We have visited an area in the south west of the United States called the ‘Colorado Plateau‘ a number of times now including 2+ months on the ‘Hayduke Trail’ in 2014 ….. and again in 2022
The plateau covers the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and southern Utah. It is characterised by high desert, deep canyons, steep rock cliffs, forests and vivid colours. For us the attraction is in the vast wild countryside that provides endless adventures for backpacking, exploring, hiking, scrambling as well as paddling and rock climbing. There are many signs of prehistoric cultures too: Ancestral Puebloan, Sinagua, Fremont, and Cohonina. And thankfully much of the area is public lands such as National Parks, National Monuments and Wilderness Areas.
This overview map gives a rough idea of where we have hiked, paddled or climbed over the years and the list below by year has links to blog posts and photos…
AUTUMN 2025
Again, we had wonderful times backpacking for three weeks with clear air helped by two periods of thunderstorms and flash floods.
Escalante north backpack (blog)
Capitol Reef National Park high route backpack (photos)
Grand Canyon Boucher, Tonto trails backpack (photos)
AUTUMN 2024
Out again to southern Utah! This time we kayaked down the Green River for 9 days as well as some backpacking trips.
Green River kayak and hikes (blog)
Northern San Rafael Swell (photos)
The Maze, Canyonlands National Park (photos)
AUTUMN 2023
Brian hiked the 800 mile Arizona Trail in October and November 2023.
Arizona Trail I Utah state line to Grand Canyon and Flagstaff
Arizona Trail II Flagstaff to Tucson
Arizona Trail III Tucson to the Mexican Border
Arizona Trail IV AZT hiker info and bonus trips
Photo gallery (or click image)
SPRING 2022
The Hayduke Trail is a 800 mile hike and scramble through the canyons of the Colorado Plateau in southern Utah and northern Arizona USA. Read about our second trip on this wonderful route here…Hayduke hike
Autumn 2019
We visited California in Autumn 2019 and took a 10 day break to hike in southern Utah again from September 14th. We stayed in the Escalante catchment for another two excellent 4 day hikes covering some new territory for us.
Escalante – Bobway and Stevens Arch
Escalante- The Gulch and Boulder Creek
Autumn 2018
We returned to southern Utah and the Grand Canyon in Arizona in October 2018 for more backpacking in this wonderful area.
Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks
Escalante – Bighorn Canyon, Harris Wash and the ‘Cosmic Navel’
Capital Reef NP – Lower Muley Twist and Halls Creek
Zion – Canaan Mountain traverse
Grand Canyon North Rim Loop (Indian Hollow-Colorado River-Kanab-Jumpup Canyons)
Video summary of our 2018 hikes ( 9 minutes)……
Autumn 2017
Back to the canyons and high desert of the US south west in October 2017. We flew from Scotland to Las Vegas and rented a car with 3 and a half weeks to get out and backpack further into some new areas.
Canaan Mountain and White Domes loop north of Hildale
Escalante – Boulder Mail Trail-Death Hollow-Escalante-Brigham Tea Bench-Boulder
Capital Reef NP – Upper Muley Twist and the rim route
Grand Gulch area – East Slickhorn-San Juan-Slickhorn canyon loop
Hackberry Canyon-Yellow Rock-Paria canyon
Video summary of our 2017 hikes (10 minutes)…….
Autumn 2016
Into the desert and canyons of southern Utah and northern Arizona in September/ October 2016. Two years ago we hiked and kayaked our own version of the Hayduke Trail. Having enjoyed it so much we returned this year with a rental car to hike to some other canyons and interesting places. Whilst we wouldn’t get the full immersion of a multi month hike such as the Hayduke, we were aiming to target some of the most spectacular places in the region with some trips ranging from 1 to 5 days.
Escalante – Death Hollow, Bowington and Boulder Mail trails
Escalante – Silver Falls, Harris, Escalante, Neon and Choprock canyons I
Escalante – Silver Falls, Harris, Escalante, Neon and Choprock canyons II
Escalante – Peekaboo, Spooky and Brimstone slot canyons day trip
Canyonlands National Park- Horseshoe canyon
Canyonlands National Park- Salt Creek backpack
Escalante – Farewell- Wolverine and Little Death Hollow canyons
Video summary from our 2016 hikes (6 minutes)……
Spring 2014
The Hayduke Trail is a 800 mile hike and scramble through the canyons of the Colorado Plateau in southern Utah and northern Arizona USA. Read about our first trip on this incredible route here…Hayduke hike
….or watch our 5 minute video…….
2009
We had 6 months in the USA in 2009 to mainly hike the wonderful Continental Divide Trail. We also managed a few short trips to the desert south west before after the CDT though…
Grand Junction CO – Colorado National Monument
Montrose CO – Dominguez canyon
Mesa Verda National Park CO
Montrose CO – Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP
Montrose CO – Dolores Canyon
New Mexico – Chaco Canyon
Arizona – Monument Valley
Canyonlands NP – Needles hikes
Moab UT – Slickrock trails mountain bike
Canyonlands NP – Islands in the Sky
2004
Our first visit to southern Utah and it was a bit of a revelation to us contrasting with the green and wet Scottish scenery. We did a number of hikes, scrambles and rock climbs…
Grand Junction CO – Colorado National Monument
Moab- Kane Valley rock climbs
Moab – Grandstaff canyon
Arches NP – Off Balance Rock rock climb
Arches NP – Owl Rock rock climb
San Rafeal Reef
Goblin SP – Wildhorse Canyon – Crack Canyon
Capital Reef NP – Fern’s Nipple scramble
Capital Reef NP – Sulphur Creek, Cassiday Arch
Capital Reef NP -Burro canyon, Rim Overlook trail
Escalante – Upper and Lower Calf Creek Falls
Escalante – Coyote Gulch and Stevens Canyon
Escalante – Spooky and Peekaboo Gulches
Grand Gulch loop hike -Kane Gulch, Grand Gulch and Bullet canyons
Canyonlands NP – South Six Shooter rock climb
Canyonlands NP -Needles hike to
Moab – Slickrock mountain bike
Moab – Fisher Towers, Ancient Art rock climb
Moab – Castleton Tower rock climb
Grand Junction – Independance Monument rock climb
Telluride – Lizard Head peak
A wee walk 
I’m loving your blog – particularly the bits in the American South West – Abbey country! We’ve done quite a bit in that area with family and friends but your trips provide a lot of inspiration for more adventures. Simon
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Thanks….I think you would enjoy the Hayduke!
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