Utah Guide
| Rating | Park | Links (site) | Notes |
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9 Mile Canyon | Climb Utah | Nine-Mile Canyon is an outdoor museum. It has some remarkable examples of Indian art and remnants of dwellings that have remained untouched through the centuries. Because of the dry climate and isolation from large population centers or heavy ranching, the canyon remains much as it was hundreds of years ago. The canyon should be shown the respect due to one of the West's ancient treasures. The panels of rock art are of such remarkable quality and beauty that they have been featured in National Geographic and other publications highlighting the beauty and uniqueness of the art. It is well worth the trip. Allows 4 to 12 hours (depending on how far and slow you go). |
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Anasazi Village State Park | Trip Advisor | Boulder. This ancient Indian village in the heart of Utah's canyon country was one of the largest Anasazi communities west of the Colorado River. The site is believed to have been occupied from A.D. 1050 to 1200. The village remains largely unexcavated, but many artifacts have been uncovered and are on display in the newly remodeled museum. Allow 30 minutes to 3 hours. |
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Arches National Park (435) 259-8161 |
Oh Ranger | Moab. Arches National Park contains the greatest density of natural arches in the world! Millions of years of deposition, erosion and other geologic events have created over 2,000 natural windows, pinnacles, spires, strangely shaped rocks, and sandstone arches. The world-famous Delicate Arch is among these formations. The extraordinary features of the park create a landscape of contrasting colors, landforms and textures that is unlike any other in the world. If you go here, don't miss Dead Horse State Park and the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands National Park. Allow 2 to 4 days. One of our favorite parks! |
| Box-Death Hollow Wilderness | GORP | Escalante. Steep walled canyons with gray-orange crossbedded Navajo sandstone, mesas, and plateaus are the major landforms. The major vegetation includes open stands of overmature ponderosa pine and pinyon-juniper. The Wilderness is divided into two separate canyon tributaries of the Escalante River. The steeply dipping Escalante monocline, dissected by Pine Creek running north and south, makes up the portion of the Wilderness called "The Box". The gently dipping monocline to the east of The Box contains the headwaters of the Death Hollow Creek, the second major tributary | |
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Bryce Canyon National Park (435) 834-5322 |
American Southwest | Southwest by Ruby's Inn. Bryce Canyon National Park does not contain one main canyon, but rather a dozen smaller ravines eroded into the east side of a ridge running approximately north-south at the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southwest Utah. This erosion has resulted in thousands of bizarre and fragile rock formations, large and small, in many subtle shades of pink, white, yellow and red, extending in quite a narrow band for over 25 miles along the plateau rim. Unique and unusual, Bryce Canyon is a must see! |
| Calf Creek Recreation Area | Utah | South by Escalante. Calf Creek Falls is a southern Utah landmark and the major feature of the BLM's Calf Creek Recreation Area. Walking between mineral-streaked cliffs of Navajo Sandstone, hikers pass beaver ponds and pre-historic rock art sites enroute to the 126-foot-high Lower Calf Creek Falls. Roundtrip distance to the falls is 5-1/2 miles. While little elevation change is encountered, most of the trail is sandy, and can be very strenuous walking, particularly in warm weather. However, the falls area, once reached, is a delightfully cool, shady haven well worth the effort. | |
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Canyonlands National Park (435) 259-7164 |
Oh Ranger | East by Moab. A colorful landscape of sedimentary sandstones eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes. The premier four wheel drive place in the country. Make sure you stop at Dead Horse Point State Park for a great view. You can get nice views of the park from 3 or 4 access roads. |
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Capitol Reef National Park (435) 425-3791 |
Oh Ranger | Center by Torrey. Capitol Reef National Park is characterized by sandstone formations, cliffs and canyons, and a 100-mile long bulge in the earth's crust called the Waterpocket Fold. Erosion has carved the rock into marvelous shapes. This is an inviting wilderness of rock with descriptive names such as Capitol Dome, Hickman Bridge, Grand Wash and Cathedral Valley. The majesty of Capitol Reef has been intriguing visitors with its twisting canyons, massive domes, monoliths and spires of sandstone for the past century. From deep narrow gorges to a bird's eye view on the top of a peak, it offers an assortment of activities to visitors. If you have a high clearance vehicle, don't miss Cathedral Valley (a 50 mile drive). Allow 1 to 3 days. |
