Utah
FEBRUARY 2010 - DESTINATION OF THE MONTH!
FIVE NATIONAL PARKS - UTAH
Utah is a must for anybody wishing to experience the natural beauty of the West. With one of the greatest concentrations of natural rock formations, Utah is a photographer’s dream.
There are five Utah national parks that offer breathtaking overviews, brilliant red rock sunsets and adventure-filled hiking trails, plus the opportunity for exhilarating relaxation… The parks are located in close proximity so it is easy to see them all in one trip. Alternately, each park makes a great destination in its own right; you can spend several days exploring a Utah national park and never see all of its wonders…
Bike rentals are available in many locations. If your holiday is concentrating on Utah, Salt Lake City makes a good beginning and end point.
For our 14 night Southern Utah National Parks Tour Click Here.
Arches
A red rock wonder, Arches National Park is sure to fill you with shock and awe. This Utah national park contains the world's largest concentration of natural arches - sublime spans of stone that seem to defy gravity - defy nature. Some are delicate ribbons curving skyward and then twisting back to the earth. Others are openings chiseled into massive mountains of otherwise solid rock.
Arches aren't the only attractions in Arches National Park. This is a playground of stone with massive balanced rocks, sandstone fins, spires, Marching Men and other geological wonders. A paved road winds through Arches National Park, allowing easy access to some of the most impressive sites. Hiking trails - some easy, some challenging - penetrate more remote areas.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Wind and water have carved fantastic shapes into the Bryce Canyon National Park landscape: castles, towers, fins and a multitude of strange creatures. The result is a fairyland with unlimited opportunity for recreation. The Bryce Canyon region is great for hiking, horseback riding, photography, ATV riding, camping and other activities.
Any way you look at it, Bryce Canyon is a great place to lose yourself for a day or two of adventure. Bryce Canyon is actually an amphitheater cut into the side of a plateau. It is located at a high elevation, on the edge of beautiful forest. Roads follow the amphitheater rim and allow easy access to viewpoints and trailheads. The infamous outlaw Butch Cassidy roamed these parts and one of his hideout cabins is located nearby. The Bryce Canyon area offers a definite Old-West flavor: cowboys and Indians, horseback rides, rodeos and chuck wagon dinners.
Canyonlands National Park
Two mighty rivers, the Colorado and Green, have carved deep canyons in the heart of this rugged & remote area. Canyonlands National Park includes some of the most convoluted, remote, yet scenic areas in the continental United States.
The rivers here serve as highways to adventure. The Colorado River offers some of the world's most exciting whitewater river rafting, with 26 mega-rapids in infamous Cataract Canyon. Other river sections in this area offer moderate rapids and flatwater.
Only a few roads penetrate Canyonlands National Park. Paved roads provide access to wonderful vistas. The vast majority of the park is accessible via jeep trails. Some areas are accessible only to hikers and backpackers. This is classic mountain bike terrain and Canyonlands National Park includes wonderful trails like the 100-mile-long White Rim in Island in the Sky, or the many roads/trails in the Needles.
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park has long been labeled one of Utah's best-kept secrets. It is just as scenic as the more famous parks but is delightfully less developed with fewer annual visitors. Capitol Reef offers spectacular experiences for all types of travelers. History buffs can enjoy both the easily accessible ancient Indian rock art or tour the pioneer orchards and Gifford House of the Historic Fruita District. Enjoying the fruit in the orchards, while observing the free roaming deer at play is also great fun. Capitol Reef's Ripple Rock Center provides interesting activities for children and the Park Service presents guided tours and nightly informative presentations.
Cathedral Valley on the North and the Burr Trail on the south end of Capitol Reef provide access to areas previously available only by four wheel vehicles. You'll enjoy hiking, biking, backpacking or taking a scenic drive in the Capitol Reef National Park region!#
Zion National Park
Deep, narrow canyons, towering cliffs, streams, waterfalls, hanging wildflower gardens and majestic, forested mountains define Zion National Park. The scenery here is wonderfully diverse. Within just a few miles the terrain changes from lowland desert to mountain meadow and lush forest, bisected by canyons like the Zion Narrows where a man can sometimes touch both walls at the same time.
Zion National Park offers great recreational opportunities for visitors who want to see spectacular scenery while auto touring, for casual hikers, for photographers, and for hardcore canyoneering enthusiasts hell-bent on adventure. Sightseeing and hiking opportunities are superb during all seasons of the year at Zion National Park. Excellent visitor facilities can be found at the main entrances to Zion National Park, and nearby communities provide a wide variety of lodging facilities, restaurants and other services.
Accommodation
Salt Lake City
Utah National Parks