There is Nothing Like the American Southwest!
Bryce Canyon hoodoos
For those if you who enjoy the great outdoors and the unique beauty of U.S. national parks plus other natural attractions, there may not be a better place to visit than the Southern Utah/Northern Arizona area. Within a roughly 200-mile radius of the shared state line, there are plenty of things to do, places/sights to see, and more than a half dozen parks to choose from, led of course, by the Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks.
Did you know Zion attracts more annual visitors than the GC? Located in Southern Utah, it receives the most visitors due to its proximity to Las Vegas (and popular airport) and a major interstate. Further to the Northeast is the adventure town of Moab, which is a hub for outdoor activities such as ATV/UTV tours, mountain biking, white water rafting, hiking, and canyoning.
It would take weeks to fully explore all that this area has to offer. And since Grand Canyon/Zion National Parks are two of the more well-known in the country, this article will concentrate on a smaller radius that can be enjoyed in a shorter period of time.
Led by the “grandest” of them all (i.e., the Grand Canyon), this area of the Southwest is known for its unique geology. Deep canyons, arches, rock formations, and arid plateaus comprise most of this landscape and due to that, several other National Parks, all part of the “Mighty Five”, are found here including Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef in addition to a few National Monuments and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
One of the most spectacular parks is Bryce Canyon, located a couple hours NE of Zion. It’s sunset-like color scheme and unique hoodoo rock formations are unlike any park in the nation.
There are several viewpoints to take in the canyon from above along a roughly 18-mile-long road that provides access to the entire park. Additionally, trailheads are also found along the way which lead to hikes into different sub-canyons and hoodoo formations. There is a menu of trails of varying duration, depending on your health and allowed time, but most popular are the choices within the Bryce Amphitheater. This is the main cluster of trails closest to the park entrance/lodge with several loops or connections to other paths. Just remember, the altitude is around 8,000 feet and it can get hot down in the canyons during the summer months.
While there are the ubiquitous overnight stay choices within and just outside the park entrance, rooms and campsites are limited (especially during the summer or holiday weekends), so we stayed in a cabin motor lodge a few miles down the road in Tropic, which is a bit of a misnomer for the surrounding landscape. A couple of low-key, casual restaurants are in town in addition to those at the park itself.
If you’re interested in another hike outside of the park, in between the park entrance turn-off and Tropic, look for a trailhead called Mossy Creek. It’s a short, easy hike to a cave and waterfall in addition to almost-as-nice-as-Bryce hoodoos.
You could spend weeks here exploring all the parks/monuments but we decided to visit the area around Page, Arizona after our Bryce stay. In addition to recreation activities (boating, kayaking, SUPing, etc.) in Glen Canyon and Lake Powell, day trips are doable to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Monument Valley, and possibly the best, Upper/Lower Antelope Canyon, which is just a few miles outside of town.
These slot canyons, formed after hundreds of years of erosion of the surrounding sandstone, have formed two highly photographic locations for adventurers. Located on Navajo land, guided tours are provided in both canyons (a couple of miles apart). The Upper AC is reached by four-by-four vehicles taking tourists to the entrance. Slightly larger than its counterpart, it’s the busier of the two. The more adventurous Lower AC is a walking tour starting at the ticket office/parking lot. You will trek a few hundred feet across the plateau to fixed ladders/steps that take you down into the narrower canyon where you will traverse to the other end. The lower canyon requires more agility but is worth it for what I thought were slightly better pictures of the two.
Horseshoe Bend is just south of Page and features an almost 180 degree turn of the Colorado River as it makes its way to the Grand Canyon. You can walk right up to the canyon edge for great photos of the river and surrounding vista.
And since almost every car brand has had a commercial featuring Monument Valley at some point over time, I suggest making the journey (about four hours R/T from Page) to see it. MV is widely thought to be a national park but is not. It is also located on Navajo land and sits right on the state line. Providing background and history of the area, a visitor museum is located adjacent to the main parking lot. If you’re driving, it’s not recommended to take a standard sedan rental down into the valley. The 17-mile loop road is not paved and, in some areas, not well-maintained. A 4x4 or higher clearance vehicle is better suited for the valley. But once you get closer to the many iconic formations seen in so many Westerns, you’ll wonder how they’re still standing amid the harsh, desert environment. I also think I saw Chevy Chase still wandering around (remember the first Vacation movie?).
Most Grand Canyon tourists visit the South Rim due to its proximity to Phoenix, Flagstaff, and the interstate but if you’re in the Page area, the North Rim is just a couple of hours away. With 80% less traffic than the opposite rim, you won’t have to worry about parking, trams, or bus/train tourists. The views are just as great, lodging/camping is available, and hikes down in the canyon exist from this side as well.
There is a tremendous amount of protected nature to see in the AZ/UT border area so if you love hiking, geology, outdoors, and the National Park Service, you won’t be disappointed!