| Cedar Breaks National Monument (435) 586-9451 |
National Park Service | Southwest by Cedar City. Cedar Breaks National Monument contains a steep, bowl-shaped cliff face eroded into the west side of the Markagunt Plateau, quite similar to Bryce Canyon National Park, with colorful rock strata and many strange rock shapes. The access road (UT 148) circles the cliff edge from which the spectacular limestone formations can be seen, extending 2,000 feet downwards and 3 miles across, all eroded from the Claron Formation of the Pink Cliffs - the highest and most geologically recent component of the great series of escarpments that stretches eastwards across south Utah, known as the Grand Staircase. Some areas of the cliffs are even more brightly colored than at Bryce Canyon, and present an enchanting mixture of delicate shades of red, yellow, white, pink and orange, like the icing on a extravagant wedding cake. Open late May to mid October. We tried going there about June 5th but the road was still closed. Allow 1 to 4 hours. | |
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Coral Pink Sand Dune State Park | Southwest by Mt. Carmel. Visitors will wonder at the shifting arcs of crescent-shaped dunes and sift the fine, salmon-colored grains at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. The Park encompasses 3,730 acres of southern Utah's color country. The park itself is breathtaking, with coral-colored dunes, surrounded by red sandstone cliffs, blue skies, and deep emerald forests. This is a photographer's paradise. We were disappointed but would rate it 4 or 5 stars if we had an ATV. | |
| Dark Canyon Wilderness Area | SUWA | Southeast by Blanding. With narrow, steep walls that block the light in the morning and late afternoon, Dark Canyon Wilderness is aptly named. Once home to a small segment of the widespread Anasazi Indians (Ancestral Puebloan), the canyons included in the area (Dark and Woodenshoe Canyons, and their tributaries) make up the roughly horseshoe-shaped Dark Canyon Wilderness. This is an extraordinarily beautiful and remote section of the Colorado Plateau where sculpted and colored walls of Cedar Mesa sandstone rise above the canyon floors. You may see evidence of the Ancestral Puebloan culture in the form of structures, rock art, or artifacts. Remember, it is against the law to remove or disturb any archaeological resources you may encounter. Please leave things as you have found them for future study and so those that come after you may experience this unique resource as well. | |
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Dead Horse Point State Park | Go-Utah | East by Moab. It is perhaps Utah's most spectacular state park. Dead Horse Point is a promontory of stone surrounded by steep cliffs. The overlook at Dead Horse Point is 6,000 feet above sea level. Two thousand feet below, the Colorado River winds its way. From the overlook, canyon erosion may be viewed on a grand scale. This erosion process has taken approximately 150 million years. Much of it is caused by the river slicing down into the earth's crust as land is forced upward. These powerful forces are still sculpting the fantastic shapes of the precipitous bluffs and towering spires. A fantastic view that was featured in many old western movies. Allow 1-3 hours. |
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Dinosaur National Monument (970) 374-3000 |
American Southwest | Northeast by Jensen. The largest quarry of Jurassic Period dinosaur bones ever discovered is the source of 200,000-acre Dinosaur National Monument's name. Includes over 325 square miles of beautiful land. Here's your chance to see how dinosaur bones look in the ground and how they excavate them. Don't miss the drive into the back country where you can see petroglyphs and pictographs. Not busy. Allow 3 hours to 2 days. |
| Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum | Utah | Southeast by Blanding. View the largest collection of Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) pottery on display in the Four Corners Region and explore an authentic Puebloan village behind the museum. In addition to permanent collections, Edge of the Cedars offers special exhibits, festivals, and events throughout the year. Dynamic exhibits at Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum feature outstanding photography, fine art, current topics in archeology, and contemporary Native American crafts. Festivals, programs and special events promote traditional values through storytelling, craft workshops, and an Indian art exhibit. | |
