Here we are fishing the Colorado River at the mouth of Cathedral Wash, in the middle of the winter.

My Choices For Winter Adventures

Ice Fishing

Ice fishing provides a great opportunity to target large fish without a lot of expensive specialized gear. Some of the biggest trout of the year are caught through the ice at Strawberry, Fish Lake and the upper end of Flaming Gorge. I'll hit these waters plus other smaller lakes searching for lake trout, splake, rainbows and other species. The ice fishing season begins is ernest about Christmas time and continues into March.

Hike & Fish

I enjoy ice fishing but, truth be told, I'd rather cast flies into open water, hitting both rivers and lakes. The Colorado River below Lake Powell offers excellent rainbow trout trout fishing and is a popular destination for winter trips. Water coming out of the dam is clear and cold and supports high numbers of trout but it warms and picks up settlement as it continues down Marble Canyon and then plunges into the Great Canyon. Most trout fishermen focus on the section from Glen Canyon Dam down to Lees Ferry. Anglers typically take jet boats upstream from the Lees Ferry ramp to find riffles, pools, and gravel bars holding trout. Fishing can be very good and the scenery is fantastic.

There are no take-out spots between Lees Farry and the Grand Canyon so only rafters proceed downstream from the Lees Farry ramp. But trout swim downstream, albeit in numbers that decrease with every mile. There are still good numbers of trout between the ramp and Navajo Bridge at Marble Canyon but only a few spots where anglers can access the water. There is a "walk-in" area at Lees Ferry that is worth trying.

My favorite option is to hike through the Cathedral Wash slot down to the river, where you can find a small area of accessible water with decent trout. The hike is moderately challenging and the canyon is spectacular. It is a fun hike in its own right and a great adventure when you add the fishing. 

Winter trout fishing here is very good in February and daytime temperatures are usually pleasant. (Nighttime temps can get very cold.) I plan to pack in my fly rod and enjoy this hike/fish adventure.

Desert Hikes

Winter is a great time to hike, bike, and explore the low-elevation areas in our desert Southwest, where winter temperatures are mild. Last winter I spent time exploring Gold Butte National Monument and had a great time. This season I think I'll explore some of the Arizona Strip between St. George, UT, and the Grand Canyon. I intend to drive the Whitmore Canyon Road to an overlook above the Grand Canyon and then hike a trail down to the river.

This is big, beautiful, rugged country with tremendous opportunity for adventure. There are few maintained roads and plenty of rough tracks that lead into the middle of nowhere. I'll push into Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument and explore other fun spots in this area.

National Parks

All of the Utah national parks offer great options for winter adventure. If you want to embrace snow then go to Bryce Canyon. It is located at a high elevation and the snow piles deep. A dusting of snow on the Bryce hoodoos make them very beautiful - a photographer's delight. On major trails, the snow gets packed down and you can hike without the need for specialized equipment. In other spots there is plenty of opportunity for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and other sports.

Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef may get light snow at times but it melts fast. Open country trails are usually dry and winter hiking can be very pleasant. There may be snow and ice in deep canyons and shady spots. Hikers track sand onto ice on popular trails and so traction is usually good. If you get away from the popular spots then you may need spikes in some areas.

Zion offers low-elevation trails that seldom see snow and have delightfully warm daytime temps in winter. Snow cover increases as you go up the mountain and the Zion high country gets deep snow. A winter hike into Zion's backcountry can provide great scenery, adventure, and solitude.

Snow Canyon state park is perhaps Utah's most popular winter hiking destination. It is wonderful.

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I try to do one major outing a month, along with minor adventures as circumstances permit. I travel with family and friends as much as possible. Lately, I've been able to get out more often than my cohorts and so I need to expand my group of travel buddies. I can always use more friends.

I'm not a guide and I do not charge to take people on trips. I just go where I feel like going and invite people to join me. I'm old, married, and straight. I don't go as hard and fast as I did when I was young but I think I'm having more fun now. I enjoy helping people experience outdoor adventure. If I'm planning something you find interesting, contact me and maybe we can join forces.

Below I describe my upcoming trip plans. I'll share my itineraries as I get the details together. Hopefully, this will give you ideas about great adventure options during the various seasons of the year.

Sometimes I work with charter companies or hire professional guides and it is often less expensive if 2-4 people go in together.

I would love to hear about your travel goals and dreams. If there is an adventure in the SW United States that you would love to do, but don't feel like you can do it on your own, hit me up. I might be able to provide information and resources, or perhaps we can team up to make the trip possible.

- Dave Webb