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Laura Boyer

A girl who loves the outdoors. Climber. Skier. Peak Bagger. Environmental and Native Rights Attorney.

Going to BYU, I was always invited to hike to the Y, but it's honestly not that fun of a hike. It's fun for nostalgia sake if you're a BYU student or just love the Y, but there are much prettier, comparable trails close by to the Y. The trail is really steep (as it was meant for maintenance vehicles) and is exposed the entire way. Unless you go at 5 Am, you will always be in the hot sun hiking up and I am not a fan of that.

I did the hike in mid August and there were a surprising amount of wildflowers! The trail up to Lake Mary and Lake Catherine is very moderate and is covered with beautiful wildflowers. Sunset Peak was also worth the short hike. You get really incredible views both of BCC, LCC, and into Park City. It was really pretty!

I love steep hikes, and I love them even more when they're not super crowded. Hiking in Big or Little Cottonwood can be crowded sometimes, but Kessler is not a super popular peak so I didn't see anyone when I did it. It was steep but beautiful. I went in early June, and there was still quite a lot snow so make sure to check conditions before going!

I love coming up to this canyon to climb. There are a lot of routes like the description says, and in my experience Ive always been able to find some 5.8/5.9 to warm up on but still have powerful climbs to project. Not only is the climbing super fun, the canyon itself is beautiful. Just driving up it is breathtaking. I highly recommend climbing up AF canyon.

I hiked this trail the beginning of July, so it was starting to get really hot. We started the hike a little later than normal (around 9 AM), so the descent down was pretty hot. I would recommend going earlier. The earlier you go, the cooler it will be and less crowded it will be. That being said, the hike wasn't nearly as crowded or as hot as I would expect on a fourth of July weekend. There is lots of coverage for most of the trail and the steepness is pretty consistent. The lake itself is really pretty and there is a nice loop that goes around the lake. I would recommend anyone to go check it out for a quick little hike.

Like everyone else, I definitely think this trail is pretty crowded. However, it is still a super nice trail. It's nice for a trail run too, if you're looking for a mild, flat run!

I think this highway is one of the prettiest drives in Utah. While it can get busy like everywhere else in Utah, it is a must do for anyone living in the Wasatch. The forests, rivers, and tall mountains are really beautiful. I especially love going there in early summer when there is still a lot of snow on the peaks and different trails. It's a nice escape from the 90+ degree weather in the valley. I highly recommend anyone to go and drive in this beautiful area. Of course, it's even better to get the car and hike too!

The trail is really moderate until the final push to the saddle and then again to the summit. I went with my brother, sister-in-law, their dog, and their one-year old baby (carried in a backpack, of course). So, clearly, it is not a really strenuous hike. It was really desolate, but the view from the top is really cool. Not only can you see the lake bed of Lake Sevier, and nearby Ibex, but you can also see many snow-capped mountain ranges in every direction. Looking over the 2,000' ft drop was also a rather crazy experience. Highly recommend doing this hike! You can also camp there and see the coolest night skies in a really isolated part of Utah.

I did this hike in late July last year. The hike itself is super moderate and is honestly mostly flat the entire way -- until the last little stretch to the summit. The views from the top were incredible, though. I went on a really clear day, and you could see for miles in any direction. I loved looking around and see all the different valleys and small lakes in the Uintas. It was lovely. I did it two days. We hiked about 8 miles until we found a good camping spot close to a lake. Then, we woke up early, hiked to the peak, came back to camp for a quick lunch / nap and then hiked back to the trailhead. We got to the trailhead before sunset, and I was back in Provo by 11 pm. It was a great hike.

The Shoshone Falls are beautiful to look at, but the falls and the river are amazing from the bottom. I camped downstream of the falls and then paddle boarded up to the base of the falls. There are lots of cool crags and rocks to look around and being at the base of the falls is breathtaking. I would definitely recommend getting in the water and experiencing it that way.

Little Wild Horse Canyon is a really fun, simple slot canyon. I went in the middle of April, and there was actually quite a bit of water in some spots of the slots. My brother is 6 ft tall and fell into almost his shoulders. For the most part it was about knee high for a 6ft tall person, but be cautious as you're walking through. Overall, it's a fun hike with lots of people. Be sure to bring plenty of water!

Little Wild Horse Canyon is a really fun, simple slot canyon. I went in the middle of April, and there was actually quite a bit of water in some spots of the slots. My brother is 6 ft tall and fell into almost his shoulders. For the most part it was about knee high for a 6ft tall person, but be cautious as you're walking through. Overall, it's a fun hike with lots of people. Be sure to bring plenty of water!

This hike really does offer wonderful views of American Fork Canyon and Mount Timpanogas, but make sure that you are prepared for the weather. I went with some friends during late May, and while the trail was dry lower down in the canyon the lake was still frozen and there was a substantial amount of snow at the top.

I liked this hike way more than Mount Timp. It is fairly steep and the last 300 yards to the summit can be treacherous, but the solitude and beauty of the trail is unparalleled. I definitely recommend this hike.

This has been one of my favorite hikes in Zion National Park. Usually there are tons of crowds at Zion, but I went on this trail in late May over Memorial Day and there was NO ONE on the trail. While the arch is not as impressive as other arches in Zion or Arches, the hike itself is amazing. Very moderate terrain (although long), but it has the most amazing views. The trail also follows the river almost the entire way so there is always water if you have purifier. Definitely recommend this hike.

Growing up in Utah, I've always been surrounded by mountains, but being at the base of some 14ers was a completely different experience. The drive up to the trailhead for these mountains is beautiful, and walking up to Maroon and Crater lake will leave a lasting impression.

Every temple around Siem Reap is incredible. The details of the carvings are amazing, and it is even more amazing that these huge temples have survived hundreds of years. I went during July though, so it was extremely hot. If going then, be sure to wear light clothing and bring plenty of water.

I lived in Chiang Mai for three months during the summer of 2015. One of the weekends there I went on a camping trip like this with some friends. The forests were incredible and you'll be amazed at all the greenery. It was also really cool to play in the river with some elephants. Honestly, it was one of the best weekends of my life. Highly recommend.