Hiking Old Limber Pine Trail

Logan Canyon

Overview

( Rated 4.0 / 1 Ratings )

0 Todo Lists / 0 Ticks

RATING: Easy Hike

LENGTH: 1-2 hours (1.7 miles)

Mon

33 | 28

Tue

32 | 20

Wed

28 | 20

Thu

28 | 15

Fri

30 | 19

View Full Weather Details

SEASON: Spring, Summer, Fall

GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear

WATER: None.

Mon

33 | 28

Tue

32 | 20

Wed

28 | 20

Thu

28 | 15

Fri

30 | 19

View Full Weather Details

hike

fall colors

dog friendly

family friendly

access: paved

Old Limber Pine

Limber Pine is a coniferous tree that is symbolic of the Rocky Mountains. The trees can grow tall, up to 40-50 feet, but tend to be twisted and gnarled. Limber Pine was one of the major resources early settlers utilized when settling in the Rocky Mountains. They used the abundant tree for cabins, fencing, mining timbers, firewood, etc. I cannot imagine trying to build a cabin with such a gnarled and twisted lumber!

The Limber Pine trail in Logan Canyon is a family friendly hike to visit one of these iconic old trees. The hike, a bit over a mile, is on a wide and well-trodden trail. It is suitable for most and seems especially popular with families. It is a lovely hike, meandering through a mostly shaded path to the tree, then meandering back to the trailhead making a loop. We last visited on a sweltering day, and the shade of the trees made it surprisingly pleasant. This hike makes a great side trip if you are in Bear Lake for the weekend and wanting to get up a bit in elevation and stretch your legs. Informational signs along the trail make it even more interesting.

Looking into the Sinks from the Old Limber Pine Trail

Getting There

The trailhead is at milepost 491.25 on US-89. This is about 33 miles east of Logan up Logan Canyon, or about 7 miles west of Garden City near Bear Lake. The trailhead is on the south side of the road and has a large parking area and pit toilet.

A glimpse of Bear Lake from the trail.

Route

From the trailhead, the trail leaves the south side of the parking lot and quickly forks a minute or two from the parking lot. The trail is a loop, and through you could travel it in either direction, everyone we saw preferred counterclockwise. Go right at the junction.

The trail meanders along, gaining a little elevation before the trees open and you can get a view west into the Sinks. The Sinks are an area of geological low points in the limestone making up the wide-open valley. This area is known to have some of the coldest temperatures in Utah. On Feb. 1, 1985, the second coldest temperature ever recorded in the lower 48 states was recorded here, a very chilly -69.3°F!

Continuing, the trail soon reaches the namesake Limber Pine. This 560-year-old tree is immense in its stature and neat to behold.

The Limber Pine marks about the halfway point, and the trail begins heading north back to the parking lot with an occasional view of Bear Lake to the east.