Utah.

I have only been to the south-western Utah on a week-long trip.   I did several relatively short hikes there.  As a general rule there are no blazes, very rarely and sometimes deceivingly cairns and few trailhead signs.  Navigating skills are a necessity.

Maps:  

• Topo! Utah by National Geographic is the best - all 7.5 min. maps.

• Canyons of Escalante, Grand Staircase NM, Trails Illustrated Map # 710, by National Geographic - a must have.

• Grand Staircase Escalante NM, Visitor Information - free map - a must have, as it provides trail #s.  A lot of trailhead posts don't have trail names, but only #s.  Order it form the Escalante NM visitor's center in Escalante, UT.  Also order free maps and descriptions of hikes in that area.

• Escalante State Park - free map - it's actually petrified forest.

• Codachrome Basin State Park - free map - order free hike descriptions for the Cottonwood Road as well.

• Guide Map to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks,  North Star Mapping, $3.95 - very good map.

• Free State Highway Map of Utah.

Books:  

• Hiking the Escalante, Rudi Lambrechtse, 1985.

• Hiking Grand Staircase - Escalante & the Glen Canyon Region, A Falcon Guide, Ron Adkison, 1998.

• Canyoneering 3, Steve Allen, 1997.

• Trail Guide to Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, David Urmann, 1999 (pocket book).

• Wildflowers of the Southwestern Utah, Dr. Hayle Buchenan, 1992.

Hike 1.  Phipps And Bowington Arches.

Club: Guided tour with Sean Miller (Scapegoats of Escalante).

Date: 05/16/05

Parking: The parking is between 1 mi and 1 1/4 mi from the bridge over the Escalante River on Rt. 12 towards the town of Escalante.  It's several miles north-east of the town of Escalante.

Trace file: PhippsAndBowingtonArches_GPS050516.tpo

GPS TrackMaker file: PhippsAndBowingtonArches_GPS050516.gtm

General and waypoint description file: PhippsAndBowingtonArches_GPS050516.doc

Printable map: PhippsAndBowingtonArches_GPS050516Map.GIF

Photos taken on this hike: General. Plants and animals

Hike 2. Escalante Petrified Forest (Escalante State Park).

Club: me solo.

Date: 05/16/05

Parking: From the town of Escalante, go w. for 1mi. to 1.5 mi. and there will be a sign on the r. saying smth. like "Escalante State Park".  Turn and follow this road all the way to the end.

Trace file: EscalantePetrifiedForest_GPS050516.tpo

GPS TrackMaker file: EscalantePetrifiedForest_GPS050516.gtm

General and waypoint description file: EscalantePetrifiedForest_GPS050516.doc

Printable map: EscalantePetrifiedForest_GPS050516Map.GIF

Photos taken on this hike: General. Plants

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