Canyonlands National Park is an amazing national park located in southeastern Utah near the town of Moab. We visited it during our Utah exploration trip. It was a must-see on our list and it did not disappoint. Breathtaking views and amazing opportunities for hiking and off-road adventures. Island in the Sky and the Needles were the two regions we explored. Due to the size of each region, it is recommended that you spend a day in each at least.

The park is divided into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the combined rivers—the Green and Colorado—which carved two large canyons into the Colorado Plateau. While these areas share a primitive desert atmosphere, each retains its own character. Author Edward Abbey, a frequent visitor, described the Canyonlands as “the most weird, wonderful, magical place on earth—there is nothing else like it anywhere.

It is hard to argue with Edward Abbey, the park is a true masterpiece created by the forces of nature and there is nothing like it anywhere. The sheer vastness of the views is just breathtaking. Both the Island in the Sky and the Needles are a must-see. Plan to see both. You would not be disappointed!

Lodging

As we mentioned in the Arches National Park adventure we stayed in Moab during this trip. It is a very strategic location when it comes to this park, the Arches, and the Dead Horse Point State Park. Due to its close proximity to these amazing parks, the hotels get booked very quickly. Plan at least 3-6 months in advance. Moab is an amazing and vibrant town full of offroad and hiking enthusiasts and awesome places to eat.

The Island in the Sky District

The Island in the Sky district is a massive mesa elevated more than 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape, with panoramic views of spectacular canyon country up to 100 miles in every direction. The district is defined by the Green River to the west and the Colorado River on the east. A paved road with several scenic pullouts leads from Moab to Island in the Sky, making it one of the easiest areas to explore.

We found this to be very true. The region was very easy and convenient to explore. Great roads and the parking is right next to the viewpoints. Great trails all around. Amazing views!

Here are some of the viewpoints that the district is known for:

The Grand View Overlook

As the name suggests this is one of the most impressive overlooks in the park. The views are absolutely breathtaking. We spend a lot of time resting and walking around the edges. There are plenty of spots to sit and enjoy the views. Take a break, relax and just enjoy this beautiful piece of Mother nature’s art.
Getting to the Grand View overlook is very easy but due to its popularity parking is an issue. Have that in mind and plan accordingly. It is the busiest overlook in the park.

Shafer Canyon Overlook

Great overview of the Sharef Canyon and the Shafer Trail. The stop is right off the main road and the overlook is a very short walk from the parking lot. To get to the edge you have to be careful since there is not a great walkway leading to it. However, it is absolutely worth it. The trail is quite popular.

Buck Canyon Overlook

An awesome overlook that offers a view to the east. One of the best places to view the main road leading to the park. It’s a short walk from the parking lot with a good amount of observation space.

Green River Overlook

This southwest-facing viewpoint affords the best views of one of Canyonlands’ two mighty rivers: the Green River, deep in its channel 1,300 feet (396 m) below. Visitors can also see features of The Maze district and the White Rim Road.

Apparently this overlook is also one of the best places to watch the sunset. We witnessed it at the Needles overlook. However, this overlook looks like a perfect sunset photo destination! Next time we will give it a try.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you are in the vicinity of the city of Moab, you have to visit both the Arches and the Canyonlands National Parks. Both offer unique and breathtaking views that are unmatched anywhere in the United States. We truly enjoyed our visit and we are already looking forward to booking the next.

Book Similar Top Rated Adventures

The post Canyonlands National Park, UT appeared first on Alexiev Arts.

Dead Horse State Park is well known in Utah for its breathtaking overviews of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park. The main view is somewhat similar to the Horse Shoe Bend in Arizona but from a higher elevation. Other views rival those in the Grand Canyon. The park was well maintained and in great condition. During our visit, the number of people also was very reasonable. No big lines to get to the main overlooks etc. The park covers 5,362 acres (2,170 ha) of high desert at an altitude of 5,900 feet (1,800 m).

The legend of Dead Horse Point states that in the late 1800’s the point was used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa top. Cowboys herded them across the narrow neck of land and onto the point. The neck was then fenced off with branches and brush. One time, for some unknown reason, horses were left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River 2,000 feet below.

Getting There

The park is about 40 miles from the city of Moab. This was our “base” during the first phase of our Utah exploration trip. We highly recommend visiting Moab. It is a city full of offroad adventurers and nature-loving travelers. Also, the food was very good. The city is strategically located right next to the Arches National Park and driving distance to the Canyonlands National Park. Amazing destination if you want to park hop and explore what Utah is all about. However room availability in the hotels there is scarce and you need to book way in advance. In our case, we booked more than 4 months ahead.

Overlooks

The views of the Colorado River and the Canyonlands National Park are breathtaking. You could also drive down right next to the river bend but we decided not to due to time constraints. However, you would need a 4×4 off-road-ready vehicle for that trip. Photo opportunities are everywhere. We loved every single view and spend most of the day walking between the different overlooks. Getting to the main viewpoints is very easy. They are within walking distance of the parking in most cases. Parking also was not an issue.

