Southern Utah has some of the best-kept secrets in the country.
Hiking secrets, that is! These fun trails range from way off the beaten path to getting better known every day; and they showcase the best of South Eastern Utah.
Get a peek at them here, then slip on your boots and get out there for some springtime exploration.
This spectacular hike (8.
8 miles one way) is somewhat popular with the adventurous.
However, few people hike it through all the way, as it requires a two-car shuttle.
The Box is nestled within a canyon and follows Pine Creek all the way down.
Since its northern end is at a higher elevation than the southern end, this hike offers wonderfully unexpected features: towering cliffs walls that narrow right down to the sides of the creek; wild berries nestled amongst thorny stems; the possibility of black bear sightings; and a lushness not usually encountered in our dry region.
The southern trailhead begins in classic desert, scrub brush environs.
Towering sandstone cliffs walls rise on either side the entire way, a reminder that this trail is still in the slick rock country of Southern Utah! No matter which end you choose to begin your hike, you can travel the length of the Hell's Backbone Road to reach your trailhead.
Take a moment to pull over at the bridge going over Hell's Backbone to snap pics and peer far down, if you dare, into the depths of the canyon below.
Beginning at the northern end launches you into a mountain riot of burbling creek, berries lining the trail, and rock walls arching up and away.
Giant pines stretch for the sky overhead, offering shade on warm days.
The trail skips back and forth over the stream, providing route-finding fun for first-timers and old hands alike.
Many small side canyons beckon for further exploration.
As you get farther downstream, the landscape turns decidedly desert like.
Sage, pinion, and juniper jostle for space and the sandstone walls invite speculation as to whether a bighorn sheep may be gazing down at your passage along this gorgeous trail.
For more information contact Dixie National Forest, (435) 865-3700,
Hiking secrets, that is! These fun trails range from way off the beaten path to getting better known every day; and they showcase the best of South Eastern Utah.
Get a peek at them here, then slip on your boots and get out there for some springtime exploration.
This spectacular hike (8.
8 miles one way) is somewhat popular with the adventurous.
However, few people hike it through all the way, as it requires a two-car shuttle.
The Box is nestled within a canyon and follows Pine Creek all the way down.
Since its northern end is at a higher elevation than the southern end, this hike offers wonderfully unexpected features: towering cliffs walls that narrow right down to the sides of the creek; wild berries nestled amongst thorny stems; the possibility of black bear sightings; and a lushness not usually encountered in our dry region.
The southern trailhead begins in classic desert, scrub brush environs.
Towering sandstone cliffs walls rise on either side the entire way, a reminder that this trail is still in the slick rock country of Southern Utah! No matter which end you choose to begin your hike, you can travel the length of the Hell's Backbone Road to reach your trailhead.
Take a moment to pull over at the bridge going over Hell's Backbone to snap pics and peer far down, if you dare, into the depths of the canyon below.
Beginning at the northern end launches you into a mountain riot of burbling creek, berries lining the trail, and rock walls arching up and away.
Giant pines stretch for the sky overhead, offering shade on warm days.
The trail skips back and forth over the stream, providing route-finding fun for first-timers and old hands alike.
Many small side canyons beckon for further exploration.
As you get farther downstream, the landscape turns decidedly desert like.
Sage, pinion, and juniper jostle for space and the sandstone walls invite speculation as to whether a bighorn sheep may be gazing down at your passage along this gorgeous trail.
For more information contact Dixie National Forest, (435) 865-3700,