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- Bouldering at Lehi MomentumMomentum Indoor Climbing Lehi, Lehi, UT
Welcome fellow climbers! We will be climbing at the Lehi Momentum Wednesday night. 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 will need to bring or rent climbing shoes. Chalk bag recommended.
We will be climbing pretty much until close. We may go for some food afterwards. I'll reach out on the meet up group chat letting you know what part of the gym we are in and what I am wearing. Reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
- 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!
- Sedona, Arizona Hiking and City Exploration TripSedona, Arizona, Sedona, AZ
Please read the ENTIRE description before signing up. Before RSVPs are open on February 13 at 9 A.M., reach out to me at slchikingnature.campingtrips@gmail.com to presign for the trip.
General Description: This trip will be a 4 day-4night trip, arriving on the evening of Wednesday, April 9 and departing on the afternoon of Sunday, April 13. On the trip, we will visit the greater Sedona, Arizona area, including Coconino National Forest, Red Rocks, and Petrified Forest National Park. We will spend our mornings hiking around 6-9 miles and our afternoons exploring some of the cities in the area (Jerome, Sedona, and Flagstaff), with the option of doing a second hike in the afternoon. Because part of this trip is non-hiking, we welcome significant others who do not hike on this trip. Please let us know if you plan to bring a non-hiking +1.
Hiking & City Exploration Itinerary:
The exact order of days will depend on where we establish camp, but the itinerary will look approximately as follows. Because of parking constraints at trail heads, expect early morning departure times and carpooling to trailheadsDay 1:
Morning: Hike West Fork of Oak Creek Trail, 6.5 miles, 564 ft elevation gain, up to 13 water crossings, so feet will get wet: West Fork of Oak Creek Trail #108, Arizona - 15,727 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Afternoon: Explore Flagstaff or
Hiking Plan: (1) Harding Springs Trail to Cookstove Trail: Harding Springs Trail to Cookstove Trail, Arizona - 155 Reviews, Map | AllTrails 2.4 miles 700 ft as point-to-point and (2) Visit Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument with hikes at Lava's Edge Trail Lava’s Edge Trail, Arizona - 156 Reviews, Map | AllTrails, Lenox Crater Trail, Lenox Crater Trail, Arizona - 538 Reviews, Map | AllTrails, and Lava Flow Trail, Lava Flow Trail, Arizona - 1,242 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Totaling 3.7 miles if we stage cars.Day 2:
Morning: Soldiers Pass to Dry Creek Vista, 9 miles, about 1500 ft vertical (steep in spots) Point-to-Point with car staging Soldiers Pass to Dry Creek Vista, Arizona - 159 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Afternoon: Explore Sedona or
Hiking Options: (1) Bell Rock, Little Horse, Hog Haven and Mystic Loop: 5.6 miles, 600 vertical feet (can be less with car staging) Bell Rock, Little Horse, Hog Heaven, and Mystic Loop, Arizona - 377 Reviews, Map | AllTrails or
(2) Boynton Canyon Trail: 6.5 miles, 900 vertical feet: Boynton Canyon Trail, Arizona - 12,042 Reviews, Map | AllTrails or
(3) Fay Canyon Trail: 2.4 miles, 300 vertical feet: Fay Canyon Trail, Arizona - 9,921 Reviews, Map | AllTrailsDay 3:
Morning: Bell Trail, 7 miles, 600 vertical ft (plus offshoot options), some creek crossings/walking Bell Trail, Arizona - 3,796 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Afternoon: Visit Jerome or
Hiking Options: (1) Butte and Bell Rock Loop: 3.6 miles, 340 vertical feet Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock Loop, Arizona - 5,242 Reviews, Map | AllTrails and
(2) Cathedral Rock Trail, 1.2 miles, 750 vertical feet Cathedral Rock Trail, Arizona - 21,325 Reviews, Map | AllTrailsDay 4:
Petrified Forest National Park: Drive scenic byway, make your own adventure hikes as backcountry hiking is permitted. Some partially established routes may include:
Petrified Forest Wilderness Loop: https://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=22339
Painted Desert Rim Trail: Painted Desert Rim Trail, Arizona - 1,326 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Historic Blue Forest Trail: Historic Blue Forest Trail, Arizona - 1,115 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Old Jasper Forest: Old Jasper Forest Road, Arizona - 321 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Depart for SLC by 3 p.m. PTCity Exploration Information:
Jerome: Jerome | Visit Arizona
The Gold King Mine Ghost Town - Jerome, AZFlagstaff: Explore Route 66 Flagstaff Attractions - Discover Flagstaff
Route 66 2025 Travel Guide for Flagstaff, Arizona, with trip planner, maps, travel tips, hotel listings, travel tips, and things to see
Flagstaff | Visit ArizonaSedona: Sedona | Visit Arizona
36 Hours in Sedona, Ariz. - The New York TimesCamping/Lodging: We hope to offer a dispersed camping and a lodging (AirBnB/VRBO) option. When signing up, please indicate whether you prefer camping or an AirBnB (if an AirBnB, is your attendance on the trip dependent on getting a spot in it). Dispersed camping is likely to either by 30 minutes north of Sedona or 30 minutes south of Sedona, depending on availability and what winter gates have been opened when we arrive. Please note that if you sign up for an AirBnB, your share of the lodging is 100% nonrefundable, regardless of reason for cancelation or our ability to fill the spot from the waitlist.
Costs: Several of the hikes are within areas requiring entry passes. Some of the areas, including the West Fork of Oak Creek TH are not covered by a National Parks pass. Accordingly, there will be some small fees to divide per vehicle. Please bring some cash for this. A National Parks pass is needed for Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Petrified Forest National Park. Additionally, as we will be carpooling to trailheads given limited parking, you will either need to volunteer to drive one of the first three days or help cover a tank of gas for the drivers.
Spreadsheet: After signing up for the trip, you will receive an email or Meetup message with a link to a spreadsheet. It only takes a few minutes to complete, but providing the requested information is hugely important to our ability to organize a trip of this nature with multiple activity options. Timely completing the spreadsheet locks in your spot on the trip.
Attendee Cap: Because of the limitations on parking and camping in the area, I am starting the cap at 18, with 13 spots initially reserved for those who have attended prior trips and 5 spots for folks who have never attended a trip. Depending on responses about lodging preferences and vehicle capacity, I may up the cap to around 22.
Cancellation Fee: While there is no upfront fee for the trip (aside from optional lodging), if you cancel after March 15, a $40 cancelation fee applies and is due no later than May 10, 2025. The cancelation fee applies regardless of your reason for dropping out and it applies to both dropping out of the trip and arriving late or leaving early from the trip (if you know you cannot attend the full trip, let me know before signing up and I will see if we can accommodate). We have a cancelation fee to (1) ensure respect for those on the waitlist, given the popularity of the trips; (2) account for the effort and time it takes organizers to reach out to those on the waitlist and get them up to speed; and (3) help cover our Meetup dues. The fee has gone up to $40 because Meetup has more than doubled our yearly subscription costs, and this is our only source of revenue to fund the group.
- Bouldering at Lehi MomentumMomentum Indoor Climbing Lehi, Lehi, UT
Welcome fellow climbers! We will be climbing at the Lehi Momentum Wednesday night. 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 will need to bring or rent climbing shoes. Chalk bag recommended.
We will be climbing pretty much until close. We may go for some food afterwards. I'll reach out on the meet up group chat letting you know what part of the gym we are in and what I am wearing. Reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
