Category: desert

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#10 best hiking town is …

Moab, Utah

Moab is a fantastic jumping off point for outdoor adventure, a special mecca for crack climbing.

But the “strip” can be loud, ugly, hot and aggravating. Once you get away from the highway, the town’s much prettier. They have a good library and great bike trails.

Moab … in eastern Utah … is 233 miles (374 km) southeast of Salt Lake City and 354 miles (569 km) west of Denver, Colorado …

The population was 4,779 at the 2000 census. … Moab hosts a large number of tourists every year, mostly visitors of the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, which are located close by. The town is also a popular base for mountain bikers who come to ride the extensive network of trails including the famed Slickrock Trail …

More interesting photos tagged Moab, Utah.

Arch in the Mountain, Utah

Our favourite hikes out of Moab are:

• Chesler Park
• Devil’s Garden
• Delicate Arch
• Syncline Loop
• Upper Salt Creek
• Murphy Basin
• Gooseberry-Dogleg Loop

There are many, many more. This is Edward Abbey country.

Chesler Park

Click through for more “best hikes” in the S.W. USA.

Hike here Spring and Fall. It’s HOT in the summer.

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Joshua Tree’s eight hidden palm oases

Hank Leukart tried and failed at his first two JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK adventures.

Third time’s a charm.

In his journalistic trip report, Hank explains:

… I devise a plan to visit each of the Park’s eight desert oases: Mara, 49 Palms, Cottonwood Spring, Lost Palms, Victory Palms, Summit Spring, Munsen, and a final, mysterious and nameless oasis near Munsen. …

Click through to see if Hank and 3 friends succeed. … Or if he trips into the cactus (again) and ends up drinking wine, watching shooting stars.

Without Baggage – until we meet again, joshua tree.

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Desert Winds Expedition Adventure Race

Sept. 19-24th, 2010

… after a full year of training for this event, Dave Adlard will be captaining “Team Adventure Sports Week” in the Elite category of the “Desert Winds Expedition Adventure Race” beginning September 19.

Dave and his three female teammates; Dr. Jeni McNeal from Eastern Washington University, Soledad Cristiano from Argentina, and Cynthia Miranda of Carlsbad California, will be traversing nearly 300 non-stop miles across the brutal Mojave desert on foot, mountain bike, canoe, rappeling/climbing, pack rafts and orienteering, carrying their own gear, food and water in what could be the most challenging and demanding event on earth this year… 50% of the teams are expected to not finish the race, which is expected to take the teams between 90 and 120 hours to complete.

Team Adventure Sports Week

Good luck!

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Lava Flow Trail, Sunset Crater Volcano, Arizona

report by besthike editor Rick McCharles

I was a bit disappointed that you cannot hike to the “crater” of Sunset Crater near Flagstaff. It’s been off limits for decades due to erosion. The 1mi easy loop takes you only to the base.

Signage is interesting, though.

Sunset Crater Volcano was born in a series of eruptions sometime between 1040 and 1100. Powerful explosions profoundly affected the lives of local people and forever changed the landscape and ecology of the area. Lava flows and cinders still look as fresh and rugged as the day they formed. But among dramatic geologic features, you’ll find trees, wildflowers, and signs of wildlife – life returns.

NPS – Lava Flow Trail

I was first visitor early morning, keen to test my new camera / camcorder (Canon FS300). In sunlight and shade.

wildflowers at Sunset Crater, Colorado

Sunset Crater, Colorado

OK. … But not superb focus. … It’s still on all default settings.

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slogging Great Sand Dunes, Colorado

trip report by besthike editor Rick McCharles

I couldn’t resist America’s Newest National Park (2004): The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado.

Great Sand Dunes, Colorado

Explore any part of the 30 square mile dunefield you wish; there are no designated trails in the sand. …

Great Sand Dunes, Colorado

… The “High Dune” is neither the highest in elevation nor the tallest in the park, but it looks that way from the main parking lot. It is about 650 feet (198 m) high. Cross the flats and zigzag up the ridgelines to reach it. The 360 degree view is inspirational. From High Dune, the largest dune you see to the west is the Star Dune, rising 750 feet (229 m). It is the tallest dune in North America, and is most dramatic when viewed from the park entrance. To reach it from High Dune, journey another mile and a half up and down across the dunes to its summit. …

NPS

I couldn’t tell which dune I climbed. … It looked to be the highest.

