Tag Archives: spire

Devil’s Garden (Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, UT)

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

For the geologically-minded, the Hole-in-the-Rock Road in Utah’s vast Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument provides access to extraordinary cuts and sluices in the Navajo sandstone (e.g., Peekaboo & Spooky slot canyons, Coyote Gulch), dating to the early Jurassic Period. These canyons—tributaries … Continue reading →

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The Castle Trail (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

Visible from just outside the Visitor Center, the cragged hunk of ochre-colored Wingate sandstone known as “the Castle” is one of Capitol Reef National Park’s iconic landmarks. The monument’s blocky façade—the only surface seen by the vast majority of visitors—disguises … Continue reading →

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Lower Muley Twist Canyon – Upper Section (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

With sweeping alcoves and towering walls, Lower Muley Twist Canyon has become one of Capitol Reef National Park’s most popular backpacking destinations. To the ambitious, it can also be conquered in a couple of lengthy day hikes—though an overnight is … Continue reading →

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Chesler Park Loop Trail, including Joint Trail (Canyonlands National Park, UT)

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

The Needles District in eastern Utah’s Canyonlands National Park features a maze of towering pinnacles, winding canyons, and mushroom rocks—and the Chesler Park Loop winds through perhaps the best of it. The roughly 11-mile stem-and-loop circumnavigates a grassy plain flanked … Continue reading →

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Nature Trail (Kodachrome Basin State Park, UT)

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

Though not the most beautiful—nor the most diverse—hike in the area, the short, self-guided Nature Trail at Kodachrome Basin State Park is the most accessible, making this the best option for aging travelers, families with small children, and visitors in … Continue reading →

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Angel’s Palace Trail (Kodachrome Basin State Park, UT)

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

Like many places in Utah, the ragged badlands and towering spires of Kodachrome Basin State Park are best viewed and photographed in the late afternoon. At Kodachrome, the perfect spot to watch the evening sun wane over the basin (especially … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare Arch and the Sentinel Trail (Kodachrome Basin State Park, UT)

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

Amid a landscape of wrinkling badlands and mysterious spires, Shakespeare Arch is the only significant natural arch in Utah’s Kodachrome Basin State Park. The loop hike described here offers a short, pleasant walk out to the hidden arch, accented by … Continue reading →

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Grand Parade Trail (Kodachrome Basin State Park, UT)

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

Kodachrome Basin State Park’s Grand Parade Trail is a short, pleasant loop along a wide, sandy trail with minimal elevation gain—making this hike good for families with children. The distinctive geological feature of Kodachrome Basin is the park’s collection of … Continue reading →

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The Motorman (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

After a failed attempt earlier this month when I unintentionally ended up at a higher, more distant point, I returned to the area two weeks later seeking out a rock feature known as “The Motorman” in western Capitol Reef National … Continue reading →

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Panorama Trail (Kodachrome Basin State Park, UT)

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Andrew Wojtanik

At approximately 50-70,000 people per year, visitation at Kodachrome Basin State Park in southern Utah clocks in at just around 3% of its ever-popular neighbor’s up the road—Bryce Canyon—which absorbs nearly two million visitors annually. Though not as striking as … Continue reading →

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