America the beautiful. It’s time to go wondering. Our Drive to Capital Reef National Park from Bryce National Park was made spectacular because we chose to drive the scenic HWY 12 byway with a designation of an All America Road. Only one-third of America’s scenic byways get this distinction, and it’s given because these roads offer unique features that you can’t find elsewhere making these byways tourist destinations unto themselves. Your adventure begins today.

Hwy 12 is 122.863 miles (to be exact) of pure driving 🚙 bliss. Welcome to Utah’s Scenic Byway 12, also known as “A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway.” In short, fans of scenic driving, motorcycle 🏍 touring, epic bike rides, and people with a love of journey. It’s even better if loved ones don’t mind you saying “wow” a thousand times over the course of the 122-mile drive. Begin to plan your adventure today.

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The All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12 connects U.S. 89 near Panguitch on the west with S.R. 24 near Torrey on the northeast. It is not the quickest route between these two points, but it far and away the best. We truly believe that often we have a destination in mind and the destination quickly takes a backseat to the journey as we climb into the Dixie National Forest. We could not stop pulling the car over to gawk and marvel at another overlook.

A stop at the scenic overlook near the road’s summit at about 9,000 feet puts it all into perspective. Atmosphere envelopes distant lands, the Henry Mountains, Grand Staircase–Escalante, and the shimmering red rock of Capitol Reef National Park. Contrasting stands of subalpine fir and aspen decorate the immediate surroundings.

Rookie Mistake: This is one pretty epic road. Sure, the whole drive can be completed in three hours if you’re just passing through. But on the other hand — If we had a do over we would recommend a week exploring this stretch of roads and multiple state parks (Kodachrome Basin, Escalante Petrified Forest, Anasazi State Park Museum), national parks (Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef), scenic backways for travelers with 4 wheel drive(Cottonwood Canyon, Hole-in-the-Rock, Burr Trail, Hell’s Backbone) and virtually endless outdoor recreation options on the expansive Dixie National Forest.

Road warriors need to pass the time when on the road. I highly recommend the Audible books 📚

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As you proceed east from Bryce Canyon ,you’ll enjoy driving through the two red arches in Red Canyon. Then, you’ll be in awe as you lay witness to the actual “stairs” in the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument just past Henrieville — a different color of sandstone to the north and to the south. Along the “Hogsback” between Escalante and Boulder, hairpin turns dare you on a road that drops off drastically from the shoulders down into deep canyons below.

You’ll yet again change geography as you traverse through the aspen and pine groves, and meadowlands of Boulder Mountain before finally heading back to the desert near Capitol Reef. Don’t worry, there are plenty of pull-offs and scenic overlooks so you don’t have to take pictures while driving (not recommended).

Capital Reef National Park

The Fruita Campground is often described as an oasis within the desert. Adjacent to the Fremont River and surrounded by historic orchards, this developed campground has 71 sites. This park has captured our hearts 💕 and was one of our favorite of Utah’s Mighty 5 (Zion,Bryce, Capital Reef, Arches, and Canyonland).

Robin love 💕 to cook 👩‍🍳 and her favorite accoutrement is this fish spatula from Amazon also check out her recipes within the webpage. All tried and delicious 😋 while on the road.

Each site has a picnic table and firepit and/or above ground grill, but no individual water, sewage, or electrical hookups. There is a RV dump and potable water 💦 fill station near the entrance to Loops A and B. Restrooms feature running water and flush toilets, but no showers 🚿. Accessible sites are located adjacent to restrooms. The campsites are a little close together for our liking however sleeping under the red canyons in a historic orchid was out of this world.

The nightly fee is $20.00 ($10.00 for Golden Age/Senior Pass or Golden Access/Access Pass holders). Check-out time is 11:00 am. The Fruita Campground is open year-round, and is the only developed campground in Capitol Reef National Park. Highly recommend: The Gifford House Store and Museum sells baked goods, coffee and tea, canned goods, ice cream 🍦, and other snacks during the spring and summer season (usually March through October). We purchased the homemade pies 🥧 and cinnamon rolls. They were delicious 😋.

