Shafer Canyon Road Guide

How to Drive Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road | Moab, Utah

Julie United States 12 Comments

Have you seen photos of the Shafer Canyon switchbacks and said to yourself, wow, I’d really love to drive on that road? Do you like the idea of venturing away from the crowds and driving through some truly dramatic landscapes? Or, do you want to get a unique perspective of Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park that …

Navajo Knobs Hike Photo

Rim Overlook & Navajo Knobs Trail | Capitol Reef National Park

Julie United States 1 Comment

The hike to Navajo Knobs is our favorite hike in Capitol Reef National Park. It’s a long, tough hike but what an incredible journey! From the valley floor, you will steadily hike up to the Rim Overlook, for jaw-dropping views over Fruita, Highway 24, and Scenic Drive. The trail continues its climb for another 2.5 miles, with views over Castle …

Utah Road Trip

Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef National Parks: 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary

Julie United States 30 Comments

Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks are three spectacular parks to visit in Utah. With 10 days, you can visit each of them, plus a few more cool spots, on this epic road trip. Start in Arches National Park, where more than 2,000 arches fill the landscape, as well as hoodoos, mesas, and fins of sandstone rock. Right next …

Capitol Reef Travel Guide

14 Amazing Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park

Julie United States 29 Comments

Capitol Reef, often an overlooked national park, is full of many wonderful surprises. With an amazing scenic drive, hiking trails that rival those in Zion, rugged, remote areas to explore by 4×4, short, easy slot canyons, historical landmarks, and even delicious pie, this national park is absolutely amazing. In this post, learn about the best things to do in Capitol …

Zion Travel Tips

5 Things to Know Before Visiting Zion National Park

Julie United States 32 Comments

Zion National Park and its epic hiking trails have become an extremely popular place to visit in recent years. This is a spectacular destination and one of our favorite national parks in the USA. However, due to crowd levels, trail closures, and cyanobacteria in the Virgin River, Zion has become a challenging park to visit. Here are 5 things to …

Best Hike in the Needles

How to Hike the Chesler Park Loop Trail in the Needles | Canyonlands National Park

Julie United States 14 Comments

If you want to get an up-close look at the “Needles,” the sandstone spires that make the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park so uniquely beautiful, put Chesler Park on your list. It is possible to hike out and back to Chesler Park on a short day hike. But if you don’t mind going farther, hike the Chesler Park Loop …

Syncline Loop

How to Hike the Syncline Loop in Canyonlands National Park

Julie United States 2 Comments

For years, I heard amazing things about the Syncline Loop. This tough hike is known for its outstanding views, and due to the primitive nature of the trail, it is only recommended for experienced hikers. It got such rave reviews in the hiking community and it sounded so thrilling that we couldn’t wait to hike this trail. Maybe our expectations …

One Day in Arches

One Perfect Day in Arches National Park (+ HELPFUL Tips & Map)

Julie United States 39 Comments

If you only have one day in Arches National Park, what should you do? Arches National Park is a relatively small national park with a handful of must-see sights. With one day in Arches, you can visit these top sights and a few off-the-beaten-path places. After multiple visits to Arches National Park, including two visits in the past two years, …

Little Wild Horse

Little Wild Horse Canyon – Bell Canyon Loop: A Step-By-Step Guide

Julie United States 14 Comments

Little Wild Horse Canyon is one of the most thrilling slot canyons in Utah. With tight passageways, curving, scalloped walls, and short sections of easy rock scrambling, this hike is fun for both kids and adults. You can hike the narrowest (and most fun) section of Little Wild Horse as a fast out-and-back hike, or do this as a loop, …

Cathedral Valley Loop Guide

Complete Guide to the Cathedral Valley Loop: Things to Do, Driving Route & Maps

Julie United States 46 Comments

Cathedral Valley is a rugged, remote district of Capitol Reef National Park. Few people travel out this way, to see this valley and its sandstone monoliths, colorful Bentonite hills, and vast desert scenery. But that’s part of its appeal. If you like the idea of leaving the crowds behind and exploring the backcountry, the Cathedral Valley Loop is an awesome …

