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…
Steep but Beautiful Hike to Silver Lake
The trail to Silver Lake is quite a bit more than meets the eye. It’s only a little over 6 miles RT, but the elevation gain means the trail is much steeper than you might think. It was harder than…
Spectacular Views from the Loafer Mountain Trail to Santaquin Peak
Santaquin Peak in the Wasatch Mountain Range isn’t the loftiest of peaks nor is it the most famous. Even the trail to the top takes on the name of another peak, which (granted) is 2 feet taller. But it does…
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…
Sheepeater Cliff, the Chute, and Exploring!
I decided to hike Sheepeater Cliff because it sounded different. So many hikes in Yellowstone are to geothermal features, with a few mountains and waterfalls thrown into the mix. Sheepeater Cliff seemed like it might be a break from the…
Greenwater Valley Road – Rough but Pretty
The Greenwater Valley Road is somewhere between quite busy and totally overlooked. It’s popular in that it’s near the main attractions of Death Valley National Park – Dante’s View, Zabriskie Point, Furnace Creek, Badwater, etc. However, since it goes to…
Strolling through the Crystal Forest
I was very pleasantly surprised by the Crystal Forest Trail in Petrified Forest National Park. I’d already toured most of the park (including the Wilderness Loop), so I wasn’t exactly enamored with seeing chunks of wood-turned-rock. But the specimens here…
Spectacular Views from Anticline Overlook
Anticline Overlook is probably my favorite overlook of all the viewpoints in Canyon Rims National Recreation Area (other favorites are the Needles Overlook, Minor Overlook, and Canyonlands Overlook). It offers several views of spectacular scenery, from canyons and rock formations…
Bell Canyon & Finishing the Little Wildhorse Canyon Loop
I wrote in another post about ascending Little Wildhorse Canyon in Utah’s San Rafael Swell. It’s a great canyon experience, with dryfalls, sculpted walls, rock formations, and more to explore. Most people (myself included) opt to do the hike as…