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Hiking Southern Utah: Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park" Photo: stateparks.utah.govHiking Southern Utah: Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park Photo: stateparks.utah.govTucked away in Kanab near the Utah/Arizona border is Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Rippling arcs of rust-colored sand welcome you as you enter this area of shifting dunes. Contrasted by blue skies, juniper, and pinion pines, and steep red cliffs, the park is a wonderful place for camping, photography, off-highway vehicle riding, and playing in the sand. As the only major sand dune field on the Colorado Plateau, this park is a unique geologic feature that should not be missed.A 22-site campground offers showers, restrooms, and water. Off-highway vehicle access is available directly from the dunes. Reservations are recommended, especially on holidays and weekends.The geology of the sand dunes is an intriguing subject. The sand comes from Navajo sandstone from the geologic period called "Middle Jurassic." The same iron oxides and minerals that give us spectacular red rock country are responsible for this landscape of coral pink sand.The sand dunes at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park are created by three factors: sand, high winds, and the notch between the Moquith and Moccasin mountains. The notch uniquely influences the wind, which is funneled through the notch, thereby increasing wind velocity to a point where it can carry sand grains from the eroding Navajo sandstone.This phenomenon is known as the Venturi effect. Once the wind passes through the notch and into the open valley, the wind velocity decreases, causing the sand to be deposited. These dunes are estimated at 10,000 to 15,000 years old. Photo: stateparks.utah.govCoral Pink Sand Dunes support a diverse population of insects, including the Coral Pink tiger beetle that is found only here. Melting snow sometimes creates small ponds in the dunes that support amphibians such as salamanders and toads.Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is in Kanab, approximately 62 miles east of St. George...."Read the rest of story at link below Read the full article

Hiking Southern Utah: Zebra and Tunnel Canyons" Photos by Krista WiekampHiking Southern Utah: Zebra and Tunnel CanyonsTrail: Zebra and Tunnel CanyonsLocation: Escalante river countryDifficulty: EasyDistance: 4-5 miles from the trailhead to both canyons and back.Average time: 6-8 hoursTotal elevation: Elevation loss on the way to Zebra Canyon is 250’Family-friendly: Yes. This hike makes a great family day hike.Access: Drive east out of Escalante about 5 miles on Highway 12 and turn right onto Hole in the Rock Road. Go down Hole in the Rock Road 7.76 miles to where it crosses a cattle guard. Parking is on the right.The trail: Cross the road to find the well-traveled trail near the cattle guard. Follow the defined path as it meanders its way down to Halfway Hollow. There are plenty of cairns to mark the way. It takes approximately 40-50 minutes to reach Halfway Hollow. Follow the trail as it cuts left and heads directly for Zebra canyon. Follow it, crossing Harris Wash, and head for the first obvious side canyon.The mouth of Zebra Canyon is wide upon entry but soon narrows. You may encounter some pools, especially if the area recently had rain. In this case, take socks off, and leave shoes on to wade through the pools. You may see some frogs swim by.After about 15 minutes of traipsing along, you will experience the glory of this short but memorable canyon, where the path begins to zig-zag, and the pink, zebra-striped sandstone walls illustrate its name. You will reach a dry fall that you can scramble up. If you choose to continue, you will reach a large pothole. Once you have reached this point, turn around and go back out the way you came.To reach Tunnel Canyon, go back down Harris Wash a little less than a mile (20-30 minutes) from Zebra Canyon to the first side canyon you come to on the left. Walk up this side canyon for about ten minutes to reach Tunnel Canyon, a short canyon which almost always has at least knee-deep water in it. When you go through the tunnel, keep going—you may run into a pool on the other side. Turn back around and go back the way you came to exit the canyon.Return up Harris Wash to Halfway Hollow and follow the trail back to the trailhead.As always, pack a camera, plenty of water, and snacks. This hike can be too hot in the summer months. Late spring and early fall are the best times to plan for this hike.Articles related to "Hiking Southern Utah: Zebra and Tunnel Canyons" http://suindependent.com/hiking-southern-utah-gardner-peak/http://suindependent.com/hiking-southern-utah-elkhart-cliffs-canyon/..."Read the rest of story at link below Read the full article

