Hike Guide: Inside Stevens Arch

Stevens Arch in the lower Escalante is one of the most impressive arches in Utah (and arguably the world!) At 220′ feet wide it’s rumored that a crazy pilot once flew a small plane through its opening. The arch stands high in the Navajo sandstone as the river flows in… Continue reading

Hike Guide: Bull Valley Gorge

Bull Valley Gorge is an impressive slot canyon in Grand-Staircase/Escalante National Monument  that is accessible via the Skutumpah Road. The canyon is deeper, more rugged, and less visited than its nearby “cousin” canyon Willis Creek  which is just to the north. Bull Valley Gorge is somewhat infamous for being the location… Continue reading

Hike Guide: Balanced Rock and Red Slot

The Balanced Rock and Red Slot are two amazing off-the-beaten-path spots to see in an off-the-beaten-path area. By that I mean that many hikers who visit the remote region (the Upper Paria) actually stick to the river corridor and skip the short diversion required to see theses spots. IMHO anyone hiking… Continue reading

Hike Guide: The Upper Paria

The Upper Paria doesn’t get as much attention as the Lower Paria a little farther south. The Upper Paria (rhymes w/ “Maria”)  is located in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and is a braided river in a much more wide-open canyon than its lower counterpart which is famous for its… Continue reading

Hayduke Alt: Via Escalante East (Upper Muley/The Gulch)

This is the second/northern option that I present to Hayduke Hikers looking for an alternate to connect the Burr Trail Switchbacks (HDT Section 6 Start) to Escalante. If you haven’t already, read the pros/cons for skipping this part of official Hayduke and get the detail on the southern option here:… Continue reading

Hayduke Alt: Via Escalante East (Choprock/Harris)

Almost all Hayduke Hikers end up in the town of Escalante for a re-supply (or do an inconvenient cache pre-hike.) Getting to this small town from the route usually means a long and sometimes difficult hitch along the Hole-in-the-Rock Road. However, many great canyons in this region provide possible alternates… Continue reading

Hayduke: Navajo and Reese Canyons

Navajo and Reese Canyons are two remote canyons on the Kaiparowits Plateau. Their inclusion in Section 7 of the Hayduke Trail makes the inner portion of a big “W”-looking pattern on the map. At first I thought it might be better just to bypass the seeming circuitous route with its… Continue reading

Hayduke: Heart of the Needles

If doing the official Hayduke Route through Canyonlands (ie no Outpost Resupply or Salt Creek Alternate), I implore you to consider this alternate through the heart of the Needles. I understand the official route is likely the quickest way through the area and could probably be done fast enough to… Continue reading