What we’re about
This is a good way to meet new people, exercise, enjoy nature, explore new terrain, see animals and acclimate to elevation gains.
Please read the FULL event description and review the linked materials before signing up for this event. Some carpooling on this trip is REQUIRED, see below.
RSVPs on Meetup open at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 16. If you would like to sign up before then, please email us at slchikingnature.campingtrips@gmail.com
General Overview:
Damon and Jordan will be leading this trip. Dinosaur National Monument is near Vernal, UT and about 3.5 hours from Salt Lake. This is a 3-day-2-night trip. We will be hiking between 6 and 12 miles a day with some long drives to reach destinations for the trip. Hikes will range from short walks to breathtaking viewpoints, to longer multi-mile hikes with petroglyphs, waterfalls, and other offshoot observations and all things in between. It will also include a high-clearance vehicle only set of trails, so we will be needing to coordinate these logistics once we see who all signs up.
Tentative Hiking & Viewing Itinerary:
Friday May 9: Day 1 (optional): Arrive at Dinosaur Quarry Museum by 3:30 p.m. to tour the Museum.
Thereafter, we will hike two of the three following trails (those arriving later than 3:30 are welcome to join for one or both hikes):
Desert Voices Nature Trail: 2.3 miles, 270 ft of elevation gain Desert Voices Nature Trail and Split Mountain Campground, Utah - 194 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Sound of Silence Trail: 3.2 miles, 325 ft of elevation gain
Sound of Silence Trail, Utah - 545 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Hog & Box Canyon: 1.8 miles, 390 ft of elevation gain
Hog Canyon and Box Canyon Trails, Utah - 315 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Saturday, May 10 (Day 2): Dinosaur National Monument of Colorado Section (carpooling required):
We will leave camp early and head over to the Colorado side of Dinosaur National Monument (around 2 hour drive). In Dinosaur, the plan will consist of four destinations, dependent on exact road conditions and travel time, (1) Yampa Bench overlook trail/drive with viewpoints (requires high-clearance vehicles); (2) Whispering Cave, Pool Creek Petroglyphs and Echo Park; (3) Harper’s Corner; and (4) Ruble Point Trail.
Yampa Bench: Driving Route with viewpoint: Yampa Bench Road OHV Trail, Colorado - 5 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Echo Park Confluence River Walk: 1.25 miles https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-the-confluence-trail.htm
Harpers Corner: 2.1 miles, 300 ft of elevation gain Harpers Corner Trail, Colorado - 532 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Ruble Point Trail: Up to 9.2 miles with 1000 ft of elevation gain (depending on time)
Ruple Point Trail, Utah - 64 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Sunday, May 11 (Day 3): Jones Hole by day, Moonshine Arch by early evening (optional):
We will leave camp around 8:00 am to drive to the Jones Hole trailhead, which is around 1 hour, 20 minutes from Jensen, UT. Jones Hole covers 7.6 miles with multiple stopping points along the way depending on weather conditions and water levels. We anticipate finishing Jones Hole by around 3 p.m.
After we complete the Jones Hole hike, we will pack into vehicles and head to Moonshine Arch, which is just North of Vernal. This is an optional short 1.5 mile round trip hike to a beautiful standalone arch. Those who wish to head home after Jones Hole, are welcome to do so.
Jones Hole: 7.5 miles, 600 ft elevation gain Jones Hole Trail, Utah - 281 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Moonshine Arch (optional): 1.5 miles, 250 ft elevation gain: Moonshine Arch, Utah - 1,030 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Camping: We plan to disperse camp. The exact location is TBD depending on weather and road conditions connecting the Utah and Colorado portions of Dinosaur National Monument. If direct roads (Blue Mountain and Echo Park) are passable, we will likely camp on BLM land between the two portions of the National Monument. If, however, the area has seen rain and 4x4 roads are questionable such that we need to drive via Dinosaur, Colorado, then we will disperse camp just outside Jensen. Below are links to possible camp locations. Our hope/plan is to not have to move camp during the trip. Finally, you are welcome to get a hotel in Vernal; however, it is on you to arrive at camp at the scheduled departure time each morning.
