Ballard Trail

To get to the Sound of Silence trail head from the entrance of Dinosaur National Monument in Jensen, UT stay on US 149 past the visitor center and you will see parking parallel to the road in about 2 miles on your left. The views are amazing as soon as you get on 149 driving into the park as you follow the Green River and get closer to the beautifully colored desert sandstone cliffs and hills....

If you only have time for a quick trip to the overlook, the main network of paths leave directly north from the Red Canyon Visitor Center and lead to a few viewpoints that provide impressive vistas to the east and west. For those looking for more solitude away from pavement, the Red Canyon Rim trail heads southeast from the visitor center toward Green Lakes and Canyon Rim campground, and is al...

From the Henry Fork Trailhead (approx. 9400 feet elev.) the trail gains very little elevation during the first 5.5 miles with several lakes to camp by along the way. The first lake reached is Alligator Lake. At just under 3 miles from the trailhead, this beautiful lake is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a nice, easy introduction to the altitude and rigors of backpacking. After...

Dead Horse Lake is a lightly trafficked and highly scenic route in the High Uintas Wilderness.  The trail is easy enough to do overnight but I recommend taking an extra day to explore the area around Dead Horse Lake.  From the trailhead you will hike south on the West Fork Blacks Fork trail.  The trail follows the West Fork Blacks Fork River through scenic meadows with steep rocky peaks on eith...

Grandaddy Lake is the largest lake in the High Unitas. While Grandaddy Lake can have plenty of hikers, there are over twenty lakes within a two-hour hike within the Grandaddy Basin. Most hikers don’t go beyond Grandaddy lake, making the area a fantastic area to explore and camp. Elevation in the basin ranges from 10,000 - 10,500 feet. This basin is one of the greenest and most beautiful parts o...

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...