Monthly Archives: May 2021

Explore Ancient Petroglyphs And An Old Mining Town On Sego Canyon Road In Utah

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There are so many remote places to explore in Utah that it could take you a lifetime to see all of them. Sego Canyon Road is located just 3.5 miles north of Thompson Springs, near Moab, and you’ll want to give yourself an entire afternoon to check out the ancient petroglyphs and old mining ghost town along this road.

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Gas up your vehicle and head out to Sego Canyon for an afternoon adventure. Make sure you have water and a spare tire for this trip – the road can be rough.
Mathew Balch/Google Local
To reach Sego Canyon Road, take Interstate-70 to exit 187, then travel on State Highway 94 past Thompson Springs for about three miles.
You’ll see pictograph panels right next to the road. These panels are little remnants of history going back to 7000 B.C.
Daniel Flesher/iStock via Getty Images
The pictographs and petroglyphs found in this canyon were created by people from several different cultures, including the Fremont people, Utes, and people who lived during the Barrier Canyon Period and Archaic Period.
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The Bureau of Land Management manages this area, and has placed interpretive signs in front of many of the panels. Read all about the different stories depicted here, but please don’t touch the rock art or vandalize it in any way.
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Continue along the road and stay to the right when you reach a fork. You’ll soon come across the Sego Cemetery. Wander amongst the headstones (some of which are no longer legible) before hopping back in your car and continuing on.
DaveHRoe/Tripadvisor
The little town of Sego was originally formed in the late 1800s when Harry Ballard discovered coal in the area. The land was later purchased by American Fuel Company, and once was home to as many as 500 people.
milehightraveler/iStock via Getty Images
The boom was brief, but the town continued to struggle until the mid-1950s when it was finally abandoned. Today, you can still see the shell of the American Fuel Company General Store, which was built in 1911.

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This 105-Foot-Tall Natural Arch In Utah Is Only Accessible By Hiking Trail And It’s A Sight To Be Seen

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If natural arches are your thing, you’re definitely in the right state. Utah is home to 800 named arches, and geologists believe that there are likely thousands more across the state. From the world-famous Delicate Arch to Landscape Arch (the world’s largest natural Arch), to countless others, you could spend a lifetime hiking to all these beautiful natural wonders.

The 105-foot-tall Corona Arch is a sight to behold, and you’re going to want to take this hike asap.

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Thousands of people flock to Arches National Park every year to see Delicate Arch and other famous formations. Corona Arch is just outside the park, so it’s a little less popular, but every but as impressive.
Tony Shi Photography/Moment Collection via Getty Images
To find the trailhead to Corona Arch, take US-191 north out of town, then turn left onto UT-279. You’ll find the trailhead and parking lot about 10 miles down the road.

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This Utah Massacre Site Is Among The Most Haunted Places In The Nation

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On September 11, 1857, one of the most horrific massacres in U.S. history occurred in Southern Utah. Today, the site of the Mountain Meadow Massacre is said to be haunted.

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The Baker-Fancher wagon train was made up of men, women and children from Arkansas who were traveling through Utah to California. The wagon train was attacked by a group of Mormon Militia on September 11, 1857.
NyonyaLady/Tripadvisor
During the attack, between 120 and 140 men, women and children were slaughtered. The Mormon militia fabricated a story, blaming the Paiute for the massacre. They hastily buried the bodies in shallow graves, which were promptly dug up by coyotes and other wild animals. Within a few days of the massacre, bodies and body parts were scattered over two miles, left to rot in the sun.

The youngest members of the party were spared, and the 17 surviving children (all of whom were under the age of seven) were “adopted” by local Mormon families. When the childrens’ relatives from Arkansas attempted to take the children back home, they were refused. It took two years, and intervention from the U.S. Army for the children to be returned.

News of the massacre made national headlines, and people all over the country were horrified.

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Take An Adventure Through Time 1,000 Years Into The Past At Utah’s Anasazi State Park Museum

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More than a thousand years ago, Ancestral Pueblo people lived here in southern Utah. They were farmers, and they built villages, hunted local game, and gathered nuts, berries, and native plants. Archaeologists have long studied these people and their culture, and you can get a glimpse of it at the Anasazi State Park Museum. Take a look:

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You’ll find the Anasazi State Park Museum in the little town of Boulder. Step back in time to the year 1050, when Ancestral Pueblo People (aka Anasazi) lived here.
CarlKHawaiiNei/Tripadvisor
Check out the Coombs Site Ruins, where the dwellings of these fascinating people have been uncovered. The majority of the excavations were made by the University of Utah in 1958 and 1959, with a few smaller-scale excavations in 1971 and 1991.

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The Tiny Town Of Florence In Oregon Has A Little Bit Of Everything

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Oregon is full of tiny little towns that will completely surprise you. And Florence is one of Oregon’s most wonderful surprises. This coastal town has it all: incredible outdoor recreation: gorgeous beaches and state parks, must-visit attractions, a charming and historic downtown, and some of the best regional cuisine. The tiny town of Florence in Oregon has a little bit of everything, and it’s truly one of the state’s best-kept secrets.

