Tag: Utah

Utah, a state in the western United States, is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes and unique geological formations. It is characterized by vast deserts, towering red rock formations, and the dramatic peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Home to five national parks—Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches—Utah attracts outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers from around the world. Its capital, Salt Lake City, is a hub of culture, history, and outdoor recreation, famously hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics. Utah’s diverse terrain offers opportunities for skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and exploring ancient Native American petroglyphs and archaeological sites. The state’s Mormon heritage is also evident in its history, architecture, and the world-famous Salt Lake Temple.

Hardscrabble Bottom Campground

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Canyonlands National Park is located in the south eastern corner of the state of Utah
Canyonlands National Park is located in the south eastern corner of the state of Utah

Hardscrabble Bottom Campground is a remote backcountry camping area along the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky district, situated near the Green River. The campground features two designated sites (Hardscrabble A and B), each accommodating up to three vehicles and 15 people, designed to offer privacy with sites spaced to reduce visibility and noise from one another. Located at approximately 4,200 feet elevation, the campground provides scenic views of the Green River, nearby red rock cliffs, and expansive desert landscapes, with distant mesas visible on clear days. The sites are primitive, lacking potable water, shade, or wind protection, so campers must bring all supplies, including at least 1 gallon (4 liters) of water per person per day. A vault toilet is shared between the sites, though some campers report odors during warmer months. The terrain is a mix of sandy and rocky ground, suitable for tents but potentially challenging for securing stakes in sandy areas. Stargazing is exceptional due to the remote location and minimal light pollution, with visitors often describing the night sky as “stunningly vibrant.”

Access requires a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle, as the trail to Hardscrabble Bottom includes rugged sections, steep descents (notably Hardscrabble Hill), and sandy washes, making it unsuitable for standard vehicles or large trucks with oversized campers (e.g., Ford F-350 with large campers). Overnight permits are required, costing $36 for the reservation plus $5 per person per night, and are highly competitive, particularly in spring and fall. Hardscrabble Bottom’s riverside location and proximity to challenging trail sections make it a popular choice for adventurers seeking both beauty and rugged terrain.

White Rim Trail

The White Rim Trail is a legendary 100-mile loop in Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky district, renowned for its challenging terrain and breathtaking desert scenery. This high-clearance 4×4 route, also popular among mountain bikers, follows the “white rim” ledge between the mesa top and the Green and Colorado Rivers below, offering sweeping views of red rock canyons, towering buttes, and river valleys. Key highlights include Gooseneck Overlook, Musselman Arch, White Crack (with vistas of the Maze and Needles districts), and Murphy Hogback, known for its 360-degree panoramas. The trail features a mix of wide dirt roads, sandy stretches, and technical jeep trails with cliff exposure, particularly at Shafer Trail, Lathrop Canyon Road, Murphy Hogback, Hardscrabble Hill (near Hardscrabble Bottom Campground), and Mineral Bottom switchbacks. With an elevation gain of approximately 9,160 feet, the route is moderately difficult for vehicles and strenuous for cyclists, typically taking 2-3 days to complete, though experienced bikers may attempt it in one day. Permits are required for both day-use and overnight trips, with 20 designated campsites across 10 areas, including Hardscrabble Bottom Campground. No potable water is available, and high water on the Green River (May-June) can flood western sections, potentially preventing a full loop. The best seasons are spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) for milder temperatures and stable weather, as summer brings extreme heat and winter may bring closures.

Potato Bottom Campground

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Canyonlands National Park is located in the south eastern corner of the state of Utah
Canyonlands National Park is located in the south eastern corner of the state of Utah

