Upper Salt Creek was a hike I’d had my eye on for quite a while. I’d even almost convinced my group to do it back in 2020 on our way back from Death Valley (we landed in Arches and Island…
An Off-Trail Adventure to Winter Camp Arch
Winter Camp Arch is located just outside of Arches National Park, but to get to it, you’ll have to drive the dirt roads into the Yellowcat Flat area northeast of Moab, Utah. A low-clearance vehicle might be able to make…
NP-633: Hans Flat to the Flint Trail
The dirt road between the Hans Flat Ranger Station and the top of the Flint Trail is unique in the Maze District in that it’s on top of the Orange Cliffs. Most of the area commonly called the Maze District…
Viewpoints in Island in the Sky
There are quite a number of viewpoints in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. Most are right along the road (or nearly so!) and take you to sweeping vistas of the canyons below. In this post,…
Ledges Trail: One of the Best in Cuyahoga Valley!
If there’s one trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park that you shouldn’t miss, it’s the Ledges Trail. Besides being a nice hike in its own merit, it showcases what some would call “bluffage” – huge rocks and cliff faces, often…
Mesa Arch Just After Sunrise
I’ve been to Mesa Arch a few times, and each one carries a special memory with it. On our first visit, we helped a couple of rangers perfectly place a sign at a trail junction. I’m still wondering why a…
The Best Hikes & Caves in Lava Beds National Monument!
When I visit Lava Beds National Monument, it’s so that I can spend a day of exploring caves. These are not the spectacular, stalactite/stalagmite and cave formation type of caves – they’re lava tubes, left over from when molten lava…
Exploring to Clover Canyon
Hike off-trail through Salt Creek to Clover Canyon in Arches National Park, Utah
Exploring Baptist Draw & Upper Chute Canyon
I’d read that Baptist Draw and Upper Chute Canyon were two of the best slot canyons in the San Rafael Swell of Utah. While I haven’t extensively explored the Swell, I can enthusiastically say that my trek to Baptist Draw…
Alabama Hills Ramble – Again!
Quite a while ago, I posted about rambling through the rocks in the Alabama Hills of southern California. I discovered fantastic views, cool arches, and lots of fun rock formations. Well, a few days later, I did it again –…