Outdoor Project

Canyonlands National Park is a huge and wonderful wilderness in southeastern Utah. The park is divided into three sections, each approached from a different direction. The most popular and accessible section is the Island in the Sky area near Moab. Willow Flat is the only car-accessible campground in this section, but it is a gem. Located about midway between the park entrance at the north and the end of the park road at Grand View Point at the south, Willow Flat is perfectly situated to provide access to the fine overlooks and trails in this part of Canyonlands.

The Monterey Bay is a beautiful and majestic stretch of California coastline. The sunrises and sunsets, unique weather patterns, and intricate geography make this area almost like a storybook. There are many lookouts where you can see this for yourself, but Fremont Peak is the best, hands down.

Of the 21 California missions built by the Spaniards in the 18th and 19th century, Mission San Juan Bautista remains one of the few churches that are still functional. San Juan Bautista Historic State Park, home to the mission, is located off of the historic El Camino Real, or "The Royal Road," that connected the missions.

The mission at San Juan Bautistia is an extension of the historic state park, though they are owned and operated by different entities. The mission is one of 21 missions that were built along the Royal Road, or El Camino Real, which connected the missions and helped the Spanish spread Christianity to the populations that lived along the California coast. You can still see a small section of the road just outside of the mission.

Visit Melakwa Lake on any summer day and you will more than likely encounter other hikers. Add some snow however, and you have a perfect recipe for solitude. The lakes make an ideal winter day excursion, as you'll have gorgeous views and a peaceful trek through the lush forest. Visitors should be prepared for a couple of stream crossings.

Tho Kolob Canyon area of Zion National Park is often overlooked, especially by the harried traveler trying to see Bryce and Zion in a day or two. Given the easy access to this area of the park and the fact that the highlights can be covered in a half-day, this beautiful canyon area should not be missed if time permits.

A great way to access some of the spectacular geology of Arches National Park via a short, easy trail with minimal elevation gain is by hiking the Windows Loop. This area can also provide some terrific photographic opportunities, especially at sunrise.

A hike through a narrows or slot canyon is a fantastic activity to line up while you are in southern Utah. Canyoneering is an increasingly popular sport, and many slot canyons require climbing gear and specialized skills as well as a high level of fitness. Cottonwood Narrows offers a great narrows hiking experience in an isolated and little-visited area and does not require any climbing skills or equipment. It does, however, require driving about 14 miles on a gravel road that may be suitable for a passenger car but is better suited to a high-clearance and/or four-wheel drive vehicle.

Lassen Peak’s northeast face holds some of the park’s best climbs and descents. With multiple bowls, ribs, and chutes flowing down across north to east facing aspects, the terrain is enticing to say the least.

The southeast chutes running off Lassen Peak's summit ridge offer multiple options for steep descents. This terrain is most readily accessible when the Lassen Park Road (Highway 89) is open and skiers can conveniently ascend Lassen Peak via the summer trail. Often, however, the full park road does not open until late into spring, limiting access to much of Lassen Peak's terrain unless you're up for a long tour in.