Cross-Country Ski Like an Olympian at Soldier Hollow

Posted on March 3, 2013 by
Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympics at Solder Hollow

Soldier Hollow was the cross country skiing venue for the 2002 Winter Olympics

If you are looking for a world class course to cross country ski, soldier hollow near Midway, Utah is it.  You can hone your skills on beginner to experts trails that are groomed to Olympic standards everyday.  Whether you are a beginner in need of a lesson, or an expert skater looking for a challenging and rewarding run, you can find it here.

Back country cross country skiing at Soldier Hollow

Beyond the groomed trails are backcounty trails for the more experienced skier

Soldier Hollow was the venue for the cross country skiing events for the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympic Games.  As you ski on the different trails you’ll see the starting blocks and finish areas that were part of the games.  Even though it has been more than 10 years, the Olympic spirit still lives here.

The trails are some of the best maintained in the state and are groomed each day.  There is a good mix of green, blue and black trails and even a few backcountry(ungroomed) trails for those that like to get off the beaten path.  The course is groomed for both classic and skate skiers and has a good mix of hills, gentle slopes and long runs.

Pony Express run at Soldier Hollow

Blue bird day for cross country skiing

You can’t beat the views of the valley and surrounding mountains from the trails, especially on a bluebird day.  If scenenary is important during your cross country skiing than this is the course for you.

Details

Soldier Hollow is open for the winter season seven days a week from 9am to 4:30pm.  You can rent classic or skate gear at the lodge where you will also pick up your pass to get on the course.  Unfortunately Soldier Hollow doesn’t have any package deals for equipment rental and course pass, so skiing here can be a little pricey if you have to rent equipment.

After 1pm prices drop a little, so if you are only going to ski for a few hours you can save a little cash  by going after 1pm.  For more details on rates and track conditions go to: http://www.soldierhollow.com/x_country.php

Soldier Hollow Lodge in Midway Utah

Lodge at Soldier Hollow

If you are looking to learn or just improve your technique they offer lessons from some great instructors.  Whether you want to learn classic or skate, need a beginner lesson or one just to help fine tune your technique they got someone who can help you out.  You can find costs and times by going on the Soldier Hollow link above.

Getting Here

Soldier Hollow is located just south of Midway Utah, and north of Deer Creek resorvior if you are coming from Provo canyon.  Whether you are coming from the north or south get on Highway 113, (coming from the North it intersects with Main Street in Midway, coming from the south it intersects Highway 189 just after Deer Creek) and then turn West on to Tate Lane.  Tate Lane ends at T intersection with Stringtown Road.  Turn Left(South) onto Stringtown and it soon turns into Olympic Drive and Soldier Hollow.  Follow the signs to the lodge where you can buy your pass and rent your skis.  The course is just outside the back door of the lodge.

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Bryce in Winter – Even more Beautiful, Even more Cold

Posted on January 16, 2013 by
Winter Bryce Canyon National Park

Sunrise over the Hoodoos in the Amphitheater

There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world – Bryce Canyon is truly a place of unique beauty.  Hundreds of thousands come to this National Park every year to admire the scenic vistas and hike its many trails.  Most people visit Bryce in the spring and summer, few venture to Bryce in the winter. But if you ask me this is the most beautiful times of the year to visit Bryce – It is also the coldest.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Great opportunities for photography abound in winter in Bryce

The cold weather keeps most visitors away, so it feels almost like you have the whole park to yourself.  You can walk the trails and visit the scenic over views almost in complete solitude.  The winter sun is great for photography and you can take your time to get that perfect shot without having to fight crowds of tourists or wait for people to move out of frame.

One of my favorite things to do in winter at Bryce is to cross country ski along the rim.  Cross country skis can be rented near by at Ruby’s inn, and there are a few groomed trails near Ruby’s Inn that go around and to the park entrance.  Once you enter the park however, the groomed trails stop and this is where the fun of cross country skiing really

Photography by Dustin Cook

Cross country skiing along the Bryce Canyon rim

begins.   You can ski along the rim for several miles, getting great views of the park that you wouldn’t see during the summer unless you did a lot of bush wacking.  This is truly one of the best ways to enjoy all the scenery that Bryce Canyon has to offer.  You can also snowshoe along the rim, but cross country skiing let’s you cover a little more ground as you glide across the snow.

