ICE CAVE
Besides the natural beauty of the mountains, two of the most unique and popular geological attractions in the area are the famous Ice Cave and Black Canyon. Each attraction is less than five miles away from downtown Grace and are a must see sight for every visitor.
The Ice Cave is located approximately 3 miles south of Grace just off the main highway. Road signs point out the spot. Thousands of years ago, a volcanic eruption formed a huge lava tube that eventually cooled to form this cave. Early settlers in the area found the cave a great place to store their food and collect ice all year around. It was a favorite picnic spot and recreation site.
BLACK CANYON
Black Canyon lies a mile to the west of Grace and is truly an impressive site. Visitors are taken completely by surprise when they first see the canyon. It appears almost from nowhere as an astonishingly deep, narrow gorge cutting straight through solid lava rock. Its deep pools and gentle terraces make Black Canyon a favorite spot for fisherman. In the past, the waters of the Black Canyon have received national attention as one of the most difficult kayak runs in the country. This is one scenic detour that should not be missed.
LAST CHANCE CANAL
The ominously named Last Chance Canal runs parallel with Grace's main street, while the mountains of the Wasatch front provide a very scenic backdrop. The Last Chance Canal Company was started with 64 original stockholders--Gem Valley farmers who desperately needed the life-giving waters from the Bear River to grow their crops. Money was so scarce the initial stock issues were paid with labor at a dollar-and-a-half a day. The men built log "cribs" and positioned them across the ice during the winter to form the foundation of the dam. They hauled huge timbers, up to 60 feet in length from nearby canyons and loosened and rolled down boulders from the hills as large as a load of hay to hold the timbers in place. Work was done with crowbars, picks, shovels, and hand saws, often in extreme weather. Men worked without adequate clothing, sometimes using sacks to make overalls and burlap to wrap their shoeless feet to protect them from the frost.
Later, another dam was put in place 40 feet below the first, with money borrowed by these men, in spite of their limited resources. Over 36,000 acres are irrigated by this system. To see the Last Chance Dam System, go east on the Last Chance Lane which is accessed just north of Grace on the east side of Highway 34. Follow this road along the edge of Black Canyon for a mile or so and you will see a concrete arch that originally carried the water from the canal across Black Canyon in a viaduct to the canal distribution system. The road continues until you eventually drop down into Black Canyon and can witness the dam itself. A power plant owned by Utah Power and Light is located downstream from the dam just before the canal enters into a 1476 foot tunnel.
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