Upper Logan Canyon from Google Street View

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• Flickr Photos

Description:
Logan Canyon is a canyon that cuts its way through the Bear River Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range, in northeastern Utah. The canyon stretches from Logan in Cache County as it rises to an elevation of approximately 7,800' starting with mixed oak woodland and pinyon-juniper woodland in the west, up to Aspen, and mid-elevation conifer and mixed aspen at Garden City in Rich County.  Just beyond the summit is a steep road leading into Bear Lake Valley and scenic overlooks that provide dramatic views of  Bear Lake.  The canyon has been designated a National Scenic Byway.  There are several popular birding destinations in the canyon including: Tony Grove, Beaver Mountain Ski Resort, First Dam, Franklin Basin Road.  There are more than a 20 locations in eBird to enter checklists while birding the canyon.

Birding:
Logan Canyon provide opportunities to bird various habitats along 30 some odd miles of road.  Lots of side roads, trails, pull offs, picnic areas, and campgrounds, as well as lakes, ponds, and streams.  The varying habitats give you a chance to see a wide variety of birds typical of the mountains in Utah.  There aren't a lot of notable sightings but the area is known for a few things.  The Tony Grove area has a breeding colony of PURPLE SWIFTS, while both BOREAL and GREAT GRAY OWL are believed to breed in the general area.  Notable sightings from the canyon include HARLEQUIN DUCK, WINTER WREN, and WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.  The best birding occurs in late spring and early summer through the fall.  Winter is not an ideal time to search for birds but if you want to look for Boreal Owl this is the best accessible location in Utah.

Directions:
From Main Street in Logan turn Right onto 400 North/Hwy 89.  Follow Hwy 89 east to the mouth of Logan Canyon.  From here the road goes 36 miles to Bear Lake.