Lee’s Ferry is the only place in hundreds of miles from which one can easily access the Colorado River from both sides. It historically served as an important river crossing and starting in the mid-19th century was the site of … Read the rest
Navajo National Monument is located within the northwest portion of the Navajo Nation territory in north eastern Arizona. This monument preserves three cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan People: Betatakin, Keet Seel, and Inscription House.
Rockville Flats is the large elevated area above Rockville, Utah. This is a very scenic area with views over Rockville and Huber Wash. There is a large amount of petrified wood on the flats.
Huber Wash is one of several drainages that carry water from deep within the Zion wilderness on the south western part of the Zion lowlands. There are several outcropping petrified logs in the cliffs at the end of the hike.… Read the rest
The Quail Creek Trail in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve is a pleasant easy walk along Quail Creek and across desert terrain. The trail ends at the Anasazi Trail to the Anasazi archaeological site.
The Eagle Crags can be seen for miles when you are driving towards Zion National Park along highway SR9 from Hurricane, Utah. This is a beautiful promontory of jagged rock pinnacles south of Rockville, Utah. From the Crags you have … Read the rest
If you like hiking on slickrock this is the place to go. This is truly a beautiful area just east of Gunlock, Utah. There are endless places to explore while there. If you like exploring you could easily spend all … Read the rest
The Azores is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal, an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean about 850 miles west of continental Portugal, about 936 mi from the African coast, and about 1200 … Read the rest
There are three reefs that run parallel to Interstate I15 west of Harrisburg, Utah. The one closest to I15, the Leeds Reef, is of dark rock. The White Reef is west of the Leeds Reef and is of white rock … Read the rest
Upper Pine Creek is a large north-south drainage system that crosses under SR9 0.4 miles east of the east end of the Main Zion Tunnel on SR9. This creek runs north from the road for about 1.5 miles through beautiful … Read the rest
The Pa’rus Trail is a paved trail in Zion National Park running between the Visitor Center and the Canyon Junction. It is a pleasant walk along the Virgin River.
During tourist season when the shuttles are running you can walk … Read the rest
The Temple Quarry Trail (Dugway) was built between 1871 and 1874 to access large lava rock on the south side of the Black Hill. This rock was needed for the foundation and basement walls of the St. George Temple, because … Read the rest
The Sand Bench Trail is a relatively unused trail in the Scenic Zion Canyon Drive. It is used for horse trail rides from April to October. The best time for hiking is outside this time frame as the sandy trail … Read the rest
Warner Ridge is a prominent sloping upthrust rock ridge that parallels the Southern Parkway near Washington City. It gives a scenic vantage point for viewing features to the east and west of the ridge.
This trail gives an excellent vantage point looking over the Quail Creek Reservoir to the South and the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve and Pine Valley Mountains to the West.
There are four ravines in the Green Valley Gap west of St George, Utah. Ravines one, two, and three run in a north easterly direction from the Bloomington Hills to a collection stream that empties into the Virgin River. The … Read the rest
The Jobs Head Peak and adjacent wash is a beautiful area of Zion National Park. The entire entrance area is slickrock. The wash traverses the drainage between Jobs Head and Windy Peak.
Crawford Wash is a beautiful wide wash running south from SR9 in the east section of Zion National Park. This wash eventually connects to the east Virgin River and the Parunuweap Canyon. On this hike we traversed part way along … Read the rest
Jughandle is a large arch high up on a mesa on the east side of Zion National Park. The route to the arch crosses and follows the top of Keyhole Canyon for part of its length. This is a beautiful … Read the rest
This is a moderately difficult hike into the beautiful wilderness on the east side of Zion National Park. You traverse about 2 miles to the top of a ridge and then down into Pine Basin. You then ascend another ridge … Read the rest
The main Scout Cave is a large cave north of the Snow Canyon Parkway in Ivins, Utah. The cave is reached from the Snow Canyon Drive just south of the Snow Canyon State Park.