Another thing not to miss out on is watching the sunrise and sunset over the canyon during the winter.  With the contrast of the snow, the reds of the canyon are brighter than any other time of year and they seem to put off a subtle glow during twilight hours.  The Bryce Amphitheater is a great place to go at dusk and dawn.  Sunrise and Sunset Point, aptly named, are some of my favorite place to go to watch the sun rise and set over the park.

Ampitheatre Bryce Canyon Utah

Hoodoos glow in shades of red during sunrise at the Bryce Amphitheater

Be prepared for the cold however, as it is bitterly cold during sunrise and sunset, especially if there is a wind blowing.  Make sure to dress in layers and bring something warm to drink.

Most of the trails are still accessible during the winter months with either snow shoes or Yak Trax. Often times the snow isn’t deep and Yak Trak or some other device that will add some traction to your shoe will work just great.  It is a little bit more slowing moving with the ice and snow, so plan accordingly.  Especially sense the sun sets must faster and much earlier in winter.  For even more ideas of winter activities in Byrce check out the parks website for winter activities.

Winter Bryce Canyon

Sunset in Winter over Bryce Canyon National Park

Getting to Bryce

Bryce is in the south western part of Utah.  If coming from Northern Utah you can take I-15 until you get to the exit for the town of Panguitch, at which point you’ll get off the interstate and follow the signs to park.  Bryce Canyon is about 20 miles southeast of Panguitch Utah.  If you are coming from the South you can take I-15 to the Panguitch exit or you can take the more scenic way via Highway 89.  One of my favorite drives is going out the East entrance of Zion National Park and taking Highway 89 to Bryce.  This takes a little longer, but

Pine tree growing on Hoodoos in the Bryce Canyon Ampitheatre

Sunrise over the Bryce Canyon Ampitheater

gives you the chance to see two very beautiful and very different National Parks.  On one of my trips I heard that the bottom layer of Bryce Canyon is the top layer of rock at Zion National Park and that the bottom layer of Zions is the top layer of rock of the Gran Canyon.  I never did fact check it, but pretty interesting if it is true.

As always if you have any questions, corrections, complaints or comments feel free to leave them below.  And don’t forget to

Hoodoos in Bryce Canyon National Park

Snow covered Hoodoos on the Fairly land loop trail

live life as if it were your greatest adventure!

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Ride The Big Chief Loop – Dead Horse Point

Posted on January 6, 2013 by
Dead Horse Point State Park

View of the valley down below from the Big Chief Loop Trail

Just 19 miles northwest of Moab a large plateau rises high above the valley floor known as Dead Horse Point.  There are excellent views from trails all over the park, but one of the funnest is the Big Chief Loop trail.  The loop provides great views along its 8 mile course and is great for riders of all abilities.  While many rides in Moab are for intermediate or expert riders, this ride is one you can do with the whole family.  You can tackle it with a single gear bike (They’ll be just a couple of inclines you’ll have to walk up), but it is definitely a lot more fun with a 10-18 speed.   There are also shorter loops that are a little bit easier if your looking for something a little more manageable for a young family.

The Trail:

  • Length: 8 miles (roundtrip)
  • Elevation Change: Minimal
  • Difficulty: Easy
Dead Horse Point State Park

Sage brush along the Big Chief Loop trail

The trail starts from the North end of the visitor center parking and is well marked.  The trail goes over red rock, packed dirt and the occasional stretch of loose sand.  There are a few designated areas where you can pull your bike off the trail and take in the view.  One that you don’t want to pass up is the Pyramid lookout.  This gives you the best view of the valley looking south and gives you a glimpse of the Colorado river down below.  Of

Dead Horse Point

View of the valley from Dead Horse Point

course for the best view of the river, you should take the mile ride south from the visitor center to the very edge of the plateau.

If steep edges make you nervous, you have no worries about this trail.  While it does follow along the plateau, there are no exposed areas where you have to worry about falling.  The trail is 60 feet or more from the edge of the plateau so at no point along the trail do you have to worry about going over.