Potato Bottom Campground is a remote backcountry camping area along the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky district, situated along the banks of the Green River. The campground features three designated sites (Potato Bottom A, B, and C), each accommodating up to three vehicles and 15 people, designed to provide privacy with sites spaced to minimize visibility and noise from one another. Located at approximately 4,100 feet elevation, the campground offers scenic views of the Green River, surrounded by red rock cliffs, cottonwood trees, and open desert landscapes, with distant mesas visible on clear days. The sites are primitive, with no potable water, limited shade, or wind protection, requiring campers to bring all supplies, including at least 1 gallon (4 liters) of water per person per day. A vault toilet is shared among the sites, though some campers note odors during warmer months. The terrain is a mix of sandy and rocky ground, suitable for tents but potentially challenging for securing stakes in sandy areas near the river. Stargazing is exceptional due to the remote location and minimal light pollution, with visitors describing the night sky as “breathtakingly clear.” Access requires a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle, as the trail to Potato Bottom includes rugged sections, sandy washes, and occasional river-adjacent paths, making it unsuitable for standard vehicles or large trucks with oversized campers (e.g., Ford F-350 with large campers). Overnight permits are required, costing $36 for the reservation plus $5 per person per night, and are highly competitive, particularly in spring and fall. Potato Bottom’s riverside setting and relatively flat terrain make it a favored stop for White Rim Trail adventurers seeking a serene, scenic campsite.

White Rim Trail

The White Rim Trail is a renowned 100-mile loop in Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky district, celebrated for its challenging terrain and stunning desert scenery. This high-clearance 4×4 route, also popular among mountain bikers, traces the “white rim” ledge between the mesa top and the Green and Colorado Rivers below, offering panoramic views of red rock canyons, towering buttes, and river valleys. Key highlights include Gooseneck Overlook, Musselman Arch, White Crack (with vistas of the Maze and Needles districts), and Murphy Hogback, known for its 360-degree panoramas. The trail features a mix of wide dirt roads, sandy stretches, and technical jeep trails with cliff exposure, particularly at Shafer Trail, Lathrop Canyon Road, Murphy Hogback, Hardscrabble Hill, and Mineral Bottom switchbacks. With an elevation gain of approximately 9,160 feet, the route is moderately difficult for vehicles and strenuous for cyclists, typically taking 2-3 days to complete, though experienced bikers may attempt it in one day. Permits are required for both day-use and overnight trips, with 20 designated campsites across 10 areas, including Potato Bottom Campground. No potable water is available, and high water on the Green River (May-June) can flood western sections, potentially preventing a full loop. The best seasons are spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) for milder temperatures and stable weather, as summer brings extreme heat and winter may bring closures.

Wide Hollow Campground

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Nestled within the stunning Escalante Petrified Forest State Park in southern Utah, Wide Hollow Campground beckons adventurers, families, and nature enthusiasts to an idyllic retreat where ancient geology meets serene waters. Perched at approximately 5,900 feet elevation along the shores of the 130-acre Wide Hollow Reservoir—just a short drive west of the charming town of Escalante off Scenic Byway 12—this campground offers a perfect base for exploring the dramatic landscapes of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Imagine awakening to the golden hues of sunrise reflecting off the reservoir’s clear blue waters, with the rugged silhouettes of distant canyons and the Kaiparowits Plateau framing your view. The area, part of Utah’s “Swell” region, is a geologic treasure trove shaped by millions of years of erosion, where slot canyons, natural arches, and expansive vistas create a playground for outdoor pursuits. Here, the air is crisp and invigorating, the nights starlit and quiet, and the days filled with the symphony of birdsong from raptors, songbirds, and waterfowl that frequent the shores.

Natural Features and the Surrounding Area

Wide Hollow Campground is enveloped by the park’s signature attractions, blending aquatic serenity with terrestrial marvels. The reservoir itself is a highlight, stocked year-round with rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and bluegill, making it a prime spot for shore fishing or casting from a rented canoe, kayak, or paddleboard—rentals available on-site during warmer months (March to November). Its calm, swimmable waters invite lazy afternoons lounging on the sandy beach, while the adjacent petrified forest showcases nature’s artistry: colorful, mineralized logs in kaleidoscopic shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple, remnants of ancient trees fossilized over 150 million years ago. Easy-access hiking trails, like the 1-mile Petrified Forest Loop, wind through these formations, offering interpretive signs that reveal the area’s rich paleontological history amid blooming wildflowers in spring or golden cottonwoods in fall. Beyond the park, the broader Escalante region unfolds into endless adventures—hike slot canyons, horseback ride through desert washes, or stargaze in one of the darkest skies in the U.S. The elevation provides cooler summers and mild winters, though visitors should prepare for high-desert conditions with plenty of sun and minimal rainfall.

