Mauna Kea rises to 13, 800 feet above the sea level shores of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is the tallest mountain in Hawaii, but it really starts far below the ocean, making it the tallest mountain on Earth (33 000 feet). It erupted a million years ago but is now considered dormant, although cinder cones erupted about 5000 … Continue reading…
Little Wildhorse Canyon was our favorite hike of 2017. Well, to be honest, it was tied with the Sidewinder Canyon hike in Death Valley for the best trail of the year, but Little Wildhorse has a wonderful long, scenic, winding slot canyon and a rewarding loop route. It was so good we talked about doing it again the next … Continue reading…
Ding and Dang Canyons lie in the San Rafael Reef area northwest of Goblin State Park in Utah. To get to the trailhead, follow the Little Wildhorse Canyon Road from the entrance area of Goblin State Park and go past the trailhead to Little Wildhorse Canyon (a must do) and continue along the dirt road for another 2 km. the … Continue reading…
One of our favorite trails (anywhere) is the Peekaboo Springs Trail in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. The route from Squaw Flats to the springs in the Salt Creek Canyon and back is about 10.2 miles (16.4 km). The first part of the trail follows the Lost Canyon Trail (another favorite). There are a number of junctions, but … Continue reading…
The Jeep Arch Trail is an informal route that starts near the Colorado River and climbs into the Gold Bar Rim Hills west of Moab, Utah. The trailhead is 0.8 km past the route to Corona Arch. From the parking area the unsigned trail goes through a tunnel under the Potash Railway line. From there the route follows the drainage, … Continue reading…
Arches National Park lies just north of Moab, Utah and teh vast majority of visitors drive to the Park Entrance, just 4 km north of the Colorado River. It is possible to hike right from the river up an informal trail into the park, via Courthouse Wash. To hike all the way to the Park Drive near the Tower of … Continue reading…
Sand Flats Recreational Area is right above Moab, Utah. It is a benchland of slickrock, fins, bowls, desert sand and domes, used by jeep owners and mountain bikers. It is the home of the world famous Slickrock Trail. There are campgrounds too so the area can be a busy place in-season. In the winter months, locals do hike the … Continue reading…
The open hills above Kamloops Lake have no trails and access may be limited by grazing leases, mine use, and some private property. A long traverse may be required to get to some of the hills on the south side of Kamloops Lake. We only go into the area in winter when snow covers the ground and all is quiet. … Continue reading…
Puako Petroglyph Preserve is located on the west coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, close to Mauna Lani Resort area. The Malama Trail starts at the parking lot and works its way through scrub forest and lava flows to a petroglyph field on an out-and-back 2.4 km trail. After a first display area of petroglyphs inscribed on boulders right … Continue reading…
This was our favorite hike of 2017. Sidewinder Canyon is a rugged barren, deep canyon penetrating into the hills above, but there are 6 side slot canyons, several natural bridges, and a number of side routes to explore, worth a whole day on the trail. Sidewinder Canyon is in the Black Mountains in Death Valley National Park. The trailhead is … Continue reading…
Goblin Valley State Park lies in the desert hills of Utah between Green River and Capitol Reef National Park. Highway 70 is a major route connecting Colorado (the pass through the Rockies from Denver) and the highways on the western side of Utah, but it passes through no cities and only a few towns in the desert hills and mountains. … Continue reading…
There are 4 Districts of Canyonlands National Park. The most accessible is Island in the Sky, a 40 minute drive on good roads from Moab, Utah. The drive climbs to the top of a large mesa which just out between Green River and the Colorado River. There are a number of hikes along the Island in the Sky Parkway which … Continue reading…
Titus Canyon is a hike in the Grapevine Mountains in Death Valley National Park. It is an easier hike into a deep canyon with impressive rock features along the route. The lower/west entrance to Titus Canyon is found by turning off the Scotty’s Castle Road 15 miles north of Highway 190. The side road is signed and the gravel road … Continue reading…
Little Douglas Lake lies in a cirque between Zum Peak, Zoa Peak, and Zopkios Ridge in the Coquihalla Summit area. The 3 km return trail starts at the Zum Recreation Site on the Upper Coldwater Road. Take the Coquihalla Lakes/Britton Creek exit, go over the highway on the overpass and follow the paved road as it follows the Coldwater River … Continue reading…
The Falls Lake Trail is short excursion to a beautiful spot in the Coquihalla Summit. When driving south pass the old toll booth area and watch for the Falls Lake Road turn on the right. Go up the paved road to the end and park. The singed trailhead is just ahead (north and to the right). Thar Peak stands … Continue reading…
The trails on the UBC Enddowment Lands were well used before the area was turned into a park. In the mid-1970’s I explored, hiked, and ran the trails over a 6 year stint, then returned to walk them again in the 1990’s. Now that it is officially Pacific Spirit Regional Park, there are designated parking spots, trailhead signs, route signs, … Continue reading…