The Virgin River Trail is a paved bike and walking trail following the Virgin River from Hurricane, Utah, through Washington City, Utah, and into St George, Utah. The total length of the trail is 3.7 miles one way.
Sullivan’s Knoll is a large cinder dome which is a prominent landmark in Hurricane Utah. You can either climb to the top of the knoll or as in this case hike around the base of the knoll. From either the … Read the rest
This is a remote trek into the Zion wilderness on the East side of Zion National Park. The route takes you south from SR9 about 2 miles along the drainage on the west side of checkerboard mesa. The loop route … Read the rest
There are three reefs that run parallel to Interstate I15 west of Harrisburg, Utah. The one closest to I15, the Leeds Reef, is of dark rock. The White Reef is west of the Leeds Reef and is of white rock … Read the rest
The Pentagon Arch Trail is located in the beautiful Red Cliffs Desert Reserve north of the Virgin River in Hurricane, Utah. Access to this trail is from the north end of Leeds, Utah, via Road 900N which traverses southerly to … Read the rest
The South Fork of Taylor Creek runs through Lengthening Canyon in the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park. This is one of the most beautiful red rock canyons in the region and is accessed by a relatively easy trail … Read the rest
Many Pools is a beautiful trail up a broad slickrock valley with numerous water pools along the route. In the authors opinion this is one of the nicest trails in Zion. From the head of the Many Pools trail you … Read the rest
Regal Arch is located on the south east slope of Sandstone Mountain in the Babylon area of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. The arch is a little over 150 feet below the peak of sandstone mountain. The arch is a … Read the rest
The West Cinder Knoll is an interesting cinder cone located within the city of Hurricane. The climb to the top is an easy 1.1 mile hike with a very gradual increase in elevation to the top.
There are three reefs that run parallel to Interstate I15 west of Harrisburg, Utah. The one closest to I15, the Leeds Reef, is of dark rock. The White Reef is west of the Leeds Reef and is of white rock … Read the rest
The black volcanic top of Mollies Nipple is perched over a thousand feet above the Hurricane Valley. This hill is a highly visible landmark of the Hurricane Valley, with the City of Hurricane and airport at its base.
The Taylor Creek Trail is a popular trail in the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park. Taylor Creek has three tributaries running into the main creek: the North Fork, the Middle Fork, and the South Fork. The more popular … Read the rest
The Trail to Observation Point is long and strenuous but the views on the way up and the views from the point at trail end are well worth the effort. However, if you are afraid of heights and long drop-offs … Read the rest
Harpers Corner is one of the most scenic places in the United States. Located in Dinosaur National Monument near the northern Utah and Colorado border, this wilderness spot is well worth the visit.
The Emerald Pools are beautiful pools located on the west side of the Zion Canyon Parkway. The main Emerald Pool trail starts opposite the Zion lodge 2.7 miles from the start of the Scenic Canyon Drive.
This is a remote trek into the wilderness on the East side of Zion National Park. Travelling South from SR9 you reach an interesting rock field about 2 miles in. The canyon of the East Fork of the Virgin River … Read the rest
The Water Canyon north of Hildale, Utah is a moderately strenuous hike into a beautiful high narrow box end canyon. The upper reaches of this canyon can be reached by climbing up the waterfall and circling back along the west … Read the rest
There is an ATV trail that runs from Anderson Junction at Interstate I15, exit 27, to beyond Pintura, exit 31. This trail is located east of Interstate I15 and west of Ash Creek. There are a number of points with … Read the rest
Leap Creek drains a major section of the East slope of the Pine Valley Mountains and empties into Ash Creek to the East of and near exit 33 on Interstate I15.
The Spanish Trail later called the Mormon Trail was … Read the rest
Capitol Gorge is a beautiful canyon hike through the Waterpocket Fold easily travelled by families. This canyon is mostly level walking with sheer canyon walls.
Along the way are two side hikes, one to a viewpoint overlooking the Golden Throne, … Read the rest
Grand Wash is a beautiful gorge that cuts its way through the upper portion of the Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef National Park. Originally it was used by wagons that travelled from the Freemont River to Highway 24, 4.5 miles … Read the rest
Two miles east of the Capitol Reef visitor center, the trailhead to Hickman Bridge offers hikers an easy, spectacularly scenic trek up to a large natural arch.