Hiking Southern Utah: Whiterocks Amphitheater Trail" Photos by Don GilmanHiking Southern Utah: Whiterocks Amphitheater TrailTrail Name: Whiterocks TrailLocation: Snow Canyon State ParkDifficulty: ModerateLength: Option one, approximately 5.5 miles roundtrip; option two, one-mile roundtripElevation Gain: option one, approximately 500’; option two, 100’, with bonus peak, add 250’Average Time: 1--3 hours, depending upon optionsFamily-friendly: Yes, with varying levels for all family membersDog-friendly: No, dogs are not allowed on this trailThe Whiterocks trail is a scenic trail with multiple options for hikers of all abilities. In this hike description, there are two different routes with several challenges presented to allow for a variety of routes. Both options lead to the Whiterocks Amphitheater, a spectacular hollow surrounded by towering sandstone peaks. Option one begins in Snow Canyon State Park proper and is the longest route to the amphitheater. Option two begins just north of the northern entrance to the park and is ideal for hikers with small children. The bonus peak option is the most challenging route of all, but the ascent can be made even by confident, sure-footed younger scramblers.Access for option one: From the junction of St. George Boulevard and Bluff Street, head north on Bluff for 9.1 miles (going past the turnoff at Snow Canyon Parkway and continuing as Bluff becomes State Route 18) to the North Entrance of Snow Canyon State Park. Turn right (making sure to pay the fees at the entrance station) and drive down the park road for another 0.8 miles until the Lava Flow trailhead parking area is reached on the right.Access for option two: Instead of turning into Snow Canyon State Park, continue north on state Route 18 for another 0.5 miles. Look for a parking area on the left.Hiking option one: The trail (which is also the Lava Flow trail for the first 0.4 miles of the trek) begins with a gentle descent towards the mixed plain of lava, scrub, and sandy desert environments. The trail initially arcs in a southwesterly direction as it curves towards its junction with the Whiterocks trail. Several interpretive signs explain the area’s volcanic past.Continue until the junction with the Whiterocks trail is reached. Turn right and head north. The trail passes by several collapsed lava tubes and then begins trending in a northwesterly direction. After another half mile or so, an outcropping of white sandstone is reached. Take the time to walk out to the west, and enjoy the startling vista of the canyon spread out below and before you.Return to the trail and continue on. The path will remain headed in a northern direction, but as the trail gets closer to the mountains that mark the north end of Snow Canyon, it will turn towards the east and then northeast. Eventually, the path reaches a steep slope where the trail carves short switchbacks to reach a saddle between two sandstone outcroppings. From here, the trail heads north to meet with the shorter trail of option two. Turn left and head west, contouring around a rock wall to reach the entrance to the amphitheater. At this point, there is no trail, but the way is obvious. Follow the canyon south to its head where a seasonal pool is surrounded by towering walls and a small section of sandstone. Take time to explore the nooks and crannies of the amphitheater. When ready, return to the parking lot for the Lava Flow Trail.Hiking option two: Head west and descend into a jumbled plain of lava rocks, shallow draws, and sand. After a quarter mile, the junction with option one is reached. Continue on towards and into the amphitheater as described before. This hike is perfect for little legs and short attention spans. Again, return to the parking area when done.Extra credit: For an exciting, not-as-hard-as-it-looks option, climb the small peak that makes up the eastern wall of the amphitheater. While not appropriate for really young kids, confident hikers and scramblers can easily and safely make the ascent. There are numerous means of gaining the summit, but by far the easiest route is the north ridge. As the trail turns south into the canyon of the amphitheater, divert to the west and begin hiking and scrambling up the broad, gentle ridge. Take time to find the easiest route. Eventually, the summit knob is reached where the only challenging section is found. Picking the right route can be a little difficult, but there are multiple options on all sides of the block. The views from the summit are spectacular. When ready to descend, head north back down the ridge.Articles related to "Hiking Southern Utah: Whiterocks Amphitheater Trail"http://suindependent.com/hiking-southern-utah-canal-trail-pine-valley-recreation-area/http://suindependent.com/hiking-southern-utah-tempipoop-trail-anasazi-trail-st-george/http://suindependent.com/hiking-southern-utah-the-maze/..."Read the rest of story at link below Read the full article

