The new Intrepid Trail System at this state park 30 miles outside Moab offers slickrock riding for beginners and features spectacular views of the Colorado River, Canyonlands National Park and the LaSal Mountains. The trail system, dedicated earlier this month by Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr., offers three hiking and biking loops ranging from one to nine miles with varying difficulty. The easiest and shortest loop is Intrepid, followed by the 4.2-mile Great Pyramid, and the most challenging, nine-mile Big Chief. Public/private partnerships made the trail possible. Intrepid Potash, for which the trail is named, contributed $20,000 for construction of a new single-track, nonmotorized trail system. The trail itself was built by Trail Mix, a local volunteer organization, and volunteers from the Utah Conservation Corps, American Conservation Experience and Moab Trails Alliance. The National Park Service and Utah State Parks also worked on the project.
The park offers camping and day-use facilities, a visitor center and naturalist programs. For more information, call 435-259-2614.
Castle Rock Cut open
Excavation of the Castle Rock Cut at Lake Powell has been completed and the area is open to boat travel, five weeks earlier than it was last year. The cut links Wahweap and Warm Creek bays, so boaters no longer need to travel through The Narrows to reach uplake destinations such as Padre Bay and Rainbow Bridge. It saves boaters about 12 miles and shortens response times in emergencies. Buoys mark the channel from Wahweap to the junction of Warm Creek and the main river channel.
Closures at Starvation State Park
Due to construction of a new access road, the Mountain View and Beach campgrounds, group area and boat ramp at Starvation will be closed today, June 11-14 and July 9-12. Juniper, Rabbit Gulch, Knight Hollow and Indian Bay primitive areas remain open and owners of smaller boats can launch from the primitive beach. Camping is $10 per site; reservations can be made by calling 800-322-3770 or online at stateparks.utah.gov.
Audubon events
Carpooling is encouraged, as are contributions for gas. Contact group leader to make sure trips are still scheduled as planned.
May 27, 7:30 a.m. » Bob Huntington and Deedee O' Brien will lead a group to Farmington Bay. Meet at the Centerville McDonald's at I-15 exit 319 for breakfast, or in the parking lot for an 8 a.m. departure. Bring water and snacks. Call Deedee 801-272-8060 if you plan to attend.
May 29, 7:30 a.m. » Bird hike through Pinecrest Canyon with leader Deedee O' Brien. Bird sightings will likely include lazuli bunting, green-tailed towhee, MacGilvray's warblers and broad-tailed hummingbirds. Meet by 7:30 a.m. at the eastern end of the parking lot at Ruth's Diner, four miles up Emigration Canyon. Call Deedee 801-272-8060 if you plan to attend.
Family Fun Day
The Kostopulos Dream Foundation hosts its annual Family Fun Day, a carnival of activities, games, food and live music, at Camp Kostopulos in Emigration Canyon, May 30, noon to 4 p.m.; all activities and facilities will be fully accessible for people with physical, cognitive, mental and emotional disabilities. Three passes to the event are available: A family pass with lunch is $40; family pass without lunch is $20; and a single pass with lunch is $10. Activities include horseback riding, swimming, challenge ropes courses, lawn games, water slide, adaptive playground, climbing wall and fishing pond. For more information, contact Cheryl Smith at 801-582-0700 ext. 104.
REI events
May 21, 7 p.m. » Hiking author Greg Witt will talk about some of Utah's best outdoor destinations at the Sandy store, 10600 S. 230 West.
May 21, 7 p.m. » Backpacker and mountaineer expert Dave Smith will provide tips and techniques to help you to reduce your pack weight along with discussing shelters, sleeping systems, packs, food and cooking systems at the East Millcreek REI, 3286 E. 3300 South.
May 26, 7 p.m. » Take a virtual tour of the Amazon River at the East Millcreek REI with Ben Nolte, founder of Adventure Giving and Big Amazon Fish. He'll discuss wildlife, culture, adventures and humanitarian opportunities. Repeats May 28, 7 p.m., at the Sandy REI.
May 30, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. » The Basic Wilderness Life Support course was developed at the University of Utah School of Medicine to teach recreationists to prepare for outings, assess injuries and scene safety, decide whether to evacuate or treat a patient, and methods of evacuation. The course includes morning lectures at the East Millcreek REI, 3285 E. 3300 South, and an afternoon outdoors (weather permitting) participating in hands-on scenarios. Tuition is $95. Call 801-486-2100 or visit www.bwls.org.
Forest gets ready
Forest roads and campgrounds in the Ashley National Forest are expected to open by Memorial Day weekend, May 22-25, although that depends on weather and snow pack.
Recreation staff are working to turn on water systems and making sure campgrounds are accessible and ready for use.
Wild Bird Center
The center is at 1860 N. 1000 West, Layton; www.wildbird.com/layton. The Wild Bird Center leads free nature/bird walks with an 8 a.m. departure. Group leader is Bill Fenimore or another local expert.
May 30 » Swaner EcoCenter at Kimball Junction, Park City. Bird walk followed by a signing of Fenimore's Backyard Birds of Utah .
State Parks events
Utah state parks offer free events every week. Most are free with park admission.
