We found a very slick sneak route which avoids the long approach from the Chuckwalla Trailhead and appears to be entirely on state park land avoiding any private land and connects to the Gila trail It is not an official trail but there were many footprints along social trails It is possible to stay on the social trails and have minimal impact but it's not officially sanctioned by anyone The distance from car to Rap 1 is almost exactly 1 mile with minimal elevation gain I'm happy to share the kmz/gpx file of our...

On Sunday, November 23, our group of seven descended Na-Gah Canyon and completed it car-to-car in three hours The approach hike was super scenic, and we had great views of Cassidy Arch from across the Grand Wash and the surrounding areaAfter following Ryan’s beta to the head of the canyon, we did an optional approximately 50-foot rappel into the canyon and continued our descent The rappel could probably have been bypassed DCR We were surprised to find more downclimbs and another rappel before reaching the "official...

Though not an official hiking trail, this is one that sees a lot of traffic and for good reason A short jaunt from the parking area lands the intrepid hiker in what feels like the deep Zion backcountry Towering walls and vibrant colors make this a charming hike that is suitable for most The colors come out, in particular, during the evening sunset when the walls pop with color and texture A highly recommended short hike if your in this are of Zion National Park

Red Pine Lake, situated just below tree line, is a very popular hike in Little Cottonwood Canyon On a summer weekend, the trailhead parking lot can fill up well before 9AM! The hike is popular for good reason It makes a good 1/2 day affair to very stunning scenery Though a bit steep in spots and about 7 miles, the hike is family friendly On our last visit, we saw everyone from toddler being carried to well I wouldn't want to guess at their age, but certainly "of advanced age" Though many groups stop at the end...

The Pfeifferhorn, or Little Matterhorn as it used to be known by, is the fifth-highest peak in the Wasatch Range and one of the more stunning and dramatic non-technical hikes in the area Charles Pfeiffer's ashes were spread on the peak in 1939, and many started referring to it as the Pfeifferhorn In 2013, it was made official and the name to be changed on maps The summit reaches a breath taking 11,362 feet This is a dramatic hike featuring almost 4000' of elevation gain, steep slopes, knife edge ridges, and big vie...

Ruth Lake is tough to recommend enough This is a fantastic short hike with little elevation gain, making it an excellent family hike or for almost anyone The lake is nestled in an alpine setting with cliffs that are popular with rock climbers high above the trail The alpine setting, cliffs to the south, and views of Hayden Peak to the east make for a breathtaking setting Because of the beauty, ease of access, and ease of the hike, this is also a very popular hike On a typical summer weekend, the parking lot will li...

Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, Wyoming, is a remarkable destination known for its steamy mineral waters, dramatic travertine terraces, and deeply rooted cultural history Located in the heart of Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin, this state park is home to one of the world’s largest mineral hot springs The park features a free public bathhouse where you can soak in the naturally heated waters, believed for centuries to have healing properties Beyond the hot springs, the park has trails, bison viewing, picnic areas, an...

Though the nearby Jurassic National Monument is known for its dinosaur fossils, the road to the monument passes near a couple of excellent rock art sites One of the rock art sites is in what climbers call the Triassic Bouldering Area, while the other is in a nearby wash to the south Visiting the rock art panels is an walk suitable for most With a high clearance vehicles, both sites over very short walks In a low clearance vehicle, it is a 2-3 mile outing on easy terrain We enjoyed the rock art immensely, but also t...

Two things really impressed me about Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, near Alamo, Nevada The first is that the refuge offers free camping, with small developed sites that each offer great shoreline access to Upper Pahranagat Lake I was surprised to find free developed camping less than an hour and a half from Las Vegas, and happy to be able to find a site on Thanksgiving day though the campground filled up by the end of the day The second thing I thought was really cool was how the refuge pays tribute to and in...

If you are looking for a remote section of the Needles District to visit, Davis Canyon is a good choice The canyon is situated on the eastern boundary of the park, requiring a high-clearance four-wheel drive to visit On our visit, no one had signed into the register in a month, and we saw no recent signs of visitation The canyon itself is home to the Five Faces Panel, a stunning pictograph panel It also has several ruins and granaries to visit, including Log Ruin, a unique ruin that has a large structure built out ...