Utah



Utah Photos

Southern Utah Trip Reports

Southern Utah Photos

In June, 2017 Christy and I took our summer trip in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. After a couple of days in Colorado we drove through Southeast Utah. We did several short hikes along the way, including Fisher Towers and a hike to Anasazi ruins on the Cedar Mesa. (photos). After backpacking to Havasu in Arizona, we headed to Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. First we did a short backpacking trip to Upper Calf Creek Falls. (photos). Next, we did a dayhike to the Golden Cathedral in Neon Canyon. (photos). After that, we explored Peakaboo and Zebra slot canyons. (photos). Next, I did a solo, 3 day backpacking trip while Christy was car camping and mountain biking near Hurricane, Utah. After we reunited, we spent a couple of nights car camping at Sand Hollow State Park. We did a fairly short and popular but beautiful hike up Kanarra Canyon. (photos). Next, we returned to the Virgin River Narrows in Zion National Park. We did the full dayhike five years earlier, but this time we backpacked the Virgin River Narrows over two days. (photos). We finished the Utah portion of our trip with a scenic drive through Cathedral Valley in Capitol Reef National Park. (photos).

In June, 2012 Christy and I returned to the southwest, spending a week in southern Utah and a week at the Grand Canyon. We started our trip in Zion. First we did an overnight backpacking trip on the West Rim Trail from Lava Point to Zion Canyon. (photos). I added a side trip to Angel's Landing along the way. The next day we thru-hiked the Virgin River Narrows from Chamberlain Ranch to Zion Canyon. (photos). It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, but I'll never attempt that hike in a single day again! From there, we traveled to Bryce Canyon National Park. We camped there one night and did the Fairyland, Navajo, and Peekaboo loop hikes. (Fairyland photos) and (Peek-a-boo photos). From there we drove to Escalante, but escape the heat by camping at Posey Lake in the Dixie National Forest. (photos) . We spent the next day driving over Hell's Backbone and Boulder Mountain and through Capitol Reef National Park. (photos). On Saturday we returned to Grand Staircase Escalante Nation Monument and hiked to waterfalls in Calf Creek Canyon (photos). Our last day in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument featured short hikes in several slot canyons along Skumupth Road, including Willis Creek and Lick Wash (photos).







Bryce Canyon National Park



In October, 2007, another business trip to Salt Lake City gave me the opportunity to visit the Paria River area. I camped at the primitive Whitehouse Campground and hiked Paria Canyon to the Buckskin Confluence on the first day. (photos). The next day, I hiked Buckskin Gulch from Wire Pass, but turned around long before reaching the Paria River. (photos). I finished the long weekend with a drive through Cottonwood Canyon and a dayhike in Kodachrome Basin State Park. (photos).







Buckskin Gulch



In April, 2006, another business trip to Salt Lake City gave me the opportunity to visit Capitol Reef National Park. (photos) I camped at Fruita Campground and did several dayhikes, including one of my all-time favorites, Navajo Knobs.





Capitol Reef



In October, 2005, I took a week-long vacation following a business trip to Salt Lake City. I started my trip with a visit to Mill Creek Canyon, outside of Salt Lake City, to check out the fall color. (photos). From there I drove to Escalante (Escalante photos). I camped at Escalante State Park and did a short hike along the Escalante River. Then I headed to Bryce Canyon National Park, where I car camped and dayhiked the Peek-a-boo loop. I then did a short hike in Cedar Breaks National Monument. The remainder of the trip was spent in Zion National Park. On the first day I hiked to Observation Point. The next day I hiked up into the Virgin River Narrows from downstream. On the final day, I hiked to Double Arch Alcove in the Kolob Canyons section of the park. (Bryce and Zion photos).





Aspens on Boulder Mountain



In April, 2001, we visited Utah for the first time. Our first trip focused on the southeast part of the state. We flew into Salt Lake City and headed for Moab. First we camped at Dead Horse Point State Park and hiked in the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands National Park. We then did a couple of dayhikes in Arches National Park. We spent most of our trip backpacking in the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park. After backpacking, we did a dayhike to Anasazi Ruins in Road Canyon on Cedar Mesa. We spent our final night camping in Goblin Valley State Park. Our last day was spent hiking through the narrows of Little Wild Horse Canyon (southeast Utah photos).







Anasazi Ruins



Northern Utah Trip Reports

Northern Utah Photos

A business trip to Salt Lake City in September, 2008 gave me an opportunity to backpack in northern Utah for the first time. While previous trips to Utah focused on the canyons, this time I visited the mountains. I did a 3-day backpacking trip in the High Uintas Wilderness. (photos).




Aspens in Fall










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