Dinosaur National Monument, located on the border of Utah and Colorado, is a renowned paleontological site that boasts a rich history dating back to its discovery in the early 20th century The monument's origins can be traced to 1909 when paleontologist Earl Douglass, working for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, stumbled upon a treasure trove of dinosaur fossils in the rugged canyons of the area The site quickly garnered attention from the scientific community and the public, leading to the establishment of ...

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is a great family destination The park was created in 1963, and expanded in 1972 to include shoreline on Wide Hollow ReservoirWhile visiting the park there are a full range of things to do including; canoe rentals in the summer, hot showers, full camping hook-ups, and hiking trailsTwo hiking trails in the park provide both views of the town of Escalante, as well as the petrified wood specimens The State Park is a great destination for camping Be aware visiting the petrified woo...

Wild Rose Park is an absolute gem in North Salt Lake Tucked up into the foothills, this is a great family friendly park The trailhead has toilets, picnic tables, and a playground for the kids, making it a good choice for a family picnic Those looking to get more energy out can hike one of several hikes that leave the picnic and playground areas, heading up into the foothills There are a couple of loops that are about 2 miles each but can easily be done as an out and back if looking for something shorter We have vis...

Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry is known to have the largest concentration of Jurassic dinosaur fossils ever found The quarry is located miles down a dirt road in a relatively remote location I have visited several times and have never seen more than a few other visitors If you are a dinosaur enthusiast, this is a place you want to visit The quarry has a small visitor center that has numerous examples of the types of fossils found at the quarry, and a wealth of information Near the visitor center are two large meta...

Short narrows, a pictograph panel, big views, arches, and even an optional rappel or two, what more could a canyon offer Farnsworth is a charmer, and a canyon I have visited many times over the years Visiting the lower section of the canyon, through the narrows or up to the pictograph panel, offers an easy to access outing suitable for most and a good kid friendly hike For those with a bit more energy, a jaunt up to the top of the reef offers big views and three hidden arches/bridges Still not satisfied Have some t...

While most people visit Arches National Park to see well arches, however, the Park Avenue Trail is one of my personal favorites despite its lack of arches The trail, a 1 mile "through" hike between stops on the main park road, is exquisitely lined with soaring walls and towers The scale of the scenery really makes this hike special Though you can see the entire trail from the trailhead, nothing beats actually hiking down near the towering walls Photography Note: The hike is a pleasure anytime, however, morning and ...

Kelso Dunes is likely the most visited attraction in the Mojave National Preserve The dunes encompass a massive 45 square miles with the tallest dune reaching about 650 feet 200 meters above the surrounding landscape It is the largest sand dune area in the Mojave Desert The main dune, described here, is steep, sandy, and quite beautiful! I was amazed on our mid-winter visit how many others were visiting but also making the steep loose trek to the dunes lofty summit Kids, families, and those that are young at heart ...

Bloomington was settled in 1870 when William Carpenter founded the town The town, with its location near the Virgin River and warm climate must have seemed like an idyllic spot to settle Native Americans had also visited and likely settled in the area, long before 1870 On the west side of town, at the base of Bloomington Hill, there is an area of boulders with petroglyphs left by the pre-1870 occupants of the area The Bloomington Petroglyph Park is a small park meant to preserve the rock art It is an interesting co...

Perched at 9,477' in the heart of the Bighorn National Forest, the James T Saban Lookout has sweeping views of the alpine scenery This is a stone's throw from the highway between Ten Sleep and Buffalo As one of three lookout towers in the Bighorn Mountains, I thought it was an interesting side trip while in the area and worth the short hike Reaching the tower requires a short but steep half-mile trek up Trail #070 I would rate it suitable for most, though it is a bit steep History: Originally completed in 1942 by t...

Made a national monument in 1933, Cedar Breaks National Monument encompasses a large eroded amphitheater The monument gives stunning views of the forbidden landscape below The amphitheater stretches about 3 miles wide and plunges over 2000 feet from the rim to the valley floor It is an impressive place to visit If the views remind you if nearby Bryce Canyon, it is no coincidence The geologic layers that created Bryce Canyon are the same that created Cedar Breaks, though the colors a bit more muted at Cedar Breaks T...