The Fruita Historic District could be considered the heart of Capitol Reef National Park. For thousands of years, people have called this verdant valley home. Now the Fruita Historic District offers visitors opportunities to experience amazing geology, learn about human history, and explore a diverse landscape. We were amazed to view the petroglyphs along the trails. Capital Reef offers a little something for everyone and is not as crowded as many of the other Utah parks.

This site contains paid advertisements. By clicking the links it does not cost you any extra money as the seller pays Travelswithgg a referral fee. We will never place any links without 100% satisfaction of a product we use.

Traveling across the country is challenging enough to not have to worry about ones drinking water. We carry with us the Berkey water filtration system which we consider one of the best on the market

Hiking in Capital Reef

When you die and get to watch the movie of your life, you’d better hope there’s a montage about when you hiked all of the following. If not all the angels will pity you and it will be awkward.

• Hickman Bridge: This gawk-worthy natural bridge is a three-for-one nature special: After a short hike and a moderate amount of effort, you’ll see the bridge in question, its kid sister — the miniature Nels Johnson bridge — and the ruins from a Fremont pit house. Now that’s some efficient fun!
• Cathedral Valley: Want to see all the world’s religious architectures done in red rock by an invisible geologic hand? Head over to the remote Cathedral Valley, where you can wander amongst the Temples of the Sun, Moon and Stars, as well as the Walls of Jericho. When you’re done picking your jaw off the ground, head away from these stone monoliths to Glass Mountain — a hill of shimmering crystals — or the giant Gypsum Sinkhole.
• Goosenecks Overlook: Get some perspective on life and eons of geologic time with this quick jaunt to a vista overlooking Sulphur Creek, which winds it way in tight turns through a layer cake of rainbow rock 800 feet below.
• Cassidy Arch
• Frying Pan
• View all hikes at Capitol Reef

Must do the scenic drive through the park.

The Scenic Drive is a 7.9 mile (12.7 km) paved road, suitable for passenger vehicles. Allot about an hour and half roundtrip to drive the Scenic Drive and the two dirt spur roads, Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge. Unless you are advised roads are not safe, we recommend driving into the gorge on the dirt road all the way to the end. It is almost as impressive as Scenic Hwy 12.

These dirt spur roads enter canyons and lead to trailheads, and are usually suitable for passenger cars and RVs up to 27 feet in length. The Scenic Drive, Grand Wash, and Capitol Gorge roads can be closed due to snow, ice, mud, and flash floods. Check at the visitor center, or call 435-425-3791, for possible road closures.

Off Road Trail near Capital Reef

Off-road enthusiasts are required to keep vehicles on designated routes when driving within Capitol Reef National Park. That said, inside the park there are rugged routes leading into scenic areas, and many of the park’s colorful vistas may be experienced from jeep trails just outside park boundaries. Recommended drives include:

Cathedral Valley

Vehicles with good ground clearance can usually negotiate the 58-mile loop road through spectacular Cathedral Valley’s stark landscape, past such landmarks as the Temples of the Sun & Moon and Glass Mountain. Road conditions can vary greatly depending on recent weather conditions so check at the visitor center for current road and weather information before visiting Cathedral Valley.

Hartnet Road

The western half of the Cathedral Valley Loop, or the Hartnet Road, begins 11.7 miles east of the Visitors Center off Utah Hwy 24. Visitors must ford the Freemont River soon after leaving the highway, which may require a 4WD vehicle, in order to take this route to Cathedral Valley. The remaining 24 miles provide a sweeping view of the Blue Flats and the South Desert. High clearance vehicles are recommended. Travelers should stop by the Visitor Center for the most recent updates on weather and road conditions.

Caineville Wash Road

The eastern side of the Cathedral Valley Loop, or the Caineville Wash Road, begins 18.6 miles east of the Visitor Center. By taking the eastern side of the Cathedral Valley Loop, visitors avoid the Fremont River Ford. For those planning to drive the entire loop it is recommended that they start at the River Ford to make sure they are able to make the crossing. Conditions on the Caineville Wash road vary widely based on recent weather. Check with the Visitor Center for current road information.