The Hickman Bridge Trail is about 1.2 miles in length. The first one-half … Read the rest
This trail follows the South Wash, a major wash to the south of the Grafton Cemetery. This wash receives runoff from the Smithsonian Butte, and the two mesa’s on each side of the South Wash, Wire Mesa and Grafton Mesa.… Read the rest
Wet Sandy is one of the major drainage channels from a large section of the Pine Valley Mountains and provides a significant water source for the town of Toquerville, Utah. Wet Sandy starts at an elevation of about 9000 feet … Read the rest
The most significant geologic feature of Red Rock Canyon NCA is the Keystone Thrust Fault. The Keystone Thrust is part of a large system of thrust faults that extend north into Canada. A thrust fault is a fracture in the … Read the rest
Big Hollow is located in the Cottonwood Forest Wilderness west of Leeds, Utah. You enter the Big Hollow Creek off of forest road 031. This is a beautiful canyon running south from the forest road, for 1.5 miles, where it … Read the rest
Camp Creek is a remote strenuous trail into the interior of Zion National Park on the north west side of the park. While it is near the finger canyons off the Kolob National Park Road it is more remote and … Read the rest
The Brackens Loop Trail traverses scenic areas within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve north of Washington City, Utah. This loop trail starts at the Prospector Trail just north of the Washington water tank near Interstate I15. Part way around the … Read the rest
The Spanish Wash traverses a relatively unknown and unused area of the Red Cliff Desert Reserve. This wash is one of several washes which drain the Red Cliff Mountains.
This wash passes under Interstate highway I15 near exit 16 through … Read the rest
This trail follows the Horse Valley upstream to a beautiful double waterfall at the end of a box canyon. The valley is fairly broad until the last third when the sides start to close in. This upper portion is the … Read the rest
The Three Falls in Gould’s Wash is accessible from the main downtown area of Hurricane, Utah.
Gould’s Wash runs from the plateau above Hurricane down through Hurricane, crossing under State Street around 1400W, crosses under 600N just east of the … Read the rest
The Little Black Mountain Site contains some outstanding petroglyphs, representing 6,000 years of human history. The site has over 500 individual rock-art designs and elements on boulders surrounding the base of a 500-foot mesa.
Hidden Arch is located across the road from the Checkerboard Mesa near the East entrance to Zion National Park. The trail to view the arch travels through a wash and over slickrock to a viewpoint, and then returns back on … Read the rest
This trail is one of the nicer trails in Snow Canyon. Johnson Canyon is beautiful with a large free standing arch. When we travelled the trail in March there were a large number of frogs seranading us. The trail is … Read the rest
The trail to this natural amphitheater, in a beautiful white rock formation, leaves SR18 just north of the north entrance to the Snow Canyon State Park. Because this trail travels into the State Park it requires paying the park fee … Read the rest
The Lava Flow Trail is an easy trail through black lava flows. Along the route there are several lava tubes two of which can be entered fairly easily. The largest lava tube is at the end of the trail before … Read the rest
The route to the Red Reef above Harrisburg Flat can be reached from the Red Cliffs Recreation Area. This is a steep climb up a narrow ridge between two deep canyons. Some minor route finding skills are necessary to locate … Read the rest
Little Purgatory is an extensively weathered deep lowland basin north east of the Quail Creek Reservoir and south of Leeds, Utah. This region consists of soft shales overlain by hard conglomerates. The Little Purgatory basin is an area where weathering … Read the rest
This area of the Red Reef is accessed from the southern section of the Red Reef trail which follows a sandy wash for most of its length. The main Red Reef trail is accessed from the Cottonwood Canyon parking lot … Read the rest
Coalpits Wash carries water from deep within the Zion wilderness on the south western part of the Zion lowlands. Access to this wash is either from SR9, 6.8 miles east of Virgin, Utah, or from the Dalton Wash which is … Read the rest
