The Grotto in Hornet Canyon is about a 275 miles round-trip hike near Farmington up Steed Canyon, then Hornet Canyon The trail is steep, narrow, and rugged On our visit, there were even a few fixed ropes on the steeper parts to help as a hand line This is a bit of a challenging hike We took our well-experienced 7-year-old on the hike, and she enjoyed it, but be prepared for steep and loose challenges Many beginner hikers might not find this trail enjoyable The grotto itself is a treat, especially on a hot day The g...

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...

Warning: This route is for experienced climbers only! All members of your group should be experienced climbers with good route finding skills Unfortunately, there have been an increasing number of rescues and injuries on the route from novice climbers or canyoneers without climbing skills getting in over their heads You should be comfortable climbing without a rope and with exposure on 56/57 ground If in doubt, come back another time when you are sure you have the skills Island In The Sky is an intricate route for ...

Part of the Great Western Trail, the hike from Big Mountain Pass to Bald Mountain is a great spring or fall outing The trail climbs from Big Mountain Pass, then again in one final steeper section up Bald Mountain, but much of the hike is gently rolling along or near ridgetops Though heavily wooded, the trail passes through many meadows and openings that give great views of the Wasatch Front along the way I enjoyed this hike more than its neighbor Big Mountain The gentler terrain and more close up views of the Wasat...

Shillelagh is a different animal than most North Wash canyons The canyon boasts bigger rappels and a much more open feel than most other North Wash area canyons If big raps are your bag, this is the place for you Most of the rappels are straightforward, and Shillelagh doesn't hold much water even after recent rains Easy and mostly dry make Shillelagh a good winter canyon or beginner friendly outing Given the big rappels, all members of the group should be comfortable rappeling This is not a good place to TEACH rapp...

Jackass Creek is a nice introduction to the Marble Canyon area It's mostly easy going, with beautiful towering walls and colors The motivated can wander up its two side forks to fill out the day a bit All-in-all, a really nice hike for those with a little rappelling experience The canyon is often done without technical gear, with hikers hand-lining down and back up the 12 m drop mid-way down to the river For my karma, I would recommend rappelling and ascending gear

I wandered into Red Canyon Chimney Valley with high hopes of finding an Entrada sandstone paradise littered with towers similar to the View Finder area just north of Hanksville Alas, I did indeed find a magical valley littered with towers Instead of being the somewhat climbable Entrada spires I had hoped for, however, they turned out to be in the much more difficult, loose, and scary Moenkopi formation Above both my skill level and interest level to try and climb, the area still makes a great day hike into a very s...

Though Zion was frequently inhabited by Native Americans long before modern man found its wonders, few visitors to Zion notice the signs and evidence of these first settlers Petroglyph Canyon offers a very short hike, accessible to most, to a petroglyph panel just off the highway The panel is in good shape and has various designs along a fairly long stretch of the canyon wall Note: Petroglyphs are rare and protected by the Archaeological Resources Protection Act Do not touch, scratch, or vandalize the panels in any...

Rainbow Basin is a colorful, twisting basin of rock formations and dirt hills The area is so unique it has been designated a National Natural Landmark The geology of the area is interesting, but the basin is also well known for its large fossil beds from the Miocene era 12 to 16 million years ago We visited while passing through the area hoping for a nice scenic drive The drive is lovely but hiking in the basin turned out to be the highlight for us The softer layers of rock erode quickly, making dramatic walls and ...

A short approach, short exit, and amazing slot section, what more could a canyoneer ask for This short outing is technically very straightforward and suited for all canyoneers It provides a good introduction before the more challenging West Fork of Big Spring, just down the road The short and casual nature make this a good choice for an evening route after doing something else during the day As of 2022, the canyon now contains a keeper pothole Be prepared for keeper pothole escape!