Decades of cold weather, OUTDOOR recreation experience, means we know what keeps us warm and what doesn’t. When shopping for good thermal underwear, choose top rated brands like Patagonia, Duofold & Carhartt. Look for customer reviews and choose only products with 4 stars or above.
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see also –
Summer monsoons thunderstorms are common between July and September.
Bryce Cyn NP
Super scenic red topped highways of Utah pass through this spectacular park. A high elevation (8000′ elev) forest w/ farmlands and small towns below.
Most visitors see this National Park in route to another, because they are just driving through (and not wanting to hike much). Lots of viewpoints and parking lots, picnic tables and steep switchback hiking trails.
Bryce Canyon National Park Map
Camping here requires advanced reservations w/ the National Park Service – and a few more blankets. Chilly temperatures and tall pines on this popular mountain rim.
This park is open 24 hours per day throughout the year.
Snow closes park roads – there may be temporary road closures when winter snow storms hit. Roads will stay closed until plowing is completed and conditions are safe for visitor traffic. Road maintenance may require brief closures of individual areas at other times. Landslides close hiking trails and dirt back roads nearby.
In addition, the gorgeous Visitors Center is well worth a stop. Many posters, books and maps for sale, as well as the typical tourist sweatshirts.
This National Park is a lot higher in altitude that most of the other National Parks in southern Utah. Many folks forget this fact and forget to bring their jackets. You’ll want to bring a decent winter coat for overnight visits, cuz low temperatures often dip into the 30’s even in summer months.
Natural Arch in Bryce Canyon UT
Proctor Canyon (Route 109) is an awesome back road that leads to Tropic Reservoir, situated on the west side of Bryce National Park. The easy-to-miss, dirt road turn off is located on the main Highway (89) in between rural residential properties. Although, the neighboring farmers and ranchers do not like us popularizing this route (since 2002). This is a nice option for off roaders, when traveling from Zion to Bryce. 4WD may be needed, as it is a long and shady dirt road route.
Proctor Canyon (the back way to Bryce) a long dirt road, what else? Click to see our adventure w/ a fallen tree!
We also must mention that the east side of Bryce, at a much lower elevation, is pinyon pine forests and badlands managed by the BLM. This remote area is perfect for mountain biking, free primitive camping and finding slot canyons to hike. Boondocking heaven!
Both Tom Harrison and NatGeo make awesome recreation maps of this popular SoCal desert. Numerous campgrounds, hiking trails, dirt roads, historic mines, and plenty rock climbing spots. In 1934, Joshua Tree was designated as a National Monument and then later became a National Park in 1994. The local Palm Springs Desert BLM office has paper maps that cover the desert canyon areas near Interstate 10.
Joshua Tree National Park Map, Climbing Joshua Tree Camping Backpacking Maps, Areas include: Black Rock Canyon, Hidden Valley, Barker Dam, Keys View, Lost Horse Valley, Lost Horse Mine, Ryan Mountain, Cholla Cactus Garden, Cottonwood Spring, Lost Palms Oasis, Geology Tour Road, Cap Rock, Jumbo Rocks, Wonderland of Rocks, Arch Rock. High Desert Yucca Valley; Durable, waterproof plastic map; Folded. Map Scale: 125K; ISBN# 9781877689536
get a digital version of this map
Joshua Tree Park Map by Tom Harrison
Quiet Camps in the Desert
Trails Illustrated Map from National Geographic. Joshua Tree National Park Map #226. Joshua Tree Park Map, Camping & Hiking Map. Very detailed & colorful. Waterproof Plastic Map; Tear Resistant. GPS data. Scale 1:80,000 Contour Interval = 100 feet. ISBN# 9781566953009
get a digital version of this map
NatGeo Map 226 – Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree Maps can get you beyond the crowds, to the outlying places that few know about. Summers can be hot here in the High Desert at 4000′ elevation, but not as hot as the Palm Springs / Coachella Valley below.
Winters can be chilly and windy, especially with any storm front moving through SoCal. Snow is possible at this elevation. Low temps overnight can drop into the teens during certain times of year – so make sure to bring a zero degree sleeping bag and good thermal undies.
Spring (wildflowers) and autumn are ideal times to visit JTNP.
Camping Joshua Tree National Park Desert
Two different recreation maps for the Lake Tahoe Basin are created by the USDA & NatGeo. Several smaller brands for regional topographic trail maps. The US Forest Service has the Tahoe National Forest Map that encompasses a much larger area. Numerous books exist for backpacking and hiking around Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe Trails Illustrated Map from National Geographic
Recreation Map for Lake Tahoe Basin, Topographic Lake Map, Backroads Hiking Maps, Tahoe Backpacking, Tahoe Camping, All Campgrounds, Trailheads, Creeks and Lakes. Sierra Nevada Back Roads, Truckee River Camping and Hiking Map. Very detailed and especially colorful, topo map. In this case, a 2 -sided map, waterproof plastic map; tear resistant. GPS data. Map scale 1:63,360 / Contour Interval = 50 feet. ISBN# 9781566953344
Many believe that Lake Tahoe was formed by the collapse of an ancient volcanic crater, but the natural lake and mountain basin was actually formed by the rise and fall of the landscape due to faulting.
The Tahoe Basin which spans approximately 22 miles long (and 12 wide), is located on top of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Separating California from Nevada state, a year-round, mountain resort destination. In particular, this is considered the north part of the majestic Eastern Sierra range. Furthermore, Lake Tahoe is often referred to as “Jewel of the Sierra”.
Largest freshwater, alpine lake in North America.
Second deepest lake in the U.S.
Second highest lake in the U.S.
LAKE TAHOE – 6625′ elevation above sea level
Equally as relevant, our wide range of Tahoe maps listed below are current, full color publications – covering wildlife to wildflowers, forest back roads to 4WD routes, horseback trailheads to hiking trails, mountain peaks to meadows, creeks to waterfalls, trail camps to campgrounds, and of course cross country skiing to backcountry ski tours.
Lake Tahoe Map USDA
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Lake Tahoe Basin & Vicinity
USGS Map California: Lake Tahoe Basin Map; Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lake Tahoe, Desolation Wilderness, Granite Chief, Fallen Leaf Lake. Tahoe Recreation, Camping Map. USDA NFS Recreation Area. Certainly all forest lands, trails and roads surrounding Lake Tahoe; 10 miles all the way around lake. Printed on waterproof plastic. Pictured published 2010. ISBN# 9781593514808.
see also –
Tahoe Rim Trail
Tahoe National Forest Map
Lake Tahoe Maps
Tahoe 4×4 Map Guide
nearby towns:
In the distance, Desolation Wilderness can be seen on the opposite side of the lake, typically covered in snow more than half the year.
Desolation Wilderness on the Westside of Lake Tahoe