Guide to the White Rim Road

White Rim Road: Detailed Planning Guide and Checklist

Julie United States 5 Comments

Driving the White Rim Road is a bucket list adventure. Over the course of 100 miles, you will circle around the Island in the Sky mesa. Along the way, you will drive along cliff edges, past canyons carved out by the Colorado and Green Rivers, and to viewpoints that will take your breath away. Once you do this drive, you …

Drive the White Rim Road

How to Drive the White Rim Road: Map, Photos & Driving Tips

Julie United States 34 Comments

Driving the White Rim Road is the experience of a lifetime. If you are looking for adventure, solitude, incredible views, and a totally different way to experience Canyonlands National Park, put this drive on your list. Along the drive, you will gaze up at the Island in the Sky mesa and peer down into the canyons carved out by the …

Cassidy Arch

Cassidy Arch, An Essential Hike in Capitol Reef National Park

Julie United States 7 Comments

The hike to Cassidy Arch is one of the most thrilling trails in Capitol Reef National Park. Easily accessible from Scenic Drive, this short hike features stunning scenery, views over the Grand Wash, and the chance to stand on Cassidy Arch. On this hike, you can view the arch from afar or walk across it for one of the most …

Watchman Trail Zion

How to Hike the Watchman Trail in Zion National Park

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The Watchman Trail is a relatively easy hike that offers nice views over Springdale and the southern end of Zion National Park. Since this trail starts at the visitor center, no shuttle is necessary, making this a great option if you want to go hiking in Zion without waiting in line for the shuttle. Here’s how to do it. Watchman …

Zion National Park Itinerary

Zion National Park Itinerary: How to Spend 1 to 6 Days in Zion

Julie United States 77 Comments

If you are planning your Zion National Park itinerary, this is a great place to start. Zion National Park is a hiker’s paradise. This relatively small park is packed with some of the most thrilling hikes in the United States. From the awe-inspiring hike up Angels Landing to the bucket list-worthy Zion Narrows to the family friendly Riverside Walk, there …

Grand Canyon Road Trip Itinerary

Grand Canyon Road Trip: 5 Itineraries from Las Vegas

Julie United States 20 Comments

Are you planning a trip to the Grand Canyon? There are many different ways to plan your perfect road trip, depending on how much time you have and your interests. The American Southwest is packed with stunning parks and landscapes, and it is easy to add on places like Antelope Canyon, Zion National Park, and Sedona to your Grand Canyon …

Mighty 5 Itinerary

Utah’s Mighty 5: Travel Guide and Road Trip Itinerary

Julie United States 185 Comments

Stretching across southern and central Utah are five stunning national parks. Called the Mighty 5, these parks contain some of the most thrilling hiking trails and iconic landscapes in the United States. Stand atop Angels Landing in Zion. Gaze across a wonderland of hoodoos at Bryce Canyon. Explore the Water Pocket Fold at Capitol Reef. Watch the sunrise at Mesa …

Capitol Reef in Winter

Capitol Reef National Park: Best Things to Do With Limited Time

Julie United States 10 Comments

With sandstone cliffs, white domes, arches, and slot canyons, Capitol Reef National Park is a rugged, extraordinary place to explore. This park preserves the Waterpocket Fold, a rippling of the Earth’s crust that is 100 miles long. Not a big fan of hiking? One of the things that makes Capitol Reef so easy to visit is that you can see …

Best Things to Do in Canyonlands

One Perfect Day in Canyonlands National Park

Julie United States 35 Comments

Canyonlands is an enormous National Park. Over 330,000 acres are filled with arches, buttes, mesas, canyons, hiking trails, dirt roads, campgrounds, and overlooks. It would take days, weeks even, to fully explore all that Canyonlands has to offer. However, if you only have one day in Canyonlands, you have just enough time to visit the highlights. There are several different …

Delicate Arch Tips

Delicate Arch: Best Photo Spots, Hiking Tips, & Interesting Facts

Julie United States 22 Comments

Delicate Arch is one of the main attractions in Arches National Park. Most likely, this arch is high on your list of places to visit in the park. In order to have the best experience, there are a few things to know before you go. Here are our tips for visiting Delicate Arch, including what to expect on the hike …