A thousand years ago, the Four Corners region of the United States was the epicenter of a complex and incredible civilization that flourished for centuries. The Ancestoral Puebloans built complex and elaborate dwellings into the cliffs at places such as Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, and Canyon de Chelly. In this Mesa Verde National Park guide, I am going to provide you with a blueprint of how to explore this incredible park.
In many ways, Great Basin National Park is a park of extremes. The difference between the park’s highest point and lowest point is a staggering 6,235 feet (1,900 meters). While the lower valley is mostly a desert landscape, the mountainous areas of the park are home to some of the oldest trees on the planet. Some of these amazing bristlecone pine trees are over 4,000 years old. It’s just another reason why the Great Basin National Park is so incredible.
There are many incredible state parklands in the United States, but Dead Horse Point State Park in Southern Utah might just be the most renowned. The park, which gets its name from a legend that cowboys used the peninsula of rock surrounded by sheer sandstone cliffs to corral wild mustangs.
According to the legend, horses were once left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst. If you believe the legend, these dead horses still haunt the park to this day.
While most people who visit Glen Canyon come to spend time on the water or on one of the area’s many beaches, its prettiest viewpoint is located far away from any beach. Nestled on a cape that extends south into Lake Powell from Padre Bay and Warm Creek Bay is where you will find the iconic Alstrom Point viewpoint.
From Alstrom Point, you can see straight across Lake Powell. Looking down on a cross-section of the lake, you have a perfect viewpoint to appreciate all of the lake’s finger-like canyons. As you gaze across the horizon, your eyes will feast on the beauty of the hoodoo rock formations climbing out to rise above the water. And at sunset, you will marvel as the entire landscape seems to glow with the setting sun.
In my opinion, there are few areas in the continental United States that are as jam-packed with incredible landscapes and adventure opportunities than the American Southwest. The area is chalk-full of incredible slot canyons, mesa-filled valleys, amazing rock formations, and some of the most beautiful vistas your eyes will ever see. One of my favorite spots in the Southwest United States is the breathtaking Valley of the Gods in Southern Utah. With this Valley of the Gods guide in hand, you can be certain your trip to this enchanting place will be one you will never forget.
While Southern Utah’s five incredible national parks may get most of the attention from visiting travelers, you would be remiss to discount the region’s many incredible state parks. One of the most popular and most beautiful of these state parks is the amazing Goblin Valley State Park. Renowned for its valley filled with stunning rock formations, Goblin Valley State Park rivals Bryce Canyon National Park in terms of beautiful rock formations. In addition to the beauty of the park, there are also several incredible things for visitors to do within the park as well. In this Goblin Valley State Park guide, I will spotlight the many spectacular viewpoints, trails, and activities that are available to travelers who visit the park.
monuments, state parks, and recreation areas with miles upon miles of incredible trails and challenging climbing routes to explore. Some of the most popular features in the area with outdoor enthusiasts are the many incredible slot canyons. In this Leprechaun Canyon trail guide, I am going to let you know why the Leprechaun Canyon slot is one of my favorite slot canyons in all of Southern Utah. Not only is this slot canyon incredibly beautiful, but it is also one of the lesser-known slot canyons in the area, so it is not nearly as crowded as some of the others. Best of all, the Leprechaun Canyon slot is relatively easy to get to and explore (if you aren’t doing any climbing), so it is a slot canyon that the whole family can enjoy!
There are a number of spectacularly beautiful backcountry hikes that you can take in the Southern Utah area, but my favorite is undoubtedly the hike to Reflection Canyon in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. While it is one of the most breathtaking hikes that you will find in the area, it is also one of the most difficult. There is no marked trail to help you navigate the roughly 15-mile round trip hike thru slot canyons and deep washes, and shelter from the blistering sun is almost non-existent. That’s why I believe this trail earns every bit of the “Difficult” rating that it has been given. The awe-inspiring beauty of Reflection Canyon is definitely something that all backcountry hikers should see in their lifetime, but it is important that you are prepared for this hike before setting out. I have created this Reflection Canyon trail guide to help you with that preparation so that you can complete this hike safely and successfully.
When people see my photographs of the incredible Antelope Canyon on Instagram, I am often asked for recommendations on when and how to book a tour. My advice is always to book early and be prepared to deal with crowds. You see, the two times I visited the canyon were well over a decade ago, and there was far less demand for tours and the crowds were much smaller. I still think Antelope Canyon is an incredible sight that you should try and see at least once in your life. However, if you are either trying to book a tour last minute or would like a beautiful canyon experience without the massive crowds, then I would suggest that you keep reading my Waterhole Canyon guide. Believe me, this breathtaking canyon won’t be a secret for long either, so this is your chance to tour it before the crowds get much larger!
Planning a road trip across the United States to visit some of the country’s beautiful national parks is a time honored tradition for many Americans, and something that draws visitors from around the world to the country each year to enjoy. The United States is filled with many beautiful park lands that showcase all different types of incredible landscapes. In my opinion, one of the most underrated national park lands in the United States is the breathtaking Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. In putting together this Great Sand Dunes Guide, I had little trouble thinking of amazing things for visitors to see and do within this unique and beautiful park.
