The Spiral Jetty was named the official state work of art by the Utah legislature in 2017 This work of art was created in the spring of 1970 by American sculptor Robert Smithson His vision of the Spiral Jetty was likely built on the north side of the Great Salt Lake to take advantage of the blood red color that predominates in the water of the very salty north arm of the Great Salt Lake where pink-tinged salt loving bacteria and algae grow Construction spanned 6 days using heavy machinery Smithson wasn't happy with...

Just south of Kanab, The Bunting Trail, part of the Kanab tail system, is a hidden gem A lovely hike with a lot to see; a dinosaur track, rock art, and expansive views The hike has a few options for distance, with the dinosaur track being the shortest I would rate the dinosaur track and a good outing for most Continuing up to the rock art and summits is a bit more strenuous, but still very approachable by most if motivated It is a popular trail, and I saw quite a few groups on my early morning visit Some seemingly ...

Catstair Canyon has a lot going on in its very short length For hikers, you can hike down from the top and visit what is referred to as the Catstair Rip-Rap, which is numerous stacked old cars used to stabilize the canyon bank for the road Hikers can then hike from the bottom up Catstair Canyon to a rock art site Are you canyoneer Well, you can combine both by descending the short canyon with a rappel or two en route I was surprised at how much we enjoyed the canyon It is an excellent canyon for hikers and canyonee...

NOTE: Both Danger and Jukebox Caves are gated and locked You can visit the outside of them, and look in through the gate, but can't go inside without being on a tour The site is owned and managed by Utah State Parks as a monument, and tours are by arrangement with a third-party I can't speak highly enough for the guided tour! It was incredibly informative and by far the best way to visit and learn about the caves As of 2024, you can find information on future caves tours here: https://metcalfarchaeologycom/danger-c...

One of the things I love about living in Salt Lake City is all of the easy access to hiking From 10,000+ foot peaks in the canyons to the many trails in the foothills, it seems there is always something new to do to meet my motivation level for the day At about 3 miles and a bit over a 1000' of gain, the Heughs Canyon trail is, in my opinion, an excellent length for an after work or early morning hike The trail starts nondescriptly in a neighborhood and then quickly begins ascending through scrub oak 15 minutes up ...

Fremont Indian State Park is one of the often-overlooked gems in Utah It is an amazing state park that anyone with an interest in Native American culture, history, or art should put high on their list to visit I have visited Nine Mile Canyon many times over the years When I finally visited Fremont Indian State Park, I was dazzled by the amount and quality of rock art lining the canyon walls To me, it was as fascinating to visit as Nine Mile Canyon, though with easier access Even on a holiday weekend, we felt we had...

Tucked up near the northern Henry Mountains, along the transition zone between the mountain and desert environments, is the Rock Corral This natural feature creates a rock "corral" that ranchers used and closed with a log fence to contain animals Long before ranchers, however, Native Americans also used the area Signs of their time at the site are found in petroglyphs they left behind, as well as one of the largest concentration of grinding areas I have seen I assume the ancient peoples collected grasses and seeds ...

Near the Colorado-Utah border on I-70 in Rabbit Valley lies The Trail Through Time The 15-mile trail is a stone's throw from I-70, but transports visitors back to the time when dinosaurs roamed the area The trail is part of the active Mygatt-Moore dinosaur quarry that has been designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern As the trail winds its way along the benches, it visits several sites where dinosaur fossils can be seen in the rock This is like most dinosaur exhibits in the wild I have visited in that t...

The Mule Hollow trail climbs about 1200' in just over a mile to the old Mule Hollow mine I could not find much information about the history of the mine, however it was surely mined in the late 1800's or very early 1900's, when mining first flourished in Big Cottonwood Canyon One can likely assume the name comes from the mules used to pack equipment up to the mine Currently this isn't much left of the site, with a couple of tracks and some metal pieces from the old camp strewn about a large tailings pile Some hunti...

Tucked away in the high plains of central Wyoming, Legend Rock is one of the state's most remarkable archaeological sites Located northwest of Thermopolis, the site stretches along a sandstone cliff face adorned with hundreds of ancient petroglyphs These intricate carvings - some towering several feet in height - offer a window into the lives, beliefs, and artistic expressions of Native peoples who lived in the region long before written history Legend Rock is particularly well-known for its association with the Di...