We are so lucky in Cache Valley to live so close to a bunch of really cool places! One of my favorite things is to take a weekend trip, or three day weekend, to somewhere really fun that's a few hours away. It can be inexpensive, especially in the off season, and it's so great to explore outside of the valley. There are so many places I love going, but I've narrowed it down to a few for this blog post! Enjoy!
To see all of my blog posts about weekend trips, click here.
Jackson Hole, WY
We love Jackson! There is so much to do there. Hike and photograph Grand Teton National Park, camp on Palisades Lake, river raft in the Snake or Greys River, go to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, skiing at the resort, shopping around town in the cute little shops, and so much more! It's a great place to be outdoorsy, but not go off the grid so you will feel like you are on vacation. Logan - Jackson/Star Valley about 3 hours drive time, depending on where in the area you go. In the winter, you can drive through the park and ski in Jackson Hole. $30 park entrance fee, or $80 annual pass to all National Parks. See my most recent blog post about the area here. Click here for a guide to Grand Teton National Park.
Utah's National Parks
Utah has five national parks and they are all not too far from Cache Valley! Only two other states have more national parks than Utah, so it's pretty cool. My favorite is Bryce Canyon! Grab a National Parks Annual Pass and hit them all, one weekend at a time. Logan - Arches and Canyonlands, 5 hours. Logan - Bryce Canyon, 5 hours. Logan - Capitol Reef, 4 hours 45 mins. Logan - Zion, 5 hours 30 minutes. $30 park entrance fee per park, or $80 annual pass to all National Parks. See my blog post about all 5 parks ranked here.
City of Rocks, ID
City of Rocks is so cool! If you're into rock climbing, this is a great place. If not, it's super fun to hike, explore the rock fields, see pioneer signatures and trails, and camp. We love going here! It feels like a different planet. No city nearby, so bring lots of supplies. Logan - City of Rocks, 2 hours drive time. See my blog post about City of Rocks here.
Bear Lake, ID/UT
A classic close escape from CV! Have fun on the lake, getting raspberry shakes (or cookie dough m&m like me), rent a variety of lake toys, hike in the mountains, camp, glamp, and so much more. Visit the Raspberry Days celebration in the summer, or for less crowds head to the lake in early spring or late fall. Our favorite Bear Lake eats - Bear Trapper Restaurant, Cody's, Ephraim's, Bear Lake Pizza. Best Shakes - Ephraim's, Merlin's, Zipz, La Beau's. Logan - Bear Lake, 1 hour drive time. I recommend going to Bear Lake State Park Marina if you're visiting the Utah side, there are lots of cool things to do at the beach areas.
Kanarra Falls, UT
Kanarra Falls is another awesome Utah slot canyon hike! You must have a permit for this hike, and you'll be walking through a small river slot canyon up to a waterfall. It is so gorgeous! We loved doing this hike in May. The waterfall is gorgeous, and depending on the time of year, you may be able to go up to a second waterfall. Logan - Kanarraville, 5 hours drive time. I recommend wearing Chacos or other hiking water sandals. Get a permit here. See our Kanarra Falls hike here.
Dugway Geode Beds, UT
Such a cool place! Geodes naturally occur in this remote part of Utah and are free to dig and take home! Bring tools and a bucket and get yourself some really cool Utah crystals. Very remote, bring supplies. There is plenty of camping along the Pony Express Trail on the way there, which is also a cool thing to see! Keep an eye out for wild horses. Logan - Dugway Geode Beds, 4 hours drive time. See my blog post all about the geode beds here.
White Pine Lake, UT
Our favorite local backpacking trip! White Pine Lake is about a 5 mile hike from Tony Grove in Logan Canyon. We love backpacking up in the evening, camping overnight, and then backpacking back down the next day. It's 10 miles total. It's a very easy backpack, I've seen people bring their children up there, and we have brought Bridgette. You get to camp under the gorgeous Mt. Naomi Peak next to the lake. Keep in mind, this is a late summer activity as there is snow up on top until around July. Logan - Tony Grove, 45 minute drive time. Then 10 mile hike round trip. Click here to see one of our hikes to White Pine.
Wendover, NV (and the Salt Flats)
Wendover is fun whether you gamble or not. There are concerts, buffets, shops, and festivals going on in the summer! On the way out there, you'll get to see the Bonneville Salt Flats which are super cool and known worldwide. Hit the BBQ Shoot Out in the summer for the best BBQ in the west! We love staying at Montego Bay while we are there, and eating at their buffet. Logan - West Wendover, 4 hours drive time. See my most recent blog post about it here.
Boise, ID
Boise is such a fun place! The city has lots to do, and it's really close to lots of lakes, mountains, and outdoorsy places. I love biking on the Boise River Greenbelt through town along the river. Stopping at Twin Falls on the way there is also a must! There are so many cute restaurants and bars, and of course lots of shops in town. Logan - Boise, 4 hours 20 minutes drive time. See my most recent blog about it here.
West Yellowstone, MT
One of my favorite places ever. Not only is it an entrance to one of my two favorite National Parks, Yellowstone National Park, there is so much to do outside the park as well. Fish in one of the many rivers or lakes nearby, visit the rodeo in town, learn about local wildlife, see all the cool shops, eat at the Buffalo Bar, and enjoy nature! If you have time, here's my guide to Yellowstone. Logan - West Yellowstone, 4 hours drive time. $30 park entrance fee, or $80 annual pass to all National Parks.
Moab, UT
Moab is such a fun place. It's super unique, and there is so much to do! Camp in a nearby park or campground, or stay in a cute motel in town. Arches and Canyonlands are both in the Moab area, so definitely check out the national parks! Outside of the parks, there are plenty of trails and hikes including Corona Arch, the La Sal Mountains, and Castle Valley. We love spending time in Moab. Click here for things to do without an ATV, and here for our most recent trip to Moab.
Park City, UT
Park City is a classic weekend getaway for Utahns! There is so much to do from Olympic Park to Ski Resorts to the Alpine Slide. We love to go in the spring or fall, between popular seasons, to take advantage of super low rates at the resorts. Park Silly Sunday Market happens every Sunday in the summer, and there are lots of fun summer activities at the ski resorts including gorgeous gondola rides. Our favorite resorts are Westgate, Sundial, and Newpark. Logan - Park City, 2 hours drive time. Click here to see our most recent trip to Park City.
Antelope Island, UT
Antelope Island is so cool! Head out there in the spring or fall for the best weather and least amount of bugs. You'll drive across the causeway on the Great Salt Lake, and explore the island from there. There is an old ranch to visit, a cool visitor center, many beaches, and lots of fun hiking trails. We love the trail to the top of the mountain in spring. Plus, a great view of SLC in the distance! We took our wedding photos there! Logan - Antelope Island, 2 hours. $10 State Park entrance fee.
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