Nestled in the fertile Cache Valley, at an elevation of 4,525 feet, Logan is flanked by the rugged Wasatch and Bear River mountains. Once part of prehistoric Lake Bonneville, then home to the Blackfoot, Paiute, Shoshone, and Ute Indians, the valley is now a rich farming area famous for its cheeses and high-tech businesses. Mountain men arrived in the 1820s to trap beaver in the Logan River, caching (hence the valley's and county's name) the pelts in holes they dug throughout the area. Then, in 1856, Mormon pioneers established several villages in the valley.Today, with a population of about 49,000, Logan is a small city, but with many of the attractions of its larger neighbors to the west. Particularly worthwhile are visits to the LDS Church's Tabernacle and Temple, both handsome 19th-century structures; and a drive out to the American West Heritage Center for a trip through 100 years of Western history: 1820 to 1920. Thanks in part to Utah State University, Logan suffers from no lack of art exhibits, live music, or theater.But nobody who comes to Logan really wants to spend much time indoors. Beautiful Logan Canyon and the nearby mountains are a delightful escape for hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, anglers, and rock climbers.