With its captivating and ever changing scenery, Utah blew our expectations out of the water. As we planned our first trip to Utah I had images of tumble weeds blowing through an old west town, a place full of sand and desolate landscapes. Boy, was I ever wrong!
Especially coming from the upper Mid-West, full of lakes and forests, driving into Utah felt like visiting another planet. From towering rock formations and canyons to hoodoos and dinosaur tracks, Utah offers a constant surprise. Most of our time has been spent in and around the National Parks, I highly recommend a Fab 5 road trip.
First stop, Moab! Driving into Moab is indescribable with the red rocks towering over the roads, rising in the distance, and setting a gorgeous backdrop to the town. One of my favorite memories of Moab is a unique one. Imagine driving down the road heading out to scout out some off grid campsites when you're husband suddenly yells, "They're throwing logs!" Unbeknownst to us the Highland Games were occurring. I love unexpected finds like this when we travel. The next day we took the time to watch kilt clad men and women participate in games like log throwing (Caber Toss), stone throwing, sheaf toss, and hammer throwing. A unique piece of culture amongst the red rocks of Moab.
Moab is well known for Arches National Park, and rightfully so. To this day it remains one of our favorite National Parks and we are eager to visit it again this fall. Even within the park there is the offer of variety; the arches, the balanced rocks, the fins and the fiery furnace all showcase different types of beauty within this landscape. Let's not forget the mountains decorating the horizon. Whether you choose to hike, camp or drive through the park, there is a way for everyone to enjoy its beauty. This park will not disappoint. If you visit this area, don't forget to go hunting for dinosaur tracks. Whether you follow a marked trail or find a geocache that ends in tracks, there's nothing like placing your hand on the same ground the dinosaurs once walked.
Capitol Reef National Park and the surrounding area continued to surprise us with the introduction of coniferous forests along with the towering canyon and curving roads. The contrast of dark forest green and the rocks full of reds and oranges, creates a striking scene. Our family opted to take multiple hikes to the bottom and the top of the canyons in Capitol Reef. The bottom offers a damp, cool air and allowed us to appreciate the tones and textures of the stone. If you enjoy history, you'll enjoy seeing the names written on the wall of the pioneers who traveled to this area in the late 1800's.
A climb of a couple hundred feet in elevation will take you the top of a the canyon. The hike is absolutely worth it, be warned there are many steep edges if you have small children or a fear of heights. We brought a picnic lunch, sat atop this gorgeous place and simply took in the breathtaking views.
Our family loves exploring the National Parks, but sometimes we also like to get off the beaten path. Geocaching has been a key component in exploring the areas outside the park system. If you haven't tried it, its a blast; treasure hunt that often leads to beautiful, less explored areas.
Even the drives from place to place in Utah will surprise you. A desert here, a canyon here, how about some green rocks among the red. The most unreal landscape we have had the privilege to behold is that of Bryce Canyon National Park and its Hoodoos. These spiky, colorful formations create the ambiance of another planet. It also looks a bit like giant popsicles. I could spend hours here just enjoying the views. The great thing about Bryce is that most of the viewpoints are easily accessed and don't require long hikes. Get up close and personal with the hoodoos by taking one of the beautiful hikes the park has to offer. The perspective of seeing the formations from below really brings them to life. The contrasts of these trails that meander through the hoodoos and into deep green pine forests will have you enjoying every minute.
Our last, but certainly not least, place visited in Utah was the majestic Zion National Park; as we have yet to visit Canyonlands National Park. Zion exudes strength and magnificence. Unsurprisingly Zion is one of the most well known and visited National Parks. It is a place that will fill you with wonder and make you feel small. Many of the hikes here in Zion are not for the feint of heart, or those with a fear of heights, including the infamous Angel's Landing Hike. We were unable to obtain permits for this trail, but were able to hike to the base of it by hiking to Scouts Lookout. Deciding when to visit Zion can be an adventure in itself. During the winter months you'll be blessed with a reduced amount of people and being able to drive yourself through the park. However, weather will be a formidable opponent this time of year, making trails trickier and some unusable. Summer months bring beautiful weather and larger crowds. You will also need to use the shuttle system to get into some areas of the park. We opted to visit in March, with snow and slush on some of the trails, cleats on your shoes and layers are a must. Temperature highs were in the 40's and 50's. Regardless of the time of year Zion is visited it will leave you with a lasting impression and countless memories.
Whenever we are asked which state is our favorite, Utah is always in among our top choices. We highly recommend adding Utah to your places to travel. You won't be disappointed.
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Call or email today: sarah@thequeenoffuntravel.com (218)301-3368
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