A brilliant blue sky outlines towering red and tan sandstone peaks, as a condor gracefully soars across a scenic vista. The scented air is alive with blooming desert plants and newly budded cottonwood trees in the serene and awe-inspiring Zion National Park.
Southern Utah’s national and state parks are utterly amazing and beautiful in their geological diversity. This year, Utah celebrates its fantastic national parks as ‘The Mighty 5,” including Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef, Arches and Canyonlands. Moreover, the number of visitors to Utah’s national parks keeps growing for spectacular hiking, biking, camping, sightseeing, rock climbing, backpacking, horseback riding and photography in these majestic high desert recreational areas.
One of the best ways to see the Mighty 5 and surrounding state parks is to drive to St. George Utah (located in the state’s bottom southwest corner) and begin your tour. Or, fly into Las Vegas and rent a vehicle, then drive to St. George (two hours north). By starting your tour in St. George, you will be able to experience the beginning of Utah’s Red Rock Canyons, as well as explore the area’s surrounding historical towns and attractions.
A fun family attraction to visit while in St. George is the Rosenbruch World Wildlife Museum, located on Convention Center Drive. The large museum houses over 300 species of taxidermy animals in impressive natural habitat exhibits. As you begin the tour, a personal electronic tour guide explains conservation methods and different endangered animals. The first exhibit is the African Savannah, where small Pukus graze and prowling lions roam the land. Continue and experience cooling live waterfalls and a realistic thunder and lightning show where Barren Ground Muskox and White Horned Mountain Goats loom overhead. After your summer storm, stroll through the arctic, Europe and Asia exhibits to view the frightening and ferocious brown bear, a huge polar bear and even a desert camel. For additional information, visit www.rosenbruch.org.
If you plan on hiking, biking, camping or even walking in Utah’s state or national parks, it is essential that you be properly outfitted with appropriate footwear, clothing and gear. An excellent outfitter to visit is the Desert Rat, located on West St. This outdoor store excels in providing everything you’ll need for your adventures, especially hiking boots. The wrong footwear or gear can make you miserable or cut short your plans. In addition, Bo Beck, manager of the shop and professional climbing instructor, has written a popular book entitled Hikes In And Around Zion National Park. The book is a must if you don’t know the area and provides great info and hikes not commonly known. For additional information, visit www.thedesertrat.net.
Open year-round, Snow Canyon State Park, located in Ivins (18-miles from St. George on Route 18) is a prime destination for hiking, camping and photography. Eighty-five percent of Snow Canyon lies within the 62,000-acre Red Cliffs Desert Reserve and the park is comprised of 7,400 acres. The scenic park offers stunning landscapes of immense red and white sandstone cliffs, striking lava flows and an abundance of colorful desert plants. There are over 38-miles of hiking trails within the park that range from easy to strenuous, as well as 15-miles of equestrian trails, a three-mile walking/biking trail and technical climbing. Make sure you bring plenty of water for outdoor activities! Southern Utah is high desert and you can become dehydrated quickly due to the dryness and elevation, which can be dangerous and at the least, give you a massive headache.
A perfect short and relatively undemanding hike with excellent photo opps is the White Rocks Trail to the Amphitheater. This one-mile roundtrip hike starts from the parking lot with a short walk through interesting desert plants and views of the surrounding red cliffs. As you reach the natural white sandstone Amphitheater, it looks more intimidating then it is at first glance. It actually rises up quite gently to an incredible viewpoint of the canyon and is well worth the hike. For additional information on Snow Canyon State Park, visit www.stateparks.utah.gov.
For accommodations in St. George, the Best Western Plus Abbey Inn is a wonderful hotel with lovely and spacious rooms. Their full breakfast is tasty and complementary and so is the internet access. In addition, bring your swimwear, as the hotel’s heated pool and indoor spa are the perfect muscle relievers after a day of fun outdoor adventures. For additional information, visit www.bwabbeyinn.com.
Zion National Park is located about an hour northeast of St. George, Utah. However, before arriving in Zion, take the time to stop and visit some of the fascinating towns along the way. Grafton, located about 7-miles from Zion National Park, is a cool ghost town from 1859. Remember the movie Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid with Paul Neman and Robert Redford? Several of the movies’ scenes were filmed in Grafton, including the bicycle scene with the popular tune Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head. There are several buildings and a cemetery remaining; they are well preserved and worth a visit. Grafton is listed as a National Register Historic Site. For additional information, visit www.graftonheritage.org.