Burr Trail

The Burr Trail is one of the most popular backroads in southern Utah. From Boulder, it extends for about 68 miles through Grand Staircase-Escalante’s Long Canyon and Circle Cliffs, the Waterpocket Fold of Capitol Reef National Park, and other amazing scenery to Hwy 276 above Bullfrog Marina on Lake Powell.

Boulder Mountain

Boulder Mountain, south of SR 24, has many roads that are excellent for 4-wheel drive vehicles. North of Boulder Mountain, over the back of Thousand Lake Mountain via Loa and Fremont, is a ruggedly scenic 25-mile route into Cathedral Valley in Capitol Reef National Park.

South Draw Road

This high clearance 4-wheel-drive road stretches from Pleasant Creek to the park boundary near Tantalus Flats. The road is rocky and rough, and crosses the creek several times. In harsh weather the road becomes impassable for even 4WD vehicles. Access to the road from Boulder Mountain is closed during winter because of deep snow.

Notom-Bullfrog Road

This dirt road intersects Utah Hwy 24 9.3 miles east of the Capitol Reef Visitor Center and stretches south to Bullfrog Marina. This road offers beautiful scenery as well as superb hiking; access to many of the park’s backcountry trails can be found along this route. The condition of this road changes with the weather. It is recommended that visitors check with the Visitor Center before heading out.

Money saving tip: Buy the annual national parks pass. The cost is $80. If you plan on being in any of the National parks more than three times you will save money. The pass will also allow you access to the National Monuments and sometimes discounts in the National Forest 🌳. There’s also discounts for seniors which can be applied against camping threw out America. Other discounts apply so please read the eligibility we can save you more money. We estimate we saved over $600 in park fees. 

Mountain Biking options

Four designated roads throughout Capitol Reef National Park allow visitors to experience the splashes of colors via bike. Bicycles are not allowed off road, washes, closed roads, or other trails to protect the fragile desert environment. Bring plenty of water, as water is difficult to find on all routes. Reservations may be required; so check with the visitor’s center for availability. For overnight trips, camping is allowed in three designated campgrounds or along nearby BLM or USFS lands.

A handout available at the visitor center identifies and describes recommended routes.

Quick link to Fruita Campground Website

Drone flying is fast becoming a hobby of mine. After much research I purchased the Mini from DJI. I am very satisfied but still an amateur having a blast. Check out our drone videos within the blog which we hope you will enjoy.

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After 12,000 miles on the road and hundreds of miles hiking 🥾 throughout America, our Merrells have withstood all types of terrain and although they may be dirty, the quality is outstanding and are ready for the next 12,000.

Being on the water is very therapeutic and lots of fun. Space is always our issue so the inflatable kayak was our answer. Easy to inflate but we did buy a battery 🔋 pump to make life easy. We have kayaked the lakes of Montana, Idaho, Arkansas, Minnesota, South Carolina, Arizona and the Intex has not let us down.

Robin’s favorite outdoor cooking utensil

Great personal usb fans. Perfect for warm dry camping nights

Our Retro Jr offers only so much space so to expand the cooking area, Robin loves this easy to put up table from Lifetime. No issues after multiple setups and break downs.

We enjoy a good cup of coffee ☕️ and one of our favorite cafes offers a pour over. ( How to make the best pour over coffee) If you are still making coffee in a pot break the yoke of social conformity and consider alternatives to a drink of the gods (coffee) every morning. This Insta Pot has been a godsend to our travels.

Campers are for the most part very honest and friendly people. However, pulling GG through a city and leaving her to go explore can make one feel uneasy 😬 so this easy locking 🔒 system was our solution.

Our teardrop does not come with a refridgerator do coolers are our life blood. We needed to keep our food cold for days on end and these coolers did the trick.

Any road trip Near Santa Fe, New Mexico would not be complete without a visit to Bandelier National Monument which lies 23 miles away. It did take us an hour to drive through the 🏔 mountains; albeit, the stunning landscape helps the time fly. Every turn through the mountains has a more incredible view.

