Traveling has always been part of my life, and this time, I’m rekindling past trips to the richest places in terms of beauty and history. I am referring to the beautiful canyon lands in south western USA. I’ve been to several national parks and recreation sites during my stay in Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. However, the most unforgettable ones are my trips to the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Canyonlands. I’ve come to love seeing these famous tourist spots and I must say that they are indeed magnificent to look at and a must-see for any jetsetter. In fact, they are the most stunning natural wonders I have yet seen in my whole life. I can only recommend you to check out all of the great Canyon-parks.

Arizona is known for the Grand Canyon, which is located at northwest Arizona, just a two-hour drive from Nevada and Utah. The waters that run through the canyon lands come from the waters of the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon is actually a steep gorge divided into two rims, the north and south rims, in which climate and vegetation differ significantly. Now known as the Grand Canyon National Park, it’s really one of the world’s greatest wonders, and such a lovely sight to look at.
In Utah, the famous Bryce Canyon also attracted me with its peculiarity and plateau-like existence. I could even distinguish small rock formations which looked like huge spears from afar, and corner rocks which form similar building structures as those in Greece. To get to the Bryce Canyon in Utah, I had to ride a plane coming from Nevada and take the bus going through Cedar City. There is a free shuttle which takes people around the Bryce Canyon, but I heard they only have those from May until September.

Another major attraction in Utah is the Canyonlands National Park, where the Colorado River divides the park into four sections: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the remaining rivers which are sub-sections of the Colorado River. The Island in the Sky is located in a high mesa top overlooking the canyons. The Needles area is called such because of the presence of needle-like structures within this southeast corner of Canyonlands. The Maze is called such because of the high-walled canyons which are actually the least accessible among the canyon land areas. It is quite confusing, and travel there could take a week, so I refused to see it in actual. The River area is generally the combination of great white water rapid rivers, the Green River and the Colorado River. Canyonlands National Park has countless canyons which are so nice to look at and each canyon rock has its own character when seen closely

Canyons are not just there for nothing. Canyons exist to alter the courses of certain river systems which cannot on their own alter their flow. It actually helps nature in its cycle of replenishing earth’s resources. Also, canyons form limestone rocks which are used in architecture. They sometimes make up the facades of skyscrapers in the city. There are other national parks that serve people’s aesthetic cravings, but the canyons of Arizona and Utah serves a different craving, a craving for magnificence in its truest form.

I have been in Capitol Reef in 2008 and must say that it is one of the most stunning locations on earth. This is a short guide about what you should check out there and what not.

It might look like a giant robust bulldozer dug through this trench of the earth’s crust; but actually, the Capitol Reef is an important natural wonder. The Capitol Reef National Park has been protecting this famous place because of its significance to the immediate environment. I’ve been to the Capitol Reef park and I must say that they did a really good job in turning the place into a sight to behold for tourists and locals alike. Once you enter the park, you will be stunned by the serious high-cliffs where you can take a good look at the trench which lines the coast of Utah.

Capitol Reef is not accessible by any means of transportation except by helicopter. However, a bus service takes visitors around the park all day. Beneath the cliffs, they will see the natural formation of the Capitol Reef, which is simply a waterpocket fold that stretched all the way through until the end of the land form. This waterpocket came from the Thousand Lake Mountain all the way to the Colorado River. Just like the Grand Canyon, its geological history dates back to the early Mesozoic era, where water sedimentary deposits grew rich, thus causing the rock formations around to grow immensely. The Capitol Reef is also a waterway for the Colorado River’s smaller water systems and streams. Therefore, it is still an important land and rock formation that needs to be protected and taken cared of.

Much of the Capitol Reef National Park’s beauty is due to the colourful cliffs surrounding the area. I was hooked on admiring the multicolor cliffs and I was able to see a huge sample of the limestone rocks which have been formed at Capitol Reef. These rocks were located inside the park’s Capitol Reef exhibit. Like all land forms, there are also sections within the Capitol Reef, but most are not accessible. These sections are grouped into categories called Members. The Black Dragon Member, the Sinbad Limestone Member, the Torrey Member, and the Moody Canyon Member are those four sections within the Capitol Reef. These are what make up the pile-up of rock. Each layer measures differently. The shortest among all of them would be the Moody Canyon Member, which is only 300-400 feet thick. However, imagine how tall these rock formations really are if the shortest layer was that thick. It’s like ten Eiffel towers piled up on top of each other.

