Category: Utah Trails

Utah Hiking and Mountain Biking Trails

Map of Hiking, Mountain Biking, and Snowshoeing Trails in Utah

The following map displays all of the Utah hiking, mountain biking, and cross country ski trails we have documented on this blog. Zoom-in to get a closer view of a region and click on a map marker to access a link to its corresponding blog post. Each blog post includes a map, pictures, anecdotes, directions, and videos. Please let us know if you have suggestions or if you find a mistake.

Cryptobiotic Soil Crust – Utah’s Valued Ground Cover

Cryptobiotic soil is a lumpy, dark-brown crust comprised of a living community of fungi, lichen, cyanobacteria, and moss. Cryptobiotic soil is very important to desert wildlife and plant communities because it prevents both water and wind erosion by absorbing moisture and binding together loose soil particles. In addition, it enriches the soil with carbon and nitrogen that help plants like the Great Plains Yucca to grow. Cryptobiotic soil is very fragile and, thus, easily destroyed by foot prints, bicycle tracks, and car tread marks. Most importantly, it can take up to 200 years for it to regenerate and, therefore, it is difficult to replace trampled cryptobiotic soil. Thus, please be mindful of cryptobiotic soil and do your best to hike and bike on durable surfaces such as rocks and existing trails. The following pictures were taken at Pothole Point Trail in Canyonlands National Park.


The last set of pictures were taken on Cave Spring Trail in Canyonlands National Park.

Delicate Arch Trail – Arches National Park – Moab, Utah

The Delicate Arch trail head is located inside Arches National Park and is a 30 to 40 minute drive north of Moab, Utah. The Arches National Park entrance is about five miles north of Moab, Utah and on the east side of US-191. Continue reading “Delicate Arch Trail – Arches National Park – Moab, Utah”