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...

In the southeastern corner of the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park lies Horse Canyon, a remote and rugged corridor where the deep-red sandstone of the high desert meets the traces of ancient civilizations This is a place a friend recommended to me years ago When I finally visited, I found it strikingly beautiful The geology and colors are stunning, but add in the rock art and ruins, and it is a remarkably special place Unlike the more accessible paved overlooks of the park, Horse Canyon is a backcountr...

Professor Creek, with it's easy access and flowing stream, is a premier destination on a hot summer day in Moab, providing you make the approach in the morning The route is not-very-technical, with much more hiking than technical terrain If you are looking for a highly technical adventure, look elsewhere If a beautiful hike with a spectacular waterfall is what you have in mind, you have found what you are looking for Note: For the non-technical, hiking to the falls and returning is a nice day hike This can be pleas...

Rochester Art Panel may be the premier rock art panel in the San Rafael Swell A short approach, scenic location, and a plethora of art make this a great destination for all The panel is believed to include figures from the prehistoric Fremont culture, as well as much more recent additions that included depictions of horses Sadly there is some graffiti of the panels, but overall the quality of the petroglyphs are excellent It is easy while visiting the panel, to imagine ancient cultures meeting in the same spot, wit...

The Wedge Overlook, standing proudly high above the San Rafael River, is one of the premier attractions of the Northern San Rafael Swell The gorge also goes by the name "Little Grand Canyon" as it has some resemblance to the Grand Canyon This is an easy roadside attraction not to be missed by the Swell aficionado The area has many designated camping sites, and pit toilets, but does not have water available It is a fantastic place for mountain bikers, ATV's, or families to camp with some of the best sunsets and sunr...

This has to be one of the premier hikes in the Bluff and Mexican Hat area The hike descends an old wagon road, and visits several ruins en route to the river At the river, a large petroglyph panel provides the cherry on top of a great hike This panel, the River Panel, is very large, and well preserved An easy hike, this suitable to most and one that the family will enjoy It can be done year around, but is hot in the summer Fall is a sublime time to visit Note, the ruins are in fair shape Please do not disturb them ...

This is one of the premier non-technical slot hikes in Escalante, second only to Peekaboo and Spooky/Brimstone in my mind The slot sections, in Wingate, are stunning Even the non-slot portions of the hike offer great views and are enjoyable What is the catch Though often done as a day hike, this is a very long day hike The map ballparks it about about 17 miles, though when it was all said and done, my GPS put it at about 20 with all the twists and bends This is well suited to fit, experienced hikers wanting to do a...

Secret Lake, or Cecret Lake as it is also known, is one of the premier wildflower hikes in Little Cottonwood The hike is short, family-friendly, and usually bursting with color during wildflower season At about a mile round trip, this is a hike even young children can likely do part or most of and have a good time Older children will love clambering around on the small boulders that line the trail The lake is situated at the base of Sugarloaf Peak and Devils Castle, which provide a stunning background to its crysta...

Topaz Mountain, located in Utah’s remote western desert, is a premier destination for rock hounds seeking the state’s official gemstone—topaz This rugged, sunbaked landscape offers a unique opportunity to find beautifully faceted amber-colored topaz crystals, which naturally fade to a clear or pale blue hue when exposed to sunlight The area, part of the Thomas Range, is well known for its rich deposits of topaz, as well as other minerals such as bixbyite, garnet, and red beryl On our visit, I was surprised at how e...

Lower Comb Wash is a place with immense history The spot is at the junction of Comb Ridge and the San Juan River, a natural spot that funnels traffic in the area through a small region Native American lived and likely grew crops on the fertile banks of the San Juan River House Ruin, tucked into an alcove on the south end of Comb Ridge, is one of the most impressive ruins in the region and fascinating to visit East of River House Ruin, the cliffs have numerous petroglyph panels, including the famous Kachina Panel Th...