Wiregrass Canyon, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, May 2021 Highly weathered and rimmed with chalky hoodoos, natural arches, and tafoni, Wiregrass Canyon is an intriguing side drainage in southern Utah’s Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The relatively-accessible canyon eventually empties into Glen Canyon and (what’s left of) the reservoir at Lake Powell. Those wishing to …
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Buckskin Gulch, Paria Canyon - Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, May 2021 Stretching for more than a dozen miles through south-central Utah, the dark, undulating narrows of Buckskin Gulch are a sight to behold, a wonder of the American Southwest. Considered to be the longest slot canyon in the world, Buckskin Gulch is part of the Paria …
Continue reading Buckskin Gulch via Wire Pass (Paria Canyon – Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, UT)
Crown Lake, Hoover Wilderness, July 2020 Well, what a strange year it has been. In the early days of 2020, it was hard to imagine that, by March, much of the world would be dealing with a global pandemic that would take the lives of millions and usher in lockdowns, mask mandates, and economic recessions. …
Grand Wash, Capitol Reef National Park, August 2020 After more than five years away, yours truly finally had the chance to return to Capitol Reef National Park in central Utah, where I spent a lovely winter as a seasonal interpretive volunteer. Having effectively already covered all the hikes in the park in previous posts (see …
The Peekaboo Loop Trail via Bryce Point is a challenging stem-and-loop hike through some of Bryce Canyon's most spectacular hoodoo landscapes.
Short but strenuous loop hike amid hoodoos, colorful hillsides, and towering spires in the Red Canyon area of Dixie National Forest
Having finally completed the backlog of blog posts from my four months in Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park, I’ve decided to roll out a whole new reference titled the “Capitol Reef Trail Guide.” Here you will find a comprehensive list of trails and routes in Capitol Reef, as well as an interactive map and an …
Most hikers in Capitol Reef National Park will stick to the 15 maintained trails in the principal Fremont River District. But it is the remote and scintillating backcountry that harbors the park’s greatest gems. After last month presenting a (subjective) list of the ten best hikes in the park’s “frontcountry,” this post will outline the …
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Interstate 70, a principal artery for long-distance travelers across the United States, covers 2,153 and crosses nine state lines between Utah and Baltimore, Maryland—and most of the route, admittedly, is less than scintillating. After all, America’s mega-highways were built primarily for ease of travel, not to catch scenic views. There are a few spots where …
Less than an hour’s drive from Moab, Utah, the Island in the Sky District is the most frequented of Canyonlands National Park’s four sections. What squiggly canyons and spindly knobs are to the nearby Needles District, sweeping overlooks are to Island in the Sky. While hiking is the most encouraged activity of this blog, Island …
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Live and Let Hike 