Green River/Jensen (near Jensen, UT Welcome Center) iOverlander | Red Wash Road off Hwy 40
Miner's Draw Rd iOverlander | BLM land on Miner’s Draw
Blue Mountain Rd iOverlander | Dinosaur Cliffs Sunset View
Harper's Corner (Colorado, in event roads really require moving camp) iOverlander | 360’ view
Costs: To cover gas and mileage expenses, if you do not have a high clearance vehicle that we use for Day 2, you will need to pay your driver between $10 and $20, depending on how many folks we fit into each vehicle. There is also an entry fee, covered by a national parks pass, for Dinosaur National Monument. We will try and put a pass in each carpool, but you'll need one if joining on Friday or if leaving straight from Jones Hole, such that you'd be driving yourself Sunday.
Supply Information: You are responsible for bringing all the supplies you will need for three days and two nights of camping and hiking. Be prepared to experience high temperatures in the 80s and low temps in the 30s. There is no access to food outlets while in the Monument, so please plan to bring snacks/lunch/beverage items for lunches and hiking stops accordingly.
Attendee Cap: We hope to offer 20 spots on the trip. This is somewhat dependent on how many people with high clearance vehicles sign up for the trip. Those with high clearance vehicles may be given preference. Please note your vehicle and number of seatbelts when signing up. We further hope to reserve 1/4 of the spots for people who have never attended a prior trip. As a result of these parameters, the cap limit listed on the event is set to less than 20.
Spreadsheet Requirement: Once we have a full trip, we will send out a link to a spreadsheet. Having some basic info on everyone's arrival time, departure plans, vehicle info, and camping preferences is essential to our ability to run the trip. Timely completing the spreadsheet is your way of securing your spot on the trip.
Cancelation Policy: Out of respect for those on the waitlist and to account for the work it takes to replan logistics when there is a cancelation, if you sign up for the trip and cancel after April 13 or miss one of the days of the trip without preapproval, there is a $40 cancelation fee. The fee must be paid by June 9, 2025. The cancelation fee goes toward covering the groups yearly Meetup subscription, which has more than doubled in the last year.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Cedar Mesa and Moonhouse Ruins TripKane Gulch Ranger Station, Blanding , UT
*Update - Exciting news for those on the waitlist, after the positive response to those that want to attend this trip we figured out a way to up the attendee cap to 18 people. Diane secured 6 more Moonhouse permits. We will have some days where we will hike in separate groups, but it should all work out. So for the 6 people I just added to the attend list, please do the 3 tasks within the next 24 hours or I will move you back to the waitlist. Thanks!
PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE DESCRIPTION BEFORE SIGNING UP! There are only 12 spots on this trip. If you click on attend you have 24 hours to complete the following or I will move you to the wait list until it has been done. So pay attention if you are on the waitlist and get moved to the going list due to someone not completing the 3 tasks.
- Purchase a $10 day hiking permit for the dates April 25th-27th and message me proof of purchase. (Choose the 7 day option) Day Hiking Permit Link EVERYONE must have their own hiking permit.
- Pay $6 for the separate Moonhouse hiking permit via Venmo to @Melissa-Hughes-13. Message me if you need to pay via cash or check. NON-REFUNDABLE! I purchased this permit ahead because only 20 people per day are allowed to visit Moonhouse ruins and they sell out.
- Review the visit with respect information found here: Visit with respect
INTRODUCTION: Cedar Mesa is a truly unique location in Southeastern Utah. Its remote and rugged and there are many Ancestral Pueblo Ruins, arches, petroglyphs, and kivas to see. Can’t wait to explore!
