Duck Creek Village, Utah

This incredibly scenic ride is just out of Zion National Park and is a great place to escape the tourists. The ride starts at the end of Dalton Wash Rd just off of Route 9. High clearance vehicles are recommended and one should not attempt to drive this road in wet conditions. If you are having t...

Zion National Park. Truly one of the beauties of the American Southwest. With red walls and orange sunsets, Zion is a must-see. However, during the busy season of the parks, finding a campsite that hasn't been snagged can be difficult. That's why I'd suggest looking for a quieter, equally as beau...

The Taylor Creek trailhead sits in the little-explored part of Zion National Park known as Kolob Canyon just south of Cedar City. The trail starts at around 6,000 feet and then drops a little lower in to the canyon and runs along Taylor Creek. With 450 feet of elevation change along the five-mile...

The Scenic HWY 12 is a great stretch en route to Bryce Canyon. Stop at the overlooks and take in the beautiful surrounding scenery. The red rocks are spectacular!

Smithsonian Butte Backcountry Byway is gorgeous 9.5 mile road that runs between Rockville near the entrance to Zion National Park and Apple Valley UT, and affords excellent places to camp & boondock *as long* as it is 0.5 miles from the road itself (and there are numerous turn offs). To get ...

Grafton Ghost Town is an abandoned small town 7 miles outside Zion National Park and the modern towns of Rockville and Springdale, Utah.  To get there from Highway 9, get off on Bridge Lane residential road and cross the Virgin River on a historic single track iron bridge- then  head west. At th...

This state park is not heavily visited and for a makes a great day trip from Zion National Park or Kanab, UT. Expect endless beautiful pink dunes and Utah's red rocks as your backdrop. Once you park, walk out onto the boardwalk and the short Nature Trail will head out just beyond the signs explai...

The Timber Creek Overlook trail is located at the end of the Kolob Canyon drive in Zion National Park. This hike is very family friendly and offers restrooms, picnic tables, and a well maintained trail. Bring your camera and hike the trail around sunset to get beautiful sunset shots of the valle...

Wire Mesa off the Smithsonian Butte Backcountry Byway is a fantastic place to camp in southeastern Utah even if you do not plan on visiting Zion, just a few miles to the north. There several backcountry campsites on the Mesa, with the northwestern-most site giving the best views overlooking the V...

The television series of Gunsmoke was an American classic.  635 episodes aired on prime time television over the course of twenty years, from 1955 to 1975.  The movie set was the largest set constructed in the Kanab area.  After the filming ended, the buildings were not maintained and became heav...

We all know the crowds well at our favorite National Parks, and Bryce Canyon is no exception. When you're looking to get a little further away from the noise, lights, and experience of a National Park campground, you often don't have to go very far off the main road. This adventure is for those w...

The Moccasin Mountain Dinosaur Tracksite is one of the most diverse track sites in North America.  The site contains hundreds of fossilized tracks from at least five different species of dinosaur.  The tracks have been preserved since the early Jurassic period dating back to approximately 180 mil...

Water Canyon is a narrow canyon on the southern side of Canaan Mountain in the Canaan Mountain Wilderness south of Zion. It makes for a great hike away from the crowds, though do not expect to have the trail to yourself as it is a great starting point for backpacking and canyoneering trips into t...

The incredible views at Bryce Canyon National Park can be described with little else than a “Wow.” During a snowy winter, especially, these sights are not to be missed.There is only one campground open during the winter, Sunset Campground, and it is first come, first serve. Most visitors shy away...

…Who doesn’t enjoy a hike that gives you views as if you’re on top of the world! I know I do, and this hike to Water Canyon Arch (Eye of the Heavens Arch) will do just that!There’s two ways of getting to the arch, but the route I took was the squirrel creek trail, to the Canaan mountain trail. On...

There are many many trails that explore the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon and this is just one option of a combination of trails that is about 3.5 miles. The Navajo trail begins at Sunset Point and you head straight down dozens of switchbacks to what is called "Wall Street". It doesn't take long to get...