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Florence, Oregon, is a charming little beach town located on the Central Oregon Coast.
Stephen Colebourne/Flickr
But unlike its nearby neighbors (Seaside and Astoria, for example) Florence is an under-the-radar gem that offers a less crowded, more relaxing experience.
Florence sits at the mouth of the Siuslaw River, just miles away from the Pacific Ocean.

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One Of The Most Beautiful Day Hikes In America Is Right Here In Utah

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Zion National Park is Utah’s most visited park, and it’s undeniably beautiful. You’ll find tons of hiking opportunities here, including the super accessible Zion Riverside Walk, and the not-so accessible Subway hike. Here’s a trail that’s often overlooked, but it provides some of the most jaw-dropping views in the Beehive State.

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The East Rim Trail to Observation Point is one of the most beautiful trails in the park.
James Cook/Alltrails
The Zion shuttle will take you right to the trailhead. This trail is best during spring and fall months, so now is the perfect time to plan your trip.

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Take An Easy Loop Trail Past Some Of The Prettiest Scenery In Utah On The Mirror Lake Shoreline Loop

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Mirror Lake’s elevation is 10,400 feet, so there’s hardly any suggestion of “summer” until July in this part of Utah. Even then, those temperatures are temporary. The timing is good, because July and August typically are the only months when the weather ever becomes uncomfortably hot in the Salt Lake Valley. That’s when Mirror Lake becomes especially attractive for a day’s visit or an overnight camping trip, with temperatures about 30 degrees cooler.

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The water itself often perfectly reflects the surrounding scenery. It is named Mirror Lake, after all.
TravisLincoln/iDStock via Getty Images Plus
The 1.-4 mile loop around the lake features a boardwalk in only some sections, but the dirt trail is smooth and the elevation gain is merely 39 feet, making the loop enjoyable for families with young children.

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You Can Spend The Night In An Airbnb That’s Inside An Actual Cave Right Here In Washington

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Here in Washington, you can sleep inside a treehouse, a Hobbit House, and even a castle… but nothing quite compares to this amazing cave Airbnb we’ve discovered. These hosts spent over two years digging, drilling, blasting, and “tinkering” to create this cozy space, and it was well worth the effort. This is one of the most creative places you’ll ever rest your head.

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The cave, or C+A+V+E as it is listed on Airbnb, is located just outside the Bavarian town of Leavenworth.
Airbnb
The cave sits on 20 acres bordering the Alpine Wilderness.
You might be a bit apprehensive at first glance, but step inside and you’ll see this space is anything but claustrophobic.
Airbnb
The host, Steve, owns two other creative Airbnbs nearby, but this one really takes the cake.

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These 17 Trails In Wyoming Will Lead You To Remarkable Places

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Wyoming has some of the most remarkable natural wonders in the country, but to get up close and personal, you’ll have to be prepared for a bit of a trek. Here are some of the most scenic hiking trails in Wyoming, and heading out here will lead you to some of the most unforgettable places.

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1. Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Yelp/ Pyra-Danny V.
The Upper Geyser Basin Trail will lead you to the most intriguing and beautiful geysers you will ever see. This trail contains the largest concentration of geysers in the world. The trailhead is located at Old Faithful Inn. The paved trail leads to Morning Glory Pool and eventually to Biscuit Basin. The color of these features, especially Sapphire Pool and gem-like formations, like Jewel Geysers, makes you feel like you are witnessing something from out of this world. There are many side trips from this trail to other unusual geysers.
2. Jenny Lake Trail, Grand Teton National Park
By John Menard from Phoenix, USA – Mt Owen and Mt St John across Jenny LakeUploaded by PDTillman, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11648122
Jenny Lake Trail is a 7.5-mile trail that loops around the lake. It provides some of the most stunning panoramic views of a lake/mountain setting in the state. The trail sticks close to the shoreline and offers views of Teewinot Mountain, Mt. Owen, Cascade Canyon, Symmetry Spire, Storm Point, Rockchuck Peak, Mt. St. John, and Mt. Moran. The trailhead is off of Teton Park Road at South Jenny Lake Junction. Jenny Lake is the second largest lake in Grand Teton National Park and is one of the deepest lakes in the state.

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Wyoming’s Fort Laramie Was Home To The First Business West Of The Missouri River And You Can Still Visit Today

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Wyoming’s history is fascinating to anyone who loves tales of the Wild West. Read a little about the very first business established west of the Missouri and how it helped shape our state for years to come.

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Back in the 1830s, the Wild West was home to fur traders who were learning how to use the land for profit.
Wikimedia Commons / Alfred Jacob Miller (public domain)
As Americans ventured westward, Forts were established for trade and for governance.
Fort William was the very first business established west of the Missouri River. It was built by William Sublette and Robert Campbell in 1834.

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