Beaver Mountain, situated near the top of Logan Canyon in the Bear River Mountains, is no secret among residents of Cache Valley in Utah. Many spend their winters taking full advantage of the ski trails this treasured resort has to offer. But, what is Beaver Mountain in the summer?
According to the Cache County Trails Planner, Dayton Crites, it’s a beautiful place.
"One of the most rewarding things about trail construction is watching this beautiful experience take form underneath your hands..." -Dayton Crites, Cache County Trails Planner
“You’re looking at high altitude alpine meadows, views across the range and into the valley, you’re dancing with the aspens, playing in the fields among the wildflowers, and gazing up at lodgepole pine and fir trees,” he said.
Crites is excited to be involved in the development of a new 4-mile loop trail at Beaver Mountain. The name of the trail is Bjorr (‘buh-yore’), which is Old Norse for beaver. The trail will serve as a site for high school mountain bike racing and be open to the public for various activities such as hiking, biking, and bird watching. Crites was quick to note, however, that the building of this new mountain trail is dependent on volunteers from the community.
“This is an effort to put people behind trail construction and gather a volunteer crew that’s going to be both trained by this project and also put in what they want to get out of it. It’s the community coming together,” he said.
Volunteer efforts begin in September, and experienced builders will lead crews through the process. The Utah Conservation Corps has donated time to remove large debris like fallen trees from the trail corridor. Their efforts afford volunteer crews to start building immediately.
“You might hear me say, ‘Get a shovel and move earth. Get out loppers and cut down some limbs.’ That sounds like labor, and it is labor,” said Crites. “But, one of the most rewarding things about trail construction is watching this beautiful experience take form underneath your hands when you’re out in the woods. It’s more than just building something, it’s building experience, and the ability to commune with nature that so many people will enjoy.”
Additional information: Trail work begins September 10th and will continue every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning until snow falls. Please visit trails.cachecounty.org or contact trails@cachecounty.org for more information.