Near Las Almos, NM, the Bandelier Monument preserves the homes and territory of the Ancestral Puebloans also knowN as the Anasazi. These structures date to between 1150 and 1600 AD. We hiked 🥾 around and into these cliff homes and are sure it will amaze young and old visitors. There are 128 National Monuments located in the USA 🇺🇸 and we recommend stopping 🛑 by as many as you can if they are on your journey. 🚶‍♀️ You will be impressed.

Money saving tip: Buy the annual national parks pass. The National Park Pass will also allow access to all the national monuments. The cost is $80. If you plan on being in any of the National Parks more than three times within a year then you will save money. The pass will sometimes allow discounts to camping in the National Forest 🌳. There’s also discounts for seniors which can be applied against camping threw out America. Other discounts apply so please read the eligibility which can save you more money. We estimate we saved over $600 in park fees. 

This site contains paid advertisements. By clicking the links it does not cost you any extra money as the seller pays Travelswithgg a referral fee. We will never place any links without 100% satisfaction of a product we use.

Traveling across the country is challenging enough to not have to worry about ones drinking water. We carry with us the Berkey water filtration system which we consider one of the best on the market.

Hiking and exploring Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument has over 70 miles of trail within its boundaries and many more miles that connect out into the adjacent Santa Fe National Forest Lands.

We hiked the Main (Pueblo) Loop Trail and Alcove House Trail (click here for more information) which are accessed from the visitor center in Frijoles Canyon. These trails take you to many Ancestral Pueblo sites. We highly recommend adding an extra 1 mile and include the Alcove House trail to your plans.

The Main (Pueblo) Loop Trail is a 1.4 mile loop trail through archeological sites. Most visitors spend between 45 minutes and one hour on this trail. Ladders along the trail allow visitors to climb into cavates (small human-carved alcoves). The Main (Pueblo) Loop Trail takes you past the Big Kiva, Tyuonyi, Talus House, and Long House.

Pick up a $2 trail guide at the Park Store to learn more about the sites along the trail through descriptions of 21 numbered stops.

The first section of this trail is flatter and may be travelled by wheelchairs and strollers; however, some areas exceed accessibility standards and some areas contain stairs/dropoffs. In winter, this is the only trail on which the snow is removed.

The Falls Trail is another trail that is very popular (click here for more information). It takes you to a beautiful waterfall. Before the flash floods of 2011 the trail continued to the Lower Falls and ultimately to the Rio Grande. Flooding destroyed the trail leaving no access to the Rio Grande from Frijoles Canyon. There are no archeological sites on this trail. We did not allow enough time to explore this trail but on our next visit it is a must do.

The Falls Trail starts at the end of the Backpacker’s Parking Lot near the visitor center. The trail descends 400 vertical feet in its 1.5 mile length to the Upper Falls. A beautiful trail in any season, this trail is not cleared of snow in the winter and can be extremely icy.

There are steep dropoffs along the trail and plank bridges 🌉 across the creek. We Use to call this a Robert E Lee overpass (log across a stream). Keep children close at all times and watch for wildlife. Take plenty of water 💧 . Water from the creek should not be drunk without first treating it.

THIS TRAIL IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO WHEELCHAIRS OR STROLLERS.

Within Bandelier’s 33,000 acres there are over 70 miles of trail. Some trails are short easy loops while others can encompass many miles and steep rocky switchbacks. There are even several trails suitable for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in the winter. Longer backcountry trails often involve hiking more than 12 miles round-trip. Wilderness permits are required and are available at the visitor center for overnight stays in the park’s backcountry. Water is not readily available on most backcountry trails. Please check at the visitor center for current conditions before hiking in the backcountry.

Pets, bicycles, and pack animals are not permitted on any park trails.

