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Awesome Places |
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Pat
Lisi has authored numerous articles for Action Zone
Magazine offering tips on great hikes, places to visit
and many other interesting articles. Click on any of the
links below to read them. |
Bryce Canyon National Park
The scenery at Bryce Canyon National Park is awe
inspiring, majestic, and ever changing. Each year,
hundreds of thousands of eager visitors scour this
incredible landscape during the spring, summer and fall.
But, did you know that the park is open year-round and
that there is a vast array of fun activities to take
advantage of during the ‘off season’?
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Cedar Breaks National
Monument
A slightly overlooked but AWESOME place to visit in the
area is the Cedar Breaks National Monument. Located
roughly between Zion and Bryce National Parks, Cedar
Breaks offers amazing scenery that can be enjoyed from
the vehicle, from one of several walking and hiking
trails, or from observation platforms near the visitor
center that nest on the very edge of the deep, sandstone
and red rock canyon.
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Church Rocks Bike Trail
For a quick but exhilarating mountain bike spin, close
to town and easy to find, try the Church Rocks and
Prospector loop north of Washington in the Saint George
area. At approximately 10 miles in length, the loop is
rated ‘intermediate’ and will take 2-3 hours.
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Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
One of Southern Utah’s most spectacular natural
phenomenons, the 3,730-acre expanse of coral and crimson
color sand is a sight to behold. This pretty pearl of a
park is located north of Kanab 12 miles off Highway 89
in Kane County. The sea of dunes attracts thousands of
hikers, campers, photographers and off road vehicle
operators annually. All but 265 set-aside acres of the
park is open to ORVs such as ATVs and dune buggies.
Vehicles must be properly registered and equipped with a
whip-flag for visibility to other riders.
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Dixie National Forest Camping
Dixie National Forest is vast and mighty, covering a
sensational area of nearly 2 million acres of southern
Utah. The forest is managed as 5 Districts with the
headquarters housed in Cedar City. It is the largest
national recreation area in the State of Utah.
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Duck Creek
Located between Long Valley Junction on Utah’s Hwy 89
and the intersection of Hwy 14 & 143 in Kane County,
is the quaint and elegant community of Duck Creek
Village. This great little town is completely surrounded
by outdoor opportunity for every kind of enthusiast.
Hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, camping, ATV and
snowmobile trails, streams and waterfalls. There is
something here for every member of the family to
thoroughly enjoy.
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Emerald Pools
For a comparatively quick, exuberant hike on a well
maintained path in Zion National Park, choose the
Emerald Pools Loop and take in some superlative sites.
The loop takes you by a series of three waterfalls and
their adjoining pools of water, which seem to never run
dry. The lower pool, especially, holds some amount of
crystal clear water all year long. During the colder
months, the waterfall at the lower pool freezes at the
surface and creates strange and glamorous ice formations
as water passes underneath.
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Gooseberry Mesa Bike Trails
The Gooseberry Mesa bike trail system is one of the most
popular and well known biking areas in Utah, and is
rated among the top mountain biking adventures in the
United States. Not every dirt trail, bike rider should
head up to Gooseberry Mesa with the intention of
mastering the compilation of trails there. In fact, very
few of the miles of biking here are for the novice;
moderate to strenuous is the reality of the Mesa. The
great news is that the conglomeration of trails can be
combined in any direction or sequence to customize your
ride, and there is no shame in trekking your bike across
certain stretches instead of riding.
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Hellhole Trail
Unduly named except in the hottest part of summer, this
4.5 mile round trip hike through soft sand along an
unnamed wash up into the majestic sandstone canyons of
Kayenta’s Red Mountain Range, is a great way to shake
off the cobwebs of a long work week.
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Hurricane Cliffs Trail System
A fabulous way to spend a full day afoot is to fill the
canteens with water and the back pack with sandwiches
and a power snack, and hike the 20-mile Hurricane Cliffs
Trail System. With the right foot gear and attitude,
this superlative trek can easily be accomplished during
daylight hours. Just want a piece of this adventure? No
problem. The trail is really a combination of connecting
trails that offer loops out and back.
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Hurricane Mesa
One of the most gorgeous mountain ranges in Southern
Utah is majestically splayed along the western edges of
Zion National Park, on a vast range known as the
Hurricane Mesa. In fact, as you navigate the Kolob
Reservoir Road from the Town of Virgin and ascend to
almost 6,000 feet, your travels will briefly take you in
and out of Zion. You do not need a Park pass to enjoy
this route.
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Johnson Canyon Hike
Just before the south entrance to Snow Canyon State Park
in Ivins, Utah the Johnson Canyon trailhead (2 mile
loop), begins on the right hand side of the road. Park
across the street in the approved lot. The Johnson
Canyon walk is easy, but be careful with your steps, as
the small black heads of ancient lava adorn the path
that can trip you up. From the trailhead it will take 20
– 30 minutes to complete the trek to the end of the
canyon trail, which culminates at the shear face of what
is a spectacular waterfall during heavy rains.
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Observation Point
The hike to the top of Angels Landing in Zion National
Park is one of the most awesome and hair-raising
experiences you could ever hope to achieve in your
lifetime. Now, imagine a climb almost double in
elevation and at the end of the trail being able to look
down upon Angels Landing! Such a trek exists on the
Observation Point Trail in Zion National Park.
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Pine Valley Scenic Drive
Sometime, when you’re not quite in the mood for a long
hike or bike ride but really want to get outside and see
an exquisite scene, load up in the family car and take
the spectacular road tour from Central to Pine Valley.
Central is located about 25 miles north of Saint George
on State Hwy 18. In Central, East Pine Valley Road
intersects Hwy 18 and it will take you up and into the
Dixie National Forest and Pine Valley Wilderness Area.
