My three week road trip around Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho started and ended in Salt Lake City. When I’m road tripping, I try to keep my distances between places under 4 hours so that I have time to stop and explore along the way. So for my first leg – between Salt Lake City, Utah and Alpine, Wyoming – I had time to take a hike, explore a few small towns, listen to a local music group, spend a little time at a beach, and stretch my legs at some roadside vistas.

During the summer months, the best time to hike is the morning, so I started my day hiking the Wind Caves trail just north of Logan, UT. The 4 mile out and back hike winds up a mountain in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National forest to a unique set of arched rock formations. Because these outcroppings have holes at the top and sides, the wind is able to flow through the spaces. The holes also allow for sun to filter through and make the color of the rocks come alive. From the rock ledges are lovely views of the other mountains in the range. 

I backtracked 10 minutes to the center of Logan for my next stop.  The small town boasts a colorful collection of stores, cafes, and arts centers. The large signs of the Cache Valley Bank and Utah theater bring the eye up to appreciate the architecture of the buildings.  I came here not only to grab an early lunch, but also to enjoy the music at the Tabernacle.  

Constructed in 1891, The Logan Tabernacle is one of the oldest tabernacles for the LDS Church.  At noon Monday through Friday during the summer, the church opens its doors to the public for a live music performance. The musicians vary each day, but the beautiful space to enjoy it remains the same. 

Heading to Bear Lake took me along Logan Canyon’s Scenic Byway (rt 89), and as the name suggests, it is a beautiful drive. When I saw opportunities to pull off and enjoy the natural formations, I took advantage of those. One of these was Ricks Spring.  Ricks Spring is a karst spring, with water transported through underground caverns.  This means that the water bubbles up from the center of the cave before flowing out into the nearby river.  After the dusty wind caves hike, it was a pleasure to take off my shoes and wade into the grotto.  

Another viewpoint that I made sure to stop at was the Bear Lake Rest Area and Overlook. Since it is not just a pull off, but also a rest area & information center, it’s the perfect place to stop before heading down the mountain to Garden City and Bear Lake. From this viewpoint, Bear Lake’s turquoise waters contrast with the green of the farmland and the browns of the mountains behind. 

Called the “Caribbean of the Rockies” because of the bright color that is produced by the sun reflecting off the limestone deposits in the lake, the 20 mile long Bear Lake draws boaters and swimmers from near and far.  One of the best things I did on this road trip was to buy myself a cheap beach chair and umbrella so that I could sit and enjoy places like this. I joined several other groups who set up tents for the day on the white sand shores of the lake to wade in the shallows and swim in the freshwater. While I set aside two hours to enjoy the lake, I wish I had more time; I can imagine planning a whole vacation just to come here. The town of Garden City has a few restaurants and tourist stores to peruse as well.

As I left Bear Lake, I was surprised at the next leg of my trip. Along the shores of Bear Lake are a series of picturesque farms. The wide open spaces of the fields with the lake & mountains in the background provided lovely views on my drive.  

The last quick stop I made for the day was in Afton, Wyoming. As I drove into town, I couldn’t help but pull over to check out the large antler arch that spans the road.  Come to find out that it’s the world’s largest elkhorn arch. The town built it in 1958 with over 3,000 of already shed antlers.  The arch contributes to the classic Western feel of the small town. Afton only has a few restaurants and stores, but the arch was worth a quick stop in itself.

Alpine was my home for my visit to the Grand Tetons. The town doesn’t have much, just a few food places and outfitters, but I enjoyed the Melvin Brewery that sits along the Snake River.  The neighboring RV park brings a population of other travelers that were great to talk to and get ideas for other places to see on my trip.