Frijoles Rim and Canyon Trail
Yapahsi Pueblo
Painted Cave

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Valles Caldera

Another must see attraction near Bandelier National Monument is Valles Caldera National Preserve. It protects a large portion of the Valles Caldera, an area of significant geological, ecological and cultural interest. The Valles Caldera is a supervolcano eruption, like Yellowstone, and one of the largest young calderas on Earth. It formed about 1 million years ago when multiple explosive eruptions occurred that produced an immense outpouring of ash, pumice, and pyroclastic flows. It is considered by geologists to be still active.

Main Entrance is open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Please visit the Valles Caldera National Preserve’s website at www.nps.gov/vall for the most up-to-date information. We camped next to the Valles Caldera in Jemez Falls campground and our review is available about this wonderful campground.

About 120,000 visitors come to the preserve each year to enjoy activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, and simply enjoying this southwest geologic gem. The busy season in Valles Caldera runs from May-October.Please use these websites to find information on: 

• Operating Hours and Seasons 
• Fees and Passes 
• Permits and Reservations for recreational activities including backcountry access and guided tours, commercial uses including filming and photography, and special uses such as weddings. 
• Where you can take your pets in the preserve. 
• There are no goods and services available within the preserve. You should bring whatever you will need during your stay, including plenty of water. Nearby communities can fulfill needs for groceries, supplies, and lodging. 
• Answers to frequently asked questions. 
• Places to go and things to do while you’re in the preserve.

Quick link to Bandelier Nation Monument Website

Drone flying is fast becoming a hobby of mine. After much research I purchased the Mini from DJI. I am very satisfied but still an amateur having a blast. Check out our drone videos within the blog which we hope you will enjoy.

Rookie Mistake: Not allowing enough time to explore the Jemez Mountain, Valles Caldera, Santa Fe National Forest, City of Santa Fe, the natural hot 🥵 springs, waterfalls, and all the natural wonders in this area of New Mexico. If we could have a do over, it would be to spend atleast 1 full week or more in this enchanted region. Do NOT rush through New Mexico. We promise we will be back soon and will definitely stay longer.

We did hike the McCauley hot springs trail from the Jemez Falls campground. The hike is about 6 miles round trip all down hill to the springs. So it is a tough hike back. We changed into bathing suits 👙 with a dip in the warm waters and a lunch afterwards before hiking back to camp. Our altitude was above 8,000 which lead to warm days and chilly nights.

Drone flying is fast becoming a hobby of mine. After much research I purchased the Mini from DJI. I am very satisfied but still an amateur having a blast. Check out our drone videos within the blog which we hope you will enjoy.

Drone flying around Jemez Falls Campground

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After 12,000 miles on the road and hundreds of miles hiking 🥾 throughout America, our Merrells have withstood all types of terrain and although they may be dirty, the quality is outstanding and are ready for the next 12,000.

Being on the water is very therapeutic and lots of fun. Space is always our issue so the inflatable kayak was our answer. Easy to inflate but we did buy a battery 🔋 pump to make life easy. We have kayaked the lakes of Montana, Idaho, Arkansas, Minnesota, South Carolina, Arizona and the Intex has not let us down.

Robin’s favorite outdoor cooking utensil

Great personal usb fans. Perfect for warm dry camping nights

Our Retro Jr offers only so much space so to expand the cooking area, Robin loves this easy to put up table from Lifetime. No issues after multiple setups and break downs.

Campers are for the most part very honest and friendly people. However, pulling GG through a city and leaving her to go explore can make one feel uneasy 😬 so this easy locking 🔒 system was our solution.

Our teardrop does not come with a refridgerator do coolers are our life blood. We needed to keep our food cold for days on end and these coolers did the trick.

No trip to Moab is complete without a visit to Canyonlands National Park and what better way to explore the area than a stay on the edge of the canyon at Dead Horse State Park.

Dead Horse Point State Park is 32 miles from Moab. One of the most spectacular state parks in Utah since it rest 2,000 feet above a gooseneck in the Colorado River where an ever-changing landscape unfurls. Immense vertical cliffs meet with canyons carved by ice, water, and wind creating a visual masterpiece. This is a must do region to camp, explore and most definitely visit

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We stayed at the new Wingate campground that contains thirty-one (31) campsites, twenty (20) of which have electrical hookups that support RV or tent campers. The temperatures was over 💯 at the end of July when we visited so being able to run A/C helped with our enjoyment.

