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 ...

Another of the Butler Wash ruins, Cold Springs makes a great one to visit before or after Monarch Cave since they are very close The ruins are placed at the front of a deep alcove that has a perennial spring in the back Absolutely stunning The short spur road to this one is in very bad shape, but can easily be walked The ruins are in good shape In the heat of the summer, the alcove makes a great, cool lunch spot to hang out it

Delamar, also known as “The Widowmaker”, is a ghost town in eastern Nevada The town is expansive, and thanks to its mostly masonry construction, still has quite a few walls and partial buildings to visit This is probably the most interesting ghost town I have visited You could easily spend a couple of days exploring the area History: Farmers from the Pahranagat Valley discovered gold in the late 1800s Soon after, Captain John Delamar came to the valley and purchased mining claims in the area for $150,000 in 1893 Ca...

Near Crystal Springs, Nevada sits Crystal Wash, the site of a fairly extensive rock art site The main area on the east side of Crystal Wash is thought to have been a winter habitation site for the Pahranagats, similar to the nearby Ash Springs Rock Art Site The west side has rock art as well, but does not appear to have been inhabited like the east side Crystal Wash is composed of large granite outcroppings and boulders Rock art is scattered throughout the outcroppin...

I find the Great Salt Lake a fascinating place The scenery and uniqueness of the lake are interesting, but the history and stories of the people who have tried to live and make a life there I find even more fascinating Fremont Island is one of those places on the lake that is steeped in history I had wanted to visit for several years, but visiting requires quite an effort At about 18 miles round-trip from Antelope Island and across the sandbar just to REACH the island, this is an outing for experienced outdoors peo...

The amount of rock art in and around the White River Narrows is astounding Though many panels in the area are next to a road with easy access, The Gap requires a short hike to visit Being out of the White River Narrows proper, and away from the road, this area seems to see little traffic On our visit, there were no signs of recent visits The panels here are small and not nearly as dramatic as some other nearby panels The hike to the panels and geology nearby, however, made this one of my favorite places to visit wh...

Cataract Gorge is one of the most dramatic and stunning spots in the Uinta Mountains There are many hikes in the Uintas that have excellent views of peaks or lakes high above treeline Cataract Gorge, with its beautiful crystal clear pools and falls, is one of my personal favorites even without the big mountain views Little Deer Creek Falls, just above Cataract Gorge is the cherry on top of the day VIsiting the gorge and waterfall are short, family-friendly activities and a great way to beat the summer heat The pool...

The small ranching community of Ash Springs sits along US-93 in southern Nevada The area is very sparsely populated, and typical of rural Nevada Wide open space, distant mountains, and few people Though Ash Springs is likely best known for its natural hot springs, the Ash Springs rock art site, sitting just off US-93, is a stop all rock art lovers should make if in the area The site sits on a hill, overlooking the valley below The BLM has created a short trail meandering through the boulders to visit the many panel...

Mount Irish is one of the rock art areas that Lincoln County and the BLM both publish information on Tucked up near the 8,743 ft high Mt Irish, the site is among boulder outcroppings and washes It is a large site If you are interested in rock art, it is easy to spend a day or even more wandering around looking for rock art in the boulders On my visit, I felt like I had just scratched the surface, yet still saw many fantastic glyphs and panels Pay attention to the road directions For a BLM promoted site, the route t...

Often described as "an incredible hike", the Chute of Muddy Creek is also often followed up closely by "but what a long day" This is a pretty accurate description From Tomsich Butte to Hidden Splendor is a long day hike, but is through one of the most impressive non-technical canyons in the Swell This is a must do for fit hikers It can be backpacked, but Muddy Creek is not suitable for filtering or drinking, making water availability a problem There are small springs in lower Chimney Canyon, but by that time, you a...