Available Facilities

Designed for comfort without sacrificing the rustic charm of camping, Wide Hollow Campground features modern amenities to enhance your stay. The park offers 29 full-hookup sites across its loops (including the adjacent Lake View Campground), accommodating tents, RVs, and trailers up to 40 feet. Each site includes a shaded shelter, picnic table, fire pit with grate, paved parking, and ample space for privacy—many boast premium reservoir views toward Escalante’s iconic canyons and Powell Point. Electrical hookups range from 20 to 50 amps, with potable water and sewer connections at every site; additional frost-free water spigots are scattered throughout for convenience.

Supporting facilities keep things clean and convenient:

  • Restrooms and Showers: Modern, well-maintained buildings with hot, free showers—spacious and family-friendly, though occasional upkeep notes from visitors highlight their general cleanliness.
  • Group Areas: A dedicated group pavilion and lakeside overflow spots for larger gatherings (up to 8 people per standard site).
  • Water Recreation: Boat ramp for easy launches, plus canoe/kayak/paddleboard rentals.
  • Day-Use Amenities: Picnic areas with shelters, a swimming beach, and an RV dump station (additional fee applies).
  • Essentials: Drinking water fill-ups, firewood sales (harvested locally to prevent invasive species), and a small camp store for basics. Generators are not permitted in the campground to preserve the peaceful ambiance, but quiet hours are strictly enforced.

Reservations are recommended year-round via Utah State Parks’ online system, with fees starting at $16 per night for basic sites (including park entry). Pets are welcome on leashes, and the campground remains open all year, though services like rentals may vary seasonally. Whether you’re toasting marshmallows by the fire ring or embarking on a dawn paddle, Wide Hollow Campground delivers an unforgettable blend of comfort, recreation, and raw natural beauty—your ideal launchpad for Utah’s red-rock wonders.

White House Campground

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Nestled in the rugged southwestern expanse of Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM), White House Campground offers a serene, primitive escape for adventurers seeking solitude amid one of America’s most remote and geologically stunning landscapes. Established in 1996 and spanning nearly 1.9 million acres, GSENM—often called a “frontier for the 21st century”—protects a vast mosaic of five life zones, from sun-scorched desert lowlands to high-elevation coniferous forests. This unspoiled wilderness, jointly managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is a living museum of natural and cultural history, where ancient Anasazi and Fremont peoples left rock art, granaries, and occupation sites dating back to AD 950–1100. The monument’s dramatic “staircase” of colorful rock layers—limestones atop sandstones atop shales—has been sculpted over millions of years by wind, water, and time, revealing slot canyons, towering cliffs, badlands, plateaus, hoodoos, arches, and natural bridges. Bordered by Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to the east, Bryce Canyon National Park to the north, and Capitol Reef National Park to the northeast, GSENM invites quiet exploration, scientific discovery, and immersive outdoor pursuits like hiking, backpacking, off-roading, photography, and wildlife viewing. Its biological diversity supports desert bighorn sheep, peregrine falcons, and endemic plants, while paleontological treasures, including dinosaur fossils, underscore its role as a hotspot for geologists and paleontologists.

Perched at the monument’s southern edge, White House Campground embodies this raw beauty in a broad, open valley framed by the Paria River to the north and striking white-grey sandstone buttes to the south. Just two miles south of Highway 89 and the Paria Contact Station (about 43 miles east of Kanab, Utah), it serves as an ideal staging point for journeys into the adjacent Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness—a jointly managed area renowned for its narrow slot canyons, petrified wood, archaeological sites, and world-class hikes like the iconic Buckskin Gulch and Wire Pass trails. Here, the air carries the scent of sagebrush and juniper, and sunsets paint the buttes in hues of crimson and gold, offering stargazers unobstructed views of the Milky Way in this International Dark Sky Park. The site’s proximity to Zion National Park (about 80 miles west) and Bryce Canyon (roughly 100 miles north) makes it a perfect hub for multi-park itineraries, while local trails provide day hikes through colorful badlands teeming with desert wildlife, from coyotes to golden eagles.

