Local Travel Tip

Canyoneering is a relatively new sport, that essentially is the hiking of canyons normally slot canyons.  This sport combines rock climbing, rappelling, swimming and hiking.  One nice part about canyonering is that your almost always traveling downhill.

These canyons are mostly formed by water and wind and thus create some beautiful scenery.  Some of the canyons are beautiful red rock others have waterfalls.  You could say this is a new frontier in the outdoors because until recently many of these canyons were inaccessible.  Its something special when you are the first person to descend a canyon, it gives you a sense of adventure.

There are canyons of varying difficulties for all different levels of ability and experience.  Some canyons don’t have any climbing or rappelling and can be done with children.  Others are only for the very advanced, and can result in death without proper experience, training and equipment.

Make sure when you go on a trip to check the weather report because flash flood are a major hazard when in the canyon.  Go prepared with clothes, food and proper equipment.  Most importantly never go alone and always tell someone where you are going.

There are places all over the world to canyoneer, and Utah offers some of the best.  Zions National Park is great place with some beautiful and easily accessible canyons.  The canyons are a wonderful place to explore and see things that is unique to this terrain.

The most celebrated time of a long drive is when the parents finally say, “Time to get out of the car!” After a long drive, why drive some more when there are beautiful hikes and horse riding opportunities at some of the most beautiful places in the world? Arches and Zion’s National Parks located in Utah, offer just this opportunity.

With over 2,000 arches, Arches National Park is the largest collection natural stone arches in the world. The same awe that is felt as people marvel at the man-made Colosseum, is felt with these natural wonders. The wind swept red stone is majestic in any landscape photograph.

The 73,000 acre national park in Moab, Utah, has four main sections that attract tourism: The Windows Section, Fiery Furnace, Devils Garden, and Delicate Arch. Delicate Arch is the park’s most famous feature and is used as a symbol for the state of Utah quite often. There are several different hiking trails to accommodate visitors, but be sure to bring enough water! This site is an arid, red desert and very hot.

Delicate Arch

Another must see is Utah’s first and most popular national park, Zion’s. Located by Springdale, Utah, there are endless hiking possibilities through Zion’s breath taking red canyons. The park is open year round for visitors, and it is a completely different experience during different seasons of the year, although this epic scenery is just as beautiful in the summer, with the sun emphasizing the red, as in the winter with snow.

Zion's National Park

Along with the hot springs theme, are Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe, Utah.  After the last of the Grateful Dead shows Mike Ginsburg was heading home and stumbled upon these hot springs and purchased the land.  He has sense created a very hippie friendly kind of resort place.  The springs have created some beautiful red rock formations and Mike has placed several old bath tubs around the springs that you can also soak in.  The place is a lot fun you can even rent a teepee or an old hippie bus to sleep in.  They occasionally have bands come through, so call ahead and find out when the next show is going to be.  When Ive gone there’s always plenty of nice laid-back people to meet and have interesting conversations with.  Because they are able to maintain warm water temperature year round there are even some pools full of tropical fish.  Mike is also is a glass artist and makes some really cool jewelry, ask him to do a demo, its really amazing to see the process of shaping the glass.  If you are going to stay over night there is plenty of camping space, I would recommend bringing your own food because Monroe is very small town.  Probably one of, if not the best place I have found so far in the Utah area.