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Escalante Petrified Forest State Park | American Southwest | South by Escalante. It features colorful deposits of mineralized wood and dinosaur bones. The 130-acre Wide Hollow Reservoir on the park's boundary adds water recreation and fishing. Allow 1-3 hours. |
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Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area (435) 784-3445 |
American Southwest | Northeast. Big, beautiful Flaming Gorge Lake, enclosed by brightly colored canyon walls and set amidst hundreds of thousands of acres of forested hills, makes up the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. It is a wonderful setting in which to boat, fish, hike, bike or just stare. The Green River below the dam provides some of the best trout fishing in the state as well as mild whitewater rafting. Most visitors camp at the dozens of forest service campgrounds in the park, but there are also a few lodges and other places to stay in the area. Many pronghorn. Allow 3 hours to 2 days. |
| Four Corners Monument | Navajo Nation Parks | Southeast. This is the only place in the United States where four states intersect at one point: Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. This location is very remote as you will experience when visiting. The original marker erected in 1912 was a simple cement pad, but has since been redone in granite and brass. The Visitor Center is open year round, and features a Demonstration Center with Navajo artisans. Navajo vendors sell handmade jewelry, crafts and traditional Navajo foods nearby. Allow 1 to 3 hours. | |
| Fremont Indian State Park | Desert USA | Richfield. Fremont Indian State Park has 697 rock art panels, a museum housing Utah's largest Fremont site excavation artifact collection, an award-winning family campground, and 14 guided trails between 1/4 mile and five miles in length. | |
| Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (520) 608-6404 |
Oh Ranger | South. This huge canyon is a spectacular wonderland of stark contrasts—parched desert, deep blue water, startlingly red rocks, rich green hanging gardens. A joint effort by man and nature, Lake Powell and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a huge water park, with more shoreline than the West Coast of the continental United States. It's also a place of almost unbelievable beauty, where millions of visitors each year take to the water to explore, fish, water-ski, swim, or simply lounge in the sun. | |
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Goblin Valley State Park | American Southwest | Center by Green River. The vast landscape of sandstone goblins may have visitors wondering if they're in Mars or Utah. The movie, Galaxy Quest, was filmed at Goblin Valley State Park because of its unearthly scenery. Scores of intricately eroded creatures greet visitors to Goblin Valley. Hike among intricately eroded rock formations in haunting coves. Adjacent to the park, off-highway vehicle enthusiasts will find hundreds of miles of dirt roads to explore. Allow 3-6 hours. |
| Golden Spike National Historic Site (435) 471-2209 |
National Park Service | On May 10, 1869, two railroad companies, Union Pacific and Central Pacific, joined 1,776 miles of rail at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory. This event sparked unforetold consequences still reflected in our great nation today. Golden Spike National Historic Site commemorates this incredible accomplishment of the completion of this nation's first transcontinental railroad. | |
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Goosenecks State Park | American Southwest | Southeast by Mexican Hat. Around the small village of Mexican Hat in southeast Utah, the San Juan River is slow-moving and flows through a relatively shallow red rock canyon with many wide curves; more of these convolutions can be seen in the nearby Goosenecks State Park, reached by a 4 mile paved side road (UT 316) that branches off UT 261 a little way north of town. The park, to which entry is free, has just one extended viewpoint of several huge river bends, now flowing one thousand feet below ground level in a deep canyon with a series of stepped cliffs and terraces, a feature recognized as one of the best examples of entrenched river meanders in the world. At the park, the waters flow through 5 miles of canyon whilst progressing westwards only one mile. Beyond the visible meanders, the river continues to twist and turn as the canyon deepens, before joining Lake Powell after about 35 miles. Very impressive; don't miss it if you are in the area. Allow 1-3 hours. |
| Grand Gulch Plateau Primitive Area | Southeast by Mexican Hat. This is a truly unique location in Southeastern Utah. Remote and rugged backcountry, the area is accessible only by pack animal or on foot. The Anasazi ("Ancient Ones") flourished in Grand Gulch between 700 and 2,000 years ago. The fact that so many sites remain—and that they are in such excellent condition—makes Grand Gulch a special area. | ||
