For the amateur paleontologist, the short hike is an excellent outing to fossilized dinosaur tracks The tracks used to be a somewhat lesser known attraction, but recent improvements including information signs, make it an easy to find and popular outing It is fascinating to realize those tracks were formed millions of years ago, and still very visible If camping in the campground, or visiting the excellent Red Reef trail, be sure to make this short side trip This is short enough it should be accessible by most Note...

As short stroll to stretch your legs as you pass by on I-70, this is a hike I have done many times over the years and always enjoy Access is easy, the hike is short, the scenery excellent, what is not to love!! The hike visits three canyons Box Spring Canyon, a short canyon typical of the desert A bit lush, and ending at a dryfall, this is the least interesting of the 3, so if you are short on time, skip it The next stop is Double Arch Canyon, an exquisite short canyon that ends at a dryfall with two large arches h...

Double Arch Canyon, along with Box and Petroglyph Canyons, is often visited by hikers as a short outing from the bottom, and is heavily promoted by Green River Tourism as a local attraction The hike up from the bottom is very good and well worth doing, but those with a little technical skill may wish to visit Double Arch as a short technical canyoneering adventure The canyoneering loop is short, but the position of the last two rappels is astounding and offers an amazing perspective on the double arches The route h...

I've camped on the rim of Iron Wash many times over the years, and always wondered what the section of the canyon below Lost Spring was like At Lost Spring, it begins cutting into the sandstone and looks potentially very interesting It turns out to be charming, but not exceptional What does make an exceptional day in lower Iron Wash Making a loop hike out of it and return up lower Ernie Canyon Though also not exceptional as far as canyons go, lower Ernie Canyon does have a pretty good petroglyph panel that is well ...

Temple Mountain has a history of Uranium mining and is littered with old mining roads, tunnels, and other artifacts Also, it has a large pictograph panel that, though weathered, is quite impressive and well worth the short stop The area near the panels has two large camping areas, with many dispersed camping areas in the area This is a must see if visiting Goblin Valley, Little Wild Horse, or any of the other sights in this part of the Swell Information about the pictographs from the sign at the site: The Temple Mo...

This small panel is downstream from the Cottonwood Wash hike, though makes for a long hike if done as one loop Visiting each separately is recommended The panel is ok, but there are many other better panels in the Swell the visit Save this one for a short visit if you happen to be in the area Access Note: The road to the Cottonwood Wash Ruins hike continues and can be used to access this hike, but is very rough in one dugway section near the spring Not recommended exc...

How many Cottonwood Washes are there in Utah I can think of many, and at least two in the San Rafael area This one is just east of UT-24 on the way to Hanksville From the highway, the area appears to be rolling sage brush plain and not particularly interesting Up close, however, the area contains several canyons, slickrock cliffs, and relics of when the ancient people passed through and lived in the area This hike meanders down Cottonwood Wash, visiting a ruin and panel en route before circling back to the car Thou...

The San Rafael Swell has a long history of mining In the early 1900s, mining for uranium and other resources was taking place at Temple Mountain, one of the iconic peaks of the Southern Swell Demand for uranium faded, and most of the mines were left dormant from the 1920s until demand grew again after World War II In the late 1940s, mining in the area boomed a second time Between the late 1940s and the 1960s, the area was overrun with miners and associated works trying to find their mother lode This second boom is ...

Note: If you are looking for rock art lower in Old Woman Wash, visit the Lower Old Woman Wash trip This hike is separated out because it is substantially more complicated and difficult than visiting the lower panel This route description is for the upper reaches of Old Woman Wash, where the pictograph panel often referred to as Unexpected Panel is Unexpected Panel is truly remarkable with interesting designs that are intricate and well done I found the panel unique an...

Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, Wyoming, is a remarkable destination known for its steamy mineral waters, dramatic travertine terraces, and deeply rooted cultural history Located in the heart of Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin, this state park is home to one of the world’s largest mineral hot springs The park features a free public bathhouse where you can soak in the naturally heated waters, believed for centuries to have healing properties Beyond the hot springs, the park has trails, bison viewing, picnic areas, an...