Backpacking...Southern Utah
 

I need help planning a trip. My son is 10 years old and in great physical shape. I want to take him backpacking for the first time in the next couple of months. I want it to be an experience that blows him away and really gets him excited about outdoor activities. But I don't want it to be too rigorous that he hates me forever. So I need suggestions for a good 3 to 4 day trip in Southern Utah. I have never backpacked there so I have no idea where to go.

Boulder Mountain. Specifically, Calf Creek. The upper and lower falls are easy enough hikes and it is beautiful there.

And the drive between Torrey and Escalante along SR 12 is something that both you and your boy will never forget.

I'll second Calf Creek here.

Sounds great. How do I find the trail head?

Drive to Torrey and just past Torrey you will take the Boulder Mt turnoff. Drive over the mountain (stop and enjoy the scenery on the way, it is breath-taking) and you will end up in the town of Boulder. Take the road that goes out of the SouthWest corner of town (the main highway). In a few miles, you will be on a narrow backbone with a steep drop on both sides. The canyon below to your right (west) is Calf Creek. The road will drop into the canyon and you will see the parking lot at the trailhead. You can't miss it.

You won't be doing any camping in Calf Creek. It is just a fun hike. It is three miles each way. Wear your swimsuit under your clothes of just be prepared to get wet. You will want to take a swim in the pool at the base of the falls.

I would also recommend Goblin Valley state park, with a hike up little wild horse canyon and bell canyon. They are great slot canyons.

http://www.yellowecho.com/travel/goblinvalley.htm

If you are going to be down in the Calf Creek area, you should make a trip and go see Peekaboo Caynon and Spooky Gulch.

http://www.utah.com/multimedia/movies/spooky_gulch.htm

Excellent suggestion. You can camp at Goblin Valley and play in the park in the moonlight. And I suggest you hike up little wild horse canyon and down bell canyon. The entire loop is nine miles and you can do it easily in about four hours. It is not far from Calf Creek (~2 hr drive) so you could easily work it into your itinerary.

Looks like it's part of Coyote Gulch. I haven't done Coyote yet, but I hear it is great.

http://www.americansouthwest.net/slo...ch/canyon.html

Say what you will about Utah, it is a wonderful place to live if you enjoy the outdoors.

Yes it is. I would live in Escalante if I thought I could make a decent living there.

There is no place like Garfield County.