Part of why I like hiking to Chesler Park is to enjoy the spectacular rock formations. But the other reason – and I’ve actually hiked out of my way to do it – is to play around in The Joint. …
The Wonders of Chesler Park
A few weeks ago, I posted about the Elephant Canyon Trail in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. It’s such a great hike with fantastic scenery. But for even better scenery – and to experience the Needles close up…
Needles Views on the Elephant Canyon Trail
There are a few hikes in Utah that I return to again and again. The Queen’s Garden Trail in Bryce, a few hikes in Arches (like Devils Garden and Delicate Arch), Neon Canyon, Canyon Rims, and Corona Arch are all…
Christmas Tree Arch: Hidden But Impressive
Arches National Park has over 2,000 documented arches, but most people don’t see a quarter of them. There are the famous ones along the popular park trails, but otherwise, there are many very nice arches that are rarely or never…
Late Afternoon at the White Rim Overlook
If you can only visit one overlook for close-to-sunset in Island of the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, I’ll give you two choices: 1) Grand View Overlook, and 2) White Rim Overlook. Both offer fantastic views of the eastern…
Windows Loop & Double Arch!
If there’s a scene in Arches National Park that’s totally classic (other than Delicate Arch!) it’s the view of the North and South Windows. At sunrise, you’ll often find photographers lining up to get iconic shots of both or either…
Canyonland Views from Murphy Point
The Murphy Trail in Canyonlands National Park can be a little bit confusing – not because hiking it is all that difficult (it’s a trail and it’s pretty hard to get off of it), but because the name is actually…
Off-trail Hike to Ring Arch
Ring Arch is a lesser-known arch near Courthouse Wash in Arches National Park. No official trail leads to it, but it’s often combined with (and is easier to find than) The Tunnel. The span is very thin and narrow, so…
Best Hikes for Kids in Utah’s Big 5 National Parks + Grand Staircase-Escalante
Southern Utah is a favorite destination for tourists and locals alike. Who can resist giant arches, towering hoodoos, sculpted slot canyons, and rock formations galore? The good news is that the national parks in southern Utah (namely, Zion National Park,…
The Tunnel in Arches
Last fall, en route back across the country, we took an unexpected side-trek to Arches National Park. I’d been reading about off-the-beaten-path arches in Arches, so our first hike was off-trail down Courthouse Wash to The Tunnel. As features in…