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Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument | American Southwest | South by Escalante. Known for its stark, rugged beauty, this vast land contains a unique combination of geological, biological, paleontological, archaeological, and historical resources. The area's 1.9 million acres of red-orange canyons, mesas, plateaus, and river valleys became a national monument by presidential proclamation in 1996. Don't miss Devil's Garden which is a collection of hoodoos and the Burr Trail. Grosvenor Arch, Hell's Backbone Road, ghost town of Paria are nearby. Allow 4 hours to 3 days. |
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Highway 12 Scenic Byway, Junction of US-89 to Torrey | Byways | One of the most scenic highways in the United States. Highway 12 passes through Red Canyon, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and over Boulder Mountain in the Dixie National Forest to its conclusion near the entrance to Capitol Reef National Park on U-24. |
| Hovenweep National Monument (303) 749-0510 |
Desert USA | Southeast. Hovenweep contains six separate sites with some of the most striking (and most isolated) archaeological sites in the Four Corners area. These include castlelike towers, cliff dwellings, a kiva (a circular underground ceremonial chamber), stone rooms, walls, and petroglyphs. Hovenweep is the Ute word for "deserted valley," appropriate because its inhabitants apparently left around 1300. | |
| Joshua Tree National Landmark | BLM | Southwest by St. George. Furthest extent of the Mojave Desert. Joshua trees, desert. In the spring this drive features spectacular wildflower displays, but all year round this drive is exceptional. Also nearby is the Joshua Tree Road Scenic Backway. | |
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Kodachrome Basin State Park | American Southwest | South by Cannonville. Geologists believe Kodachrome Basin State Park was once similar to Yellowstone National Park with hot springs and geysers, which eventually filled up with sediment and solidified. Through time, the Entrada sandstone surrounding the solidified geysers eroded, leaving large sand pipes. Sixty-seven sand pipes ranging from 6 to 155 feet have been identified in the park. Massive sandstone chimneys, change from gray and white to shades of red depending on the day's mood. Numerous rocks and coves offer solitude, quiet and unique desert beauty. Allow 2 hours to 1 day. |
| Little Sahara Recreation Area | American Southwest | West by Delta. The land is mostly flat interrupted only by occasional ranges of hills, part of the Great Basin Desert that stretches across Nevada. At the edge of this forgotten region lies the largest expanse of sand dunes in the state, contained within the Little Sahara Recreation Area (120 square miles), a BLM-managed location popular for camping, hiking, exploring and photography but which is mainly known as a centre for off road vehicle use. | |
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Mexican Hat | American Southwest | Southeast. A curious formation nearby consisting of a large flat rock 60 feet in diameter perched precariously on a much smaller base at the top of a small hill. Surrounding scenery is exceptional: Valley of the Gods, Goosenecks State Park, more. Allow 15 to 30 minutes. |
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Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park | American Southwest | Southeast. You've seen Monument Valley's majestic stone towers, delicately carved arches, lonely windswept buttes, forbidding cliffs, and mesas covered in sagebrush. Perhaps you didn't know you were looking at Monument Valley, instead believing it to be Tombstone, Arizona; or Dodge City, Kansas; or New Mexico; or Colorado. And possibly you couldn't fully appreciate the deep reddish-brown colors of the rocks or incredible blue of the sky, which lost a bit of their brilliance in black and white. To hike in the park, you must hire a guide. Allow 3 hours to 2 days. |
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Natural Bridges National Monument (435) 692-1234 |
National Park Service | Southeast. The pinyon and juniper covered mesa is bisected by deep canyons, exposing the Permian Age Cedar Mesa sandstone. Where meandering streams cut through sandstone walls, three large natural bridges formed. Sipapu and Kachina Bridges are the world's second and third largest natural bridges. Owachomo, while smaller, is only nine feet thick.. Allow 3 hour to 1 day. |