Big Hollow is located in the Cottonwood Forest Wilderness west of Leeds, Utah. You enter the Big Hollow Creek off of forest road 031. This is a beautiful canyon running south from the forest road, for 1 1/4 miles, where … Read the rest
Scoggins Wash is an easy walk into the interior of the southern lowlands of Zion National Park, Utah. This is an ideal winter hike as it is fairly dry and temperatures are much cooler than in the summer. At the … Read the rest
The Wildcat Canyon trail is an easy day hike through relatively flat country with views over Russell Gulch, The North Guardian Angel, the East Northgate Peak, and the Zion Canyons in the distance as well as the beautiful Wildcat Canyon.… Read the rest
An easy hike in the Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, is the Petroglyph Canyon/Mouse’s Tank Trail. Petroglyph Canyon is stuffed with prehistoric Indian rock art. The tank is a natural cavity in the rocks where rainwater collects. The trail … Read the rest
Gifford Canyon is a north-south canyon on the East side of Zion National Park. The hike through Gifford Canyon is a nice hike through a sandy wash. This hike gets you away from the crowds and into a secluded and … Read the rest
The White Domes Trail is a 1.2 mile loop hike in the Valley of Fire State Park. You will see a slot canyon, a natural arch, multicolored sandstone, and interesting patterns of erosion that have created sculptured forms around the … Read the rest
Pictures of the Fire Wave of Nevada appear on the covers of Nevada Tourism brochures and on many photography websites. However, there is almost no information about how to get there. The Fire Wave is a beautiful layered sandstone formation … Read the rest
The road to Dalton Wash travels north from SR9 just east of Virgin, Utah. This gravel road takes you to the top of a mesa from where you can access the western wilderness of Zion National Park by following Dalton … Read the rest
Toquerville Falls is a scenic falls on the upper La Verkin Creek. The ATV ride is on a rough dirt road 6 miles one way with 2300 vertical feet of climbing. It’s scenic and the falls are beautiful.
The Leap Creek Trail starts behind the Browse Ranger station located 7.5 miles west of exit 30 on Interstate I15 between St George and Cedar City, Utah. This trail continues to the Big Point Summit of the Pine Valley Mountains … Read the rest
The Timber Creek Overlook in the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park gives magnificent views of the Zion mountains. This trail is located at the end of the Kolob Canyons Road, 5.2 miles from the Visitor Center. The trail … Read the rest
The Northgate Peaks are two large slickrock peaks, the East Northgate Peak and the West Northgate Peak, on the Kolob Plateau in the north western wilderness of Zion National Park. The West Peak rises about 500 feet above the valley … Read the rest
Clear Creek flows from beyond the eastern entrance of Zion National Park down past Checkerboard Mesa and along the south side of SR9 until it enters Pine Creek about 0.4 miles east of the upper end of the Main Zion … Read the rest
Pine Creek begins in the high country 1.5 miles north of SR9 on the eastern section of Zion National Park, continues down and under SR9, then along the south side of SR9, goes back north under SR9, and then drops … Read the rest
The Shaw Woods Trail is an easy hike through old growth forests in Eastern Ontario Canada.
Trail Rating
Overall rating = easy
Distance: 2.2 miles – easy
Elevation gain: <100 feet - easy
Terrain: Wide hard packed trail - easy
Exposure: None - easy
To see the trail rating system used here see Trail Rating System
The JEM trail, named for trailblazers John, Ellen, and Mike, is a 22 mile bike trail that travels along the Virgin River and Hurricane Cliffs. The first 2 miles of this trail is a beautiful walking trail along the Virgin … Read the rest
Little Wild Horse canyon is an amazing slot canyon that is so narrow in places you can hardly make it through. It is one of the most interesting slot canyons in the southwest. It first cuts through the San Rafael … Read the rest
Bell Canyon is a beautiful smallish slot canyon. It first cuts through the San Rafael Swell and then eventually joins with the Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon. There is an interesting variety of forms some of which can be viewed … Read the rest