Getting Here:

Dead Horse point is a state park near Moab, Utah.  If you are coming from the north you will exit I-70 at exit 182 onto Highway 191.  Follow 191 for about 2o miles until you reach Highway 313.  This is an intersection before you get to Arches National park and has a sign directing you to take a right onto 313 to reach Dead Horse point.  Follow 313 for about 20 miles and you will find yourself at entrance gate for Dead Horse point.  There is a fee to enter the park.  More details about the park can be found at the state park’s website.  If you are coming from the South look for this intersection about 3 miles after you pass the entrance to Arches National Park it will be on your left.

As always if you have any questions or comments about the ride, please feel free to comment in the space below.  Have fun riding the Big Chief Loop trail!

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Secret Lake – A Hike for Everyone

Posted on December 30, 2012 by
Secret Lake Reflection

Reflection of Devil’s Castle across Secret Lake at sunset

Secret Lake is a great hike for everyone – even for people who don’t like to hike.  It provides gorgeous views of the surrounding mountain peaks in an easy one mile hike that the youngest child or oldest grandparent can handle.  The great thing about this hike is that it is an alpine environment with a lot of wildflowers, streams and vegetation only 20 minutes from the Salt Lake Valley.

While it is called Secret Lake, it is a popular hike with the locals, so you will probably

Secret Lake, Alta Utah

Sun setting over the pine trees at Secret Lake

find a crowded parking if you attempt to hike this on a weekend in the summer, especially in the evenings.  I recommend this hike during the weekday to avoid the crowds, it is a hike that can easily be done after work.

In just a mile this hike has it all, meadows, pine trees, mountain streams, the occasional moose and a beautiful mountain lake at the end.  It makes for a great picnic, a hike with the kids or a romantic stroll.  There are other hikes nearby, including one to Sugar Loaf and Devil’s castle, if you have some time and would like to go on a couple of hikes.

Bull Moose, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah

Bull moose walking along the trail to Secret Lake

It is not uncommon to see a moose on the trail to Secret Lake, especially if you go in the evening or the morning hours.  At these times you probably have a 50/50 shot of seeing one.  I’ve even seen them mid-day in July, they really like this area.  While seeing a wild animal is one of the greatest things to see, remember that they are still wild so keep your distance.  Moose are powerful animals, one that you don’t want to make mad.  em.

Getting There:  Secret Lake is at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon.  Take the road up the canyon to the booth as the end of the pave road, Alta Ski resort will be on your right.  You will continue up the dirt road, which can be done in a sedan with decent clearance if you are careful, it is well maintained and has just a few speed bumps you’ll need to negotiate.  Follow this road until you see a parking lot next to a campground.  You can park here and you will see signs to the trail, it is well marked.  There is also a restroom here if you need one.

Devil's Castle near Secret Lake, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah

View of Devil’s Castle from the Secret Lake Trail

The Hike:  The hike is about 1 mile long and goes through some nice green meadows, a small pine forest and then up a few switch backs to the lake.  The trail is well marked and well maintained.  There are a few streams, but there are plenty of rocks to hop-scoth your way across.  Even if you miss one, it is not a big deal as the stream, if you can call it that, is only a few inches deep.  There is just a little bit of elevation gain, but it is very manageable and for this reason I give it an easy rating.

Wildflowers can be seen along the way, and if you time it just right, usually the beginning of June, you can hike it when they are in full bloom.  But no matter when you go, there is always something pretty to see.  The Lake itself is maybe 100 yards across at its widest point, but provides a beautiful spot for picnicking, napping or just taking in natures beauty.

  • Distance (roundtrip): 2 miles
  • Elevation Gain: A few hundred feet, if that
  • Rating: Easy
Peaks near Secret Lake, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta Utah

There are great views of surrounding peaks from the Secret Lake trail.

What to take:  A little bit of water and food, is probably all you need for this hike.  Of course wear good shoes, but leave the swimming suit at home, as no swimming is allowed in Secret Lake.  I also recommend bringing a camera as it is hard to take a bad photo in this beautiful area.