Zion National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in America. With its ever-changing light, soaring red and multi-hued sandstone peaks and deep picturesque canyons, visitors come from across the globe to experience the natural splendor of this magnificent site. Further, recreation is abundant, from kayaking and camping to, photography and hiking. And, for most visitors, hiking is the best way to see Zion with 18 hiking trails that range from easy to strenuous, it is simple to find a hike you’ll love.
For an easy to moderate hike that is three-and-a-half miles total, take the Lower Emerald Pool Trail that is paved and leads to the Kayenta and Upper Emerald Pool Trails. The trail starts at Zion Lodge, leads past gorgeous canyon landscapes and forested areas to brisk waterfalls that spray off red cliffs and forms the green-hued pools. Once you reach the upper pools, relax and revel in the surrounding landscape. When you’re ready to leave, you may wish to take a different trail back to the lodge that offers new scenery. Take the Grotto Trail for fantastic photography. Seriously, just point your camera and aim; you’ll get stellar photos from this trail! If you are an avid hiker and prefer strenuous trails, the park’s Angels Landing is one of the most famous and takes about four hours (5.4 to 8.7 miles). If you just prefer a laid-back walk with impressive canyon and soothing riverscapes, take the Riverside Walk (2.2 miles roundtrip). The shaded path is paved and it follows the flowing Virgin River along the canyon bottom with benches to sit and admire the amazing scenery.
Travel on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive from March 24th through Nov. 3rd is limited to shuttle buses only; you must park your vehicle outside of the park. However, Springdale and the park run free shuttle buses (every seven minutes) to and from every part of the park and all of the hiking trails until late evening. Campgrounds are also located in Zion and are accessible throughout the year at different sites for camping vehicles as well; check with the park for fees, dates and booking. Moreover, the town of Springdale borders Zion and offers visitors parking, terrific restaurants, campgrounds, fun shopping, galleries and great accommodations. Try the new La Quinta Inn & Suites in Springdale for a great price and lovely rooms. For additional information on Zion National Park and trip planning, visit www.nps.gov/zion.
Bryce Canyon National Park is utterly astonishing in its geological majesty with red, pink and white Claron Limestone hoodoos (spires). The hoodoos rise up from horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau and seem otherworldly. Located about two hours north of Zion, the park is considered one of the 10 most exquisite canyons in the world and is a sightseer’s and photographer’s paradise. And, with 14 breath-taking overlooks along Bryce Canyon’s 18-mile road, it is a great auto tour as well.
Once you arrive in Bryce Canyon, make sure you stop at the Visitor’s Center for essential park information, trails, camping, local surrounding activities, driving maps and sites. Trail maps of the canyon are available and range from easy to moderate and strenuous (don’t over-exert yourself, the canyon is over 8,000 feet of high elevation). For a light hike of about a mile with little elevation change and spectacular views of Bryce Canyon, take the Sunrise to Sunset paved path that follows the rim. This hike/walk is an excellent vantage point for photography with several benches to relax on and take in the awesome topography. Even if you have seen photographs of the canyon, the sheer scope of the panoramic vista and the almost seemingly architected hoodoos leaves visitors speechless.
If you wish to hike the down into the canyon, yet see the rim as well, take the famous three-mile Queens/Navajo Combination Loop (moderate hike). This hike provides changing imagery of the hoodoos and a perspective of their towering heights. For additional information on Bryce Canyon National Park, visit www.nps.gov/brca.
After exploring Bryce Canyon, check out the surrounding state parks and popular sites, such as Butch Cassidy’s Draw in Panguitch. This is the area where Butch hid out and the sheriff and his posse couldn’t find him or his canyon hideout. The site is located in Red Canyon, about 12-miles from Bryce Canyon; take the Butch Cassidy Trail. Or, visit Kodachrome Basin State Park, located about 25-miles from Bryce Canyon. The park has 67 stunning monolithic stone spires called sedimentary pipes. In 1948, the National Geographic Society visited the vibrant and colorful area and decided to name it Kodachrome, after the popular color film with Kodak’s permission. The spires are viewable by several different hikes and walks located throughout the park. For additional information on Bryce Canyon’s surrounding sites, attractions, restaurants and more, as well as Kodachrome Basin State Park, visit www.brycecanyoncountry.com.
For accommodations in Bryce Canyon City, our top recommendation is the splendid Best Western Plus Canyon Grand. Located a few miles just outside Bryce Canyon National Park, the Best Western is a new establishment with friendly and professional staff, stylish interior and elegant rooms. In addition to the full complimentary breakfast and internet, the hotel provides an oasis of tranquility after a day of adventures exploring the area. The beds are heavenly too! For additional information, visit www.brycecanyongrand.com.
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