Looking for a casual family float trip Ruby / Horsethief provides a very mellow 25-mile float with one rapid, generally considered class II This is a good trip for beginners or families Aside from the one rapid, and short section of turbulent water, the other 24 miles is very easy and relaxing The scenery is second to none, with ample opportunity for side hikes The flow should be BELOW 30,000 CFS for rafts For those in a canoe, less than 20,000 CFS if experienced, less than 10,000 CFS if inexperienced For family tr...

Often described as "an incredible hike", the Chute of Muddy Creek is also often followed up closely by "but what a long day" This is a pretty accurate description From Tomsich Butte to Hidden Splendor is a long day hike, but is through one of the most impressive non-technical canyons in the Swell This is a must do for fit hikers It can be backpacked, but Muddy Creek is not suitable for filtering or drinking, making water availability a problem There are small springs in lower Chimney Canyon, but by that time, you a...

Happy Canyon has thwarted more of my canyoneering buddies' efforts to visit it than probably any other canyon There are two common options to visit The first, via Burr Point, is long and always underestimated Many groups try that route, but have to turn back before Happy or return in the dark Reaching the trailhead for Burr Point is easy and is generally accessible to all vehicles This route, via Poison Spring, is the preferred route and makes a very casual day hike What is the catch The road requires a high cleara...

The Gulch, not to be confused with Grand Gulch on Cedar Mesa, is one of the area jewels It is officially designated a National Outstanding Natural Area, and easy to see why The Gulch itself is long, running both north of the Burr Trail, and south from the trailhead about 12 miles to the Escalante River The length makes it good choice for a backpack, though those wishing a shorter trip can easily day hike part way down and back The area has abundant evidence of Native American habitation, as well as relics from the ...

Arch Canyon has to be one of the best beginner friendly canyoneering adventures in the Saint George area Good anchors, relatively short, with some impressive rappels and nice though short narrow sections, this is a good one I highly recommend The rappels start small and get bigger, culminating in a 60 m rappel near Johnson Arch Expect to have an audience for the final rappel on any busy weekend! The canyon is in the Snow Canyon State Park, and requires a permit To protect nesting birds, it is closed from March 15th...

Separating the Wasatch Range from to the west from Woodruff, Randolf, and Wyoming to the east, the Monte Cristo Range runs north-south for about 30 miles State Highway 39 crosses the range and offers exquisite views and a winding road often frequented by motorcyclists Monte Cristo Peak, the tallest point in the range at 9,148, sits a very short distance off the highway and makes a great family friendly leg stretch when passing through the area A note on timing UT-39 is closed in the winter, roughly from November to...

If you have drive between Price and I-70 on highway 6, you have likely noticed Mount Elliot The peak is a high point on Book Cliffs near the ghost town of Woodside The summit is particularly stunning at sunset Though tantalizingly close to the highway, reaching the peak is a bit of an adventure A Bit of History: If you look at maps, a dirt road snakes its way up from the highway to within 1/2 mile or so of the summit of Mount Elliot From near the summit, the road then snakes around a couple of canyons and heads eas...

One of my favorite short canyons in Moab, Bow and Arrow Canyon has a bit of everything scenery wise Between Longbow Arch, Polka Dot Petroglyph, and stunning views of the Colorado River and Behind the Rocks, it is a diverse outing Bow and Arrow Canyons is not a very technical or narrow canyon If you are looking for tight slots or technical challenges, look elsewhere The canyon is more of a short outing that makes an enjoyable evening canyon Note: Why the name Mike Stimola, who showed me the canyon and is the owner o...

A stone's throw from Salt Lake City, City Creek canyon feels a world away The pioneers, when they settled Salt Lake, used water from City Creek to irrigate their fields, and help develop the budding city The canyon is still used as part of the city’s water supply today, with a water treatment plant situated several miles up the canyon Historical fun fact, the upper reaches of the canyon have both a mining history, and a bootlegging history City Creek Canyon is one of my favorite quick outings in the city The gentle...

Yuba Lake State Park is popular with anglers, boaters, and many ATV enthusiasts visiting to ride the trails that surround the lake There are few opportunities for hiking at Yuba Lake, aside from wandering along the seashore There is a social trail above Painted Rocks that has great views of the lake At low waters, it is possible to walk out to the base of Painted Rocks and visit a pictograph panel The panel, on the south face of Painted Rocks, is quite stunning The difficult to access location of the panel has help...