Chris Engelsman

The rock domes and slickrock around the campsites provide fun for young and old to scramble on, or simply enjoy the sunrise or sunset. Located just outside of the town of Moab Utah is the Sand Flats Recreation Area. The area is managed jointly by the Bureau of Land Management and Grand County Utah so State and Federal Park passes are not accepted.  From the town of Moab, take East Mill Creek Ro...

The Dry Fork Trailhead at the end of Weber Canyon Rd is the starting point for the hike to Round, Sand, and Fish Lakes in the Uinta Mountains of Utah. In the early spring and summer, this trail can be wet due to snowmelt runoff, but by mid-summer, it dries out and is a fantastic hike. The trail is rocky and a constant climb so you have to pay attention to your foot placement so that you don't t...

Clayton Peak is approximately 1.5 miles from Guardsman Pass (3 miles round trip), and you'll gain about 1,600 feet of climbing.  There is parking on top of the pass, but it fills up quickly with hikers and mountain bikers during peak season as this serves as the trailhead for Bloods Lake, Jupiter Peak, and Crest Trail.  From the parking lot, head south on the trail following the ridge. You'll s...

The hike to Fire Lake starts at the Crystal Lake Trailhead just off the Mirror Lake Highway in the Uinta mountains. The main trailhead parking lot fills up quickly on weekends since it serves multiple trail options. If it’s full, no need to worry, there is an overflow lot down the road.  The trail to Fire Lake heads almost due west from the trailhead and passes numerous lakes. At 2 miles you’ll...

The RTS trail at Utah's Olympic Park (ski jumping, bobsled, skeleton, and luge), is a fantastic beginner-to-intermediate trail. Since it's a short loop at only 2.6 miles and 366 feet of elevation gain, it's perfect for kids and beginners. Most of the sections are smooth dirt that winds through aspen groves and meadows. The lower trail has a few more rocks - just enough for beginners to test the...

The Mount Werner Trail starts at the Blackleaf Canyon Trailhead in the Montana front range of the Rocky Mountains. On a side note, Blackleaf Canyon is also a popular rock climbing area. On the trail, you'll walk along Blackleaf Creek, and Muddy Creek so water will be available during the hike in case you bring your filter/purifier. As you hike, you'll see magnificent views of the Bob Marshall W...

The North Shore Rivers Edge Trail East is a moderate trail that has been created mostly by the local biking associations. The trail follows the bluffs on the edge of the river with plenty of twists and turns to keep it interesting.  To access the East section of the North Shore Rivers Edge trail, you can start at either the Ryan Dam Trailhead, or the Sulphur Springs Trailhead near Morony Dam. F...

McMillan Springs Campground is south of Hanksville, Utah and within the Henry Mountains, which run north and south between Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks.  Situated at 8,400 feet, McMillan Springs Campground has moderate temperatures and is managed by the BLM, so fees are donation based. The campground has 15 spots, two outhouse toilets, and water. As of June 2017, they were updat...

Due to the cold water being released from the bottom of Holter Lake, it creates excellent habitat for trout. The section of the Missouri River from Holter Dam to Cascade, MT is the main area for trout fishing, and has excellent access to the river.  This section of river runs through the valley with sparsely forested hillsides. Montana Fishing Permits  $10 conservation license (non-resident age...

The Kings Hill Pass Trail is located off Highway 89 in the Little Belt Mountains of the Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest. Kings Hill is considered a scenic byway and climbs to an elevation just over 7,200 feet at the pass.  Kings Hill Pass Trail is considered a more difficult trail and sees little traffic. The trail is available for activities all year long. In the winter you can snowsh...

With it's easy access from Rodney Street, Rodney Ridge Trail is a locals favorite. The trail heads up the ridge and provides fantastic views of Helena below.  The trail is rated as moderate, and is used primarily for mountain biking and hiking. Dogs are allowed, so, you'll most like encounter a 4-legged furry friend on the trail.  From Rodney Ridge Trail, you can link up to a whole bunch of oth...

As you head south on Hwy 89 south of I-70 in central Utah, you wind through a picturesque canyon along the Sevier River. As the canyon opens up, Big Rock Candy Mountain's caramel colored hillside comes into full view. The caramel color is a stark contrast to the other mountains covered in pinion pines.  Back in 1928, Harry McClintock recorded the song "Big Rock Candy Mountain" shortly after tha...

