The One-Mile Scout That Became an 8-Mile Southern Utah Adventure

The One-Mile Scout That Turned into an 8-Mile Expedition (Part 1)

If you want to find the absolute best hidden spots in Southern Utah, you have to be willing to let a quick exploratory drive completely ruin your schedule.

A few weeks ago, Sam and I headed out past Old Iron Town. We stumbled onto a trail we’d never heard of and decided to do a quick, casual one-mile scout. The plan was simple: hike in a little bit, check out the terrain, and head home.

But the desert has a funny way of dangling carrots.

Sam kept looking at the map, pointing up a long, hard uphill climb, and insisting there were natural springs if we just pushed a little further. I look back now and laugh at our "one-mile" plan, because every time we reached a ridge line, we'd spot another crazy rock formation or a clearing and say, "Well, we can't turn around yet."

The climb was a brutal, relentless grind, but once the trail leveled off, the landscape completely shifted. We hit the jackpot. Tucked away where you’d never expect it, we found a series of pristine springs and hidden mountain reservoirs. In a landscape defined by dry dirt and rugged terrain, stumbling across glassy water mirroring aspens and pine trees.

We stood there completely alone in the quiet, realizing that 99% of the people who visit this area will never even know this water exists.

We went home 8 miles later with tired feet, shot schedules, and a wild, slightly crazy idea: We have to pack up the gear and bring the kids back here. (Stay tuned for Part 2 to see if we survived hauling full backcountry packs up that mountain with the boys...)