Dark Hollow

Dark Hollow drops through Second Left Hand Canyon between Brian Head Peak and the road down to Parowan, part of Dixie National Forest's Markagunt Plateau trail network. It runs about 12 miles from top to bottom with well over a mile of vertical descent, making it better known as a downhill mountain bike route than a hiking trail, though hiking and birding both happen here too.

What to know

• Half engineered flow trail, half forest road, with colorful rock formations reminiscent of nearby Cedar Breaks
• Intermediate technical skills recommended for riders; expect a serious elevation drop over the full run
• Dogs are not allowed on this trail
• Commercial shuttle service operates in season, useful given the trail's point-to-point layout

Best conditions run May through October — snow lingers at the Brian Head end into late spring, and this is high-elevation Markagunt Plateau terrain, so afternoon thunderstorms are a real factor in summer. This is Forest Service land, not park land, so standard USFS access rules apply rather than Bryce Canyon's.