Mount Ellen is considered an Ultra Prominent Peak. What's that you may ask? Well, Ultra Prominent Peaks are determined by how high the summit rises above its surroundings. Rising 5,812 feet above the desert floor with a summit elevation of 11,527 feet, Mount Ellen is the third most prominent peak in Utah behind #2 Mount Peale in the La Sal Range, and #1 Kings Peak in the Uinta Mountains. In cas...

Berthoud Pass is 55 miles from Denver making it one of the closest places to get out and backcountry tour in the winter. At 11,370 Berthoud Pass crosses the continental divide. From the top of the pass you can do shuttle runs down the south side of the pass. Or, you can venture on the East or West side of the road and do out and backs. Down the pass towards Winter Park is the Current Creek pull...

Neat Coulee is a slot canyon in Central Montana that was formed by water erosion of the white sandstone cliffs. To get to the Neat Coulee, you'll need to do a river trip. The nearest put-in in Coal Banks Landing. You could exit the river at Hole in the Rock road, but most people continue on to Judith Landing.From the Eagle Creek Campground, it's about a .9 mile hike to the entrance of the slot ...

Castle Rock Campground is located within Utah's Fremont Indian State Park just off Interstate 70, which according to the camp host, is a favorite place to camp for people traveling between California and Colorado.  At 6,200 feet in elevation, the temps are manageable in the summer, and the large cottonwood trees and bushes provide shade from the sun and privacy from your neighbors. Castle Rock ...

There are multiple trailheads to access the Pipe Dream trail in Moab. This time we chose to start at the Jackson Street parking area and rode the pipeline trail south for approximately 3-miles. This section of trail is a 2-track road that follows, you guessed it, the gas pipeline. It climbs around 730 feet with a punchy climb within the first 1/4 mile.  At the Hidden Valley Trailhead, you'll tu...

To get to Daly Canyon, just continue up Main Street in Park City. The road turns to dirt soon after the last house and a gate is closed across the road not far beyond that.  Hiking, biking, or jogging up the old road you'll have the stream to your left and about a 1/4 mile up you'll see the old Judge Mine buildings that are being preserved. If you continue farther you'll reach the base of Deer ...

The soaring limestone cliffs and ledges mark the Belt Creek Canyon. Back in the day, this area in the Little Belt Mountains was a haven for mining. Now, the old railroad bed serves as the main access route of Sluice Boxes State Park. Sluice Boxes State Park was established in 1970 and consists of the northern most 8-miles of Belt Creek Canyon. In the park, you can find old mines and cabins. Hik...

Experience solitude and beauty at Little Creek Mesa Utah. When you get there, grab a campsite, and go for an evening mountain bike ride along the rim of the mesa and see breathtaking views of the valley below as the sun sets.  Little Creek Mesa is located 22 miles from Hurricane, Utah and only 8 miles from state highway 59. It's directly south of its cousin, Gooseberry Mesa, but with fewer peop...

If you are looking to ride one of Moab's famed mountain bike trails, then look no further than the Portal Trail. It's a short 2-mile trail that starts on the rim above the Colorado River and descends 1,388.  To access the Portal Trail you can take a shuttle from town to the top of the Magnificent 7/Gemini Bridges trail system and there are multiple shuttle services (Coyote, Poison Spider, Moab ...

Rob's Trail is a perennial favorite among Park City locals for year-round hiking, trail running, or mountain biking. The trail is primarily an out-and-back, but it if you go a bit further it can be combined with other trails to create a loop. The trail meanders through aspen and pine trees on the north side of the hill and is fairly wide in terms of a hiking trail. On hot summer days the trees ...

The easiest way to start this hiking only trail is to jump on the Red Pine Gondola at the Canyons Village of Park City Mountain Resort. If you have an Epic Pass, the lift is free. Otherwise, you'll need to buy a ticket to ride to the base of Red Pine Lodge.  From the base of Red Pine Lodge (8,000 feet) head south past the Saddleback chair lift. Signs will lead you to the Tombstone trail. After ...

The trail to Duck Lake in the Uinta Mountains starts at the Crystal Lake Trailhead  and is a popular starting off point for many trails like Cliff Lake, so the parking lot fills up quickly.  Starting off, follow the signs for Long Lake. At about 1.3 miles you'll come to a junction. Follow the signs to the right leading you to Long Lake. After Long Lake, continue on the trail towards Island Lak...