The hike to Long Lake along the Smith and Morehouse trail is a casual outing with only one short section of elevation gain before reaching the lake For a more adventurous outing, those with good navigation skills can make the trip into a semi-loop, route finding to Weir Lake and Marjorie Lake from Long Lake This will take you by an interesting and seldom seen waterfall and series of pools which for me was the highlight of the hike Walking the short distance from Long Lake to Long Pond is also a worthwhile side trip...

When looking for a long, off-the-beaten-path loop in Capitol Reef National Park, Little Sand Flat caught my eye The attraction, for me, was an old and overgrown track that had been used at one time to drill an exploratory well The track provides an easy-to-follow path from the Cathedral Valley road deep into an obscure and seldom visited northern area of the park The hike did not disappoint! Diverse geology, stunning views, the historic road, and seemingly endless solitude made for an excellent day out Though I had...

This short hike takes you to several interesting petroglyph panels and provides nice views of a very pretty section of the Virgin River Gorge The two largest panels have interesting geometric shapes interspersed with people and animals; one is a large boulder that stands on its own and the second sits on a ledge like a large writing slate This route would make a good place to stretch your legs on a journey along Highway 15, and the two route options will allow folks to stop whether they are heading north or south I...

If it weren't for the difficulties required to reach the trailhead, Rock Canyon would be one I would recommend much more highly As it is, the 1+ hour of sand driving will deter all but those with some decent driving skills and a capable 4wd Having grown up on a steady diet of Dukes of Hazard reruns, I will admit I found the sand sections, banked turns, and whoop de doos a lot of fun! The canyon is short, and easy access once you get to the trailhead A few rappels, a riparian section, and a pretty good petroglyph pa...

"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...

In 1888, when some of the first pioneers visited the north end of the Great Salt Lake, the springs at Locomotive Springs where flowing with such force, that the pioneers named them Locomotive Springs for their thunderous sound Today, the area is managed as a waterfowl management area WMA as it is a critical habitat for migratory birds Drought and ground water pumping for agriculture have reduced the springs by as much as 80% of what they were in the 1960s There are still ponds and wetlands, but much smaller than th...

McDonald Creek, part of the McInnis Canyon National Conservation Area, is a lovely hike that meanders down to the Colorado River This is a fairly diverse hike, starting up in the open flats and slowly working down through sandstone layers before reaching the Colorado River in the picturesque Ruby Canyon En route, a very short slot and a couple of rock art sites, adding cherries to the top of an already great hike Note: The area around McDonald Creek has grown immensely in popularity in the last few years, leading t...

The Great Chamber is one enormous alcove! Situated at Cutler Point northeast of Kanab, the immense alcove has a dune at its entrance and has become very popular recently with visitors and guide companies for the dramatic views It is a pretty magical place Reaching the Great Chamber is a bit of a challenge The hike is short, but the drive to the trailhead is on very sandy roads Driving Notes: This is an adventure you will need a true high clearance 4-wheel-drive and some off-road driving experience The deep sand cov...

Just south of the small town of Caliente in the southeast side of Nevada is Rainbow Canyon The canyon has towering walls and is beautiful In addition to its natural beauty, the canyon has a long and varied history There are several rock art sites along the canyon, as well as more modern ranches, a railroad, a state park, and a historic schoolhouse This is a place that still feels wild and remote! The road is paved, but has rough spots and is prone to flooding I visited in the winter and had a couple of sections of ...

At 7921ft 2414 meters the San Rafael Knob is the highest point in the Swell The hike to the base is easy, the climb fairly moderate, and the summit breathtaking The San Rafael Knob is a must do for any Swell explorer