Each campsite 🏕 has a metal shelter over the picnic tables. Water is not available to fill up RV’s.  The closest town to fill up is in Moab. We were able to run a hose from the bathroom facility and fill up GG on site but come prepared. There are flush 🚽 toilets and dish washing stations around the campgrounds.

This site contains paid advertisements. By clicking the links it does not cost you any extra money as the seller pays Travelswithgg a referral fee. We will never place any links without 100% satisfaction of a product we use.

Traveling across the country is challenging enough to not have to worry about ones drinking water. We carry with us the Berkey water filtration system which we consider one of the best on the market

How did Dead Horse State Park receive its name? Legend has it that nefarious cowboys corralled wild mustangs on the tip of the mesa and then fenced off the neck with branches and brush. The cowboys picked the best mustangs and left the rest of the horses trapped on the point, without water, leaving them to die. Ghosts horses are said to roam the Plateau; however, we did not see any.

Must do within Dead Horse State Park.

Dead Horse Point Overlook. It is incredible! The road through the park ends at small parking lot for this viewpoint. From here, you can look out across a stunning landscape filled with buttes and mesas. The best view is looking southwest from overlook. From here, you can see the gooseneck of the Colorado River with Canyonlands National Park in the background.

Dead Horse State Park offers multiple hiking options

If you are planning to hike in the area, be sure to bring proper shoes, sunscreen and drinking water.

The East Rim Trail is 2 miles long, one way, if you hike from the Visitor Center to Dead Horse Point Overlook. The views from this side of the mesa are nice but we thought the West Rim Trail was more spectacular.

The West Rim Trail is 3.5 miles long, one way, if you include the short detours to Shafer Canyon Overlook and Rim Overlook. It starts at Dead Horse Point Overlook and ends at the Kayenta Campground.

There are many more overlooks and canyon hikes available that should not be disregarded.

Biking trails are abundant throughout the park and stargazing 🔭 is off the charts. Mountain Bikers will love the new Intrepid Trail System at Dead Horse Point. With slickrock sections, looping singletrack, sandy washes, and incredible scenery, the Intrepid Trail System provides a great taste of what Moab mountain biking is all about.  In 2016, Dead Horse Point State Park was recognized as an International Dark Sky Park. This is one of the best places near Moab for stargazing and night sky photography

Fun Fact: In the movie Thelma and Louise in the finally scene our protagonist are cornered by the authorities less than 100m from the edge of the Grand Canyon. However, anyone familiar with the Grand Canyon might realise that the ending wasn’t actually filmed there. Director Ridley Scott filmed the famous last scene at Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah.

Outside the gates of Dead 💀 Horse State Park resides one of the treasures in the National Park System. Canyonland National Park is one of Utah’s Mighty 5 and in my option an underrated park that should be on your todo list. On the surface, a drive through the park reveals stunning views and great hiking possibilities.

Money saving tip: Buy the annual national parks pass. The cost is $80. If you plan on being in any of the National parks more than three times you will save money. The pass will also allow you access to the National Monuments and sometimes discounts in the National Forest 🌳. There’s also discounts for seniors which can be applied against camping threw out America. Other discounts apply so please read the eligibility they can save you more money. We estimate we saved over $600 in park fees. 
All you need to know about Access America

Pro-tip: The real beauty in this park lies in the back country and can not be seen via car 🚘.

Consider some back country adventures

4 Wheel Drive adventures

Island in the Sky offers the best opportunities for sightseeing by car. The overlooks along the 34-mile roundtrip scenic drive are perched 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain, providing spectacular views of the canyons below as well as the other districts. Plan on spending at least an hour in the park in order to drive out to Grand View Point. You will need more time to enjoy additional overlooks or explore some of the short trails.

The scenic drive at The Needles continues 6.5 miles past the visitor center, ending at Big Spring Canyon Overlook. Along the way are several pullouts for short hiking trails, viewpoints, and a picnic area. Graded gravel roads lead to Cave Spring and the Elephant Hill trailhead, where there is a second picnic area. The Elephant Hill access road provides the best view of The Needles from a car.

