One of the highest road in Utah, the Skyline Drive is an incredibly scenic dirt road traversing the spine of the Wasatch Plateau The route has many options, with many opportunities for shorter outings The route described here clocks in at just over 100 miles with all but a few of those miles on dirt There are 2 sections to the Skyline Drive, North Skyline and South Skyline The north section, from Tucker in Spanish Fork Canyon to UT-264, is a little lower in elevation at about 9,000 ft and a more maintained gravel r...

I think Smith Creek Lakes are some of the prettiest lakes in the northern Wasatch The three lakes, nestled below the ridgeline between Francis and Thurston peaks, seem to cling to the side of the mountain, with craggy slopes and a dramatic skyline above It is a lovely place, particularly in wild flower season when the hills are awash with color There are even a few small primitive campsites near the lakes, but they can fill up on busy fall weekends What is the catch to visiting this lovely area Well, it either invo...

Coyote Gulch is one of, if not thee, premier canyon in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument The canyon, emblematic of the beauty of the Escalante region, is often near the top of desert hikers and backpackers bucket lists This is a canyon that has astounding beauty and charm, with seemingly each bend of the canyon revealing a scene to marvel at Arches, waterfalls, cavernous alcoves, rock art, and a plethora of color make this an amazing journey Because of its iconic status, the canyon sees many visitors and ...

If there is a more idyllic hot spring in Nevada than Hot Creek, I have yet to visit it! The hot springs are only about 85 degrees Fahrenheit, so possibly not a good place to visit in the dead of winter, but excellent in spring, fall, and summer This peaceful place, in the wide open White River Valley, is a gem Hot Creek Springs and Marsh was designated a National Landmark in 1972 The hot springs, besides having a lovely boulder lined pool area we humans enjoy, are also home to the Moorman White River Springfish tha...

Glitter Mountain, also known as the Old Gypsum Crystal Mine, is a popular spot near St George, Utah, known for its sparkling gypsum crystals It's an old mining site where gypsum was extracted, and now visitors can explore and collect some of the naturally occurring crystals Blm Site Information Glitter Mine Please Respect This Active Mining Claim History of the Glitter Mine The “Glitter Mine” is an active mining claim issued by the Bureau of Land Management BLM governed by the General Mining Act of 1872, as amended...

Dude Benchmark BM is a USGS benchmark above City Creek Canyon that is becoming a popular hike The ridgeline melts out early in the spring when other hikes are still under snow and stays snow free late into the fall, making it a good early/late season hike It can be hiked much of the winter as long as there isn’t too much snow Being one to enjoy long ridge hikes, the route I recommend below is longer than most, but sees a lot of terrain! It is a lovely amble along a seemingly endless ridge It will test your fitness,...

Rising majestically above Utah Valley, Mount Timpanogos is one of the most beloved and iconic peaks in the Wasatch Range Standing at 11,752 feet, it draws hikers from across the state and beyond with its sweeping alpine meadows, cascading waterfalls, and panoramic summit views stretching from the Great Salt Lake to the Uinta Mountains Though a big outing, “Timp” rewards the effort with unforgettable scenery and a true sense of mountain grandeur Two main trails lead to the summit, each offering a distinct experience...

A friend and I did this canyon yesterday and I feel that the difficulty of the Moki exit is a bit understated The climbing isn't that difficult though it may very well rate higher than 55 in my opinion Aside from difficulty one also has to factor in a certain level of fatigue from spending a long day in the canyon and the amount of exposure on the climb I was able to free solo the exit and then belay my friend up but I seriously have to wonder how someone with little climbing experience would have made it I feel th...

04/17/2014-We had great weather when we did this canyon! It certainly starts off with a bang- fine for me but a few fairly new canyoneers in my group who were afraid of heights who struggled with the first rappel If you take "beginners" make sure they are comfortable with heights, or they will question why they joined you! When we went some of the webbing was starting to get worn- will probably return in the fall with a small group to replace a lot of webbing The fourth rappel following the two stage has been bolte...

Overall we would consider this not only shorter than Not Mindbender but also easier A "beginner-friendly" canyon if they can handle the final, big, free rappel, which is quite spectacular Very few technical section with longer stretches of canyon walking The only real problems are at the rappels/drops