I’ve never snow shoed this area before as it lies in the middle of Alta Ski Resort, which makes it a little difficult to find in the snow.  If you want to snow shoe near this area, I recommend Grizzly Gulch.  Stay tuned for a post about Grizzly Gulch coming soon.  One other note, because of its higher elevation, this hike is not accessible until late May early June depending on how late it snows.

Secret Lake up Little Cottonwood Canyon

Reflection of the surrounding mountains across Secret Lake

As always if you have any questions or comments about this hike, please use the comments section below, or feel free to email me at DustinACook@gmail.com.  And don’t forget to go outside and do something fun!

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Grandeur Peak – A Hiking or Snow Shoeing Adventure

Posted on December 18, 2012 by
Grandeur Peak Summit Millcreek Canyon

View of Mount Olympus and the surrounding Wasatch Range from the top of Grandeur Peak in Millcreek Canyon

Grandeur Peak is one of Salt Lake City’s classic hikes and can be reached by most folks with a free morning or afternoon.  The peak is just below 8,300 feet and provides some beautiful views of the surrounding mountain ranges and the Salt Lake Valley.  It is a relatively easy trail and is great for a family outing, a fun date, a trail run or just a nice walk in the wilderness to clear your mind.

Getting to the Top

Grandeur peak is usually climbed from one of two different routes.  The most popular route is the from the Church Fork Picnic area in Millcreek canyon, while the other more sparsely travelled route is the West Ridge.

Church Fork Route – Head up Millcreek Canyon(If you are not sure where Millcreek

Wildflowers along the Church Fork trail in Millcreek Canyon

Wildflowers along the Church Fork Trail

Canyon is just find 3800 South on the East Side of Salt Lake and head East) 3.5 miles and you’ll see Church Fork picnic area.  This is a rather large picnic area with a road that switch backs up the hillside.  There is a parking lot at the very top, right where the trail head is, but on weekends it usually fills up fast.  If it is full you can park down on the side of the road and walk up from the main road.  The trail is well marked and easy to find.  Trail details:

  • Distance: 2.75 miles (one way)
  • Elevation Gain: 2,398 Feet
  • Rating: Easy
  • Season: Year round
View of Mount Olympus from just below the Summit of Grandeur peak

View of Mount Olympus from just below the Summit

West Ridge Route – the trail head for the West Ridge trail up Grandeur peak is located at the end of Wasatch Blvd past 3300 South, where there is  usually plenty of parking.  From the parking lot walk up the dirt road and take the first right fork.  This trail is more challenging than the Church Fork trail, as it starts lower and is shorter, making the hike a steeper one.  It is also not as well marked as the Church Fork Trail.  Trail Details:

  • Distance: 2.25 Miles (One Way)
  • Elevation Gain: 3,267
  • Rating: Easy – Moderate
  • Season: Year round

What to Bring

Since the trail is a relatively easy one, just an afternoon hiking pack should be all you need to do this hike in the summer, a couple of liters of water, and a snack.  For spring and fall you may want to throw in a jacket, especially if you will be heading up in the morning or evening.  For winter you will want to prepare for mountain snow and consider using snow shoes or at least gators and trekking poles.

There is plenty of space at the summit to rest, take in the views and

Wild Flowers in mid may along the Church Fork Trail in Millcreek Canyon

Wild flowers along the Church Fork trail

maybe enjoy a lunch or snack.  The summit of Grandeur isn’t as windy as some of the higher peaks in Utah, making it an ideal place to take a break and enjoy your surroundings.  Make sure to bring your camera as you can get some great shots of Mount Olympus, the Salt Lake Valley and Parleys Canyon.

This is a great hike for mid May as most of the snow is usually gone and there are a lot of wild flowers out.  It is also a great hike in the fall if you want to see the colors changing.  There is not a lot of tree cover on the West Ridge route, and the latter half of the Church Fork route is also without tree coverage, so I don’t recommend doing this hike in the heat of summer, but I don’t really like hiking in the heat anywhere.

