Alpine lake surrounded by wildflower meadows and forested trails, popular for hiking, kayaking, and summer picnicking.
General Information
Day use recommended between 6am and 10pm
$20 for 7-day pass; $35 for season pass
How to Get There
From Salt Lake City (95 mi): Take I-15 N to Logan via US-89, continue east on US-89 into Logan Canyon, then turn right at the Tony Grove sign and drive 7 miles to the lake.
Overview
Tony Grove Lake is a small alpine lake at roughly 8,000 feet in the Bear River Range of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, about 19 miles east of Logan. It is a national forest recreation area rather than a park, managed by the Forest Service’s Logan Ranger District, and it serves as the gateway to the Mount Naomi Wilderness. The setting of wildflower meadows, subalpine forest and rocky peaks makes it a favorite summer escape from the valley heat. Visitors come to camp, fish, paddle non-motorized boats, picnic, and use the trailheads for hikes to Naomi Peak and White Pine Lake, and moose, deer and many birds are often seen in the area.
Access
The lake is reached by driving up Logan Canyon on US-89 from Logan, about 19 miles, and turning onto the paved Tony Grove Road, which climbs roughly 7 miles to the lake and campground. The road is winding and mountainous but suitable for ordinary passenger cars in the summer season. Parking is available at the day-use area and trailheads, and a fee is charged to use the area, as listed above. Facilities are basic, with vault toilets and picnic tables, and drinking water may not be available, so bring your own. Cell service is limited in the canyon.
Seasons
The recreation area is primarily a summer destination, with the access road and campground typically opening in June and closing in early fall, depending on snow. Late June through July brings snowmelt, mosquitoes and the peak of the wildflower meadows, and summer days are mild and comfortable compared with the valley. Fall brings golden aspens and crisp air before the road and campground close, and early snow can arrive by October. In winter and spring the road is snow-covered and the area is used mainly by backcountry skiers and snowshoers, so check the Forest Service for current road conditions.
Things to Do
Hike Around the Lake
A self-guided nature trail circles the lake, giving easy views of the wildflower meadows and the surrounding peaks. It is an easy outing for families.
Paddling and Fishing
The lake allows non-motorized boating, including kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and float tubes, and it can be fished from shore or by boat.
Camping and Picnicking
The campground sits on the mountainside above the lake, and picnic tables near the day-use area make it easy to spend an afternoon.
Wildlife and Wildflower Viewing
Moose, deer and birds are commonly seen around the lake and meadows, and the summer wildflowers attract photographers.
Top Trails
Naomi Peak
Length: About 6.6 miles round trip (sources vary)
Elevation Gain: About 2,000 feet
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
This trail leaves the lake area and climbs through meadows and subalpine forest into the Mount Naomi Wilderness to the highest point in the Bear River Range. It is not especially steep, but the elevation and the length make it a full outing.
White Pine Lake
Length: About 8 to 9 miles round trip (sources vary)
Elevation Gain: About 1,300 feet
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
The trail starts at the Tony Grove trailhead and crosses a high ridge before dropping toward the glacial basin that holds White Pine Lake. It is a popular long day hike or overnight backpack in summer.
Visitor Centers
There is no visitor center at Tony Grove Lake. The Forest Service’s Logan Ranger District office in Logan can provide maps, road and trail conditions, and wilderness information, and the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest website posts campground status and reservations.
Camping and Lodging
The Tony Grove Lake Campground sits on the hillside above the lake at about 8,100 feet, with picnic tables and vault toilets, and is typically open from mid-June to early October. Reservations are made through Recreation.gov. Additional Forest Service campgrounds are scattered along US-89 in Logan Canyon. Hotels and motels are found in Logan, about 30 to 40 minutes away, which has the widest selection and many restaurants. Brigham City offers a few more options, and Garden City, on the shore of Bear Lake, has motels and resort lodging about an hour away over the Logan Canyon summit.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for Tony Grove Lake, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Additional information from U.S. Forest Service.
