THINGS TO DO:
Fossils: Shells, bone, burrows, all of which are plentiful, are all over the Base Camp area.
Rocks & Minerals: Base Camp and the surrounding area have unfathomable combinations of each and petrified wood can be found at two areas on the property.
Tracking: Nothing like hiking down the trail early in the morning and picking out where big horn came through, lizards gathered, or the activities of various types of nightly critters that crossed the trail as we were sleeping.
Hiking and Climbing: We've got at least a couple days worth of hiking and non technical climbing available. We'll set the trail and depending on how you do at each new obstacle will generally determine the path we take for the next one.
Mountain Biking: Probably the second most famous (after Slick Rock) and perhaps one of the most difficult bike trails in the region is the Amasa Back loop. Beginning at Base Camp, up and then down Hurrah Pass, over to the Cliffhanger trail to the top of the Amasa Back and then down Jacobs Ladder, through Jackson Hole and back to the lodge. If too challenging, there are alternatives running right next to Base Camp.
Wildlife: Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Blue Heron, Peregrine Falcon, Ravens, Buzzards, Canadian Geese, Big Horn, Lynx, Wild Turkey, Deer, Snakes, Lizards, Rabbits, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Hawks, Vultures, Toads, Otters, Fish, Owls, Fox, Bats, and a list of critters that is growing every day are common at Base Camp.
Colorado River: On most days we can walk a couple hundred feet and jump in the river. Some days, depending on which side of the river the channel is on, the water level can be a bit more challenging than other days, but usually we can find an option.
Boat sightseeing: Give us one day's notice and we'll see if we can get Tag A Long to swing by the river next to the lodge and pick you up for a few leisurely hours down and back up the river. It's around $74 per person and quite an amazing trip.
Landscape sightseeing: We can load up in the truck or jeep and head off to a vast number of places of interest. We also have the option of instructing you on riding ATV's if you'd prefer and assuming the instruction goes well, we'll visit Chicken Corner, Indian ruins, catacombs, and possibly various mines while enjoying the incredible scenery along the way.
Tortoise hike: That's right, if you haven't gone hiking with Kobae our security tortoise, you haven't really lived. What a character. Try getting Kobae to go where you want him to go. He never goes the easy way and he's not good at taking direction. Most days he'll go in the morning and again in the evening and set out the hottest part of the day back at the lodge. Take water. Kobae and I have twice hiked to the top of Hurrah Pass, a couple times to the Catacombs, and once just short of Jackson Hole. The boy can hike. We have plenty of pocket books you can take to read and a walkie talkie if you want us to come get you somewhere along the way.
Hogan construction and repair: On those extremely rare rain days, we're pretty much focused on hiking up to the hill above the lodge and putting mud on our Navajo hogans to keep them maintained. You are certainly welcome to join us.
Photography/drawing/painting: You don't need to leave the lodge. The landscape is incredible and most mornings and evenings you'll look off the deck and think to yourself "Unbelievable."
Night Sky: When the moon comes up over Hurrah Pass or the Anti Cline depending on the time of the year, it's almost like daylight. You can step off the porch and see your shadow. On nights the moon doesn't come up or is diminished in size, the Milky Way will startle you with the number of stars that appear for you. It's not uncommon for city folk to think we got smog.
Cataract Canyon and Lake Powell: Tag A Long will pick you up at the lodge and take you on a two to four day journey down the Colorado River to the confluence, where the Colorado merges with the Green River, through the infamous Cataract Canyon and it's rapids to Lake Powell. About 150 miles total. As the Colorado flows by Base Camp at about 4 miles per hour, you can do the math as to why it takes so long to get to Lake Powell. Tag A Long can also have your vehicle waiting for you at Lake Powell to continue your journey. Tag A Long doesn't do this every day so it's best to work this one out in advance.
Disc golf: That's right. Our disc golf course has been ranked as one of the three most extreme disc golf courses in the world. Iraq and Antarctica are the other two, so that tells you something. Players from all over the country come to play and this is the one they talk about. Don't go left on 1 or right on 5 unless you can swim. Don't go right on 14 unless you can fly.
http://discgolffusion.com/GoogleMaps/courses/UT/camelot.htm
Nothing: If none of the above is your answer to a mythical question as to what we've just listed as options for things to do, you can sit on the back porch and watch the occasional boat and or raft come by or just drift off to the sound of nothing and a quiet you had probably forgot existed.
For something to grow to be even knee high probably took it 75 years. In our mind, anything that fights for 75 years to be two feet high, deserves to live. We have distinctive tires on our vehicles and while we normally escort or lead, if at any time we find you have traveled off the trail, we'll boot your ass. There is no riding here on the property other than to leave and return from the day's ride.
This is an incredible place and we're going to keep it that way.
