La Boca Arch (and its neighbor, Harold Arch) is often overlooked because it’s a long distance down a dirt road well outside of the typical parks near Moab, Utah. But if you happen to be in the area (say, to…
Viewpoints and Short Trails in the Needles District
The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park is really only set up for hiking long distances. Chesler Park, Druid Arch, Wooden Shoe Canyon, Big Spring Canyon, and Peek-a-boo Trail all play this out fairly well. It’s also set up for…
Finally Finding Skylight Arch!
High above US-89 north of Page, Arizona (but before Big Water), a hole in the cliff can be seen up on a butte on the west side of the road. This is Skylight Arch. While it’s difficult to view from…
Scrambling the Red Cathedral Canyon Crest
The number one adventure I wanted to hike when I found myself in Death Valley last fall was the Red Cathedral Canyon Crest. It’s not an official trail, but I personally know people who have hiked it and loved the…
Driving the Waterhole Flat Road into the Maze
One of the most scenic dirt roads in Utah that I’ve had the pleasure of driving is the Waterhole Flat Road into the Maze District of Canyonlands (maps call it NP-633, the Flint Trail, and Canyonlands National Park Road among…
Scrambling Caramel Canyon & the Goblin’s Lair
The very first hike I took in Goblin Valley State Park was Caramel Canyon to the Goblin’s Lair, with the Three Sisters and the Goblette’s Lair thrown in for good measure. It seemed like a good idea to check out…
Hiking Gold Bar Arch (Jeep Arch)
Gold Bar Arch has a colloquial name – Jeep Arch. It’s not hard to figure out why; the opening looks like a jeep, all ready for an adventure! With such a cool arch to see as well as some nice…
Climbing up Observation Rock
One of the most beautiful (and adventurous!) hikes we took in the Maze District in Canyonlands was the scramble up Observation Rock. No trail leads to the summit; there’s not even a cairned route to its base. But the views…
South Rim Trail Loop above Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
In general, I prefer the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to the south rim (the views are just plain better from the north rim IMO). But the south rim offers a loop that blows the north…
Upper Salt Creek Views from the Big Pocket Overlooks
If you’re looking for an easy hike with a long, scenic drive on a dirt road to get there, the Big Pocket Overlooks to Cathedral Point is a good option. Located near the trailhead for Upper Salt Creek just outside…