Utah

In the lesser traveled area of Zion National Park sits Kolob Arch, a sandstone arch high up on a cliff tucked back in the canyon. To get to Kolob Arch take exit 40 on I-15 in Utah. You'll see a Zion National Park Visitor's Center. Here you can fill up on water, use the bathroom, and get a map to...

Just about 5 miles (2-2.5 hrs) from the trailhead, you will find the beautiful White Pine Lake where the water is an intense blue color. It's an amazing place for photos and just hanging out on a summer or fall afternoon. Along the way you will have great views of mountains of all colors, beautif...

Didn't make a reservation? Are all the Zion campgrounds full as usual? Don't worry, the less popular and more secluded Lava Point Campground is just about a 45 minute drive away and it's free! We camped here because we rolled in late at night to Zion National Park and everything was full. It turn...

Easy hiking, water availability, and spectacular scenery make this a "must do" hike. Three days are best to see all this canyon has to offer. You can either make this a 3-5 mile hike or a longer 10-15 mile hike. The perfect trip down Coyote Gulch is three days and two nights. Hike in to Jacob Ham...

The trail is 4.4 miles roundtrip gaining almost 1,500 feet for the duration of the adventure. Some parts are exposed, so you can get a fair amount of sun. When you're on the trail, you'll get amazing views as you’re hiking to the lake of Mount Timpanogos and American Fork Canyon. This is followed...

Goblin Valley Can entertain you for 1 hour or 10. There are no established trails, so you are free to wander around the entire park. There are cliffs to climb, slot canyons to explore and hoodoos to discover. From the parking area, you descend about 100 feet into the valley. Once you are down the...

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 Whit...

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...

Goblin Valley State Park is in a rural section of southern Utah, but if you type it into Google Maps you will go straight there. There are awesome campsites within the park but they require reservations. If you didn't take the time to reserve a campsite, don't worry, there is plenty of BLM land r...

Any chance to get into the backcountry of the Wasatch Mountains is worth it. Many people day hike in the area, but not very many backpack in. The trail meets up with the Great Western Trail and overlooks Lake Catherine. The best place to camp is in the woods next to the lake. Hike down to the lak...

Backpacking Reflection Canyon is not for the faint of heart. It's an intense, challenging hike that takes you through slot canyons, climbing up and down shifty sandstones and traversing rugged terrains and ravines. Although the elevation gain is almost nothing, the up and down climbs from one rav...

Starting at the White Pine Trailhead in Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT, hike southwest until reaching the junction to Red Pine Canyon. Take the trail that crosses the stream and continues west around the ridge. The trail will quickly turn south and begin to gain elevation. Continue west as you pass...

This trail is just about the only way I would see Bryce Canyon. When we initially drove in it was like we were at Disneyland, with crowds of people everywhere. We soon discovered, however, that very few people enter Bryce Canyon's backcountry. We chose to visit Bryce in July due to it's higher el...

The trailhead to Willow Lake is about 11 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon and is on the north side of the road right after the passing lane begins. It can be easy to miss, and is only marked with a plaque on a rock (40.630302, -111.604639). As you hike a little in from the road you will see the tra...

Hike along streams that run through red sandstone - the blue water makes a fun contrast against the red rocks and sand. To get to the trailhead, drive to the Red Cliffs Campground about 20 minutes north of St. George. There is a small fee to park or camp at the campground. This trail starts in ...

The Trail: Follow the marked trail and you'll hike less than a mile up to the edge of Willow Lake. Moose like to hang out in the thick willows there, so make lots of noise to warn them that you're coming and you won't startle any. Standing on the shoreline, you'll have a great view of Solitude ...