One of the most enchanting stretches of the Colorado River starts at the base of the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona and winds about 15 miles downstream to Lees Ferry. It’s extremely difficult to access by land, so the most enjoyable and easiest way to see this hidden wonderland is by taking a raft trip with a local rafting company.
Big Bear Lake, California, is an easy drive from Boulder City, less than four hours away in the San Bernardino Mountains. This resort town is at an elevation of 7,000 feet, making it a fine place to escape the blistering summers of the surrounding deserts. Summer average daily high temperatures are in the high 70s, with nights dipping down into the 40s.
Boulder City Parks and Recreation Department is offering a summer basketball camp to boost the skills of future Bobcats and Eagles players.
Set within a wide Navajo sandstone canyon in south central Utah is lower Calf Creek Falls, one of the most stunning waterfalls in the state. Though the waterfall is your destination, the hike itself offers incredible scenery including wetlands, beaver dams, prehistoric pictographs and granaries, and beautiful Calf Creek itself.
Season begins with ceremony
Capitol Reef National Park in south-central Utah is probably best known for its main geological feature, the Waterpocket Fold, a wrinkle in the earth that extends nearly 100 miles. But the park also boasts wonderful hiking opportunities on about 150 miles of trails to see slot canyons, natural arches, bridges and petroglyphs. Elevations in the park range from 3,800 to 8,200 feet, but the hub of the park, Fruita, is at around 5,500 feet.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona is definitely off the beaten path, but it’s worth the extra time to see its wonders. The monument boasts three main sandstone canyons, Canyon de Chelly (pronounced “de-shay”), Canyon del Muerto and Monument, and are all worth seeing firsthand as they are full of hundreds of archaeological sites including ruins of former dwellings, petroglyphs and pictographs.
Visiting Arizona’s Grand Canyon is either on your bucket list already, or ought to be. If you choose to visit its popular South Rim, the best times to do it fall within the next two months. Weather is usually ideal for sightseeing and hiking, as daily high temperatures will often be in the 60s and 70s.
Zion National Park is a spectacular destination year-round, but spring is one of the best times to visit. Wildflowers are blooming in the lowlands, deciduous trees are starting to leaf out and the birds are singing their hearts out. While it’s a treat just to be there, you can make the trip educational as well, by signing up for a workshop or class with the Zion Canyon Field Institute. The institute offers workshops all year, but in spring the schedule is particularly rich. Be sure to make a reservation, as classes fill up fast.
Joshua Tree National Park, located just outside of Twentynine Palms, California, is named after its signature plant species. It is also home to thousands of rock climbing routes, nearly 200 miles of hiking trails and five desert palm oases.
