LOGAN — It’s been a popular trail for decades, the Logan Canal Trail dates back about 100 years and has been a major connection linking Logan City to Logan Canyon and other destinations.
However, a few months ago the popular trail was closed off by a homeowner who has removed the easement provision for that part of the trail.
On KVNU’s For the People program last week, long-time trail advocate Mark Lunt – along with Kaleb Shoel – talked about the trail.
Lunt said the canal trail is part of an extensive trail system.
“The city, with the help of UDOT, was able to connect the trail from Herm’s Inn, all the way up to First Dam, and there’s an underpass there. So, now, or at least until the trail got blocked off a few months ago, you were able to go from downtown Logan all the way up to the canyon.
“You could take the Bonneville Shoreline Trail over to Green Canyon and make it all the way up to Mount Naomi wilderness,” Lunt explained.
And all that was with just two road crossings from downtown. Shoell said the only detour around the closed-off area is rather treacherous to travel.
“And the bypass is going up through on 400 North, up to the parking lot that Utah State University has. And it’s all elevation, you go through this parking lot and then you’re going down.
“I’ve ran it the last couple days, and it’s very loose gravel, kind of dangerous and you’re going down this steep elevation, not easy on the knees, or the bike…really not family or ADA or anything accessible,” Shoell said.
The two guests wanted to stress that they are not trying to vilify the property owners. Shoell said they support private property rights and realize that they have concerns and it’s been very frustrating for them.
“What we’re fighting for here is the public right-of-way that’s been there for a long time, but really just respect the private property owners, but then also respect the trails. And that’s one thing I have noticed – going through where they’ve blocked off – there’s definitely been a lot more trash and litter.
“Because when you close off something, that’s going to happen. But, just making sure all other trails in the valley are kept clean and nice, so that we can continue to create a network and build that network that we already have.”
Lunt said that Logan City has continued to meet with the property owners to try to resolve the issue.
The city was taking comments from citizens and users of the trail until this past Friday. You might still be able to let your voice be heard at parks.rec@loganutah.org