Other Highlights

The park is also a desirable destination for mountain biking. The Intrepid Trail System has three hiking and biking loops ranging from one to nine miles with varying degrees of difficulty. In general Utah’s parks were packed with mountain bikers and everywhere we went we noticed at least a few of them. We even witnessed a biking movie being shot in the park with a photo crew, big cameras, etc. Park is also pet-friendly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, visiting Dead Horse State Park is a no-brainer especially if you are staying in Moab. It offers unique views of the Colorado River and the Canyonlands National Park. f you enjoyed the Horse Shoe Bend you definitely would enjoy the Dead Horse State Park.

Book Similar Top Rated Adventures

The post Dead Horse State Park, UT appeared first on Alexiev Arts.

Arches National Park is one of the most famous national parks in the United States. It is also the most popular (some would also argue most beautiful) one in Utah. So popular that the Delicate Arch is on the official license plate for the state of Utah. So busy that finding parking during the busy season is close to impossible. Our visit was during the month of April. The weather was perfect for hiking and sightseeing. Never before we have witnessed arches created by nature in such a fashion and we were amazed by their sheer size and beauty. It is hard to describe them since words or pictures hardly do justice in cases like these. You just have to witness this absolutely unique place. One of the most beautiful national parks we have ever visited in the USA.

Lodging

We stayed in Moab. We have heard of the city before but never in our lives, we thought it would be such a colorful and busy “base” for offroad enthusiasts and adventure seekers. An amazing little town with tons of things to do and see. It is also so conveniently located near the Arches National Park that you can walk to it from Moab. Food-wise we Yelped as usual and loved the Trailhead Public House & Eatery (their wings were to die for), Antica Forma Pizza, and the Indo Grill Indian Cuisine. Those were the places where we really liked the food and the wait times were not in hours but minutes.

Things to See

It is also not just the arches that make the park unique. There are tons of other rock formations that just seem impossible to be formed or created without some sort of intelligent design or human interference. Here are some of the most famous attractions that we thought are must-see:

Delicate Arch

The most iconic arch in the park. Its location and access are tricky since you do have to hike for few hours to get to it. The total trail length round trip is 3.2 miles from the parking lot. It is moderate difficulty. There are also few places where you have to be careful in terms of walking and not be afraid of heights. Once there you need to be careful as well since as you can see from the photos there are areas where it is not super safe to run and jump. You can find more details about the trail here.

Double Arch

This one is interesting because of its double-arch formation. Getting to it is very easy just a few minutes walking from the parking lot. That also contributes to the number of people you would see there and the need to remove them from your photos in post-production. It was also interesting to know that the Double Arch was used as a backdrop for portions of the 1988 movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.

North Window & South Window Arches

North Window & South Window, or the Spectacles, as some people call them, are the first major arches you see upon entering the Park. Though they are easy to view from a distance, these arches are much more impressive if you take a short walk to stand inside them. Both are easily accessible from the parking lot via a short hike. You can actually see the Turret Arch from the North Window Arch.

Just around the South Window Arch is the North Window Arch. If you climb close enough you can see through it the Turret Arch as well. All three are in close proximity accessible from the same parking lot. Not much hiking required to see them at all.

Turret Arch

This one is quite interesting in terms of the rock formation right next to it. It is visible through the North Window Arch and photographed from there quite a lot. It is also very busy since it is easily accessible and kids love climbing it. Ours did so as well 🙂

Landscape Arch

Toward the back of the park, in the Devil’s Garden area, you can find the Landscape Arch. With a span of 306 feet, it is the longest arch in the United States and 4th longest in the world. It is mindblowing how something like this can form through the years. Nature and time are amazing architects!

Balanced Rock

The total height of Balanced Rock is 128 feet (39 m), with the balancing rock rising 55 feet (16.75 m) above the base. This rock is the largest of its kind in the park, weighing approximately the same as an icebreaker ship or 27 blue whales.

Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, and Courthouse Towers

Just on the side of the main road, there is a stop with a great overview of some of the other park attractions. The three Gossips is quite interesting since it is a rock formation that literally looks like three people very close to each other “gossiping”. The Sheep Rock and the Courthouse Towers are also part of this landscape. Definitely worth the stop.

Conclusion

Arches National Park is a must-see for any explorer and nature lover. There are not many places on planet Earth where you can witness arches like these. There are not many places where you can get so close to them and take a photo. Amazing park and very much worth its popularity and ranking as one of the best parks in the United States. We absolutely recommend it!

Book Similar Top Rated Adventures

The post Arches National Park, UT appeared first on Alexiev Arts.

Bonneville Salt Flats is a unique destination in the vicinity of Salt Lake City. It was on our radar for a long time and finally, we made it there during our Utah exploration trip. There are so many amazing things to see in this state that this gets overlooked for some reason. In our opinion, it is a must-see. It is so much fun for kids and an amazing place for pictures.

