Exploring the Desert Wonders of Utah

Some of the Most Breathtaking Scenery in the USA

Utah boasts some of the most dramatic and beautiful desert landscapes in North America. Over the years, I’ve made several trips through this state, each time discovering new corners of wild terrain, ancient ruins, and remote trails. Here are a couple of my most memorable adventures.

Bears Ears National Monument

October 2019 — A Journey Into Utah’s Sacred Wild

I joined my brother Jesse for a road trip from Montana to San Diego, and we made it a priority to camp in one of Utah’s lesser-known treasures—Bears Ears National Monument.

A Contested Land of Spiritual Significance

Bears Ears protects nearly 1.5 million acres of remote high desert: towering buttes, deep canyons, and sacred cave dwellings.
The area holds thousands of archaeological sites, significant to the Navajo, Hopi, Ute, and Pueblo peoples.
Despite its importance, the monument has been threatened by political shifts and mining interests—its size was reduced by 85% under President Trump, then restored under President Biden.

Seeking Solitude and Sacred Spaces

My goal was to explore the monument before it became overwhelmed by mass tourism or further reduced. I also had my eye on Fish Mouth Cave, a secluded site I discovered while scouring Google Earth. Reaching it would require a rugged 4WD journey followed by a steep hike.

Driving into Bears Ears National Monument on a desolate road where we rarely saw another vehicle

Trekking to Fish Mouth Cave

We drove into Bears Ears along desolate dirt roads, rarely passing another vehicle.
The hike to the cave was roughly one mile—remote, unmarked, and steep.
Along the way, we passed pueblo ruins carved into cliff walls, dating back over a thousand years.

When we finally reached Fish Mouth Cave, it took my breath away. A massive alcove in the cliffside, it offered shelter, solitude, and traces of ancient life:

Inside the Cave:

Pueblo ruins built into its walls
Handprint cave paintings, one of the oldest forms of human expression
Spiritual offerings of maize, likely left by modern Indigenous pilgrims
Mysterious circular carvings etched into the stone floor

Fish Mouth Cave

One of the Pueblo ruins carved out of the cliffside

Fish Mouth Cave

A Night to Remember

We set up our tents inside the cave and carefully lit a small campfire away from any ruins. As the sun dipped below the red desert horizon, a full moon rose directly in view from the cave’s mouth.

It was one of those rare camping nights that felt timeless, blending wild natural beauty with spiritual history. Sitting on foldout chairs next to the fire, sipping wine under moonlight, Jesse and I knew this experience far surpassed anything a 5-star hotel could offer.

Highlights from the Camp:

Moonrise framed by the cave entrance
Ancient atmosphere untouched by modern development
Complete solitude—just us and the ghosts of the past

My brother and his tent in the Fish Mouth Cave Entrance in the morning

Cave paintings of hands of ancient cave dwellers. Paintings of hands are one of the most common forms of grafitti that ancient people have left behind

Offerings of corn or maiz from indigenious people who still visit the cave for religious pilgrimages

Ancient Circular carvings left inside the cave from cave dwellers

My brother had some nice lights to attach to our tents and we had small foldout chairs to sit in next to our campfire while we enjoyed watching the moonrise

Full moon rise

More Ruins, More Wonders

The next morning, we continued south through the monument, stopping to hike up towering buttes and discover more cave paintings and rock carvings, including one figure that looked almost extraterrestrial.

Bears Ears National Monument has become one of my favorite places in the entire USA—and we barely scratched the surface.

Ancient rock carving of an alien like figure

Zion National Park

July 2019 — A Quick Solo Escape for a Bucket List Hike

I took the opportunity for a spontaneous solo adventure. My goal: conquer Angel’s Landing, one of America’s most iconic (and supposedly dangerous) hikes.

The Logistics of a One-Night Getaway

$80 round-trip Spirit flight to Las Vegas
Rental car for the drive to Zion
Packed light with only a carry-on with nothing more than a one-man tent, an inflatable mattress, and hiking gear
Camped just outside Zion to be first in line for the shuttle to the trailhead

When I arrived, the summer heat was brutal—110°F—so I planned to hike early the next morning to avoid both the heat and the crowds.

Driving into Zion

Hiking Angel’s Landing

Angel’s Landing is known for its narrow, vertigo-inducing ridges that can get crowded at times, but with an early start, I had much of the trail to myself.

Trail Highlights:

5:30 AM shuttle got me to the trailhead ahead of the crowd
Steep switchbacks and panoramic canyon views
Chains installed on exposed sections for hikers afraid of heights
Beautiful morning light casting shadows across the red cliffs

While the trail had some excitement, it didn’t quite live up to the hype in terms of danger—at least not for seasoned hikers. Still, reaching the summit solo before the crowds arrived was worth every step.