This is a classic hike that I do at least once a year and recommend it to people of all abilities.  If you have any questions or comments feel free to drop me a line in the comments section below.  And remember, life begins where your comfort zone ends, so go out looking for an adventure!

Posted in Beautiful Places, Great Place for a Date, Hiking Utah, Moab, Winter Activities | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Drive, Ride, Run or Hike the Alpine Loop

Posted on October 16, 2011 by
View of American Fork Canyons as you pass the Summit Trail on the Alpine Loop Road

Fall colors along the scenic Alpine Loop Road

If you haven’t had a chance yet to enjoy the fall colors, take a drive, ride your bike or go for a hike on the Alpine Loop.  This beautiful stretch of road climbs up American Fork Canyon providing a beautiful view of Timpanogos before dropping into Aspen Grove and Sundance Ski resort.  This scenic byway is a local favorite and offers plenty of opportunities for sight seeing and recreation along the way.

Fall colors in American Fork Canyon

Fall colors in American Fork Canyon as you ascend the Alpine Loop Road

The Alpine loop road from the mount of American Fork Canyon to Aspen Grove is 14.6 miles.  About 4.5 miles up American Fork canyon you will come to a fork in the road, take the right fork to continue up the Alpine Loop road.  At this point the road begins to switchback up the canyon providing an elevated view of the canyon below.  A mixture of pine trees and quakies provide a beautiful array of colors as you traverse this section of the loop.

Before reaching the top of the loop is the turn off for the Timpanookee trail head to climb

View of the Summit Trail from American Fork Canyon

View from the Summit Trail in American Fork Canyon

Mount Timpanogos and another trail that connects with various other trails in the canyon called Salamandor flats.  As you reach the top of the road there is a parking lot and trail head called the summit trail.  Great views of Timpanogos and other views of the canyon can be seen here.  Also a network of trails for either hiking or mountain biking can be accessed from this point.

Soon after passing the summit trail you will come to a turnoff that leads to the cascade springs area.  The cascade springs road goes about 7 miles to the north.  Various hiking, biking and off road trails can be accessed from the Cascade springs road.

Alpine Loop Quakies in the Fall

Quakies changing color just beyond the turnoff to Cascade Springs

Most people usually continue on the Alpine loop road as they descend down to the Aspen Grove area.  Multiple turnouts dot the road allowing drivers to pull off the road and take in different views of the surroundings.  This portion of the drive is mostly quaking aspen trees that turn vibrant shades of gold, orange and yellow in the fall.

First the road descends to the Aspen grove area, where another trail up Timpanogos begins and the National Forest area ends.  Continuing down this road you will pass Sundance Ski resort and eventually connect with the Provo Canyon Highway.

Some important things to note about the Alpine Highway is that there is a fee associated with this area and there are parts of the road that are quite narrow so drivers should slow down and keep an eye out for cars and cyclists coming the opposite

Fall colors cover the slopes around the Aspen Grove Area

Fall colors cover the slopes near Aspen Grove

way.  If you have any questions about the Alpine Loop please comment below or send me an email at DustinACook@gmail.com.

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Northwest of Eden is the Devil’s Garden – Arches National Park

Posted on April 18, 2011 by
Double O Arch in the Devils Garden, Arches National Park

While climbing on named Arches is prohibited in Arches National Park, many are tempted to bend this rule in the Devils Garden

Northwest of Eden is the Devil’s Garden -at least in Arches National Park.  The Devil’s Garden is one of the premiere hiking spots in Arches National Park.   It’s about 12 miles up the road from the Garden of Eden section of the park, and if you ask me I would take the Devils Garden over the Garden of Eden any day of the week.   It is made up of hidden arches, sandstone fins and incredible rock formations.

Many people hike the Devils Garden to see Lanscape Arch, the longest spanning arch in the world at just over 306 feet.  In 1991 rock broke free from the arch, prompting the park service to close off the area underneath the arch.  The distance from the trail head to landscape arch is only about .8 miles over easy terrain.  But if you turn around at this point you are missing most of what the Devils Garden has to offer.