The Bonneville Salt Flats are a densely packed salt pan in Tooele County in northwestern Utah. The area is a remnant of the Pleistocene Lake Bonneville and is the largest of many salt flats located west of the Great Salt Lake. The property is public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is known for land speed records at the “Bonneville Speedway“. Access to the flats is open to the public.

The salt flats are about 12 miles long and 5 miles wide with total area coverage of just over 46 square miles. Motor vehicle use is limited by seasonal closure during the spring when the salt is moist or has standing water on the surface. We did drive for a short time on one of the sides for few pictures. Coming from Salt Lake City you first see the dry side and many people just turn back after that. You have to remember that few more miles down you actually get to see the side with the water. It is definitely worth the drive. Essentially you drive until you reach this sign:

The Bonneville Salt Flats are quite famous also for the last speed events held there. Since 1914 at the part of the salt flats known as the Bonneville Speedway. We had no idea about these events really. Next time we will plan so that we can experience at least one of them.

There are five major land speed events that take place at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Bonneville “Speed Week” takes place mid-August followed by “World of Speed” in September and the “World Finals” take place early October.

Lodging

We stayed in Salt Lake City and drove to the Salt Flats and back. It was an awesome opportunity to experience the capitol of Utah. We loved the city. The view of the mountains surrounding it is hard to beat. Lovely city. Great food as well. If you are Utah Jazz fan then you do not want to miss taking a photo next to the arena or even go to one of their games! The restaurants in the downtown were quite booked and for some there was 2 hours wait time for takeout! Plan accordingly.

Things to have in mind

There are few things to have in mind before going. During the day it is quite hot and sunny. Sunscreen and hats are a must. You need a lot of water not only for drinking but to wash the salt from your clothes and skin. Our son was completely soaked and had salt on his arms and feet. You would need to wash sooner rather than later. Wet napkins help a lot! Shoes soaked with this salt are quite hard to wash. It would take a few wash cycles to get them back to normal. It goes without saying but be mindful of others and keep your eyes salt-free.

There are bathrooms at the first stop but not where the sign is so have that in mind. Be careful driving, only do off-roading if your car can take it. It is not uncommon for cars to get stuck and deal with roadside assistance. Car rentals do not like off-roading with their cars.

Conclusion

Must see destination. Plan for 1 full day and bring lots of water and some food if you do not want to drive back and forth for food. It is a common practice to buy a temp cooler and store sandwiches for the trip there. The drive is not that much overall and the views on the way are also worth seeing. Since this is not national park drones are allowed. You can also walk as much and as far as you want on the salts.

Book Similar Top Rated Adventures

The post Bonneville Salt Flats, UT appeared first on Alexiev Arts.

The canyon lies within the Colorado Plateau geographic province of North America and straddles the southeastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau west of the Paunsaugunt Fault. It is very difficult to explain the magical paintings the sun paints with the clouds and the mountain tops during sunrises and sunsets there. You have to experience it. Words and even pictures hardly do any justice.

Park visitors arrive from the plateau part of the park and look over the plateau’s edge toward a valley containing the fault and the Paria River just beyond it (Paria is Paiute for “muddy or elk water”). The edge of the Kaiparowits Plateau bounds the opposite side of the valley.

Bryce Canyon was not formed from erosion initiated from a central stream, meaning it technically is not a canyon. Instead, headward erosion has excavated large amphitheater-shaped features in the Cenozoic-aged rocks of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. This erosion exposed delicate and colorful pinnacles called hoodoos that are up to 200 feet (60 m) high. A series of amphitheaters extends more than 20 miles (30 km) north-to-south within the park. The largest is Bryce Amphitheater, which is 12 miles (19 km) long, 3 miles (5 km) wide, and 800 feet (240 m) deep.

All the viewpoints we went to presented amazing views. In some cases, I might argue that some of the views were more impressive than the Grand Canyon or at least as impressive. Nature has done things there that are just mind-blowing. If you do not have much time there make sure you visit the Sunrise and the Sunset points. They are very close to each other and the hike is very very short. Park is very well maintained and the roads are in great condition.

Lodging

We stayed at one of the most historical hotels there – The Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn. It was found in 1916 and still has that cowboy old school feel to it. Very nicely done inside and out. If you have a chance to stay there or at least visit this hotel you would not be sorry. We absolutely enjoyed our stay. Link to it:

The hotel is just outside the park and about 10 mins from Sunrise and Sunset points. Really convenient. Next to it, there are places to eat, gift shops, a gas station, etc. Overall great location to rest and relax after your busy day exploring the park.

When to go

As you can see we went to visit Bryce Canton during the month of January and there was plenty of snow everywhere. The weather was perfect for winter hiking. Sunny and just right for pictures and long hikes. You can see the links section for the temperatures there for each month.

Links

1. Bryce Canyon Official Web Site
2. Bryce Canyon Wikipedia page / Weather & monthly temperatures
3. Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn

Book Similar Top Rated Adventures

The post Bryce Canyon, UT appeared first on Alexiev Arts.