*Escape the Snow*
Beaver Dam Mountain Wilderness
Elevation Range: 2,200 feet to
6,784 feet
Nearest City: St. George
The Beaver Dam wash is the lowest point in Utah, making it one of the first locales to open up to hiking in the spring. Like the uniqueness of the four-corners area in Southern Utah and Nevada and Northern Arizona and New Mexico, the Beaver Dam Mountain area is a convergence of three ecoregions that make up beautiful areas to explore. The Great Basin, Mojave Desert and Colorado Plateau all join together 15 miles south of St. George.
The nearest campground is the Virgin River Gorge Recreation Area located just inside the Arizona state line bordering Utah. There is non-established camping along the Cedar Pockets Road.
With the convergence of the three ecoregions, the five-mile area varies drastically in elevation. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended, but high-clearance 2WD vehicles can traverse the area when dry. There are shaded areas near the pignon forest near the Cedar Pockets was with Gila monsters and poisonous snakes possible. During the early spring, snow run-offs make silt8212;which the equivalent of a muddy current, but it is also an area where quicksand can persist.
The area can be hiked in a day, and there is no water when hiking into north into Utah from the Virgin River Gorge Recreation Center. There are many other areas to explore that require simple day hikes such as the Woodbury Desert, where Big Horn Sheep and endangered tortoises live. The Paiute Wilderness area has more potable water sources and can also be accessed from the central Virgin River Gorge Recreation Center.
*Embrace the Snow*
Soldier Hollow at Wasatch Mountain
State Park
Elevation Range: 5,400 feet to
6,831 feet
Nearest Cities: Park City and
Midway
What was once a site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games has become a popular winter wonderland.
More than 16 miles suitable for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are available on groomed trails when Olympic events are not in session. Rentals are available at the nearby lodge with a full-day cross country rental just $19 dollars for adults, $12 for kids age 7 to 17 and $9 for children under six.
The Wasatch Mountain Snowmobile Complex is also nearby which is basically like a playground for snowmobiles.
Snowmobile rentals can get a bit pricey, with some places charging up to $138 for a two-hour excursion. While this does include transportation and all safety and weather protection, it better be something you are itching to do.
The nearby Homestead Resort offers rooms for as low as $133 per night. For those who want a little bit more adventure and a little lighter on the wallet, the Rock Cliff Nature Center offers winter camping for just $7 for each vehicle entering the park and is just off Highway 189.
The Canyons and Park City Mountain Resort are also nearby options for traditional skiing and snowboarding with day lift passes being between $83 and $81 for adults and $48 for juniors.
Tony Pizza