-
6 Incredible State Parks in Southern Utah
Southern Utah is a land of hyperbolic beauty and awe-inspiring desert scenery. Boasting glorious red rock formations and chiseled canyons, it is a destination that is at once dazzling, unique, and otherworldly. Utah’s national parks understandably get much of the attention. After all, they are among the most geologically fascinating areas in the United States. But southern Utah’s beauty isn’t limited to the grandeur of Zion, the delicacy of Arches, or the ruggedness of Canyonlands. In the shadow of Utah’s national parks, a handful of state parks lie scattered about…
-
Things to Do in Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire State Park may be only 50 miles from downtown Las Vegas, but it feels world’s away from the city’s casino-flanked strip. Throughout the park, the stillness of nature replaces a constant whirl of slot machines, and age-old rocks tell the stories of those who once called the area home. The Valley of Fire lies amidst a seemingly endless expanse of parched grey rock. Covering nearly 46,000 acres of the Mojave Desert, the state park is a place where Nevada’s barren landscape puts on a dramatic and colorful…
-
Driving the Mount Baker Scenic Byway to Artist Point
Artist Point lies at the end of the Mount Baker Scenic Byway, near Washington’s border with Canada. A striking viewpoint of epic proportions, it boasts a 360 degree canvas of picture perfection. Artist Point’s craggy snow-clad mountains puncture the horizon in all directions. Looking southward, Mount Baker’s snow-clad cone looms above the forest. To the east, the peaks and valleys of North Cascades National Park disappear into the distance. Northward, Mount Shuksan’s lopsided dome acts as a magnet for photographers and artists. Beneath their elegant winter regalia, these dazzling mountains…
-
11 Scenic Waterfalls in Washington State
When I close my eyes and think of Washington State, rainfall is one of the first things that comes to mind. The northwesternmost corner of the continental US is notoriously wet and dreary. For most of the year, a thick grey cloud hovers over the state’s western half. It ejects bucketfuls of water each winter and ensures that there are never too many consecutive days of sunshine. As a Washington resident, I find myself complaining about the rain all the time. I lament that it precludes me from enjoying the…
-
Driving the Burr Trail Road in Utah
Southern Utah’s desolate swath of desert features towering rock spires, chiseled canyons, and lonely dirt roads. It is a place that beckons to explorers and adventure-seekers. A place synonymous with the American West. A place where signs of life abound, despite the odds. John Burr was a 19th century Mormon settler who grew up in this rugged and formidable backcountry. In order to move his cattle to greener pastures, he created a pathway that cut through the area’s barren desert and Waterpocket Fold. The cattle trail later became known as…
-
Driving the Cathedral Valley Loop in Capitol Reef
Utah’s Cathedral Valley Loop features towering rock spires, soaring monoliths, colorful painted hillsides, and sweeping desert vistas. The spectacular 57.6 mile drive weaves in and out of Capitol Reef National Park and contains some of the American Southwest’s most dramatic features. And yet, despite its beauty, the Cathedral Valley is a place where solitude abounds. Due to poor roads and a lack of travel infrastructure, only a small fraction of Capitol Reef’s visitors bear witness to the area’s unique landforms. Aside from the occasional jeep rumbling down a sandy road,…