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Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument | Desert USA | Southeast by Blanding. The Monument features a flat rock with one of the largest known collections of petroglyphs. The petroglyphs were carved by Native Americans during both the prehistoric and historic periods. Some glyphs depict riders on horses. While precisely dating the rock carvings has been difficult, repatination of surface minerals reveals their relative ages. The reason for the large concentration of the petroglyphs is unclear, making the rock somewhat of a mystery. It's worth seeing. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. |
| Rainbow Bridge National Monument (520) 608-6404 |
National Park Service | South in Glen Canyon . Rainbow Bridge, the world's largest natural bridge, is considered a sacred place by many Native Americans. To the Navajo, rainbows represent guardians of the universe. This natural wonder nestles among canyons carved by streams en route to the Colorado River from Navajo Mountain's north flank. Until the formation of Lake Powell, this was one of the most remote and inaccessible regions in the contiguous United States. Today the bridge is accessible by boat. Allow 4 hours. | |
| San Rafael Swell | American Southwest | Center by Green River. Two thousand square miles of narrow, circuitous canyons, scenic cliffs and towering buttes make up one of Utah's best outdoor playgrounds. The "Swell" is particularly suited for many activities such as camping, hiking, biking, rock climbing, sightseeing, ORVs and even canoeing. | |
| Snow Canyon State Park | American Southwest | Southwest by St. George. To one side of the canyon lie the Red Mountains, while a few miles away are the White Hills, and eroded sandstone rocks of both colors make up the cliffs at either side of the valley, while an even greater contrast is provided by a large mass of black lava, which originated from a cluster of volcanoes just beyond. The lava, plus associated cinder cones and caves are the main points of interest of what is a particularly colorful, scenic and little-visited location. About 3-4 hours including 2 hikes. | |
| Timpanogos Cave National Monument (801) 756-5238 |
National Park Service | Timpanogos Cave National Monument sits high in the Wasatch Mountains. The cave system consists of three spectacularly decorated caverns. Helictites and anthodites are just a few of the many dazzling formations to be found in the many chambers. As visitors climb to the cave entrance, on a hike gaining over 1,000 ft in elevation, they are offered incredible views of American Fork Canyon | |
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Valley of the Gods | American Southwest | A seventeen mile scenic loop through monuments that resemble a miniature Monument Valley, yet have a mystical feel all their own. Considered a photographer's paradise, the views though the often shadowed valley with distant views of Monument Valley are forever changing. Check locally for road conditions. Very few people. We suggest you have a 4-wheel vehicle. Allow 2-5 hours. |
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Zion National Park (435) 772-3256 |
National Park Service | Southwest by Springdale. Zion has grandeur, and delicately sculpted rock. Plus, within the park's 229 square miles lies a spectacular cliff-and-canyon playground. Sharp sandstone cliffs soar 2,000 feet above a labyrinth of narrow canyons cut through the soft sandstone by the Virgin River. In places, the deep canyons are barely 40 feet wide. One of the busier parks. |
| Rating | Park | Links (site) | Notes |
| Buckskin Gulch | American Southwest | By Paria River. Buckskin Gulch is the longest and deepest slot canyon in the Southwest, and while others are narrower, prettier or more challenging to explore, the length and variety of the terrain in the gulch make it the best overall. The canyon is narrow for 12 miles; the cliffs become steadily higher downstream, reaching a height of 500 feet above the streambed at the end, where Buckskin Gulch meets the Paria River which also flows through a deep canyon for several miles either side of the confluence. Wire Pass Trailhead gives shortest access. | |
| Bull Valley Gorge | American Southwest | By Paria River. In the hilly, wooded country around the upper Paria River valley, Bull Valley Gorge is a relatively well known canyon, yet quite far from a paved road. It can be quite testing to explore as there are several dryfalls to negotiate - the highest is 12 feet - plus depending on recent weather, pools up to 4 feet deep and long patches of sticky, clayish mud may be encountered. The reward for the effort needed is over a mile of a deep, narrow Navajo sandstone canyon, quite similar to Buckskin Gulch but with more variety of rock formations and colors. A unique extra feature is the wreck of a 1950s pick-up truck, wedged high above a section of narrows which now forms the base of the one road bridge across the canyon. | |
