Utah National Parks Tour & Roads Less Traveled

A quick spring trip to Utah and Las Vegas provided spectacular weather to tour the National Parks in southern Utah. Bryce Canyon National Park was our first stop and despite the warm day there was the wonderful contrast of snow against the red formations and dark green of the pines.

The Arch in Bryce is one of the most photographed formations and I couldn't resist another shot.
The Bryce overlook provides a spectauclar view of hundreds of formations that make Bryce so unique, which incidentaly turned out to be Ken's favorite.

Later in the day we drove through Zion National Park, my personal favorite. The awesome majesty of the high rock walls and narrow canyon roads are so spectacular.

This photo was actually shot from one of the tunnel windows. A photo of the tunnel window is below, lower center right).

We stayed in Vegas, which is a total shock to the senses after being in the national parks all day, but still an interesting experience!

We took the tram into the depths of the canyon at Zion the next evening and walked as far as the trails allowed. A very intersting phenomena is the fern grotto type areas where water runs down the canyon walls allowing ferns, columbine and other plants grow, clinging to rock walls.

The following day we returned to Las Vegas to meet Ken's cousin and his wife from Germany. We toured Hoover Dam.

Another breath of fresh air west of Vegas is the Red Rocks National Conservancy.

On the last day of our tour, we saw four National Parks! We had stayed at Hurricane Utah 2 nights, so upon leaving; we enjoyed one more drive through Zion.

And one more shot out of another window in the tunnel.

Scenic byways provided unending and the most varied views of formations, mountains, aspens and remote small towns. The Dixie National Forest had more aspen than I had ever seen in one location and they went on and on as we drove through the mountains.
A slender divide road on hwy 12, close to Escalante, was most unique road we have ever been on. You drive a fine line with drop off on either side!

The small town of Boulder in a remote valley was so beautiful that a trip back to that spot is definetly planned. This remote town is so remote that they received their mail by pack mule until the 1930's (the last town in the US to recieve regular mail delivery as we now know it).
The Henry mountain range in eastern Utah is seen from this photo.

Capitol Reef National Park was the next stop petroglyhs are one of the main attractions in a beautiful rich valley, occupied by ancient farmers over 600-700 years ago and modern farmers into the last century.

At Hanksville, we turned southeast on hwy 95 and stopped at the Cataract Canyon and Orange Cliff area of the Lake Powell National Recreation Area. Because of extensive and lasting drought in the southwest the last several years, the reservior is probably down 80 feet.

Our final park for the day was Natural Bridges. We arrived close to sunset, so most of the bridges, being so deep in the valley; were in shadows and did not photograph well. There is a brige in this last photo.

This park has some fabulous trails that allow you to hike down into the canyon and view the bridges on an up close and personal basis. You can even stand under the largest natural bridge in the world! (Next trip for us!).

This glimpse of some of the most spectacular natural wonders and nature are only a part of what is available in the our United States. Be sure you always take the less traveled road! You never know what lies around the next curve!