Rick at the Great Sand Dunes, Colorado

A few young people brought their own sand boards. Here’s one guy trying to get back up the steepest slope.

sand boarding - Great Sand Dunes, Colorado

… My camera died on this adventure. Perhaps the blowing sand got into the moving parts.

See the last batch of photos ever (from that camera).

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Arizona – Paria Canyon guided hike

42 miles (67km) plus side trips – 5 days

Our favourite hike in the S.W. United States is Paria Canyon.

Logistics are a problem, however. Only 20 permits are issued each day, one of the most difficult to acquire anywhere.

… Also, it’s a 2hr drive between the trailheads.

… Also, there’s a slight chance of flash flood !!

You can do Paria independently, … but it’s far easier to sign on with a guiding company like Just Roughin It:

On the first morning, we will pick you up from your hotel in Phoenix or Flagstaff and drive to the trail head at White House Ruins. Once at the trail head, the group loads up and hikes along the Paria River from there.

Our goal on the first t day is to reach the Paria Narrows and eventually camp at the confluence of Buckskin Gulch and Paria River. The hike is 7.5 miles long with very little change in elevation and usually take about 5 hours to complete.

The next day we will set aside time for a 3 mile side hike up the narrow Buckskin Gulch, one of the most famous, and longest, slot canyons in the world. From here we will move further down river to one of several campsites to choose from.

From here, the itinerary is open except for the being at Lee’s Ferry on the 5th day. Along the way to Lee’s Ferry, time permitting, there are opportunities to explore other slot canyons and sites in the area – including petroglyphs, historical sites and Wrather Arch which is one of the largest spans in the world. …

The price for this trip is $1,225 per person from Flagstaff and $1,275 per person from Phoenix.

official website – Just Roughin It Adventure Company.

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hiking Havasu Falls, Arizona

It’s not easy to get to the trailhead …, but nobody can deny that Havasu is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the World.

Click PLAY or watch a Beautiful Places In HD profile of the Grand Canyon on YouTube.

Havasu Falls is only the second of a series of Havasu Creek cascades.

photos tagged “havasu falls”

UPDATE – Trip Report by Tim Miner:

Absolutely, the best hiking experience I have ever had! Waterfalls, steep canyons, caves, mules, did I say waterfalls! The Havasupai Indian Reservation is not part of the Grand Canyon National Park, but you cannot tell that from the scenery. From your very first step at the trailhead parking lot until your return at the end of your trip, you will be swiveling your head side to side to take it all in. …

Trail Sherpa

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hiking the Oregon Dunes

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

I’m please to report I finally got there.

photo by Artbandito

The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (or NRA) is located on the Oregon Coast, stretching approximately 40 miles north from the Coos River in North Bend, to the Siuslaw River, in Florence. …

… a unique area of windswept sand that is the result of millions of years of wind, sun, and rain erosion on the Oregon Coast. These are the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America. Some dunes tower up to 150 meters above sea level, providing numerous recreational opportunities …

There are plenty of places to get on the dunes, but best for hikers is the John Dellenback trailhead at the Eel Creek Campground.

At a wild guess, I hiked about 5mi (8km) on this route.

Only hikers and leashed pets are allowed on this part of the dunes. (Others are swarming with off-road vehicles.)

Oregon Dunes - John Dellenback Trail

The rough trail is marked, yet it’s still difficult to find the Pacific Ocean. Look for some sort of gap in the coastal foliage:

Oregon Dunes - John Dellenback Trail

The wild Oregon coast. Gorgeous.

Oregon Dunes - John Dellenback Trail

Wonderful, wonderful … the Oregon Dunes are definitely one of the best hiking destinations in the world.

Oregon Dunes - John Dellenback Trail

more photos from my day hike