| Cottonwood Wash Narrows | American Southwest | By Paria River. The short narrows of Cottonwood Wash are easily explored and have become quite popular as the entrance is right beside the access road, although this is not obvious and the canyon is easily missed. The approach is along the unpaved Cottonwood Canyon road which follows close beside the wash for 25 miles, mostly in an open valley but the upper section of the creek flows through quite a narrow canyon, separated from the road by a thin strip of land formed by a steeply-angled layer of Navajo sandstone. Easily explored and quite popular. 3 miles round trip. | |
| Dry Fork Coyote Gulch | American Southwest | South by Escalante. Dry Fork of Coyote Gulch is one of the most visited canyons of the Escalante, because of three exciting, narrow tributaries - Peekaboo, Spooky and Brimstone Gulches, but the main canyon does have several slot-like sections of its own, which alternate with deep, wider stretches with sheer Navajo sandstone cliffs, patches of bright green shrubbery, sandbanks and pebble beaches - scenery typical of the region, and with generally few people once past the well-known areas. From the Hole-in-the-Rock road to the junction with the larger Coyote Gulch is about 9 miles, and at least two days could be spent exploring the gulch and side canyons. | |
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Little Wild Horse Canyon | American Southwest | Center by Green River. Because it is just 5 miles from the popular Goblin Valley State Park, it is easily explored, and has narrow passages as fine as any other Southwest slot, Little Wild Horse Canyon has become the most visited location in the San Rafael Swell. One hour is enough to see the best sections. In places the canyon is less than 2 feet wide. In many places the walls are over 50 feet tall. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you go. Easy to access and free. Can be very busy. Allow 3-7 hours. |
| Round Valley Draw | American Southwest | By Paria River. About a half mile of deep, cool narrows with the light-colored, narrow layered Navajo sandstone rocks. There are a couple of dryfalls to overcome but no major obstacles and the most interesting section can be explored in just 2 hours. | |
| Willis Creek | American Southwest | By Paria River. Very easy to explore, with no obstacles of any kind, just a flat, stony streambed enclosed by delicately colored shaped sandstone walls. Usually, 1-2 inches of water. | |
| Wire Pass | American Southwest | By Paria River. From the trailhead, the stream way is 1.75 miles long of which about half a mile is through a slot canyon, parts of which are less than 1 meter wide; narrower than Buckskin although not nearly as deep. Because of this, the sun illuminates the curving sandstone walls more extensively, sometimes reaching all the way to the floor and often producing nice reflected effects - so photographs are good and somewhat different to those taken of Buckskin. |
| Rating | Location | Description |
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Broken and Sandstone Arch | If you have a few extra hours, take a look at these. Sandstone Arch is well worth the short hike. You approach it by walking between two slices of rock jutting up. The arch has sand all around its base and looks like it should be in the water. |
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Delicate Arch | A delicate, beautiful arch sitting high on a hill. The hike to the top is very strenuous in high temperatures. It's best to go early in the morning to avoid the heat. Also the lighting is good then. Photographers might want to go in the evening to catch the arch at sunset. If you do, make sure that you take a flashlight. If you can't make the hike (or even if you do), go to the Delicate Arch Viewpoint for a very nice view. |
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Devils Garden trail | A very nice hike with views of many arches. The trail is about 6 miles and hard if the temperature is in the 90s or 100s. If it's hot, at least go up to Landscape Arch. It is a very large, narrow arch that is truly impressive. If you can, go a little further to see a few more arches that are close. |
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Park Avenue Trail | A nice 1 mile hike (one way) with beautiful views of very thin stone walls and a valley with sand and stones. Extremely colorful after a rain but nice any time. One of my favorite short hikes. |
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Windows Section | Two massive arches plus a great double arch make this an area that you don't want to miss. |
| Rating | Location | Description |
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pull outs | They're all great. Stop at all that you can. |
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trails | If you're in good shape, hike down to the bottom and take one of the trails. The spires look fantastic from the bottom. Be careful! During the summer, the temperate at the bottom of the canyon is often 10-15 hotter than at the top! Be sure to take water with you. |
