"Utah Full of National Parks" - Time Out #138

Our days are getting warmer, we're experiencing more daylight time, and all schools are almost out.

A great formula for a summer vacation break for sure!

Now the perplexing question of just where to go?

If you enjoy wide open spaces, room to stretch your arms, various locations to see lots of beautiful Mother Nature, and not too far to drive to from Our Town...........

How about the Beehive State----UTAH?

Because Utah is on the way to/from our beloved Jackson Hole, Wyoming, we have traveled through it several times over the past 35 or so years. We've flown over it many more times than driving, but the on-the-ground experiences of this diverse western state are the best.

For a state that is 13th in size and has only 29 counties, Utah has an amazing number of units managed by our National Park Service (NPS). Those numbers are 7 national monuments, 2 national recreation areas, 1 national historical site and 5 national parks. It is these "crown jewels", the 5 national parks, I will briefly describe, and, possibly, feature some of the state's other NPS sites in another installment.

Beginning in the far southwest corner of UT is magnificent Zion National Park. Highway access is prime at this incredible park, as north/south I-15 rims the park on its western edge. The main east/west road (UT Hwy. 9) actually runs completely through the southern park of the park, and 12 miles east is the settlement of Mt. Carmel Junction. Fuel, food and overnight lodging is available in Mt. Carmel Junction, and inside the park there is the Zion Lodge, first constructed in the mid-1920's. Springdale, population 529, has numerous tourist facilities, and is located at the park's southern entrance. Therefore, many area tourist choices are available.

Zion has a large visitor center, and to help with traffic congestion, a shuttle service runs during the summer months to various parking areas in and around the park.

Zion is all about hiking, and the beauty of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. This famous drive runs from the visitor center to the famous Temple of Sinawava. This icon is a huge natural amphitheater, with seasonal waterfalls usually cascading around it.

On to Bryce Canyon National Park just northeast of Zion, and it is also located in southwestern UT. The closest commercial settlement outside this park is Bryce Canyon City. location of several tourist motels/restaurants/fuel. Inside the smaller park is the Lodge at Bryce Canyon, a historic hotel in keeping with the rustic theme of the American west,

This park contains some of earth's most colorful rocks. They have been sculpted by erosion into incredible pillars called "hoodoos" and other strange forms. Their colors are extremely varied, giving the area unusual hues during the changing daylight hours. It has a educational visitor center, an 18-mile Park Road to help tourists see the majestic sites and offers horseback riding within the park as does Zion. Hiking trails are numerous, and offer all levels of potential exercise.

Next to mention are two awesome areas in the southeastern part of the state, Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park. The former encompasses deeply eroded canyons interspersed with sheer-sided mesas. Also present are a variety of spires, arches and unusual rock formations.The park contains the wild Green and Colorado rivers that, at their confluence, divides the park into 3 distinct districts. Those districts are the Island in the Sky (has a visitor center), Needles (also has a visitor center) and the least accessible area, the Maze area. In addition to hiking, horseback riding and auto sight-seeing opportunities, because of the rivers, canoeing, kayaking and white-water rafting are also offered.

Next door, relatively speaking, is smaller, unusual, Arches National Park. It lies only 5 miles northwest of the city of Moab, population just a few over 5,000 residents, but full of fun, excitement and tourist services. I spent an overnight and a few hours in Moab, and would highly recommend it for a visitor to this isolated area.

Arches is a very rugged area that contains the largest number of natural stone arches in our great country. Along with more than 2,000 arches are many red rock canyon, spires, fins, and balancing rocks. To view these numerous masterpieces of Mother Nature is spellbinding, especially when viewed against their rough, wild backgrounds. It is easy to spend hours there, simply admiring their grace and curves. They, too, have an informative visitor center.

Lastly is Capitol Reef National Park, located in the south central part of the state.The town servicing this park is Torrey, population 182, located 5 miles west of the park. This small town has several tourist-support options.

This park was named for the reef-like cliffs topped by white Navajo sandstone formations. Through erosion, these tops resemble the dome of our federal capitol in Washington, D.C. Like the other 4 parks, it is open year-round, offers hiking, horseback riding, a nice visitor center, an adjacent nature center, and some scenic vehicle driving opportunities.

Wow, so much to do in this very different state!

Better go start your travel vehicle, and head off to Utah. You certainly will enjoy what it has to offer.