Monthly Archives: February 2015

Lower Maidenwater Canyon (North Lake Powell area, UT)

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

The remote Trachyte Creek drainage system—just east of Utah’s Henry Mountains and north of Lake Powell—comprises a flurry of narrow canyons, many thin enough to form slender slots. One of the area’s best day hikes is Lower Maidenwater Canyon, easily … Continue reading →

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Fremont River Trail (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

Capitol Reef National Park’s Fremont River Trail, named for the perennial stream it follows, ends atop a windswept hill providing sweeping views of the Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile long wrinkle in the Earth’s crust accented by a panoply of colors. … Continue reading →

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Chimney Rock Trail (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

Three miles east of Capitol Reef National Park’s western boundary, the Chimney Rock Trail is the first of the park’s hikes reached by east-bound travelers on Utah’s Highway 24. While the highlight of the 3.6-mile stem-and-loop is the rock itself, … Continue reading →

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Strike Valley Overlook (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

Capitol Reef National Park features 17 distinct layers of sedimentary rock, a total that greatly surpasses a majority of parks in the American southwest. To enjoy the splendor of more than half of them, consider the short but remote hike … Continue reading →

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Bullfrog Bay slot canyon (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, UT)

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

This sinuous slot canyon may not be the deepest, the longest, or the prettiest in central Utah. Visible from Bullfrog Visitor Center near the shores of Lake Powell, however, it may be one of the most accessible—and, for the non-boating … Continue reading →

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Sunset Point Trail (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

Not surprisingly, one of the most popular questions at the Visitor Center in Capitol Reef National Park is: “Where should I go for the sunset?” Well, we have a hike for that—aptly named the “Sunset Point Trail.” This short jaunt—2/3 … Continue reading →

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Little Wild Horse Canyon and Bell Canyon (San Rafael Swell, UT)

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

As far as non-technical slot canyons go, Little Wild Horse Canyon in Utah’s San Rafael Swell is among the best of the best. Tight, picturesque narrows, sweeping sandstone domes, and honeycombed walls make Little Wild Horse the most popular hike … Continue reading →

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Pleasant Creek slot canyon (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

Most desert rats in Utah’s canyon country will know of Capitol Reef National Park’s three most prominent slot canyons: Burro Wash, Cottonwood Wash, and Sheets Gulch. They will also be familiar with the short, family-friendly narrows in nearby Headquarters Canyon. … Continue reading →

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Pleasant Creek (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

According to historical accounts, it was Almon Harris Thompson’s central Utah expedition in 1872 that gave the name to Pleasant Creek, a beautiful perennial stream now running through 242,000-acre Capitol Reef National Park. Upon discovering the rivulet on a trek … Continue reading →

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Sheets Gulch (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

Sheets Gulch constitutes one of Capitol Reef National Park’s three major slot canyon hikes on the east side of the Waterpocket Fold. Less strenuous and more diverse than its northern cousins up the road—Burro Wash and Cottonwood Wash—Sheets boasts three … Continue reading →

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