Steam Mill Hollow

Logan Canyon is located just minutes from our home. As one of my favorite places in the world, the canyon is full of history. Just take a look at the names of its sites and trails...Temple Fork, where most of the timber was felled for the building of the Logan Temple; Stump Hollow, where perfectly sized railroad ties were milled; and Steam Mill Hollow, named for the old boiler that once powered a saw mill still located there.

These areas, lush with trees, are now mapped out for hiking and mountain biking along with many other trails. Every year we expand our hiking repertoire trying to see just a little more of Logan Canyon.

The canyons and streams of Cache Valley were very important resources in the successful settlement of Logan and its surrounding small towns in the 1800's.

Much timber was cut high in these mountains and used for ties as the railroad made it's way though the valley to other Western towns springing up. Following the boom from the railroad, timber was needed to build the structures and buildings in Cache Valley, some of which still stand today.

It was surprising to find this old abandoned steam mill from the 1800's up in the middle of nowhere. It must have taken quite an effort to mill the timber and then transport it all the way down the canyon.

As much as possible, the timber was floated downstream by river passage. But not in Steam Mill Hollow. Those early settlers must have been pretty tough. Here I am hiking over eleven miles in and out of the hollow wearing Lululemon with water wicking fibers and the latest and greatest in hiking shoes...thinking how hot it is and how awesome a Diet Coke is going to taste when we get back to civilization.

This is usually my view while I am hiking. I sometimes forget to look up and see the beauty of each canyon bend as it unfolds.

Izzy is the queen of mooching. I used to bring dog snacks for her, which she never eats as long as there are people snack foods around. Spoiled!

Arriving near the end of the Steam Hollow Trail we found a dried up pond that most likely fills with snow melt as Spring emerges from Winter's clutches

The lake is our final destination where we will have hiked up over 3000 feet in elevation from the trailhead.

He doesn't appear to be one bit tired!

The vegetation on these hikes seem to spring from nowhere. These plants were all about 3 feet high. Nature is amazing isn't it?

We always take time to shoot a picture with the timer...getting Izzy to face forward is the tricky part.

Look at the size of that tree and its stump that was lifted from the ground. Seemingly, it toppled over like a weed being plucked from a flower bed. That takes some force!

We found snow...where Izzy played for a bit.

Then we began our trek back down the mountain...

stopping to take in the plentiful wildflowers,


especially my favorite Columbine...

contemplating just how my feet got to be so dirty. Thank goodness I'm not an early settler and I have a shower and a beverage waiting for me in my air-conditioned home. Now who is spoiled?