May 22, 5 p.m. » Staff at the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park, Vernal, will lead a two-hour walk exploring wildflowers in the Uintah Basin. Meet at the museum with the proper gear: sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, water and jacket. For more information, call 435-789-3799.
May 22-23, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. » Territorial Statehouse State Park, Fillmore, is hosting pioneer activities. Contact 435-743-5316 for more information.
May 22, 9 a.m. » Snow Canyon Park, Ivins, staff will lead a two-mile round-trip hike to Johnson Canyon and Johnson Arch. Registration is required; call 435-628-2255.
May 22, 9 p.m. » Star gazing at Escalante Petrified State Park, Escalante. Meet at the visitor center. For more information, call 435-826-4466.
May 23, 7 p.m. » Learn about uranium from park naturalist Ramona Radonich at the Dead Horse Point State Park visitor center amphitheater; 435-259-2614.
May 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. » Celebrate Memorial Day at the Fielding Garr Ranch on Antelope Island State Park by making pioneer handkerchief dolls, quilting, dipping candles and learning other pioneer ways; 801-649-5742.
May 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. » Test your pioneer skills in woodworking, spinning, weaving, rope making and toy making at the Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum in Fillmore; 435-743-5316.
May 27, 9 a.m. » Join park staff for an easy stroll around Wide Hollow Reservoir to look for area birds. Binoculars are available; 435-826-4466.
May 29, 9 a.m. » Take the two-mile round-trip hike to Johnson Canyon and Johnson Arch at Snow Canyon State Park and learn about natural history. Registration is required; call 435-628-2255.
May 30, 11 a.m. » Children 6 to 10 can earn a Junior Ranger Badge by studying astronomy in the daytime at Rock Cliff Nature Center/Jordanelle State Park in Francis. Rock Cliff is on the east end of the reservoir; 435-782-3030.
May 30 » Yuba State Park staff and Rocky Mountain Anglers host the annual walleye tournament. Entry is $250 per team. A mandatory meeting is May 29 at 5 p.m. at the main boat ramp. For more information or to register, visit www.starvationclassic.com.
Wasatch Mountain Club activities
New members are always welcome to the club, which hosts outdoor activities every week. Annual dues range from $20 for full-time students to $50 per couple. For information on how to join the WMC or more details on planned outings, visit www.wasatchmountainclub.org.
May 18-25 » Canoe the Class II White River; Zig at 801-230-3623 or zig.sondelski@gmail.com.
May 19 » Evening mountain bike ride on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail; Heidi at 801 792-7765 or heidi@biochem.utah.edu.
May 19 » Evening mountain bike ride in the Park City area; Nick at 435.649-3544 or nickcalas84060@yahoo.com.
May 19 » Hike Mule Hollow; John at 801-266-3514.
May 19 » Evening road bike in City Creek Canyon; Elliott at 801-969-2846 or elliott887@msn.com.
May 20 » Paddle the Jordan River in a canoe; Marjorie at 801-712-7890 or gendler801@aol.com.
May 20 » Hike Mill B North; Pam and Anne at 801-381-7942 or 801-466-3806.
May 21 » Climb Salt Lake Slips; Steve at 801 474-0031.
May 21 » Road bike in the Newpark/Swaner area in Park City; Donna at 435-649-0183 or dlfisher@utahbroadband.com.
May 21 » Day hike in The Cottonwoods, time TBA; Norm at 801-266-3703.
May 21-24 » Canoe the Class II White River, part II; Zig at 801-230-3623 or zig.sondelski@gmail.com.
May 21 » Evening dog hike in Mill Creek Canyon; Cathy at 801-486-9200.
May 23-25 » Car camping in the Deep Creek Mountains; Donn at 801-706-0815 or donn@xmission.com.
May 23-25 » Family car camp at Craters of the Moon National Monument; Randy at 801-733-9367.
May 23-25 » Family car camp at Escalante Canyons; John at 801-278-5826 or veranth@xmission.com.
May 23 » Day hike at Dog Lake; Christel at 801-943-0316 or csysak@q.com.
May 23 » Mountain bike, time TBA; Cheryl at 801-474-3759 or ckrusko@peoplepc.com.
May 24 » Mountain bike in the Glen Wild area; Brad at 801-278-2423 or bnyslc@earthlink.net.
May 24 » Day hike Bowman Trail to Baker Pass; Steven at 801-474-0031 or duncste@comcast.net.
Summer fun at Ogden Nature Center
The Ogden Nature Center is accepting reservations for its 2009 summer camps for kids 3 to 16, designed to get children and teens outside during the summer to learn about the natural world. Enrollment is limited.
The center offers a service-based summer program for teens 13-16. Up to 15 participants learn about plants, animals and conservation while helping maintain trails, manage weeds, clean ponds and assist with other projects. Applications are available at the Ogden Nature Center's visitor services desk or from volunteer coordinator Jenny Frame, 801-621-7595 or jframe@ogdennaturecenter.org. Frame can also answer questions about summer camps.
To get your event listed, e-mail the information to Brett Prettyman , The Salt Lake Tribune, 90 S. 400 West, Suite 700, Salt Lake City, UT 84101.