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Rainbow Bridge National Monument
The Glen Canyon National Recreational Area is truly
immense. There are so many sites to see and so much
history to learn, that some people have made it their
lifetime goal and passion. Indeed, volumes have been
written about the early explorers and ancient tribes who
inhabited this vast corner of Utah and lived along the
shores of what we call Lake Powell.
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Scout Cave Trail
The Scout Cave, with its gaping, odd-shaped entrance,
can be seen from Snow Canyon Parkway in Ivins, Utah up
behind The Cliffs of Snow Canyon housing development.
Its prominence is obvious even to the casual observer.
But, how do you get there? The best way is to head up
Snow Canyon Drive, park just before the entrance to the
State Park, and then trek out across the Johnson Canyon
Trail. Within a few hundred yards you will see a cut-off
trail that takes you across fields of jagged lava and
sagebrush, down into the wash, and finally up to Scout
Cave. At a normal pace this can be accomplished in an
hour.
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St. George Art Museum
The Saint George Art Museum is a ‘must see’ for
visitors and residents of Saint George. How fortunate
the city is to have such a wonderful display of Utah and
southwestern art and photography, skillfully arranged
and meticulously cared for by an expert staff of mostly
volunteer help. The museum is celebrating its 10th
anniversary in 2007 and is close to attaining
accreditation from the American Association of Museums.
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Valley Of Fire
About three-fourths the distance between Saint George,
Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada near a town called Overton,
is a geological gem of a place named the Valley of Fire
State Park. Slight in acreage, most of the Valley of
Fire’s most visited sites can be thoroughly enjoyed in
a full day’s outing. Most of the hiking trails are
short in distance, and the visitor center can be studied
in about an hour.
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Best Friends Animal Shelter
Five miles north of Kanab in Kane County, Utah is a
remarkable place for the kind care of thousands of
abused or neglected domestic animals. Dogs, cats, birds,
horses and other abandoned or unwanted animals call this
sanctuary ‘home’. Roughly 20,000 inquisitive,
loving, animal lovers pass through the facility every
year. Many of the resident animals find permanent homes
through adoption to these visitors.
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Upper And Lower Sand Cove Reservoir
For an awesome fishing experience for the whole family
and a great drive through some pretty countryside, try
the Upper and Lower Sand Cove Reservoirs. Both of these
fishing holes are located within an easy 30 minutes of
Saint George, and both bodies of water hold an
incredible number of game and pan fish. Largemouth bass,
trout, and crappies are the species caught most of the
time, and the beauty is that you don’t have to launch
a boat to reach the fish with your enticing offerings.
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Wildcat Canyon Trailhead, Zion National Park
For summer hiking when the lowlands bake and create a
sense of ‘take cover near the air conditioner or
cook’, try one of several trails up on the Kolob
Terrace for a much cooler trek. The Kolob Terrace offers
a refreshingly unique perspective of the named peaks
within the ‘normal’ confines of Zion Park. The views
are from the backsides this time, and you don’t need a
park pass to enjoy the trails up on the terrace.
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Lake Powell at Big Water
It’s no secret that Southern Utah can really bake in
the summertime. Unlike Northern Utah, the south’s
desert communities warm up early and continue to add
heat for about a 5-month period of oven-like dryness.
With hardly any hope of rainfall during these hot summer
days, residents and visitors head for any big body of
water they can find, and one of the most popular of
these water sports attractions is Lake Powell.
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Whipple
Trail at Pine Valley
When temperatures soar past 100 degrees in Saint George
it’s time to head to the high country for hiking. One
of the closest areas offering top-notch hiking from easy
to strenuous is the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness.
Many trailheads mark the beginning of great adventures.
One of them, the Whipple Trail, is accessed right in the
town of Pine Valley.
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Zion Narrows
Among the million or so trails there are to hike in the
United States, The Narrows at Zion National Park rates
near the very top. It is hard to beat the spectacular
beauty of this 16-miles slot canyon, with walls
sometimes as high as 2,000 feet on each side of you. The
trail is wet and sometimes wild, and a little bit on the
‘extreme’ side, meaning the hike is entirely in the
Virgin River. There is no “trail” so to speak. And,
this hike can be cold, tiresome, and very dangerous in
the wrong conditions.
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Gardner
Peak Trail
Before the winds howl and the temperatures start to dip
in the higher elevations surrounding Pine Valley, Utah
you might consider taking a day hike up the Gardner Peak
Trail. To access the trailhead, come into Pine Valley
and turn left onto Main Street. Continue on Main and
watch on your left side. Before you get to the park
kiosk there is a sign for the trailhead at a small
parking place.
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Overlook
Trail - Zion National Park
Not all hikes in Zion National Park are nerve rattling
or extreme (like the trail to Angels Landing or
Observation Point). In fact, sightseeing at Zion can be
done easily from car, bike or afoot in most areas of the
park. A really awesome site to see is at the lookout
atop the Overlook Canyon Trail, which will combine to
make a wonderful adventure from car and trail.
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Sand Hollow
Aquatic Center
For an awesome fishing experience for the whole family
and a great drive through some pretty countryside, try
the Upper and Lower Sand Cove Reservoirs. Both of these
fishing holes are located within an easy 30 minutes of
Saint George, and both bodies of water hold an
incredible number of game and pan fish. Largemouth bass,
trout, and crappies are the species caught most of the
time, and the beauty is that you don’t have to launch
a boat to reach the fish with your enticing offerings.
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Kanarraville Creek Waterfall Trail
Kanarraville Creek Waterfall Trail leads to a small (15-foot) but spectacular waterfall that cascades down a sandstone lip fit snuggly between the walls of a gorgeous slot canyon. This incredible hike begins up behind the municipal water tank in the small town of Kanarraville, Utah. It is truly an awesome place to explore.
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