Page 10 of Hiking The Southwest Travel Blog Posts


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Hiking The Southwest
September 11th 2010

Rock art “is abstract, and made by prehistoric hunter-gatherers some 1200 years ago. The images are symbolic, and even though archaeologists can’t interpret most of them, they still had meaning for the migratory people who once lived here.” The images may have functioned as territorial markers, as ways of telling stories and documenting events such as the falling man. Once this area was covered with archeological features such as agave roasting pits and a prehistoric campsites although now only the petroglyph’s remain. Trail Guide Getting to the Trailhead The Falling Man Rock Art Site is located way out in the Gold Butte Region at the northeast end of Lake Mead, about 2.5 hours northeast of Las Vegas in a wild, remote, and scenic area. From Whitney Pocket , in the Gold Butte Recreation Area turn around ... read more



Hiking The Southwest icon
Hiking The Southwest
September 11th 2010

The mountains were named for the Paiute word for white, T'shar, an indication of the light color seen near the summits of the peaks. Largely invisible from a great distance, the spectacular peaks at the climax of the range are best seen up close. Approaching from the east, the grandeur of the peaks is hidden by sharp and steeply rising foothills. From the east and the north, the peaks are visible, but only hint at the true majesty that is best enjoyed from the high alpine and rock-strewn ridges that provide a dream destination for the hiker or mountaineer. The peaks of the Tushar are the highest in the region, with three topping 12,000 feet. Found at the edge of the Great Basin, the volcanic heights of the Tushars provide a contrast to the dominant plateau ... read more



Cave Valley

Published: January 12th 2011North America » United States » Utah
Hiking The Southwest icon
Hiking The Southwest
July 25th 2010

Cave Valley: Kolob Reservoir Rd Traveling up Kolob Reservoir Rd from Zion National Park about 9 miles you'll enter into Cave Valley. ... read more



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Hiking The Southwest
July 14th 2010

Dedicated in 1935, Valley of Fire is Nevada's oldest state park. It is located only 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The rough floor and jagged walls of the park contain brilliant formations of eroded sandstone and sand dunes more than 150 million years old. These features, which are the centerpiece of the park's attractions, often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun's rays. Valley of Fire State Park is located in the Mojave Desert of southern Nevada about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. It abuts Lake Mead National Recreation Area at the Virgin River confluence. It lies in a basin 4 miles wide by 6 miles long, 15 miles southwest of Overton, Nevada. Its elevation varies between 2,000 and 2,600 feet. Climate Typical low desert conditions exist. Winters are mild with temperatures ... read more



Sand Hollow State Park

Published: January 13th 2011North America » United States » Utah
Hiking The Southwest icon
Hiking The Southwest
July 11th 2010

and Mountain, located between St. George and Hurricane, has long been a popular playground for people with dune buggies, dirt bikes and 4-wheelers. Now, the sparkling water of a new reservoir laps at its base, and modern campgrounds and picnic areas have been developed adjacent to the beaches. The reservoir, which is called Sand Hollow, and much of Sand Mountain have been designated Utah's newest state park. With its warm, blue waters and red sandstone landscape, Sand Hollow has become one of Utah's most popular parks. Boat and fish on Sand Hollow Reservoir, explore and ride the dunes of Sand Mountain on an off-highway vehicle, then RV or tent camp in the new campground. Directions to Park: Approximately 297 miles south of Salt Lake City. From I-15, take the Hurricane exit (Exit 16). Travel east on ... read more



Vermillion Castle Trail

Published: January 12th 2011North America » United States » Utah

This trail runs through red rock hoodoos to an overlook offering scenic views into the Noah's Ark formation on Cedar Mountain. Most of the mountain is heavily forested, but the trail runs through relatively open country. Trailhead The trailhead is located along the Yankee Meadow Road, off Hwy 143 east of Parowan. The Yankee Meadow Road is sometimes called the Bowery Creek Road, or the 1st Left Hand Road. Drive it for about 2 miles, past the Vermillion Picnic area, and you'll see the signed trailhead. Overlook From the trailhead, follow the well-marked trail over switchbacks and up through the red rock formations (referred to as hoodoos), to a large rock platform offering scenic views into a deep canyon and the Noah’s Ark formation. For more information call 435-865-3700.... read more



Tushar Mountains

Published: January 12th 2011North America » United States » Utah

Though as Utah's third-highest range, the Tushars exceed the height of the Wasatch Mountains in Northern Utah, they remain underappreciated and relatively uncrowded. Although this is delightful for the rare visitor, it's a bit of a shame for the many that miss out. The area is remarkably scenic and diverse. Many different types of trees and other vegetation grow atop these slopes. This is also the home of "Big Rock Candy Mountain," a bizarre and beautiful multi-colored mountain of volcanic glass and many-hued rocks. The Tushar Mountains make for a fascinating drive with a good network of hiking and biking trails, campgrounds and small lakes. ATV riders are also welcome on these slopes. In winter, there are skiing and snowmobiling opportunities. The range is enclosed by I-15 to the west and Hwy 89 to the east. ... read more



Lehman Caves

Published: January 13th 2011North America » United States » Nevada

The Lehman Caves are one of the most visited attractions in the Great Basin National Park. The caves are among the most highly decorated limestone solution caverns in the western United States. The caves were discovered in 1885 and still contain a variety of unique formations and an array of stalactites and stalagmites that formed over the course of hundreds of thousands of years as water seeped into the caves depositing calcite crystals. The visitor center offers 90-minute guided tours through Lehman Caves daily. The tour winds along a paved trail for six-tenths of a mile, taking visitors through numerous captivating chambers, including the Gothic Palace, the Cypress Swamp, and the Grand Palace. The temperature in the caves remains low, about 50 degrees, year-round, so warm clothing is recommended. Write to Great Basin National Park 100 ... read more



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Hiking The Southwest
June 11th 2010

The Virgin River has helped to create several impressive Southwestern landscapes, starting with the great white cliffs and canyons of Utah’s Zion National Park and ending at the upper end of Lake Mead in Nevada, where it eventually meets the Colorado River. In between, it flows across the very northwest tip of Arizona for 30 miles, through two gaunt ranges of hills – the Virgin and Beaver Dam Mountains, which have similar, Grand Canyon-like scenery of eroded, stepped cliffs and terraces of metamorphosed sandstone. The Virgin Mountains are the more extensive and isolated range, running alongside the river as far as the north edge of the lake, and forming the southwest edge of the Colorado Plateau; to the west stretch the flat, arid plains of the Mojave Desert, terrain that extends for hundreds of miles across ... read more




Lake Mead NRA offers year-round recreational opportunities. Its lakes cater to boaters, swimmers, and fishermen while its desert rewards hikers, wildlife photographers, and roadside sightseers. It is also home to thousands of desert plants and animals, adapted to survive in an extreme place where rain is scarce and temperatures soar. A good place to start your adventure on Lake Mead is the Alan Bible Visitor Center, 4 miles northeast of Boulder City, Nevada on U.S. 93. Information on the park activities and services can be obtained here, as well as books, maps, nautical charts and other necessities. Lake Mead is located in southern Nevada and western Arizona, approximately 25 miles east of Las Vegas at its nearest point, Boulder Beach. By Mail 601 Nevada Way Boulder City, NV 89005 By Phone Visitor Center (Open 7 Days ... read more






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