Arches National Park, Utah

Moab is an outdoor mecca, from rock climbing to mountain biking to 4WD adventures and while not particularly technical (it is only rated Class 2) the 7.8 mile Long Canyon Road just north of Dead Horse State Park is an excellent way to get a taste for the incredible features (and views) that the C...

Porcupine Rim Campground, just inside the Manti-La Sal National Forest, is a fantastic dispersed campsite (with bathrooms) that overlooks the hills and mesas of Castle Valley some 2000' feet below. Most are familiar with the area due to the famous Porcupine Pine Rim mountain biking trail, but the...

The turn off for Kane Creek Rd. is directly before the McDonald's on the right side of the road. A right turn takes you through small residential area and then places you on a dirt road continuing into the canyon. The road narrows a bit, switch backs, and becomes slightly rougher. Follow Kane Cr...

As a pet owner, you probably know that bringing your pooch along on your National Park adventures can be a frustrating experience. Most of our Parks do not allow pets on trails, and for several good reasons, but if you bring your dog(s) with you to Moab country, you’ll be happy to know that there...

This is a 5.5 mile loop, if you opt out of the several in/outs to various lookout points, which extend the hike to about 10 miles -- do not opt out! These lookout points get better and better. However, you can skip the only modest part of the trail, where the West and East rims of the trail meet...

Dead Horse Point State Park sits next to Canyonlands National Park with expansive views of the canyons carved by the Colorado River. The park can be accessed year-round and the best views are within feet of the parking lot. To capture the warm light of sunrise on the red rocks, head for the wes...

Faux Falls is located near the Ken's Lake campground off Route 191, 20 minutes south of Moab. When I was there it was during several days of thunderstorms. The waterfall was really gushing. Not sure how much water is running when there hasn't been rain in a while. The falls can be seen from the ...

Located north of Moab, off U.S. Route 70 is Sego Canyon.  There is a dirt road that travels north up into the canyon to an interesting and unique area of Indian rock art.  There are three different sections covering three different time periods and Indian groups. The petroglyph panel to the left ...

On our way to Moab from Colorado we choose to take the scenic route when some friends told us about this little Ghost Town. I kept the family in the car as I explored around and took photos, as this place had a super creepy vibe. I kept getting this errie feeling that someone was watching me, and...

With minor changes in elevation, a couple easy scrambles and the opportunity to find your route by cairns, the Neck Spring Trail is the perfect way to get acquainted with Island in the Sky area of Canyonlands National Park.Starting at the Shafer Canyon Overlook parking lot, the Neck Spring trail ...

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 ...

Wow where to start… White Rim is one of those places where after the first day you will forget you are even on Earth anymore.  The unreal views just don’t stop either.  Every turn opens up to another amazing scene, massive canyon or beautiful vista.  Make sure to take a dip in the Green River if ...

Upheaval Dome is a geologic structure whose origins have remained hotly debated for years. Some scientists say it is the site of a meteorite impact while others theorize it is nothing more than a naturally occurring salt dome. No matter what the true answer is, there is no question that this shor...

Be advised, the NPS signs and maps that warn of a very difficult hike ahead are not hyperbole, as I thought at first. This hike is a loop around the famous Upheaval Dome on an unmaintained trail that leads you down over 1500 feet into the canyon, close to the Green River, then climbs back up 1500...

This is an easy 0.6 mile loop. The hike takes you out to Mesa Arch, which is one of the most famous structures of Canyonlands National Park. If you're out with your camera, you can get amazing shots of the arch with the rugged canyon as your backdrop. Some of the best photos of the arch are at s...

From the parking lot, the hike is a .6 mile loop (20-30 min hike round trip). It took 10 minutes to get to the Arch. I arrived at 2am and hiked to the Arch to get some Milky Way shots, definitely arrive earlier to shoot the stars. I explored around when I got to the Arch and came up with a bunch ...