In 1888, when some of the first pioneers visited the north end of the Great Salt Lake, the springs at Locomotive Springs where flowing with such force, that the pioneers named them Locomotive Springs for their thunderous sound Today, the area is managed as a waterfowl management area WMA as it is a critical habitat for migratory birds Drought and ground water pumping for agriculture have reduced the springs by as much as 80% of what they were in the 1960s There are still ponds and wetlands, but much smaller than th...

Lone Warrior Pictograph is one of my favorite pictograph panels in the Swell I will admit to generally having tastes that lean toward minimalistic design This single red warrior with its shield, spear, and other intricacies stands out in the sea of sandstone that surrounds it In my opinion, it is a stunning work of art My compliments go to its creator! I would love to know if the artist was a warrior, or perhaps the partner of a warrior, or aspiring warrior With easy access, good camping nearby, and terrific scener...

Monarch Cave was one of my first introductions to the world of Ancestral Puebloan ruins on Cedar Mesa back in the 1990s, and after decades of exploring the region, I still consider it one of the absolute best For those new to the area, I recommend Monarch Cave as a first stop Like most of the ruins along Butler Wash, the hike is relatively short, usually 1-2 hours round trip It offers a high reward-to-effort ratio I have returned many times since my first visit in the 90s, and it remains the primary site I use when...

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...

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...