Hiking Southern Utah: The Maze" Photos by Don GilmanHiking Southern Utah: The MazeTrail name: The MazeLocation: Near Upper Sand Cove Reservoir, just south of VeyoDifficulty: ModerateLength: 2 milesElevation gain: 400 feetAverage time: 2--3 hoursFamily-friendly: Yes, but several short, steep sections of rock scrambling require care, in addition to proximity to cliffs and the ubiquitous desert dangers.The Maze in an off-the-radar hiking spot that is scenic, intriguing, entertaining, and easy to get to. While the overall hike itself is fairly easy, route-finding can be challenging. The path starts out with a steep pitch of switchbacks and bare stone, passes over a section of nearly level pinion-juniper forest, drops into a magical slot canyon and finally, as an option, ascends out of the ravine and onto the southern end of the tall plateau with stately views towards the rarely-seen northern side of the Red Mountain Wilderness.Access: To find The Maze, start from the intersection of Bluff Street and St. George Boulevard. Head north on Bluff, continuing as it turns into Utah State Route 18, driving for just over 16 miles to Lower Sand Cove Road. This dirt road can be a little difficult to spot, but it appears on the left just as the highway reaches the base of the Veyo Volcano. Follow this road for a mile and a half. The Upper Sand Cove Reservoir appears on the right, while a depression appears on the left. Follow a dirt road down into the depression and find a place to park. Note that this is a common area for target practice, and sportsmen will occasionally be shooting firearms here.The hike: Head up a scramble path at the southeast corner of the overflow dam, and once on top of the wide earthen berm, head east up the hillside, looking for a well-worn path making very short switchbacks up the rocky slope. This is the steepest section of the entire hike with the majority of the elevation gain, but it doesn’t last long. Soon, the trail flattens out and heads in a southeastern direction again, this time through a pinion-juniper forest. Here, the trail can be somewhat difficult to follow as multiple use and game trails zigzag through the mail trail and can lead the hiker the wrong direction. Caution should also be exercised in this section as social trails sometimes cut right through large patches of cryptobiotic soil, and care must be taken not to disturb this living matrix of cyanobacteria, algae, mosses, and lichens. The main trail continues for approximately a quarter mile, arriving at a shallow, rocky saddle with lovely views of Signal Peak and the Pine Valley Mountains.From here, the path descends down into the canyon that leads to the main part of The Maze. Flagging occasionally marks the route, the trail following a southerly direction while descending to soon reach the canyon floor. Continue south along the bottom of the draw. The canyon walls will get narrower and taller, and small alcoves, side canyons, and slots will appear. This place is aptly named. There are lots of nooks and crannies to explore along the way, but continue on the (obvious) main trail. After approximately a quarter mile from the saddle, the canyon splits. Take the left-hand fork.Soon after the fork, the trail reaches a seeming impasse where the path dead-ends. This is the most interesting portion of the journey. Look for a large boulder with an opening beneath it. Scramble up and through this opening, into a small slot and out the other side, where the main canyon continues. There are often pools of water here (and in other spots in the canyon.) Shortly after popping out of the slot, the canyon dead-ends. From here, there are two options. The first is to return back through the canyon on the same trail (probably the best option for hikers with young children) to the parking area, while the second is to look for a way out of the canyon, an easy scramble up and out of The Maze on the eastern side of the ravine (on the left, facing up-canyon).The top of the plateau is a flat expanse of pinion-juniper forest, cacti, and sage with few landmarks and no established trail to use. Instead, numerous game and social trails crisscross the top of the mesa. Continue on toward the south. Soon, the cliff-top rim will appear on the right, and numerous stellar viewpoints make themselves available. The Veyo Volcano, the Red Mountain Wilderness, and the Camelbacks provide a stunning backdrop. These viewpoints make excellent spots for picnic or a rest stop. When ready, carefully return to the exit from The Maze, and scramble back down into its depths. Return down-canyon and back to the parking area.Articles related to "Hiking Southern Utah: The Maze"http://suindependent.com/hiking-southern-utah-spectra-point-trail-cedar-breaks-national-monument/http://suindependent.com/hiking-southern-utah-buckskin-gulch/http://suindependent.com/hiking-southern-utah-vermillion-castle-trail/..."Read the rest of story at link below Read the full article

