Sam Watson

The Bonneville Salt Flats are unlike anywhere else in the world. Imagine a brilliantly white landscape so flat that you can see the curvature of the earth, coupled with distant mountain peaks rising in the distance. This alien world is one of the most incredible destinations Utah has to offer, and it is accessible right from the comfort of your car.The Bonneville Salt Flats are located just nor...

Red Pine Lake, located in Red Pine Fork of the Wasatch Mountains, is one of the premier hiking and backpacking destinations in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Red Pine Fork is sandwiched in between White Pine Fork and Maybird Gulch to the east and west, respectively. All three are accessed via the White Pine Trailhead, about 5.5 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon on its south side. The trailhead featu...

The Red Castle is a stunning formation of crumbling red rock that rises around several small lakes, high in the Uinta Mountains. The trail begins at the China Meadows Trailhead. From there, it heads south for about 8 miles, winding through lodgepole pine forests and skirting vast alpine meadows, slowly gaining elevation all the while. There are clear, well-placed signs along the trail directing...

Mt. Superior, and its close neighbor, Monte Cristo, are two of the most iconic peaks in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Looming over Alta and Snowbird Ski resorts from the north side of the canyon, these two peaks dominate the Little Cottonwood skyline. Mt. Superior tops out at 11,132 feet, and Monte Cristo at 11,040 feet.Prime hiking season occurs when all the snow has melted off the trail, typicall...

It's no secret that Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC) is home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the lower 48, if not North America. What many people are not aware of is the extremely easy and quick access from Salt Lake City.Enter the Dawn Patrollers. Skiers and snowboarders from Salt Lake often make the 20 minute drive to trailheads at the end of LCC in the early hours of the morning...

The trail to West Oval Lake begins at the Eagle Creek Trailhead, outside of Twisp, Washington. Follow the Eagle Creek trail for 1.9 miles until the trail splits. Take the left fork for Oval Creek and Oval Lakes. The trail continues winding through thick forest for approximately 4 more miles before steeply switchbacking for the last mile. The trail splits again, this time take the right fork. Th...

Willis Creek Slot Canyon begins at the Willis Creek Trailhead, located in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The trail is very easy to find and follow. It begins winding through junipers for several hundred feet before dropping gradually into a wash, at which point it meets up with Willis Creek. Be ready to get your feet wet, because the creek and the trail are interwoven for the rest...

Ryder Lake is accessed via the Stillwater Trail, beginning at the Christmas Meadows Trailhead off of Mirror Lake Highway. The trail heads due south from Christmas Meadows along the Stillwater River. It winds through lodgepole pine forests and skirts alpine meadows, gradually gaining elevation. After 3 miles, the trail forks. Take the right fork, as the left leads to Amethyst Lake (another popu...