Hiking Trails and Trips
Trips
Peak 9090 is the highest ranked peak of the Parowan quad, and thankfully the easiest to reach. I decided to drive to Yankee Meadows after work and scramble this short peak. Arriving at the dam for this beautiful reservoir, turn right into the camping area. Restrooms and a large parking area is available. Depending on time and season, it might be possible to drive into the camping area, staying to the right,...
The great temperature migration has began. As things heat up to triple digits in the desert parks of Southern Utah, I begin my trek north looking for higher elevation and cooler temperatures. Watching the weather report; Zion National Park is expecting a high of 97 degrees today. Cottonwood Mountain with an elevation of 9118' is expected to reach 72.Sitting on the northwest corner of the Cedar City Ranger District; Dixie National Forest has closed...
I got nothing. Usually these trip reports write themselves throughout the day as I hike. Little things catch my attention, thoughts form in my head and it is a matter of remembering long enough to jot them down for a story. This hike was grueling and steep. And that's what I thought about, nothing else.Drive south on 143 toward Brian Head and Cedar Breaks National Monument, at the chain up area park...
Peak 7420 - Firepit Knoll - Kolob Terrace
The Guardian Angels quad, Utah, United States
Hiking | 6.8 miles
Hiking | 6.8 miles
bushwhacking present participle of bush-whack (verb) 1. Live or travel in wild or uncultivated country: "seven days of bushwhacking". 2. Cut or push one's way in a specified direction through dense vegetation: "he'd bushwhacked down the steep slopes". After another day in the Kolob Terrace section of Zion National Park I might add a number 3. The slow death of a thousand cuts. I'm pretty sure I am solely responsible for the...
You've got to want to climb Peak 7134. Even after my attempt on Burnt Mountain last week, that ended with rain and no summit, the attempt itself was a moderate to difficult (class 2) approach and a surprising 2,484' feet of elevation gain. I expected the class 1 approach to Peak 7134 to be a walk in the park, at least on a comparable note. The park part is correct, for those...
"But you just finished a 7 hour hike" my mind and body argued between checking out the road I had just turned on in Toquerville, Utah. Anderson Benchmark is one of the more prominent summits when driving up and down I-15. The mountain is a massive ridge running parallel to the freeway made up of the Anderson Benchmark and the Black Ridge. The Black Ridge is a demarcation of sorts for weather...
I've been planning this trip for several weeks, ever since I noticed the nice ridge line moving north and south from Red Butte to Burnt Mountain. I was reviewing some pictures of Red Butte when on my last two trips to Kolob Terrace I had been unable to locate the beautiful arch that resides near the top. Usually I can spot it with ease having had a chance to stand on the...
Multiple routes exists for this easy class 2 summit. The Gilmore Cliff Shadows parking area provides ample parking and restroom facilities. I parked closer to the trailhead and wandered up the well worn path. I made a short detour to try and determine if hiking up the wash or the ridge line was preferred, I decided upon the ridge line and followed a trail to slickrock. The rock is rough and...
One week ago my wife and I trudged to the top of Mount Golden Eagle only to discover later that I was holding the TOPO map south instead of north. This error resulted in our summitting the twin but false peak. My bad. In climbing the peak a second time, I thought I would scout around to the south along an ATV trail to see if there is a more pronounced route...
Peak 4620 - Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness Area
Harrisburg Junction quad, Utah, United States
Hiking | 10.5 miles
Hiking | 10.5 miles
I faced Peak 4620 today with more than a little trepidation. This third, in a series of peaks, starting with Peak 4416, Peak 4583 (non ranked), and ending in the more isolated peak of 4620. I knew the route would be long, having already hiked the 2.5 mile grapevine mountain bike trail (one way) once before. Cutting out just before the duel track drops below a lava bluff ridge line and picking...
A beautiful Sunday morning, Linda and I decided to hike a quick peak before breakfast. Mount Golden Eagle is a small ranked peak located just off the 215 and Ann road. We parked at the barricade and walked the dirt road of La Mancha Ave before turning south toward a prominent wash on the north face and following a duel track part of the way up the hillside. At the end of...
