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forest gump point, on Utah highway 163 near monument valley

2-Week Southwest Road Trip Itinerary (Utah & Arizona Loop from Las Vegas)

A Southwest road trip is one of the best ways to experience the desert landscapes of the United States, with a high concentration of national parks, scenic drives, and unique geological formations within a relatively compact area. This 2-week itinerary focuses on a loop through Utah and Arizona, starting and ending in Las Vegas. Along the way, you’ll visit destinations such as Sedona, Page, Monument Valley, and Moab, before continuing to Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. Unlike...

devil's garden trail in arches national park

15 Must-Do Hiking Trails in Southern Utah

Southern Utah is one of the best regions in the U.S. for hiking, with an unusually high concentration of trails spread across several national parks and surrounding desert landscapes. Within a relatively small area of the state, you can hike through narrow slot canyons, walk along exposed slickrock, stand beneath massive sandstone arches, and follow the edges of deep canyon systems carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers. This guide highlights 15 of the most worthwhile hikes across southern Utah,...

la sal viewpoint at sunrise

Best Things to Do in Moab, Utah – Hikes, Scenic Drives & Outdoor Activities

Moab, Utah, is one of the best bases in the American Southwest for exploring desert landscapes, with easy access to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse Point State Park. Within a short drive, you can stand beneath massive sandstone arches, look out over deep canyon systems carved by the Colorado River, and hike across slickrock terrain that feels completely different from most other parts of the U.S. But Moab isn’t just about national parks. The surrounding area...

white rim canyon near moab

White Rim Overlook Trail – A Complete Guide to a Quiet Canyon View in Canyonlands

The White Rim Overlook Trail is one of the quieter hikes in Canyonlands National Park, Utah. This short out-and-back trail gradually descends across open desert terrain before reaching a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the White Rim far below. While the hike itself is straightforward, the final viewpoint provides a clear look at the impressive layered canyon system and the White Rim Road winding through the terrain below. Along the way, the landscape feels more open and less developed, with fewer people...

buck canyon overloook

Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky) – Best Things to Do

Canyonlands National Park protects one of the most dramatic landscapes in the American Southwest. Carved over millions of years by the Colorado and Green Rivers, the park is a vast expanse of deep canyons, towering mesas, and layered desert plateaus stretching across southeastern Utah. The park is divided into three distinct districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze, each separated by the rivers that shaped the landscape. Among them, Island in the Sky is by far the...

pinto arch trail near moab

Best Hiking Trails Around Moab, Utah

Moab, Utah, is one of the best hiking destinations in the American Southwest. Surrounded by two national parks, a state park, and vast areas of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the region offers an incredible variety of trails from short walks to iconic arches to panoramic viewpoints overlooking the Colorado River. This guide highlights the most rewarding hikes around Moab, including trails in Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and nearby desert landscapes. Some hikes...

canyon view in Dead Horse Point state park

Dead Horse Point State Park: How to Visit on the Way to Canyonlands

Perched high above the Colorado River, Dead Horse Point State Park offers one of the most dramatic canyon viewpoints in Utah. From the main overlook, the river makes a tight horseshoe bend nearly 2,000 feet (610 m) below, wrapping around a massive rock peninsula before continuing toward Canyonlands. Despite the scale of the view, Dead Horse Point is surprisingly easy to visit. The park sits directly along UT-313, the same road that leads from Moab to Canyonlands National Park’s Island...

mesa arch at sunrise

Mesa Arch Trail – A Complete Hiking Guide

Mesa Arch is one of the most photographed spots in Canyonlands National Park, and for good reason. The Mesa Arch Trail is a short loop that leads to this dramatic sandstone arch perched right at the edge of a canyon, framing a sweeping view over the rugged landscape of the Island in the Sky district. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about hiking the Mesa Arch Trail, including trail details, what to expect along the route,...

grand view point overlook in canyonlands

Grand View Point Trail – A Complete Guide to Canyonlands’ Best Rim Walk

The Grand View Point Trail is one of the best ways to experience the scale of Canyonlands National Park without having to undertake a long or difficult hike. Located at the southern end of the Island in the Sky scenic drive, this trail follows the edge of the mesa, offering continuous views of one of Utah‘s most stunning canyon systems below. Instead of a single viewpoint, the trail provides a series of overlooks, with perspectives that gradually open up as...

Stairmaster trail viewpoint

Stairmaster Trail (The Escalator) – A Hiking Guide to Moab’s Steepest Slickrock Climb

The Stairmaster Trail, often referred to as “The Escalator” on the Moab Rim Trail, is one of the steepest and most physically demanding short hikes in the Moab area. Starting just outside Moab, the trail climbs directly up a series of slickrock ledges, gaining elevation quickly as it ascends the edge of the Colorado River canyon. Unlike most hikes in nearby national parks, this route feels more rugged and direct, with sustained uphill climbing and very little flat terrain. While...

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