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Show 1111 -Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008 features@statesman.usu.edu FocK?rOiit€loor Logan By KANDICE CROMPTON staff writer It is a commonly accepted fact that college students are cheap and most students jump on the opportunity for anything free. Be it free food when attending an activity or a free lava lamp for signing up for a new bank account, if there is no price tag attached, students will come. Most free things are offered on campus, but what if students want to get off campus? Movies are expensive, eating out will break the wallet and window shopping usually turns into a personal pity party. What many people don't realize is the abundance of free things there are to do within 10-20 miles of campus. Logan Canyon, in particular, is bursting with things to do. For students who only live in the valley during the school year, the obvious things to do usually involve skiing at Beaver Mountain, but what do you do before the snow rolls in? Hiking, mountain biking, swimming, fishing and many other activities are available as well. Hiking trails are abundant here in Cache Valley, said Mike Sweeney, head of the department of journalism "There are more trails and side trails in [Logan] Canyon than you can imagine," he said. There are trails around the valley for every ability. The River Trail is a flat, paved trail that passes the Stokes Nature Center and has five different trailheads. According to the Cache Valley Hiking Trail Guide available from the Cache Valley Visitors Bureau, the trail is 3.7 miles one way, but sections aren't more than a mile and a half, and the trail only climbs 400 feet in elevation. For more serious hikers, the Green Canyon to Tony Grove trail is 12 miles and climbs 2,000 feet. Kim Kitchen, junior majoring in social work, said the Wind Caves Trail is one of her favorites. It's not just the hiking she appreciates. "I really like to challenge myself with a good hike and then reward myself by water coloring the scenery at the top," she said. According to the Hiking Guide, the Wind Caves are just over five miles up Logan Canyon and the 2-mile trail climbs 900 feet in elevation. The Guinivah-Malibu campground is right across the street from the trail head and is an excellent place to camp if you want to watch the sunrise from the caves at the end of the trail. Sweeney said he enjoys the amphitheater at the campground and said it is a "nice place to just sit and enjoy nature." The Hiking Guide gives information on 14 other trails around the valley, including the 3-mile Crimson Trial and Naomi Peak Trail, the 4.5mile White Pine Lake Trail and the 5-mile Wellsville Ridge Trail. The Cache Valley Hiking Trail Guide is a great resource for anyone looking for new trails in the valley. The Hiking Guide is free and available at the Cache Valley Visitors Bureau, located at 190 N. Main Street in Logan. You can also access the brochure online at http://tourcachevalley.com. With a sand volleyball pit, docks to fish off of and plenty of grass to lounge, First Dam is a great place to spend time with friends, or alone. Located less than one mile east of campus at the mouth of Logan Canyon, First Dam is easily within walking distance of most apartments. Nick Foust, sophomore majoring in civil engineering, says one of his favorite things to do is jump off the bridge into the dam. Motorized boating is not allowed at First or Second Dam, but most days there are canoes or rafts out in the water. Canoes can be rented starting at $13 from the Outdoor Recreation Center on campus. For those who want to row around the water without renting any equipment, rowing around in a cardboard box wrapped in duct tape is a fun activity and almost free. Jordie Rowher, sophomore majoring in art history, says she enjoys boating out on Hyrum Dam, another popular aquatic option in the valley. {M See LOGAN, page € Come take a walk on the wiI A, side By JILL BOWERS staff writer Not many people know there is zoo located in Logan. It's a small zoo, but there's still a lot to see and do. Surrounded by a park area with a playground, a pavilion and a sports center, which includes basketball courts, sand volleyball courts and another playground, it is the perfect place for families or students to go and see the wildlife presented at the Willow Park Zoo. There are more than 100 species of birds at the zoo. There are also other forms of wildlife, including monkeys, porcupines, coyotes, red foxes, bobcats, chipmunks and even pet rocks. That's right, a pet rock exhibit. The Willow Park Zoo boasts 21 pet rocks and even explains their diet (plows, picks, shovels, ankles and elbows), habitat (open fields, post holes, lawns), and incubation (10-20 million years, 309000 eggs). There are rocks of all shapes and sizes. Another unique attraction is the golden eagle exhibit. Though most zoos have golden eagles, not many have a backdrop of Utah gold mines filled with ghosts. Although Willow Park functions as a normal zoo, not every animal is locked up in a cage. Many of the bird exhibits are open, with various swans, ducks, pheasants and doves located in the outdoor landscaping. There is even a "wild bird sanctuary," with 16 birds listed on the sign by the display, and many others that like to come and enjoy the environment of the zoo. By each display is not only the name of each animal, but also the diet and habitat for that animal, along with the history of each species. A lot can be learned by spending a relaxing 20 minutes at 419 W. 700 South in Logan. "I think [the zoo] was a fun, relaxing place that had some fun exhibits," said Asher Stettler, undeclared sophomore at USU. "I probably liked the bobcats most. They were all cuddled up and relaxed looking and comfortable looking, like I'd like to be doing, instead of homework or something. Except I'm not doing homework, I'm at the zoo." Stettler said she also enjoyed the turtles at the Willow Park Zoo. "It was fun to watch them attempt to walk around as they bumped into each other in their habitat," she said. "As they're trying to move around under their heavy shell, you can just see them thinking, 'come on, one more step, this shell is so heavy.'" Willow Park Zoo is one Logan location that not many students know about, but most say they would like to visit. "I didn't know there was a zoo in Logan," said Elise Oliphant, freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. "I like zoos. Yeah, I'd like to go." The Logan Park Zoo is currently undergoing construction for a new exhibit for elk, wapiti, sand hill cranes and wild turkeys. Also coming up soon is the "Boo at the Zoo" event, featuring Horton from "Horton Hears a Who." The event is on Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $5 for kids (defined as age 12 and under) and $15 for families. Group pricing is also available. The event includes candy and games. It's also a costume party, in honor of Halloween. For more information on the Willow Park Zoo, just go there. Daily admission is $1 for adults and 50 cents for children. The zoo is open from 9 a.m. until dusk seven days a week. It is closed on Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Years Day. The sports center and park by the zoo is completely free and is always open to the public. -jillhowers@aggiemail.usu.edu A S W A N FLOATS across the lake at Willow Park Zoo, top.The zoo is open year round and has a variety of animals including monkeys, coyotes and pet rocks.The entrance to the sports complex next to the zoo, bottom, is also open year round and free to the public. KRiSTY JORDAN photos |