Sept 30 - White Pine Lake Trail (Logan UT)

October 01, 2022

Cold front blew last night - temps are in the upper 30s. But that's just awesome hiking weather as I'm heading up to White Pine Lake for the very first time. The highs are in the 50s so it'll be awesome as long as it's not windy.

I head out before 7:30am. Blue skies as far as I can see.

As I start the climb out of the Bear Lake Basin, there are 5 turkeys crossing the highway. Of course, I stop so they can complete their journey. So cool!

I'm about to the top when I run into fog - heavy fog. Hoping I can drive out of it in the next 30 miles. And I do a few miles down the road.

The fall colors seem to be more amazing this morning or it could be the different driving perspective.

I arrive at the Tony Grove turn-off and start a very windy 7 mile climb to the parking lot. Incredibly pretty all the way.

Soon I arrive at the parking lot. There are no fee envelopes (costs $10 to park) so I drive back down the road and there are a few envelopes left. Envelope is in the slot; the tag in my car, time to head down to Tony Grove Lake; it's fantastic!!

There's a mile walk around the lake but I'm saving my legs for the hike. (That's also why I'm visiting Tony Grove first; I'm expecting dead legs by the time I return.)

OK, time for the hike. It's a bit over 8 miles round-trip. It's an in-n-back gaining 1250 feet.

The parking is at 8055 ft; the summit at 8824. After the summit, I'm supposed to drop down to the lake on some steep switchbacks. The lake sits at 8020 ft.

A large group of horseback riders start up the trail 5-10 minutes before me. I hope they are not going to White Pine Lake. I'll also have to watch out for "road apples" as I'm sure there will be many.

First 2.5 miles is in-n-out of aspen/pines and meadows. Pretty easy going with a gradual elevation gain. I think the largest gain was from the parking lot to the actual trail "start" marker saying 3.8 miles to the lake.

Flowers are gone except I did find more than a couple of Geraniums in bloom, a blooming lupine, an aster and horsemint.

The views of Mt Naomi etc where present at times.

But the yellow aspens were incredible!

I pass a father/son hunters; they said they saw some deer and elk. No kill though.

I also pass a group of men (and at least 3 tents) along the way - actually not far from the Pass. I'm assuming they too are hunters but I don't know that for sure.

After I pass them, I think I'm closing in on the Pass.

Yep, I see Mt Gog ahead of me just before heading down the switchbacks.

and Mt Magog to my left (behind the trees now).

Very happy to reach the Pass but now it's time to head down. The switchbacks are quite shaded in Pines. And I can't believe I have to come back this way. Didn't realize that I'd lose more elevation than I just gained as White Pine sits at an elevation that's lower than Tony Grove Lake. Oh well, one step at a time.

On the way down, I heard lots of cows mooing as it sounds like they are being moved. I think that's what all those horseback riders are doing right now. Lots of activity. But thankfully, I don't run into any cows or riders.

I finally reach as trail marker stating 0.9 miles to go. Yea!!

The trail levels out now and after 2 bridge crossings, I get a better view of Mt Magog

and I reach White Pine Lake (under Mt Magog).

There's a guy on the lake in a blow-up canoe just floating.

There's another couple there; we left basically at the same time from the parking lot.

Oh, and horse tied up to a tree. The horse belongs to the guy in the raft. Perhaps this is the horse that was making all the unhappy whinnying on my way down. (Otherwise, it was one of the horses rounding up the cattle.)

I start down the lake to almost the other side. It's so beautiful!