South of Logan, Blacksmith Fork Canyon strides due east of Hyrum. Ducks and geese can be seen in the river and big game is common throughout the canyon. A winter drive might reward you with the appearance of a white weasel scampering across the road.

At the end of UT 101 east of Hyrum sprawls the Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area, an elk preserve owned and operated by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Workers at the site feed up to 700 elk every winter to prevent the animals from either starving or doing damage to farmers’ lands in the valley below.

Many families drive up toe see the elk in winter, boarding sleighs pulled by Clydesdale horses to get right up beside the hulking beasts. A few elk remain in the meadow the rest of the year, posing for pictures. The canyon also offers camping and fishing in the summer.