The Limber Pine Trail is a family friendly nature trail located at the top of Logan Canyon, right at the Bear Lake Summit. Limber Pine is a loop trail 1.2 miles long and is self guided with 13 signs describing, wildlife, plants and historical points of interest along the trail.
The trail itself is manageable by just about everyone including small kids. For the most part the trail is in the trees and provides a welcome escape from the afternoon heat. In the winter the trail is accessible by snow shoe and cross country ski.
The trailhead is on the south side of Highway 89 in between Forest Road 55 and Sunrise Campground. The trailhead is well marked with a sign and the parking lot can accommodate 8-10 vehicles.
The trail is designed to go in a counterclockwise direction, or in other words, take a right at the fork in the trail to read the trail signs in order. However, since it is a loop trail you can head left first and count down as you hike the trail clockwise. If you are more interested in the overlook to Bear Lake and not as interested in completing the entire loop, left is the direction to head as you should get a view of the Lake within 5-10 minutes of walking.
Head right and you'll start off in the trees and come across several trees with a bend like this. The trail sign explains how the snow piling up on young trees will cause an elbow bend in the trunk. The trail continues on with trail markers like the one in the photo describing different plant life and wildlife that live in the area.
Eventually the trail makes its way to the top of the ridge and offers a great view west of Middle Sink below. Take a moment here and enjoy the view, its definitely worth it. The trail continues on and leads to some old corral fences and some Limber Pine trees for which the trail is named.
From the corrals and Limber Pines the trail begins a mild descent to the east and some views of the mountains beyond Bear Lake come into view. Eventually after a few hundred more yards and a slight incline Bear Lake becomes visible. From here the trail turns back west and soon you'll find that you have completed the loop.
Overall the hike takes most groups 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your pace and how much time you spend reading the signs and enjoying the trail. It's a great side trip if you are spending some time at Bear Lake. It's also a great way to burn some extra calories if you have been enjoying some of the great raspberry milkshakes Bear Lake is known for.
Do you have a favorite hike in the Bear Lake area? Or a recommendation of a great place to get a shake in Garden City? Please share it in the comments below. If you found this article helpful and are planning other adventures in Utah consider signing up for our e-mail list (simply go to the top of page and click subscribe - it's free!) to get the latest adventure posts. You can also sign up to be a member here to share comments at the bottom of our posts and in our forums. Most importantly don't forget to get outside and find your adventure!
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