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Salt Lake City Day Hike: Brighton Lakes Trail
Mount Tuscarora reflected in Lake Mary on the Brighton Lakes Trail. Photo © Mike Matson.
Brighton Lakes Trail
Big Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch-Cache National Forest
The Brighton Lakes Trail is one of the Central Wasatch’s best hikes to a series of alpine lakes. As the trail climbs, the crowds thin
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Salt Lake City Day Hike: Red Pine Lake to the Pfeifferhorn
Red Pine Lake (left) and Little Red Pine Lake (right) from the shoulder of the Pfeifferhorn. Photo © Mike Matson.
Red Pine Lake to the Pfeifferhorn
Little Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Red Pine Lake is a sparkling gem at the base of a granite bowl; hike and scramble onto one of
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Salt Lake City Day Hike: Mount Timpanogos via the Timpooneke Trail
Keep an eye out for the herd of Timpanogos goats. Photo © Mike Matson.
Mount Timpanogos via the Timpooneke Trail
Pleasant Grove Ranger District, Uinta National Forest
Climb Mount Timpanogos through the Giant Staircase and the unparalleled beauty of Timpanogos Basin. This trail is noted to climb t
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Salt Lake City Day Hike: Bald Mountain
The view from Bald Mountain to Mirror Lake. Photo © Mike Matson.
Bald Mountain
Wasatch-Cache National Forest
In the Uinta Mountains, this is the best short day hike to a commanding overlook on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway. This trail is noted to climb to a high overlook with wide views, and is ra
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Best Day Hikes in Utah's National Parks
Mesa Arch, atop Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky. Photo © Bill McRae.
It’s difficult to imagine more dramatic landscapes than those found in Utah’s national parks. These day hikes through epic canyons, arches, and needles of sandstone invite you to get out of your vehicle and explore.
Zion
The Emer
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The Life and Landscape of Grand Staircase-Escalante
Grosvener Arch, a popular back-road destination in the Grand Staircase National Monument. Photo © Paul Levy.
The broad tilted terraces of the Grand Staircase step down through time. Some 200 million years of sedimentation are visible here, starting with pink in the north, then traveling through gr
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The Life and Landscape of Zion National Park
The Virgin River lies at the bottom of Zion Canyon. Photo © Paul Levy.
Take a look anywhere along Zion Canyon and you’ll see 1,600-2,200-foot cliffs of Navajo sandstone. The big walls of Zion were formed from sand dunes deposited during a hot dry period about 200 million years ago. Shifting winds
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The Life and Landscape of Canyonlands National Park
Island in the Sky, a sandstone mesa that rises 1,000 feet above its surroundings. Photo © Bill McRae.
Deep canyons of the Green and Colorado Rivers have sliced through rocks representing 150 million years of deposition. The Paradox Formation, exposed in Cataract Canyon, contains salt and other min
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Cedar Breaks National Monument
Lose the crowds at Cedar Breaks National Monument. Photo © Bill McRae.
If you’re driving between Zion and Bryce National Parks, consider stopping at Cedar Breaks. But take note: This is high country, and the road is closed mid-October-late May.
Traces of iron, manganese, and other minerals have ti
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Salt Lake City Day Hike: Stewart Falls
Stewart Falls on Mount Timpanogos. Photo © Mike Matson.
Stewart Falls
Wasatch-Cache National Forest
A mostly level walk leads to a picturesque falls cascading off the Mount Timpanogos massif. This trail offers waterfall views, and is rated as being appropriate for children. Dogs are allowed.
L
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Salt Lake City Day Hike: Lost Prospector
The Lost Prospector Trail in Park City. Photo © Mike Matson.
Lost Prospector
Park City Municipal Corporation
Lost Prospector offers an easy-access, low-elevation trail that traverses across Masonic Hill, just east of Main Street in Park City. This trail offers an overlook with wide views, offers
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Bryce Canyon National Park: Pack Your Camera—and Your Long Underwear
Photo © Andrew Smith, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
No matter where you go in the park, it’s good to get an early start, but the place where it really pays off to get up before dawn is, unsurprisingly, Sunrise Point.Whether you’re traveling with a smart phone or a large-format film camera
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Go Glamping (but Still Feel the Touch of Nature) in Zion National Park
Photo © Bryan Chan, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
Zion National Park’s Watchman and South Campgrounds may be as close as you’ll come to a plush camping experience. Both campgrounds are a short walk from the Zion Canyon visitor center and the shuttle bus that takes hikers and sightseers to
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A Worthwhile Detour to Dead Horse Point State Park
Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah. Photo © Heidi Pillard, used with permission.
Just east of Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky District and a short drive northwest of Moab is one of Utah’s most spectacular state parks. At Dead Horse Point (435/259-2614, day-use $10 per vehicle), the
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Road Trip Utah's National Parks in a Week
Despite their proximity, visiting all of Utah’s national parks is a bit complicated because of the rugged terrain and lack of roads. You must plan on a lot of driving. So get in a road-trip frame of mind, cue up some good music, and head out.
Day 1
From Bryce Canyon National Park, drive 42 miles e
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When to Visit Utah's National Parks
High Season (Apr.-June, Late Sept.-Oct.)
The parks are all open year-round, although spring (Apr.-early June) and early fall (Sept.-Oct.) are the most pleasant times to visit. They are also the busiest seasons, and travelers may find that popular campgrounds and hotels are booked well in advance.
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The Best Views and Hoodoos in Southern Utah
With a landscape characterized by mountain peaks and deep canyons, southern Utah is filled with big views. And the state’s trademark delicate-seeming arches and hoodoos are jaw-dropping sights as well.
Canyon Views
With a few exceptions, you won’t need to hike uphill for miles to get a bird’s-eye
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Kid-Friendly Activities In and Around Utah's National Parks
Older kids will love climbing the Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park. Photo © Paul Levy.
Utah is famously family friendly, and the national parks all have programs for children (generally Memorial Day-Labor Day). Junior Ranger programs are essentially workbooks that will keep kids occupied
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Tips for Driving Utah's National Parks
During the summer, patience is the key to driving in Utah’s national parks. Roads are often crowded with slow-moving RVs, and traffic jams are not uncommon. At Zion, shuttle buses have replaced private vehicles along the scenic Zion Canyon Road, and a voluntary shuttle runs through the main Bryce
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Best of Zion & Bryce Three Day Itinerary
The following itinerary only scratches the surface of what there is to see, but with this sampler, you’ll know where to focus your adventure.
Day 1
If you fly into Salt Lake City or Las Vegas, you’ll probably get to Zion National Park sometime in the late afternoon. Settle into your motel in Sprin
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