ITINERARY:
Thursday, April 24th: Arrive in the evening and set up camp. I understand that most people work on Friday’s. If that is you, please let me know upon signing up.Friday, April 25th: Meet at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station at 10 AM. There should be a water source to fill up here, but plan ahead and bring water with you as water sources are not guaranteed.
10:30 AM: Hike Kane Gulch to Junction and Turkey Pen Ruins. Between 7-10 miles depending on how far we venture into the canyon. Plan on a full day exploring.
info on Kane Gulch
HikingprojectFriday Evening: Enjoy the campsite, visit, play games, and welcome late arrivals.
Saturday, April 26th: 9 AM Hike Bullet Canyon to Grand Gulch and Sheikes Canyon 11-13 miles. This will be a thru hike so we will stage cars at both ends. Plan on a full day of exploring.
alltrailsSaturday late afternoon: Moki Dugway/Valley of the Gods drive/explore. This will be a fun side trip for those who want to explore some more.
Sunday, April 27th : start time TBD - Depending on where we are camping we will break camp and then drive to Moonhouse Ruins and Citadel Ruins. They are separate hikes, but well worth the time.
alltrails - Moon
Road Trip Ryan - MoonhouseCitadel Ruins 6.2 miles, 787 feet of gain
citadel info
allrails - CitadelAfter hikes everyone can head home or back to break camp if we haven’t already.
**Cancelation Policy: Out of respect for those on the waitlist, as this trip has a very small cap limit due to park regulations, and to account for the work it takes to replan logistics when there is a cancelation, if you sign up for the trip and cancel after April 3rd, there is a $40 cancelation fee. The fee must be paid by May 24, 2025. The cancelation fee goes toward covering the groups yearly Meetup subscription, which has more than doubled in the last year.
**All attendees are responsible to bring their own equipment, food, and water to the event. Please come prepared!
**By signing up for and attending this Meetup event, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that hiking and other outdoor activities can be dangerous and can cause serious bodily injury and possibly death. The organizers of this meetup cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for the actions of any participant - including you - at the event. Attendees are participating at their own risk and are solely responsible for any damage to their property, and/or any injury or loss in whatever form to themselves.
- Captol Hill to Memory Grove City Walking LoopUtah State Capital, Salt Lake City, UT
Now that we have extra daylight and the temps are on the upswing, we are starting a new weekly series that combines a little bit of nature and a little bit of city scape. Most Tuesday evenings, we will be hosting a Capitol Hill to Memory Grove walk. The route is about three miles. We will start on the southeast side of the Capitol. Meet at the trailhead kiosk that overlooks Memory Grove. This will be a social outing and a great opportunity to meet new people. The best part is that there are no cars along this route. You may walk as slow or as fast as you want. Dogs and strollers are welcome. Bikers may join at the beginning and leave us in the dust. :)
Depending on group preference this week, and as the spring/summer goes on, we will extend the track a little up City Creek Canyon or into the Capitol or Avenues areas. We may even add more socializing and food afterwards. But, for now, here is a partial link to the route:
Memory Grove Trail, Utah - 1,403 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
We look forward to seeing you on the southeast side of the Capitol on Tuesday evenings!
- Climbing at Fort Union MomentumMomentum Climbing Gym Fort Union Location , Midvale, UT
Welcome fellow climbers! We will be climbing at the brand new Fort Union Momentum location. People of all ages, abilities, and genders are welcome to join us.
If it is your first time you must fill out a waiver before climbing. You can do that online. Here is the link for first time visitor information:
https://momentumclimbing.com/millcreek/first-time/
You must have a UIAA certified harness, carabiner, ATC or other belay device. (Or you can rent them there.) Chalk optional. If you are leading, you should bring a dynamic rope that is in good condition for a potential lead fall. I am top rope only certified and don’t have a rope at this time.
Cost to join us is free, but Momentum is a gym and you do have to pay to get in. Refer to their website for prices. Message me if you have any questions, concerns, or if you need a buddy pass.
