Postcard of Entering Logan through Sardine Canyon, 1935

Sardine Canyon

Sardine Canyon

Housing one of the main arteries of transportation between Cache Valley and the rest of Utah, Sardine Canyon has no small reputation. Most citizens for miles around are familiar with this canyon or at least its name. Known for its beautiful drive during most of the year and its extreme weather conditions during the winter that claim more cars each year, Sardine makes its rounds through the news frequently.

However, as some may find surprising, Sardine Canyon is not the actual name of the canyon. The trek through the Wasatch Mountains that connects Logan to Brigham is actually comprised of three individual canyons.

"As you leave I-15 and head east into Brigham City, U.S. 91 picks up U.S. 89 from the south and the two routes jointly enter the first of the three, which is Box Elder Canyon.  For about three miles Box Elder Canyon travels along its namesake creek, Box Elder Creek, before entering the little valley dominated by a farming community and reservoir, both of which are named Mantua (pronounced Man-a-way).

Upon leaving Mantua, motorists enter what is known as Dry Canyon. The next three miles marks a steep climb, past a famous winter tubing hill on the right and the ubiquitous “Midway Inn,” a former bar turned antiques shop, on the left, before arriving at the only place on today’s highway actually named like its “faux” namesake, Sardine Summit.  At 5,868 feet, Sardine Summit marks the dividing county line between Cache and Box Elder counties, and the beginning of the long downhill cruise toward the end of the route in Wellsville.

From Sardine Summit motorists drop quickly into Dry Lake, which is the focal point of an unnamed valley about a mile north of the summit.  Upon passing through the cut in the hill created for the new highway in the 1950’s, the original Sardine Canyon road is high above on the hillside to the right, where it snakes eastward.  From Dry Lake, travelers pass the Sherwood Hills resort and golf course on the left before entering Wellsville Canyon.” *

Not much is actually known about why or how the canyon got its nickname. There is an actual Sardine Canyon that was used as the main method of travel until the 1950’s where we got the road that’s there today. Sardine Canyon is no longer used but for reasons that have no solid historical backing (from sardine tins found from early travels, to the shape of the canyon, or some sardine like fish in a stream) its name lives on.

Blacksmith Fork Canyon

 

Postcard of Blacksmith Fork Canyon, 1912

 

Blacksmith Fork Canyon

Blacksmith Fork is among the other canyons available throughout the Cache Valley. 

Just outside of Hyrum, Utah this tucked-away canyon holds its own. Biking, Camping and rock-climbing are available, matched with the beautiful environment. For those whose trick-of-the-trade happens to be fishing you are in luck. Blacksmith Fork Canyon has a beautiful river running through it that attacks many fly fishermen, near and far.