| Rating | Location | Description |
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general | To really see Canyonlands, you need a 4-wheel drive vehicle. It's the only way that you can get into the interior of the park. |
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Dead Horse Point State Park | Interestingly, probably the best view of Canyonlands is actual from this park. Provides a view of the Colorado river doubling back on itself from high above. If you go to Arches, be sure to visit here. I believe it's about a 50 mile drive from Arches. |
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Island in the Sky | This section is close to Dead Horse Point State Park and provides some good views of Canyonlands. If you go to Arches, be sure to visit here. |
| Rating | Location | Description |
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Capitol Gorge | A gorge with high sides. |
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Cathedral Valley | A fifty mile drive through the back country of Capitol Reef. You should have a high clearance vehicle for the river crossing (although any car could have made it when we were there). However, you can access the area by taking the other entrance (east most). Ask the ranger how the road is before taking it. If you do the river crossing and find yourself going up a real bumpy mountain road, you missed a turn. |
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Highway 24 | Beautiful rock formations with various shades of red. |
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Orchards | In the morning and evening, you will see many mule deer here. |
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Sunset Point | True to its name, Sunset Point is a great place to see the setting sun. |
| Rating | Location | Description |
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Quarry | You've got to see the dinosaur bones in the hill side. Be warned, the quarry closes early (5:00 PM when we were there) much of the year. |
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back roads | Most people go to the quarry and then leave the park. We arrived late and only had a few minutes in the quarry and decided to see the rest of the park. It's great. The Indian pictographs are everywhere and there is no one else around. We looked for over 4 hours and enjoyed every minute. After the first 5 miles, we never saw another person! |
| Rating | Location | Description |
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Burr Trail | An asphalt and dirt road that winds through canyons and hills to Capitol Reef National Park. Very scenic. |
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Devil's Garden | A collection of colorful hoo-doos that are excellent. |
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Hole-In-The-Rock Road | A dirt road that cuts deep into the park. In the spring, you will see thousands of wildflowers and cactus in bloom. When we were there (May 2003), the road was badly wash-boarded and very bumpy. Cars were only going about 5 miles per hour through many sections. |
| Rating | Location | Description |
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bridges | If you can, hike down and under several of the bridges. Only from the bottom can you really appreciate how massive the bridges are. |
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Indian ruins | Take the short trails to see the ruins. Take binoculars if you have them. |
| Rating | Location | Description |
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Angels Landing | A steep trail that leads from the valley to a high overlook. The view from the top is fantastic. If the hike doesn't take your breath away, the view will. I base the rest of this on the time I climbed it about 30 years ago. You need to be in good shape and not too afraid of heights for this one. Also, I wouldn't take any kids to the end. Back then, there was a section of the trail less than 10 feet wide that was steeply climbing upward with drop offs on each side of over 800 feet. |
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Checkerboard Meza | A mesa with checkerboard-like lines in it. When you see it, you will remember seeing pictures of it before. It is just outside the park. |
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The Narrows | The canyon eventually narrows until only the Virgin River cuts through. You can walk up the river and admire the beautiful scenery. Make sure that you wear some type of shoe. |
| Rating | Book |
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Photographing the Southwest: Volume 1--Southern Utah by Laurent Martres. This is a great book for anyone planning a trip to southern Utah or Colorado. It's not just for photographers; he covers what to see better than any guide book I've seen. We visited and enjoyed many place that weren't mentioned in other guide books. |