Unpaved road adventures
There are hundreds of miles of unpaved roads in Canyonlands, providing access to various campsites, trailheads, and viewpoints in the park’s backcountry. Most roads require four-wheel-drive. These roads range in difficulty from intermediate to extremely technical. Research your route thoroughly before attempting these roads.

• White Rim Road at Island in the Sky (moderate)
• Four-wheel-drive Roads at The Needles (moderate to technical)
• Four-wheel-drive Roads at The Maze (mostly technical)

Quick link to Dead Horse Point State Park Campground Website

Boating options

Backcountry and river permits may be obtained online. Overnight permits must be requested online at least two days before start of trip. 

The Colorado and Green rivers have played a significant role in shaping the landscape of Canyonlands, and seeing the park from the bottom up affords a unique perspective. Above their confluence near the heart of Canyonlands, the rivers offer miles and miles of flatwater perfect for canoes, sea kayaks and other shallow-water boats. Below the confluence, the combined flow of both rivers spills down Cataract Canyon with remarkable speed and power, creating a fourteen-mile stretch of Class III to V whitewater.

Canyonlands is famous for its mountain biking terrain, particularly for the 100-mile White Rim Road at Island in the Sky. The Maze also offers some multi-day trip possibilities, though the logistics and roads are more difficult (for the support vehicles, not the bikes). Several of the four-wheel-drive roads in The Needles travel up wash bottoms and are unsuitable for bikes due to deep sand and water.

Island in the Sky

• The 100-mile White Rim Road loops around and below the Island in the Sky mesa top and provides expansive views of the surrounding area. Bicycle trips usually take three to four days. Overnight and day-use permits are required.

The Needles

• Elephant Hill Road is one of the most technical roads in Utah. You’ll experience steep grades, loose rock, and stair-step drops. No water is available at the campsites. Overnight and day-use permits are required.
• Colorado Overlook Road is a moderate road. It can be sandy for mountain bikes.
• Deep sand, deep water, and quicksand are common on the Peekaboo/Horse Canyon and Lavender Canyon roads. These roads are too sandy for mountain bikes.

The Maze

The Maze offers similar terrain to White Rim Road, but the roads are more technical.

Hiking adventures in the back country

Much of Canyonlands is undeveloped land, and the park has become an increasingly popular destination for backcountry travel. You will need a permit for all overnight trips in the backcountry. During the spring and fall, permit availability is highly competitive. If you plan to visit Canyonlands during peak season, you may have to reserve your permit up to four months in advance.

The Needles is the most popular backpacking destination in the park. You can access most trailheads with a two-wheel-drive vehicle. You may find water seasonally in many of the canyons east of Chesler Park.

Permits are required for all overnight trips into the backcountry. During the spring and fall, demand for permits is very high. If you plan to visit Canyonlands during peak season—especially during spring break (March)—you may have to make a reservation four months in advance.

Most places to camp in the Needles are named campsites in designated locations. All of these campsites require campers to carry out all solid human waste in an approved portable toilet system or human waste disposal bag. In areas where there are no established campsites, backpackers can camp in at-large zones that can be reserved also. Campsites in the Salt Creek area require the use of approved hard-sided food storage containers (e.g. bear canisters).

Drone flying around Dead Horse Point State Park Campground

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Goblin State Park should be on everyone’s todo list if traveling through southern Utah. You will not be disappointed with a visit to this park.

Journey to this strange and colorful valley, which is unlike any other in Utah. The landscape, covered with sandstone goblins and formations, is often compared to Mars. Explore the geology, and camp among the nooks and gnomes. We spent several hours hiking 🥾 within the 5 acres of these strange structures. Unfortunately, we did not camp within this State Park.

Goblin Valley State Park is a showcase of geologic history. Exposed cliffs reveal parallel layers of rock bared by erosion. Because of the uneven hardness of sandstone, some patches resist erosion much better than others. The softer material is removed by wind and water, leaving thousands of unique, geologic goblins. Water erosion and the smoothing action of windblown dust work together to shape the goblins.