Devils Garden – The Skinny

Trail head to Landscape Arch – 1.6 miles round trip over easy terrain

Trail head to Dark Angel – 5 miles round trip over moderate terrain

Trail head to Dark Angel and return via primitive loop trail – 5.9 miles over difficult terrain

Tunnel Arch in the Devil's Garden, Arches National Park

Tunnel Arch sits high on a sandstone fin in the Devils Garden

A 1/4 mile down the trail you’ll come to a fork in the road.  You can continue on left to Landscape Arch and the rest of the Devils Garden of you can take a slight detour to see Tunnel Arch and Pine Tree Arch.  This detour only adds about a 1/2 mile to the hike and provides beautiful views of two unique arches.  Tunnel Arch sits high up on a sandstone fin, while Pine Tree Arch allows you to walk right through it.  This is an outback and back side trail so you will rejoin the main trail where you left it.

Another 1/2 walk down the trail is Landscape Arch.  This is the most popular destination in

Landscape Arch is located in the Devil's Garden section of Arches National Park

Just .8 of a mile past the Devils Garden trailhead is Landscape Arch. It is the longest Arch in the world and spans a distance of 306 feet.

the Devils Garden and for good reason.  The span of this arch is truly amazing.  The thinnest section of the arch is just over 6 feet thick causing Park Rangers to prompt guests to make sure they see landscape Arch before its gone.

Just pass landscape Arch the terrain becomes a little steeper and a bit more challenging.  As you climb up a sandstone fin just beyond landscape arch you are confronted with the rubble that once was Wall Arch.  Wall Arch was a large arch that looked quite robust and gave little warning that it was on the verge of collapse when in crumbled on August 5, 2008.

Not to far from Wall Arch is another side trail that offers side trips to Partition Arch and Navajo Arch.  Partition is aptly named for the smaller Arch right next to it, making it appear as if the arch was partitioned.  Through Partition you get a beautiful view of the sandstone fin maze that makes up the Devils Garden.  Navajo Arch is larger than partition Arch and is sandwich between sandstone fins, providing a some cool shade for hikers on a warm day.  Taking these side trails add an additional .8 miles to your hike.

Devils Garden with the La Salle Mountains in the background

The tops of the Sandstone fins in the Devils Garden provide a beautiful view of the La Salle Mountains

Upon rejoining the main trail the terrain turns to sandstone as you climb up onto more sandstone fins.  At some points it might be a little intimidating for those who are not a fan of heights, but if you can put up with it you get beautiful views of the Devils Garden, Salt Valley and the La Salle Mountains.

After hiking along the Sandstone ridge line of the Devils Garden for a bit you will come to a viewing area where you can see Dark Arch.  It also provides a good view of the many sandstone fins that give the Devils Garden its maze like quality.  This is a great place to take a break and admire the view before continuing on the trail

From here the trail takes a sharp left and will take you to Double O Arch.  This is one of the

Black Arch in the Devils Garden section of Arches National Park

Black Arch is visible from a view point near the Double O Arch formation

most unique arches in the park, and while it is prohibited to walk on any named arch, it is not uncommon to see a few people testing the arches strength by scrambling across the top.  After Landscape Arch this is the most popular Arch in the Devils Garden and is the final destination of many hikers before turning back.

From Double O Arch you can hike to a rock formation known as Dark Angel which is visible from Double O Arch, follow the trail back that you came on or make a large loop back to the trailhead by taking the primitive loop trail.

Double O Arch in the Devil's Garden Section of Arches National Park

Double O Arch marks the end of the line for many hikers who turn for home after taking in this scenic view.

The primitive loop trail of the Devils Garden is difficult terrain and should be attempted only by those who are ready for adventure.  It can be somewhat difficult to navigate your way through this part of the Devil’s Garden as the trail is not well maintained.  The trail weaves between, through and over sandstone fins and is marked with rock cairns.  The primitive loop has much more of a maze like feel and often offers quiet solitude as few hikers choose to take this route.

Either route you take and no matter where you choose to explore in the Devils Garden, you are sure to be amazed by both the scenery and the journey itself.  If you have an comments or questions feel free to leave me a comment or send me an email at DustinACook@gmail.com   And don’t forget to go outside and have some fun!

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