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Zach L

Short hike to an arch and then a couple hundred feet past that is a little cave-like alcove which feels sort of like a tube due to the collapsed material piled up in the center. The trail is fairly steep to drop down from the road, then it flattens out. This is a quick stopping point, we combined it with Cedar Wash Arch, the Dinosaur Tracks, and the Devils Garden for a bunch of short stops to break up an afternoon of exploring the trails/roads in GSENM.

Neat rock formations, similar to checkerboard mesa in Zion or the Vermilion Cliffs of the Paria. The drive to get there is part of the adventure with drop-offs and rough spots. The first part of the hike is basically down a dirt road but if you’re there in the right season (early spring, May-ish) it’s got blooming cacti among the juniper and pinyon pines. Once you reach the edge it opens up to some really nice views and you can sort of choose your own adventure among the candy cliffs, look for the cairns to get back “on track”. It can be a little difficult to navigate back to the main trail so I’d take some mental images or you’ll be searching the sandy areas for reassuring footprints. This is a pretty and unique adventure away from the main Utah attractions.

Short hike through some lush forest and then into a lava tube. Great hike for kids or those not able to hike some of the longer trails. The lava tube has some built-in lighting so headlamps aren’t necessary but some may prefer to wear them. There’s not a lot of parking along the road for it but you can park at the Kilauea Iki Overlook (if that’s not also full) and walk along the Crater Rim Trail, it adds a ¼ mile or less but you get some great vistas along the way.

One of the more popular and peculiar spots in DVNP. Neat to see the color variation between neighboring mounds and there’s plenty of trails to weave in amongst them if you’re looking for different vantage points. Unfortunately a lot of photos way over saturate Artist’s Palette so have reasonable expectations. Definitely a must-see while visiting the park, especially for those who may not be able to hike more strenuous trails.

Nice trail just off Eastlake Road, there's parking for a few cars right at the trailhead if you don't want to park at the State Park. Trail had markers at the necessary junctions and also had some signage for plants and animals, it was a nice touch! Would be a good path for trail running as it's expandable if you want more mileage.

This is a nice gravel trail through the sagebrush. Not much to it but it makes for a decent option that's not street or sidewalk. Would be nice for sunrise/sunset or a path for walking a dog on a nice day. And it has surprisingly good views of the surrounding area.

This is one of those hikes where most of the time you have your head down and you focus on just maintaining a slow and steady pace. I did this because Lassen Peak seemed crowded and I wanted a different vantage point, both of which it offers. The bit of the hike on the side of the mountain, once you're through most of the trees, is a slog up a pretty steady grade but it's worth the climb. I met two awesome people from Chico, we watched the sunset, the moonrise, and then we ended up "yogging" down together which made for a fast return to our cars. Not a "fun" hike but definitely one I would recommend if you don't mind a challenge.

I started at the Bumpass Hell parking area near Lake Helen and hiked through Bumpass and continued on to Cold Boiling Lake. The trail was easy to follow, there's a bit of a climb out of Bumpass and then it's mostly side-hill until you descend to Cold Boiling Lake. The morning I was there it was perfectly calm and nobody else was around, very serene. I ended up hiking out to the Kings Creek picnic area and walking back along the road until two Franks in a pickup truck gave me a ride back to my van (thanks again guys!!). Although it worked out for me that day, it probably makes more sense to do the hikes separately unless you can arrange transportation between the trailheads.

I hiked this with a friend in December, the trail was snow covered but due to the amount of foot traffic (and dry conditions) it was easy to follow and didn't require anything other than shoes. We made a loop by taking the TRT (Tahoe rim trail) out and coming back on Castle Rock trail. It's fairly flat, the elevation gain is gradual, and there is some scrambling at the end if you want to climb atop Castle Rock (you can see the lake without the climb). Only bummer on the day was hiking out right before an amazing sunset...always stay for sunset.

Fairly easy hike but the path is narrow and traverses along a slope so it's not very flat. There's no shade except for the very end so not the best for hot, sunny days. Great hike in fall/winter if it's free of snow or in the spring when the waterfall volume is highest.

Each lookout makes you feel closer and more in awe of the mountain which entices you to keep going. If you’re planning to do this AND Fremont Fire Lookout I’d suggest trying to allot enough time to do them both in the same trip since the first half of each trail is the same. Sourdough trail offers good views over the ridge, I don’t know about the Sunrise trail but that’s an option if you want to mix it up.

Great views for 270 degrees, from distant Glacier Peak to the looming Rainier and countless peaks and ridges of the Cascades. If you’re planning to do this AND Burroughs I’d suggest trying to allot enough time to do them both in the same trip since the first half of each trail is the same. Sourdough trail offers good views over the ridge, I don’t know about the Sunrise trail but that’s an option if you want to mix it up.

This trail is very popular for a reason. Thankfully at least some of the traffic ends at the insta-log (don't be surprised to see a decent line). I swam in the upper lake and it was cold and refreshing, definitely recommended for those brave enough to try!

Great hike, fairly easy to follow, and climbing to the top from the saddle is worth the slog. I’d recommend pants as the trail was a bit overgrown and there’s plenty of brush to squeeze through. Most of the trail is walking up a moderate wash but there's a bit of light scrambling in the middle, after passing a BIG twisted pine that's broken off (and full of rocks) you'll want to bare left and stay in the wash/gulley. The last bit is more open but well cairned. If you hike to the peak (to the left as you approach the edge), it’s a shorter and easier to follow climb than it appears. The road to the trailhead was passable in a 2WD vehicle but a little clearance helps for the rocks/ruts on the dirt road.

Hiked clockwise the initial climb is steep but coming down is longer and more gradual. It was a beautiful hike in the fall when the many varieties of trees in Hidden Valley are changing color (and the weather is cooler). Would be a good training hike close to town for those prepping for something bigger.

Short trail but the middle portion is fairly steep. Nice overlook of the city and watching planes land at the airport. Other trails accessible from the parking area if you want something more mild.

Great walking path around the marsh, approximately a 4 mile loop. Gets a fair amount of use in the mornings, evenings, and weekends with families, pets, kids, and the usual runners/joggers/bikers. Beautiful views and good for mild wildlife viewing (hawks, migratory birds, coyotes, quail, horses, etc).

Great walking path around the marsh, approximately a 4 mile loop. Gets a fair amount of use in the mornings, evenings, and weekends with families, pets, kids, and the usual runners/joggers/bikers. Beautiful views and good for mild wildlife viewing (hawks, migratory birds, coyotes, quail, horses, etc).