I heard Blue Lake in Colorado was implementing a permit system, and I determined I would visit before the system went into place. That was no easy feat, but we did it, and I’m so glad we did! The scenery…
Slit Canyon off Hole in the Wall Road
I had high hopes for Slit Canyon. And to be fair, the first part of the hike was gorgeous with scenery not typically experienced on the more famous trails in Death Valley National Park. However, the canyon itself wasn’t as…
Peek-a-boo Trail to Paul Bunyan’s Potty
I put off visiting Paul Bunyan’s Potty for many years. (And if you’re wondering what in the world I’m talking about, the “potty” is an arch along the Horse Canyon Road in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, Utah.)…
Panamint Dunes: Remote Sand Dunes in Death Valley
There are a few collections of sand dunes in Death Valley. The most famous are the Mesquite Dunes, located along the main highway near Stovepipe Wells. I’ve also been to the Ibex Dunes in the far south of the park.…
Kyhv Peak and its Amazing Views
I didn’t hike Kyhv Peak the traditional way. Most people start down at the Rock Canyon Trailhead in Provo. But given that I was already on the dirt road high in the mountains (the Kyhv Peak Road), I decided to…
Eye of the Whale Arch + Exploring Whale Canyon
Arches National Park is known for being overrun, but there are ways to get away from the crowds. Visit very early in the morning, or go in late November-February, and while you might not have the popular areas to yourself,…
McNeil Point and Up Cathedral Ridge
Some of you may remember when I tried to get to McNeil Point in Mount Hood National Forest back in 2016 via the Mazama Trail. That didn’t work out very well, as the clouds socked in the entire meadow and…
Walking Upper Cove Canyon near the Maze District
About 19.8 miles from the pavement of US-95, the Waterhole Flat Road crosses an unassuming wash. It’s actually fairly easy to find because a sideroad goes off just before the road dips to cross the dry watercourse. This is Cove…
Driving the Echo Canyon Road
Echo Canyon Road may be one of the most popular 4×4 roads in Death Valley (outside of the Racetrack Road). It certainly is convenient and beautiful and offers great views, an arch, and a little bit of adventure. In recent…
Visit Two Arches in Wiregrass Canyon
There are two slot canyons (among others, I’m sure) along the Smokey Mountain Road east of Big Water, Utah: Resurrection Canyon (my favorite) and Wiregrass Canyon (much more popular and easier to find). In this post, I’ll focus on Wiregrass…