Check out the January 2010 issue of Backpacker magazine and you will see why Just Roughin’ It Adventure Company goes to Paria Canyon, Grand Canyon and Yosemite.  Well, OK, Yosemite and Grand Canyon are givens, but there are more to these places than Rim to Rim trips and Half Dome day hikes.

To start, the cover has a great picture of Buckskin Gulch, one of the nation’s longest slot canyons and part of Paria Canyon.  Buckskin can be done in a very long day hike or as part of a 4 or 5 day backpacking trip from Wire Pass to Lees Ferry, taking you along the Paria River through another narrow canyon where you are surrounded by steep, sandstone cliffs.  There is a ‘narrow’ time frame when Buckskin can be explored.  Water as high as your waist during some years can make hiking unbearable before late May and the summer months (July through mid September) are Arizona’s monsoon season, bringing heavy rains and flash floods to the canyon.

The next two places are readers choice destinations.  The first is Sentinel Dome in Yosemite National Park.  Sentinel Dome is South of Yosemite Valley but a hike to the top will get you fantastic views of the entire Valley area, including Half dome, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Nevada Falls and Clouds Rest.  Instead of the more crowded Mist Trail, this 2.2 mile round trip day hike starts at the Glacier Point trail head.  Once you had a taste of this short day hike, I guarantee you will want to experience more of Yosemite; at least 2 or 3 days worth.

The third is Santa Maris Springs in Grand Canyon.  This lesser known destination is along the Hermit Trail and is a great alternative to the crowded Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails.  This 5.5 mile day hike will take you to a natural spring that was developed into one of four rest houses for tourists heading down to Hermit Camp.  Constructed by the Santa Fe Railroad in 1912, Hermit trail offers spectacular views and opportunities to visit some historical sites and Hermit Rapids along the Colorado River, if you were to make a trip along the Hermit Trail and multi day trip.   If a day hike is all you want, Santa Maria Springs still has a standing outhouse used by the early tourists and the foundation for a barbecue pit.  You can also take a load off at the newer rest house before heading back up to the rim.

When you are finished, check out page 40 and find out why you are attracting bears!  I have a better article; “Why are you (or aren’t you) attracting cougars?”