Summer heat got you down along the Wasatch Front This is THE premiere way to get out of the heat and have some fun Having seen many people tube the river, it wasn't until 2012 that I finally gave it a go on a scorching 100-degree day It is amazing, and a ton of fun There are enough rapids and obstacles to keep you engaged, but nothing overly dangerous This is NOT a route I would recommend for children The first section, in particular, has many rocks, branches, and rapids that require a fair bit of attention The ina...

Little Bull is one of those canyons that made a huge impression on me, and one I will not soon forget! I had decided to spend a hot June day in the White Roost area doing canyons solo My first canyon of the day, North Fork, had been hot, but good A canyon I had done before, it was nice to re-visit it Done by noon, I was trying to decide what was next on the agenda when Little Bull caught my eye I had a friend that had done it and said it was good Short, narrow, fun Perfect! A short approach and short slot section l...

Tucked a few miles down a rough jeep road, Herdina Park feels a world away from the pavement and crowds of the main area of Arches NP Due to the rough jeep road, this area of the park is not visited very heavily Those that do visit generally just visit Eye of the Whale Arch and return If you are wanting to wander, however, opportunities for solitude and beauty abound I've visited the area many times over the years and have never seen anyone else and rarely even seen footprints For the experienced climber, canyoneer...

A true hidden gem! Tucked just a short distance from the Big Cottonwood road, the waterfall feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of many other areas in Big Cottonwood The falls are, surprisingly, not well known or frequently visited, making them a great short outing when you want to get away from the crowds a bit The trailhead area used to be a picnic area but was reclaimed a few years ago Few remnants remain from when it was a picnic area, aside from the parking area Though hike to Moss Ledge is short, it...

Cavell Pond is tucked at the base of Mt Edith Cavell The turquoise waters flanked by Mountain Edith Carvell and Angel Glacier make for a stunning spot to visit Visiting the pond is a place where you feel like the magnitude of the Canadian Rockies envelopes you The hike to the pond is on an easy trail, suitable for most, though with some elevation gain For the more energetic, the trail continues from the pond high up into Cavell Meadows and offers even more dramatic views of the surroundings and Angel Glacier The wi...

Sullivans Canyon is a long side drainage of the Virgin River Gorge From its mouth at the Virgin River, it can be hiked up almost 15 miles one way to Cougar Springs, near the top of Mount Bangs, gaining nearly 6,000' of elevation gain in the process This is a remote, rough, and seldom visited area Most, I assume, don't make the full hike to Cougar Springs I, personally, have only been from the Virgin River about 4 miles, then returned the same way If you are looking for a winter hike in the Virgin River Gorge, this ...

Sid and Charley, named after brothers Sid and Charley Swasey who lived in the Swell in the early 1900's, is an Entrada tower standing in a lonely northwestern corner of the Swell The tower is infrequently visited, but makes a great outing It was first climbed in 2001 by Layne Potter at a grade of 510 C0, then later free'd at a rated 510+ That being said, if your not too proud to pull on bolts and possibly use a stick clip, this can be done at a very moderate 57 C0 or so The climbing is surprisingly fun, with great ...

Established in 1965, Seedskadee Wildlife Refuge is an oasis in the otherwise bleak, high desert of Wyoming The 26,400 acre refuge provides a welcome break in the limitless sagebrush plains Visited as early as the 1300's by Native Americans, over 200 species of birds have been spotted here, not to mention many types of mammals and other wildlife that call the area home The area was used, more recently, by travelers moving west in the mid-1800's Some of the old wagon ruts are still visible in the area On even a short...

Egypt 2 is famous for its often photographed first rappel The canyon starts with a bang from the trailhead and offers the adventurous canyoneer the option of a 90 m rappel right from the trailhead, or a much less dramatic 30 m rappel a few minutes further down along the rim Either choice deposits you in a stunning canyon The upper slot is fairly wide, with typically one short rappel early on As the canyon deepens, it also narrows offering several stunning long narrow sections and a few down climbs to keep it intere...

The La Verkin Creek trail offers a stunning, and long day hike to the Kolob Arch viewpoint Until the early 21st century, Kolob Arch was believed to be the worlds largest free standing arch At 2874 feet, the arch is now considered the second longest spanning arch in the world, behind Landscape Arch in Arches National Park Reaching the viewpoint is a long hike, about 14 miles and 1000' of gain, and not a day hike to take lightly Much of the hike will be in full sun, bring at least 3 quarts and start early in hot time...