Chris Engelsman

The RTS trail at Utah's Olympic Park (ski jumping, bobsled, skeleton, and luge), is a fantastic beginner-to-intermediate trail. Since it's a short loop at only 2.6 miles and 366 feet of elevation gain, it's perfect for kids and beginners. Most of the sections are smooth dirt that winds through aspen groves and meadows. The lower trail has a few more rocks - just enough for beginners to test the...

The Mount Werner Trail starts at the Blackleaf Canyon Trailhead in the Montana front range of the Rocky Mountains. On a side note, Blackleaf Canyon is also a popular rock climbing area. On the trail, you'll walk along Blackleaf Creek, and Muddy Creek so water will be available during the hike in case you bring your filter/purifier. As you hike, you'll see magnificent views of the Bob Marshall W...

McMillan Springs Campground is south of Hanksville, Utah and within the Henry Mountains, which run north and south between Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks.  Situated at 8,400 feet, McMillan Springs Campground has moderate temperatures and is managed by the BLM, so fees are donation based. The campground has 15 spots, two outhouse toilets, and water. As of June 2017, they were updat...

Mount Ascension is a popular trail in Helena. It's used for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. It can be accessed year-round, but can get icy and slippery during the winter.  The path for Mount Ascension is a network of trails that that can be done as an out-and-back, or a lollipop trail. A lollipop trail is where the first and last parts of the trail will be the same, but you loop up ...

The Wedge, which is also known as The Little Grand Canyon is located in the northern part of the San Rafael Swell. The closest town is Castle Dale, Utah, and most people drive past this part of the San Rafael Swell on their way to Moab, or other parts of the Swell.The views are remarkable. It's no reason its nickname is Little Grand Canyon. There are trails around the rim of the canyons, and pl...

The CDT trail is a popular trail with thru-hikers, and is considered one of the three Crown Jewels. The Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail being the other two.  This section of the Continental Divide Trail starts 25-minutes to the West of Helena just off Highway 12 at the CDNST Trailhead at MacDonald Pass. This section of trail heads north and consists of an access trail and double t...

The Quarry Mountain trail is a less-traveled option than the Iron Mountain trail in Park City offering unique views of McPolin Farm to the west, Kimball Junction and Old Ranch Road to the north, Park City to the south, and Promontory Ranch to the East. The trail starts at the McPolin Farm parking area on the east side Highway 224 (the main road from I-80 to old town Park City) and ends at the t...

Starting at an elevation of 8,960 feet at Empire Pass, the trail follows the ridge to the west. It starts off on a gravel road, but quickly turns into a single-track trail once you pass the buried water tank. For the most part, you will stay on the ridge and have great views of Clayton Peak, Deer Creek Reservoir, and Park City, but for a short time Empire Pass Ridge trail drops into the trees n...

Did you know that Fort Benton was considered the "World's  Innermost Port" until the railroads started moving goods and people across the west? Nowadays, some people call Fort Benton a "sleepy little river town", but paddlers and history buffs seek the solitude and beauty of the Upper Missouri River.  Fort Benton is also the gateway to the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument and locat...

Due to the cold water being released from the bottom of Holter Lake, it creates excellent habitat for trout. The section of the Missouri River from Holter Dam to Cascade, MT is the main area for trout fishing, and has excellent access to the river.  This section of river runs through the valley with sparsely forested hillsides. Montana Fishing Permits  $10 conservation license (non-resident age...

The Prospect Shaft Trail is a lightly used trail used to reach the summit of Mt Helena. The trail is rated as a 'moderate' trail due to its steep, loose, rocky surface. Due to these characteristics, it's rarely used for mountain biking and primarily used for hiking and trail running.  The views are incredible. Hiking up in the morning and you can catch an epic sunrise over Helena. Due to the ro...

Red Mountain Pass is the site of an historic silver mining boom from 1882 to 1893. During that time, over 10,000 people lived at over 11,000 feet! Today, it's turned into a backcountry ski and snowboard touring destination.  If you are coming from the North, you'll pass through the gorgeous box-canyon town of Ouray, CO. From the south, you'll pass through Silverton, CO. This section from Ouray ...

