Dude Benchmark BM is a USGS benchmark above City Creek Canyon that is becoming a popular hike The ridgeline melts out early in the spring when other hikes are still under snow and stays snow free late into the fall, making it a good early/late season hike It can be hiked much of the winter as long as there isn’t too much snow Being one to enjoy long ridge hikes, the route I recommend below is longer than most, but sees a lot of terrain! It is a lovely amble along a seemingly endless ridge It will test your fitness,...

Viewfinder Towers is the roadside attraction spot I have stopped most at in the Swell The spot is named for the roadside pullout with sight tubes viewfinders setup to point out many of the landmarks surrounding Hanksville It is a great spot to stop and get oriented with some of the major mountains and features of the area Many stop, view the landmarks, and take a quick glance at the entrada sandstone towers in the valley surrounding the stop, and move on That was likely my introduction to Viewfinder Towers so many ...

If there is a more idyllic hot spring in Nevada than Hot Creek, I have yet to visit it! The hot springs are only about 85 degrees Fahrenheit, so possibly not a good place to visit in the dead of winter, but excellent in spring, fall, and summer This peaceful place, in the wide open White River Valley, is a gem Hot Creek Springs and Marsh was designated a National Landmark in 1972 The hot springs, besides having a lovely boulder lined pool area we humans enjoy, are also home to the Moorman White River Springfish tha...

I think Smith Creek Lakes are some of the prettiest lakes in the northern Wasatch The three lakes, nestled below the ridgeline between Francis and Thurston peaks, seem to cling to the side of the mountain, with craggy slopes and a dramatic skyline above It is a lovely place, particularly in wild flower season when the hills are awash with color There are even a few small primitive campsites near the lakes, but they can fill up on busy fall weekends What is the catch to visiting this lovely area Well, it either invo...

Moonshine Arch is one of the most popular hikes in the Vernal area that is outside of Dinosaur National Monument The impressive arch spans a length of 85 feet and a height of 40 feet It is a stunning and unique in the area Trail Note: The trail to the arch is a multi-use trail, and you are likely to encounter OHVs on the trail as well as the occasional jeep type vehicle The trail is difficult enough, I would not recommend driving it unless in an OHV or modified four-wheel drive vehicle The trail, since it is a mult...

Rising majestically above Utah Valley, Mount Timpanogos is one of the most beloved and iconic peaks in the Wasatch Range Standing at 11,752 feet, it draws hikers from across the state and beyond with its sweeping alpine meadows, cascading waterfalls, and panoramic summit views stretching from the Great Salt Lake to the Uinta Mountains Though a big outing, “Timp” rewards the effort with unforgettable scenery and a true sense of mountain grandeur Two main trails lead to the summit, each offering a distinct experience...

The Bonanza Flat Loop Trial Trail has a few things going against it The trail is only open three months of the year, parking can be a nightmare, and as a hiker you have to contend with a constant stream of mountain bikers So what makes this trail so popular The answer was clear when I went in late September—the amazing fall colors! If you are patient and want to see some stunning aspen in all their yellow and orange, this is a hike worth doing Logistics There is limited parking at Bonanza Flat and it isn’t uncommon...

Two of us did this canyon on 9/5/22 Some recent evidence of flooding, but route guide seems correct still Get someone to shuttle you to the trailhead, as Weeping Rock route is still closed Download the GPX file and upload it into your preferred GPS maps program This makes it SUPER easy not to get the wrong entrance location GAIA was my preferred program on iOS, download the small file to my computer, go into GAIA online and upload it to my account and save the files and once I sync my GAIA app in settings, shazam, ...

I switched from an iOS to Android or vice-versa, where are my purchases? Google and Apple both manage the area licenses independently (so they get a cut of the revenue in exchange for taking care of all the technical details of who has a license, verification, etc..). I don't have visibility of who owns which license, or any way to transfer licenses between the two systems. Purchases don't transfer between Apple and Google, only between devices of the same os. What format are t...

"There is an exquisite charm in our ride to-day down this beautiful canyon It gradually grows deeper with every mile of travel; the walls are symmetrically curved and grandly arched, of a beautiful color, and reflected in the quiet waters in many places so as almost to deceive the eye and suggest to the beholder the thought that he is looking into profound depths" -John Wesley Powell, Canyons of the Colorado I can think of no better introduction to Labyrinth Canyon than the imagery Powell conjures up in his descrip...