Taylor Creek, or Middle Taylor Creek as it is also called, is a very scenic hike in the Kolob Section of Zion National Park The hike visits two historic cabins, as well as an exquisite deep walled canyon Though the hike ends at Double Arch Alcove, don't be fooled like I was In this case, arch means closed arch, not a true open arch Even with the deceptive naming, this is a good hike, and highly recommended The hike is very exposed to the full sun to the first cabin, then gets a bit more shaded In full summer, the f...

Starting near the Sunglow Campground, this is a hike I would highly recommend The hike, just outside of Capitol Reef, allows dogs and offers similar scenery to the park If you're traveling in the area with a pet and looking to hike or just trying to get off the beaten path, this is a good choice The hike meanders up from the canyon bottom to big views amongst towering Wingate Sandstone walls Once on the mesa top, Boulder Mountain and Bicknell Bottoms offer a striking contrast to the desert sandstone Hikers return t...

Note: This is recommended for advanced canyoneers ONLY! This route requires substantial rope work including ascending and passing re-belays Experts only! Without the proper skills and equipment, a group can easily become stuck in Lower Echo and require rescue Ok, enough with the warning This is a lovely canyon for the expert canyoneer The park service does not allow making the final rappel from Echo Canyon down to Weeping Rock for visitor safety concerns, so you have to re-ascend the canyon Re-ascending is physical...

Willow Lake is a great short outing in Big Cottonwood Canyon that takes you through aspen forest to a small lake with great views of the ridgeline between big and little Cottonwood Canyons This is a gorgeous area to visit in the fall when the leaves are at their peak, a good short backpack, and an ideal outing for the whole family The hike does start out steep and rocky, though, so plan to take your time in the way up The lake is mostly on forest service land, but the majority of the hike goes through the willow he...

The founders of Metropolis, by choosing such a grand name, clearly had big plans for their city! In 1910, Harry L Pierce of the Pacific Reclamation Company purchased 40,000 acres for the site of Metropolis His vision for the city was that it would become the hub of the farming region By 1912, Metropolis was off to a good start The company had built an amusement hall, post office, school, train depot, and hotel The hotel was top of the line for the time, with hot and cold water in every room, central heating, and an...

I am always amazed by the determination and vision of the first cattle ranchers in southern Utah They carved out paths that required an incredible amount of work and vision to become passable by horse and livestock From a distance it is easy to pause and think "no way that is passable," yet a trail was created and used! This hike follows the Great Western Trail for a short distance, then an old stock trail that is now an official forest service trail The route climbs from the lowlands near Bicknell Bottoms to the r...

Blind Lake is the largest and deepest lake on Boulder Mountain The lake is a reservoir created by the Forrest Service in the early 1900s, but there is not much evidence of that construction now Today, Blind Lake is a spectacular high mountain lake tucked below the cliffs that make up the summit plateau of Boulder Mountain The lake is a popular fishing destination and is said to contain some of the largest fish in the area The deep turquoise waters are lovely The area also contains Pear Lake, Beaver Dam Reservoir, a...

I should preface my description of Saratoga Inlet / Lehi Hot Springs by admitting I have high standards when it comes to hot springs I want something that is the perfect temperature, odor free, with a scenic view, not crowded, and I wouldn't mind warm towel service when I am done! Saratoga Hot Springs, a short distance from both Salt Lake City and Utah Valley seems like an idyllic setting for a quick getaway with the family on a stormy Sunday morning I found the hot springs a bit disappointing The pool is good size...

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...

Honeycomb Fork is one of the more scenic side canyons of Big Cottonwood Canyon Though the lower section is heavily forested, once some elevation is gained, there are several picturesque alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers and tucked near the base of the Honeycomb Cliffs The trail sees a bit of bike traffic, though it seems less visited than many of the other hikes in Big Cottonwood It is an excellent place to get away from the crowds Though a lovely hike, this is a steep hike The first 15-ish miles to Silver For...