Straight forward out and back hike to the summit of ranked peak 5256. Use my return trip for both directions, if I had continued on Oak Grove Rd just past the Leeds Creek bridge I would have spotted the parking area for Children's Forest at the Kiln. Drop into the gully running north and south and work you way higher on the gentle sloping landscape to the summit. Class 2 hiking with...
Peak 4220 - Red Cliffs Recreation Area
Harrisburg Junction quad, Utah, United States
Hiking | 2.1 miles
Hiking | 2.1 miles
I should have gotten an earlier start was my first thought as I turned the corner off of Old Highway 91 (frontage road) passing the sign for the Red Cliffs Recreation
Area. Cars were backed up just past the first of the two freeway tunnels. A temporary entrance station has been set up to determine parking availability and activity. Parking for day use is extremely limited (33 spots only), day use is...
Peak 4583 - Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness Area
Harrisburg Junction quad, Utah, United States
Hiking | 9.4 miles
Hiking | 9.4 miles
I lied. In my Trip Report of Peak 4416 - Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness Area, I started with the phrase "There are shorter routes to the summit of Peak 4416". That's simply not true. I had hoped to drive a good deal of the way to Peak 4583 on a road I spotted from the peaks sister summit Peak 4416. As it turned out the Grapevine mountain bike trail is blocked and "official...
It is a great time to be hiking in the Las Vegas area, with temperatures expected to hover around 80 degrees (F) today; I couldn't pass up the chance to hike the Frenchman Mountain summits.A relative short hike of just over 4 hours can place one in the most beautiful overlook of Las Vegas that can be found in the valley. Follow Lake Mead Blvd east into the mountain range. The trailhead...
Peak 4416 - Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness Area
Harrisburg Junction quad, Utah, United States
Hiking | 8.3 miles
Hiking | 8.3 miles
There are shorter routes to the summit of Peak 4416. But with temperatures expected to be in the 60 degrees (F) range, I decided I had the entire day to enjoy exploring the approximately 11,700 acre Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness area within the newly-designated Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. I 'll take my time scouting a route to Peak 4416, if I get turned back, well I'll be okay with that.The Cottonwood Canyon...
I hate car buying! Once again I found myself headed to Las Vegas, this time to meet with, and finalize, a truck deal. The only redeeming part of the whole episode is the potential for an afternoon of scrambling in Red Rock Canyon. "The earlier the better"; so I'm up at 6:00 am, driving the 2 1/2 hours to Henderson. Upon arrival, I know there's going to be a problem, the truck...
Red Reef - Red Cliffs National Conservation Area
Harrisburg Junction quad, Utah, United States
Hiking | 2.8 miles
Hiking | 2.8 miles
Every once in awhile I stumble across a scramble route that has that wonderful balance between risk and reward. Challenging without being frustrating. I've mentioned before that I believe Lady Mountain in Zion National Park might just be the perfect scramble route (having that perfect balance for me anyway). Now, I believe Red Reef might be a close second.Growing up in Southern Utah, Red Cliffs Recreation Area was a mainstay of my...
Toquerville Mine - Red Cliffs National Conservation Area
Leeds, Utah, United States
Hiking | 0.5 miles
Hiking | 0.5 miles
From I-15 north take Exit
22 and continue straight on Main Street through downtown Leeds and
travel 2.2 miles to Babylon Road (900 N). From 1-15 south take Exit 23
and turn left on Silver Reef Road and then immediately turn left on Main
Street and continue .7 miles to Babylon Road. Turn
right onto Babylon Road (900 N). This road requires a high clearance
vehicle and may require 4x4 wheel drive past the Toquerville...
I stumbled across this peak while searching for a ranked peak in the St. George area. What caught my attention was the unique name, considerably different than the typical names of peaks in the area. Also my search lead me to a Facebook page where someone had dedicated a great deal of time to the historical significance of the butte (Thank you). Suffice it to say that the history, concrete aviation arrow,...
