests
- Picnics
- Duct tape arts and crafts
- Night games
- Origami
- Ice blocking
- Cardboard box forts
