Located in the remote Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Cosmic Ashtray is a mind-blowing rock formation that looks like a swirling hurricane with a giant rock in the middle. The 8.3-mile hike to get there is no walk in the park – you'll need some serious navigation skills and maybe even a rope to climb down into the Ashtray. But once you're inside this orange sandbox, it's like being a kid again playing in a giant natural playground. Just make sure to bring a buddy, download your maps offline, and be ready for an out-of-this-world adventure!

STATISTICS AT-A-GLANCE

• HIKE NAME: Cosmic Ashtray via Volcano Trail

• DISTANCE: 8 miles RT

• ELEVATION GAIN: 800 feet

• RESTROOMS: No

• DOG FRIENDLY: Yes

• PERMIT: No

• FEE: No

• VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS: Most 2wd vehicles can make it if no recent rain. The road can have really bad washboards making it a bit of a pain.

• TRAILHEAD COORDINATES: 37.710427, -111.357484