Southwestern Utah is a vast area of spectacular lunar-like terrain, pockmarked and decorated with red canyons and great forests. The region is almost entirely made up of parks and woodland areas. Bring your hiking books to climb among the picturesque mounds, hoodoos and arches of this bumpy terrain.
One of the highlights is Zion National Park, which is recognizable by its giant red cliffs and verdant valley floor. Learn about the local ecology and topography in the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and embark on some of the many paths, such as the Bristlecone Loop and the Chinle Trail. The Riverside Walk is a scenic trail along a pebbly river winding around the cliffs.
Use the nearby city of Kanab as a base for the park. It is known as Little Hollywood, having been used many times as a filming location for Westerns. Farther east is Bryce Canyon, which is made up of intriguing rock formations. Stay for the sunset and watch the reddish hues of the hoodoos gradually darken.
Enjoy the fairly mild temperatures at these high altitudes and explore the picturesque surrounding topography in Bryce Canyon National Park. Walk to Agua Canyon and gaze up at The Rabbit and The Hunter. Snap photos of Rainbow Point and its surrounding rocks from the roadside pullout of Black Birch Canyon.
Take photos of the view of the red valley through the frame of the Natural Bridge. Among the best walking paths are the Mossy Cave Trail, the Navajo Trail and the Fairyland Loop Trail.
Visit the enormous Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument for its sandstone formations and dunes. Continue northeast to get to the red rocks of Capitol Reef National Park.
Fly into Las Vegas Airport, rent a car and drive for about 2 hours to reach St. George, one of the main cities in Southwestern Utah. You can also take domestic flights to the Cedar City Airport.
Explore Southwestern Utah, a bumpy 3-D jigsaw puzzle composed of reddish-brown pieces.
