Paradox, Colorado

Arches National Park is a must see for all photographers, but especially for astrophotography. Many of the most common places to shoot are balanced rock, and Delicate Arch and there's a good reason, these are beautiful places. North Window Arch is much less common, and even on a moonless night,...

Just outside the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park and 40 miles south of Moab lies one of the greatest crack climbing destinations in the world. Indian Creek is home to world famous routes such as "Supercrack of the Desert" 5.10 "Way Rambo" 5.12- and "Incredible Hand Crack" 5.10c.This...

If you haven’t been to Moab, UT then you are missing out. There is truly something for everyone in this breathtaking desert landscape which has become increasingly popular over the past several years. There are two major national parks nearby, Arches and Canyonlands, which are easily accessible f...

Hamburger Rock is a small BLM campground with 10 sites based around an interesting rock outcropping. Each site can accommodate around 6 campers, 2 tents, and 2 cars. The bathrooms here are very basic, open-top pits, and no other services are offered. Camping fees are only $6/night.

This popular campground houses 50 campsites. Keep in mind that since it's the only campground in Arches, it can be crowded from March through October, so get on it early. This campsite not only provides easy access to landmarks like the delicate arch, but also provides very convenient access to t...

This adventure begins at Devils Garden, which is a hotspot in Arches National Park. Most people take the shorter route to see Landscape Arch and then turn around, but the Primitive Loop, while challenging at times, is completely worth it. Starting from Landscape Arch, the loop will take you to se...

Access to this trailhead is a few miles south of the Islands in the Sky Visitor Center in Canyonlands National Park. An easy drive from Moab or Interstate 70. Remember to get permits and check in with the rangers if camping. If just doing a day hike then no permits are needed. REMINDER: There is ...

If you're looking to take your first backpacking adventure, but want something that is manageable yet thrilling, this is what you're looking for. Located along the Gunnison River in Western Colorado, the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation area is easy to access yet full of adventure and be...

Willow Springs Trail is state-owned land located 13 miles north of downtown Moab Utah. The state provides some vault toilets and port-o-lets throughout the area, but there are no designated campsites or fire rings. Along the main road, there are plenty of large flat spots that people with RV's or...

This trip can be done with an outfit or independently. The outfit Escape Adventures is highly recommended. They send two guides - one drives a pickup behind with all the camping gear. If you don't have the money or interest, however, it is possible to simply use panniers or a backpack to carry ev...

Squaw Flat campground is an easily-accessed area full of picturesque campsites in Canyonlands National Park, Utah. It is located in the Needles District, which is well known for its colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that cover the region. Campsite reservations must be made in advance at rec...

The Green River starts in Wyoming and flows 730 miles before joining the Colorado River in Utah. Confluence Overlook Trail is located in the northern parts of the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park. At the southwest edge of the parking area, you will see where the trail starts. The tra...

A large part of the grandeur of Canyonlands National Park is the vast barren vista at Island in the Sky, but no visit to Canyonlands would be complete without the intimate and immersive desert experience that the Needles District offers. Drive two hours southwest of Moab away from cell phone rece...

Just 25 minutes from the town of Moab and even less from the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park (the lookout photo above is from this point), this location is pretty ideal. Great options for mountain biking (like the Intrepid Trails, Shafer Tra...

Lone Mesa Campground off Utah Highway 313, 8 miles from Highway 191, and 20 miles from Moab serves as an excellent basecamp for accessing the fantastic Navajo Rocks mountain bike trail system, Dead Horse State Park, and Canyonlands National Park. In fact, the Big Mesa trail goes right through the...

The Needles District of Canyonlands receives 6 times as many backpackers as its more popular neighbor across the Colorado River, Island in the Sky. The Needles has an excellent trail network that is incredibly diverse, featuring amazing rock features as well as grassy meadows and savannahs.  Whil...