If there’s one word to describe the Capitol Reef, its existence and the madness in the way it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the desert lands, it would be magnificence. It may have been a fluke of nature, but there certainly is more history in these rock formations than say, my virgin trip to the desert lands. I have been fortunate enough to see this place unfold before my eyes. I wouldn’t think twice on visiting this park again. Capitol Reef National Park is definitely in my list of places to reach before I die.

I have been in Arches in 2008. I must say that it was stunning and I will never forget my trip there. Not only because of the amazing rock formations but also because of the intense heat… It was around 110° and I felt like polar bear suffering from global warming.

The Arches National Park is one of the most interesting natural parks that lies a good five miles north of Moab, Utah. The long drive didn’t bore me because I was able to enjoy the scenic view of the vast countryside, coupled with views of desert lands and peaks. To access Arches, we had to walk on foot, but the park offers free shuttle service for visitors going around the park.

Once inside the park, I was welcomed by dozens and dozens of arched rock formations which are some hundred miles away. The most interesting among all of them would be the Delicate Arch, where it’s such a refreshing feeling to watch the sunset.

There are four routes which you can follow if you’d like to take a hike around Arches National Park. The trail we followed was the Delicate Arch trail, as I insisted on seeing the arch up-close. The first of the four is the Windows loop trail which will take you to view the Turret Arch. A few more upward steps and you will reach the Double Arch. This trail is also popular for the Balanced Rock, which allows an underneath path you can walk through.

The next trail is the Delicate Arch trail which runs from the Wolfe Ranch up to that most famous arch in the world. I was fortunate enough to see it, and spend most of the afternoon enjoying the magnificence of the canyons surrounding the trail. What attracted me to it is how definitive it looks. It’s a wonder how nature could have constructed such a fluke, and it turned out to be somewhat artistic as well as reminiscent of Greco-Roman architecture.

Devils Garden leads to the Landscape Arch, probably the world’s longest arch. Another famous trail leads to the Sand Dune Arch, where you’ll pass grassy fields that would finally lead to the Broken Arch. All trails have paths leading back to the campgrounds where visitors also enjoy campfires and picnics. I enjoyed a picnic with my friends after a long hike going to the Delicate Arch.

There are also a number of activities which one can do inside the Arches National Park. These activities include auto touring, backpacking, biking, camping, climbing, commercial tours, hiking, photography, attractions, and ranger-led programs. I was only able to try hiking and auto touring along with my friends, but I heard that climbing the small mountains was quite rewarding. Other nearby attractions relatively near the Arches are the Aztec Ruins National Monument, Canyonlands National Park, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Hovenweep National Monument, Mesa Verde National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument.

I’ve been to some of the other recreational areas, and canyon parks, but for me, the most interesting places would be the Arches National Park. The canyons are beautiful and exotic, but they have that sophistication which is mostly attributed to the park itself. Many visitors also find it peaceful and yet it brings a combination of the chaotic power of nature and the result of natural flash floods.

I have been in the national park Capitol Reef in 2008 and when I now recall must say that it is one of the most beautiful places on earth I have ever seen. For everyone that plans going there I recommend you to read my short guide which will help you to decide what you really wanna do in the park.

They say it’s a fluke of nature, but the monocline which is a long wrinkle-like formation in the earth’s crust resulted into a 100-mile reef which became known as the Capitol Reef. I was fortunate enough to see this on-board a helicopter above the Utah Valley University which is located in south central Utah, near the Capitol Reef National Park field, which is eight miles west from Torrey, Utah, the town nearest Capitol Reef. There are no public transportation that will take you around the park, so it’s best to drive your own car going to the location. You will be welcomed by the stunning high-walled cliffs, and a spectacular view of the waterpocket fold once you enter Cedar City, Utah.

The Capitol Reef National Park has daily open house shuttle bus service which takes visitors around the park from the Cal Pendleton Field in the Fruita area up to the Field Station where they can take a tour around the park. The Capitol Reef Park is under the administration of the Zion National Park, and is maintained a national park.

Capitol Reef is made up mostly of the Waterpocket Fold, or that wrinkle in the earth’s crust. This place has so much history since Native Americans have also lived around the waterpocket fold in the northern part of Capitol Reef. However, due to extreme drought, the lands were abandoned eventually. The rivers which used to flow along this waterpocket fold ran from the Thousand Lake Mountain, going south until it reaches the Colorado River, now know as Lake Powell.