Hiking Southern Utah: Cinder Cone Trail"Written by Don GilmanHiking Southern Utah: Cinder Cone TrailTrail name: Cinder ConeDifficulty: ModerateLength: 1.5–2.5 miles, with optionsElevation gain: 250 feetTime required: 2 hoursFamily-friendly: Yes, with some loose rock, especially near the summit which may be difficult for children still developing coordinationVisitors to St. George and the surrounding areas are often struck by the sheer enormous rock architecture of our landscape: towering sandstone cliffs, lofty mountains of limestone and granite, and crumpled fields of black lava. While the limestone and sandstone are ancient sentinels from a time long past, the dark flows of basalt are relative newcomers to the area. One of the primary sources for this rock is the volcano in Diamond Valley, just north of St. George. A short but steep path spirals around and up to the summit of this lofty perch.Access: The Cinder Cone Trail is easily accessible from St. George. Simply follow Bluff Street north out of town, driving 10.25 miles from the junction of Bluff and St. George Boulevard. Snow Canyon will pass on the left, and as the road makes a steep rise, look for the volcano to appear on the right, abutted against a sandstone ridge. Parking can be found at the junction of West Diamond Valley Drive (the entrance to the community of Diamond Valley) and State Route 18.The hike begins by following the highway before veering into the lava beds, traversing over jumbled blocks of black basalt. In a very short time, however, the trail diverts to the east and onto the side of the cinder cone itself. From here, the trail begins its sinuous wrap around the volcano, passing from the north side to the west and eventually the south in a little over a half-mile. For the most part, the trail is well-packed, easy to follow, and of a moderate grade. However, loose cinders on the lower part of the trail occasionally make the footing treacherous, and the final slope to the summit is very loose. Caution should be exercised.When the trail turns back toward the west, the path becomes more difficult, with more loose rock as it makes the final rise to the saddle that separates the cinder cone from the sandstone ridge to the south. A short spur path leads to better views to the west. To the north, the last short stretch of trail leads to the summit. Unfortunately, it is a very eroded, loose, and tedious ascent across a shifting slope of black and red cinder rock.In less than a quarter-mile, the broad summit is reached, a huge crater yawning beneath the rim with views stretching north to Signal Peak and the Pine Valley Mountains, east into the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, and south toward Ivins and Santa Clara. The vast majority of the view to the west is taken up by the stunning landscape of Snow Canyon, and the perspective from the top of the volcano is stunning. Below, SR-18 and the passing vehicles look like a child’s playset.From here, there are multiple options for extending this hike. The first is to walk around the lip of the crater and even descend down into it. A well-traveled path makes a loop around the top of the cinder cone and at the lowest point, descends down into the cool recesses of the crater.To reach the second option, descend the trail back to the saddle with the sandstone ridge and head southwest along an obvious trail. Soon the trail traverses along the spine of the sandstone, weaving in and out of outcroppings and stands of pinyon and juniper trees. The path reaches a suitable turnaround spot at a high point on the ridge in a little over a half-mile. When ready, return to the saddle by the volcano and descend the Cinder Cone Trail back to the car park.Articles related to "Hiking Southern Utah: Cinder Cone Trail"http://suindependent.com/hiking-southern-utah-temple-quarry-trail/http://suindependent.com/hiking-southern-utah-whiterocks-amphitheater-awesome-chasm/http://suindependent.com/hiking-southern-utah-snow-canyon-state-park/..."Read the rest of story at link below Read the full article