Available Facilities

White House Campground is designed for low-impact, backcountry-style camping, emphasizing harmony with the desert environment. It’s a first-come, first-served site (no reservations required), open year-round, with a small nightly fee that supports monument maintenance. Facilities are basic to preserve the area’s pristine character:

FacilityDetails
Sites7 car-accessible sites for tents or small RVs (no hookups; suitable for vehicles up to 20 feet); 5 walk-in tent-only sites (short carry-in from parking). All sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and tent pads for comfort.
RestroomsVault toilets (non-flush, cleaned regularly) for basic sanitation.
WaterNo potable water on-site—bring your own or fill up at the nearby Paria Contact Station (seasonal). Practice Leave No Trace principles to protect scarce resources.
Firewood & GrillsFire rings provided; gather dead wood locally or bring your own (no cutting live trees). Propane stoves recommended during fire restrictions.
AccessibilityMostly flat, gravel sites; suitable for most abilities, but walk-in sites require light gear hauling over uneven terrain.
Other AmenitiesTrash receptacles available; pack out all waste. No electricity, showers, or dump stations—embrace the off-grid vibe. Nearby Paria Contact Station offers maps, permits, and info for wilderness entry.

With only 12 sites total, the campground rarely feels crowded, fostering a peaceful retreat even during peak seasons (spring and fall). Arrive early to secure a spot, and note that high-clearance vehicles are advised for the final gravel stretch of Monument Road 751.

Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker plotting a multi-day trek or a family chasing golden-hour photos, White House Campground delivers an authentic taste of GSENM’s timeless allure. Pack your sense of wonder, respect the fragile ecosystem, and let the monument’s ancient whispers guide your adventure. For current conditions or permits, stop by a GSENM visitor center—your journey into this geological masterpiece awaits.

References

Upper Antelope Canyon

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Located just outside of Page, Arizona Upper Antelope Canyon is arguably the best known slot canyon on the planet, yet few people will know its name outside of desert enthusiasts.  For those unaware of these structures, slot canyons are extremely narrow canyons, carved by water, which are typically just a few feet wide, but may be just a few inches.  The typically arid dessert can instantly turn into raging torrent of water in just a few minutes with just a few inches of water.  This water picks up speed, and debris such as sand, which scours the landscape including rock.  Antelope Canyon is found on Navajo Tribal land, and access to the canyon is only allowed with a Navajo Guide.

Molten Wave - Located in Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona Antelope Canyon is the best known slot canyon.
Molten Wave – Located in Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona Antelope Canyon is the best known slot canyon.
Parallelism – The smooth canyon walls of Antelop Canyon offer amazing photographic images.

Antelope Canyon is actually two separate slot canyons located a short distance from each other on either side of US 98.  Upper Antelope Canyon is know as Tse’ bighanilini, which in Navajo means “the place where water runs through rocks.”  Travel to the Canyon is done via Navajo run transport and you are allowed about 2 hours for your visit.  The site is at about 4,000 feet elevation and the canyon walls rise 120 feet above a stream bed.

I would like to thank the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation for keeping this location sacred and available to us.

James Rathbun, Destination4x4.com

Access into the upper canyon is simply a walking into a canyon.  The trail is flat and sandy and very easy to manage.  Upon entrance into the Upper Antelope Canyon you are immediately struck by the texture and color of this place.  Just inside the entrance, is a small chamber which seems to great you, and the pink and orange glow of the light bouncing off the walls force your eyes up.  The geography is such, that the narrow opening high above you lets in a small fraction of the available light, and that light bounces down towards the bottom of the canyon.

Relatively short, Upper Antelope Canyon may be traversed in just 5 minutes.  However, this is simply a waste of your time if you just rush through.  The only complaint of the canyon, are the other visitors.  As a photographer, I have many photographs ruined by people turning a corner and walking into my frame while I was making an exposure.  This does not mean they were rude or anything but patient, but rather an unfortunate side effect of composing photographs with long exposure times in a 18 inch wide slot Canyon.

French Curve - Upper Antelope Canyon
French Curve – Upper Antelope Canyon

As with all beautiful things, we must share this location and Antelope Canyon is a must stop location every time I visit the area.  There is a hidden danger, in that the very forces which sculpt a slot canyon are still very much in play and every few years a new story will appear about someone being killed in a slot canyon due to a sudden flash flood.

I would like to thank the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation for keeping this location sacred and available to us.

Upper Antelope Canyon Map