She Likes to Hike

Backpacking Yosemite
Cottonwood Canyon Road Rocks

Cottonwood Canyon Road: A Geologist’s Dream with Great Hiking Opportunities!

Southern Utah & Northern Arizona, Utah /

Cottonwood Canyon Road is a geologist’s dream! It is an unpaved, scenic road that leads travelers through part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.  The rocks and landscape here are like none other.  The road is 46 miles one way, and there are no services, so ensure you are equipped with food, water, and a full gas tank before you go! 

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The Colorado River

Kayak the Colorado River and See Horseshoe Bend from Below

Arizona, Southern Utah & Northern Arizona /

Kayaking the Colorado River to Lees Ferry is a great way to spend the day.  You get to float down a beautiful canyon and see sights such as Petroglyph Beach and Horseshoe Bend from below.  In addition, you will most likely see a lot of wildlife like Big Horn Desert Sheep, California Condors, lizards, and more.   

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Grand Falls and the Chocolate River

Grand Falls, AKA Chocolate Falls: See Willy Wonka’s Chocolate River & Waterfall

Arizona /

Grand Falls, also known as Chocolate Falls, is hands down one of the coolest waterfalls I have ever seen! The falls don’t run year-round, but when they do, they are spectacular!   The waterfall and river look like they came out of the Willy Wonka movie.  In addition to the unique color, the falls are huge. At 185 feet, Grand Falls is taller than Niagra Falls!  There are also rainbows at the bottom anytime the sun is out.  The combination of the chocolate-flowing river and waterfall with beautiful rainbows at the bottom is unreal!

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A View of Lake Powell from the Chains

Chains and Hanging Gardens Hikes and Activities

Arizona, Southern Utah & Northern Arizona /

An area known as the Chains is the closest place to access Lake Powell from Page, Arizona.  The area is great for swimming, fishing, and hiking.  The rock formations are beautiful, and the views of the water are spectacular.  You can also see great views of the Glen Canyon Dam and bridge.  

The trail to the Hanging Gardens is in the same area. The Haning Gardens are unique colonies of plants that grow vertically out of the sandstone. They are able to grow because water is stored in the rocks above and moves down the cracks in the sandstone, providing a long-lasting, natural spring. It’s interesting to see such lush vegetation growing in the desert, especially in the summertime.

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Canyon de Chelly

Canyon de Chelly: Gaze In Awe At Ancient Ruins

Arizona /

Canyon de Chelly (pronounced “de-SHAY”) is a really cool destination!  When exploring the area, you feel like you’ve traveled back in time hundreds of years because you are completely surrounded by nature and ancient ruins. The area is pretty isolated from modern society, but there is much to do. I recommend spending a day hiking to the White House ruins and checking out the different stops along the scenic drive.  

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Cliff Dwellers Roadside Ruins

Cliff Dwellers Roadside Ruins: A Fun Stop in Marble Canyon

Arizona, Southern Utah & Northern Arizona /

The Cliff Dwellers Lodge is an easy-to-access roadside attraction with an exciting story.  You can find it off Highway 89A  in Marble Canyon near the entrance to Lee’s Ferry.  You will see massive boulders all around, and then you will see a house-like structure made out of a boulder and other small rocks.  

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Inside Lower Cathedral Wash

Cathedral Wash: An Adventurous Hike You Don’t Want to Miss

1 Comment / Arizona, Southern Utah & Northern Arizona /

Hiking Cathedral Wash is beautiful and engaging. The trail is slightly technical, but that’s what makes it fun.  You continuously go up and down the drainage rather than walking in a straight line.  There are a few areas with climbing options, but if you follow the cairns, you can go all the way to the

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Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park: Explore it from the Rim or from Within

National Parks, Utah /

Bryce Canyon National Park is one of my favorite places to visit for many reasons.  One really cool thing about Bryce Canyon is that it can accommodate all types of visitors.  For the adventurous type, the park offers various lengths and levels of hiking trails, but it also has easy-access overlooks for those who can’t hike or only have a short period of time to explore.  Some of the best pictures I have taken in Bryce Canyon were on the rim, only a few feet from the car, while some of my most memorable experiences involved long hikes within the canyon’s high walls.  

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