Capitol Reef is composed of multi-colored cliffs which inspire anyone who sees this attraction. However, behind these colourful cliffs is a history that dates back to the early Mesozoic era, and 10,000 feet of sedimentary rock formation is visible in this area. Rock deposits, such as sandstone, then later on limestone, are abundant in the cliffs. Each rock formation has unique characteristics, much like different kinds of fossils (remains of living organisms). Due to changes in climate and exposure to water and different elements, the Capitol Reef resulted into the Moenkopi Formation which has four members: the Black Dragon Member, the Sinbad Limestone Member, the Torrey Member, and the Moody Canyon Member. The youngest is the Moody Canyon Member which is only 320 to 430 feet thick.

Most of Capitol Reef Park’s attractions are amazing, and visiting the other parts of the reef is not a waste of time as well. The Capitol Dome, Hickman Bridge, the Waterpocket Fold itself, and the Cathedral Valley are must-sees in this large, extensive national park. The day’s hike isn’t so bad, despite the summer’s heat which is terribly hot in these areas, since you’d get to see a lot of amazing red rock cliffs and mountains around you while you hike along. The quirks of nature have become the most magnificent sights to behold for anyone who visits Capitol Reef. It’s only a few hours driver from sunny Nevada, and I guarantee you a great picnic and hiking adventure for the whole family to enjoy.

If you are going to the South-West of the USA then you will probably want to see some of the national parks there. There are plenty of them and perhaps you do not have time to check out all of them. This is a short guide to help you with choosing good parks which you wanna visit. I recommend you to take at least 3 weeks of holidays, else it might not be relaxing. You need to drive a lot, although compared to the size of the States, all parks are relatively close together. But, I always prefer to not rush from park to park… I have been in all parks which I described here in this article. All of them were fantastic . I must however say that I liked Zion most…

If you are going to Zion National Park from Las Vegas, you can take I-15 north to UT 9 then take Highway number 9. The one hundred fifty-mile trip can be done for about two and a half to three hours. If you are coming from Salt Lake City, take I-15 south to Torqueville exit or exit 27. Just follow SR 17 to Highway 9 then turn left to the Zion National Park. The three hundred mile-trip takes approximately five to six hours. Once you are there and have some time to spare: you need an hour and a half travel from Zion National Park to the Chamberlain’s Ranch. It is just a one-way hike so parking your car at the visitor’s center is necessary then just drive your car to the Chamberlain’s Ranch. I can also suggest taking the shuttle. When I was entering the park it was in the evening, it was already dark. It was just stunning to see the sharp and steam cliffs to the left and right. I still remember that my mother was really scared and wanted to turn to get out. It was just wow.

The next park which I really liked is around 1500 miles to the East of Zion. Arches National Park is one of the world’s biggest places of natural sandstone arches. It has the most fantastic and inspiring landscapes. The park contains different wonderful ecological formations including huge balanced rocks, sandstone fins and towering peaks. Various trails for hiking enthusiasts and viewpoints will definitely charm the tourists. The park also has many geological histories.

You can explore the Arches National Park in different ways. Tourists can enjoy the wonders of the park just by passing the area but if you want to take the pleasure of experiencing the hiking trails better, you must spend one or more days. You can choose from a wide variety of famous activities such as hiking, photography, auto touring and biking.

The largest park in Utah is the Canyonlands national park that has diverse scenic locations. Three districts divide the Canyonlands by Colorado Rivers and Green. These districts are the Needles, the Island in the Sky and the Maze, which have different characteristics to offer.

The Island in the Sky is the part of the park that is located at the top of a huge one thousand five hundred feet mesa. Most of the best views along Canyon Country can be visited by twenty miles of smooth roads. You can enjoy the scenic view of thousands of square miles of the Canyon Country area from these viewpoints. As I visited Canyonlands, I spent the whole afternoon just enjoying the sunset. I recommend that you do the same, or you can also take a short-day hike.

The Needles got its name from the wonderful sandstone spires from the ground. It is a ten-mile drive with perfect scenery. The adventure lovers can enjoy different astounding terrains. Grabens, arches, canyons and magnificent rock formations lie ahead for backpackers, hikers and 4WD lovers.

The Maze is known to be the wildest area in the Canyonlands National Park because of its remoteness and inaccessibility. The Maze is composed of puzzling canyons so if you are searching for serenity and adventure; the Maze is the best place for you.

Besides the Canyonlands National Parks and the Arches, you can also try hiking to the Moab area, which has numerous trails for everybody’s’ taste. You can experience the cool hikes in the stream-side and the wonderful sandstone arches. Moab is the town where you probably got your hotel anyways, so that is a good idea .