The Kings Hill Pass Trail is located off Highway 89 in the Little Belt Mountains of the Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest. Kings Hill is considered a scenic byway and climbs to an elevation just over 7,200 feet at the pass.  Kings Hill Pass Trail is considered a more difficult trail and sees little traffic. The trail is available for activities all year long. In the winter you can snowsh...

With it's easy access from Rodney Street, Rodney Ridge Trail is a locals favorite. The trail heads up the ridge and provides fantastic views of Helena below.  The trail is rated as moderate, and is used primarily for mountain biking and hiking. Dogs are allowed, so, you'll most like encounter a 4-legged furry friend on the trail.  From Rodney Ridge Trail, you can link up to a whole bunch of oth...

As you head south on Hwy 89 south of I-70 in central Utah, you wind through a picturesque canyon along the Sevier River. As the canyon opens up, Big Rock Candy Mountain's caramel colored hillside comes into full view. The caramel color is a stark contrast to the other mountains covered in pinion pines.  Back in 1928, Harry McClintock recorded the song "Big Rock Candy Mountain" shortly after tha...

The soaring limestone cliffs and ledges mark the Belt Creek Canyon. Back in the day, this area in the Little Belt Mountains was a haven for mining. Now, the old railroad bed serves as the main access route of Sluice Boxes State Park. Sluice Boxes State Park was established in 1970 and consists of the northern most 8-miles of Belt Creek Canyon. In the park, you can find old mines and cabins. Hi...

Berthoud Pass is 55 miles from Denver making it one of the closest places to get out and backcountry tour in the winter. At 11,370 Berthoud Pass crosses the continental divide. From the top of the pass you can do shuttle runs down the south side of the pass. Or, you can venture on the East or West side of the road and do out and backs. Down the pass towards Winter Park is the Current Creek pull...

Castle Rock Campground is located within Utah's Fremont Indian State Park just off Interstate 70, which according to the camp host, is a favorite place to camp for people traveling between California and Colorado.  At 6,200 feet in elevation, the temps are manageable in the summer, and the large cottonwood trees and bushes provide shade from the sun and privacy from your neighbors. Castle Rock ...

An hour drive north of the town of Seeley Lake Montana is the Glacier Lake Trailhead and the starting point for your hike. Glacier Lake Trailhead is a popular trailhead, and the parking lot can fill up quickly on hot summer weekends since it provides access to trails which lead to three different lakes.  From the Glacier Lake Trailhead, you can access Glacier Lake, Turquoise Lake, along with Cr...

Experience solitude and beauty at Little Creek Mesa Utah. When you get there, grab a campsite, and go for an evening mountain bike ride along the rim of the mesa and see breathtaking views of the valley below as the sun sets.  Little Creek Mesa is located 22 miles from Hurricane, Utah and only 8 miles from state highway 59. It's directly south of its cousin, Gooseberry Mesa, but with fewer peop...

If you are looking to ride one of Moab's famed mountain bike trails, then look no further than the Portal Trail. It's a short 2-mile trail that starts on the rim above the Colorado River and descends 1,388.  To access the Portal Trail you can take a shuttle from town to the top of the Magnificent 7/Gemini Bridges trail system and there are multiple shuttle services (Coyote, Poison Spider, Moab ...

Enjoy a leisurely drive through the National Elk Refuge as you leave Jackson, Wyoming for Curtis Canyon Campground. A short walk from the campground provides epic views of the Teton Range and the National Elk Refuge. Pour a cup of coffee and enjoy! Curtis Canyon Campground is part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest and has 12 campsites. They don't accept reservations and its first-come-first-...

Bootjack Campground is located within California's Mount Tamalpais State Park. There are a couple of campsites within the park, but if you are driving on the Panoramic Highway from Mill Valley, this will be the first campground you pass.  The fee is $25 fee to camp, but they have bathrooms and running water. There is a total of 11 campsites which are first-come-first-served and tent only. You'l...

Mount Ellen is considered an Ultra Prominent Peak. What's that you may ask? Well, Ultra Prominent Peaks are determined by how high the summit rises above its surroundings. Rising 5,812 feet above the desert floor with a summit elevation of 11,527 feet, Mount Ellen is the third most prominent peak in Utah behind #2 Mount Peale in the La Sal Range, and #1 Kings Peak in the Uinta Mountains. In cas...