This site contains paid advertisements. By clicking the links it does not cost you any extra money as the seller pays Travelswithgg a referral fee. We will never place any links without 100% satisfaction of a product we use.

Traveling across the country is challenging enough to not have to worry about ones drinking water. We carry with us the Berkey water filtration system which we consider one of the best on the market.

We were traveling from Moab to Capital Reef National Park. Our plan was to stop 🛑 for several hours to explore. Rookie mistake. If we could have a do over, we would have camped 🏕 within Goblin State Park for two or three nights. The Star gazing at night should be worth the price of admission.

Upon arrival we would have set up camp and hiked to the goblin’s Lair and all over goblin valley. Family fun can include a game of hide and seek or tag in, around, and on top of these structures.

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On day two, we would wake up early and outside the gates of Goblin Valley is the Little Wild Horse 🐎 Bell Canyon trail. The trail is an 8 mile loop slot canyon which I have been told is best hiking clockwise to witness the canyon at the end. The trail is dog friendly if on a leash and the hike is considered moderate so come prepared with lots of water and proper foot wear.

If you can do a third day consider rappelling into Goblin with a guide or do it yourself if your experience level will allow.

This incredible park cost $13 a car 🚙 load for day use. This is a bargain for the good times we had and we only spend several hours hiking the trails. Wish we could have stayed longer. The park is about 40 miles from Capital Reef National Park and 50 miles from Canyonland National Park making it a perfect stop 🛑 when planning to conquer the Utah Mighty Five.(Zion,Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches, and Capital Reef National Parks)

Quick link to Goblin Valley State Website

Drone flying around Goblin Valley State Park

Arches National Park boast of the most arches in the world 🌎 with over 2,000 and the Devil’s Garden campground is located 18 miles inside this marvelous park. The campground is situated among natural sandstone arches and fins in a desert atmosphere.

Devils Garden contains 51 campsites that are available for reservation (Including the two group sites and one accessibility site), offering visitors a great opportunity to stay overnight in a unique national park. We highly recommend staying inside the park. Roads and parking spurs are paved, allowing smooth access for all types of travelers.

A campground host is located on-site. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided, and campsites contain picnic tables and fire rings. The park does NOT have dump stations, or electric, water, or sewer hook-ups for RVs. There are also no showers.

Money saving tip: Buy the annual national parks pass. The cost is $80. If you plan on being in any of the National parks more than three times you will save money. The pass will also allow you access to the National Monuments and sometimes discounts in the National Forest 🌳. There’s also discounts for seniors which can be applied against camping threw out America. Other discounts apply so please read the eligibility they can save you more money. We estimate we saved over $600 in park fees. 
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Traveling across the country is challenging enough to not have to worry about ones drinking water. We carry with us the Berkey water filtration system which we consider one of the best on the market

The campground is forested with mixed stands of Utah juniper and pinyon pine. Flowering prickly pear cacti, yucca and other desert wildflowers dot the landscape, offering vivid color to the surrounding red rock desert.

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Towering spires, fins, and balanced rocks complement the arches, creating a remarkable assortment of landforms in a relatively small area. The park is within an arid, high desert environment with hot summers and cold winters.

Pro-Tip: At 🌅 sunset we found large groups of people climbing the rocks and watching the sunset over Arches National Park. Be careful cause if you slip it’s a doozy of a fall. Some campers climbed the rocks but we found a path that did not require mountain climbing 🧗🏼‍♀️ skills to get to the top. Now prepare for an amazing night sky as the light pollution from Moab does not effect stargazing. 🔭

We did have a storm blow lots of sand through our campground ⛺️. We did not see any rain but we were covered in a fine red dust for the next few days. We did have a beautiful double rainbow even with no rain.

If you are planning to hike in the area, be sure to bring proper shoes, sunscreen and drinking water.

Activities with pets are very limited at Arches. You may not take a pet on any hiking trails. You may have your pet with you in the campground, and at pullouts along the paved scenic drives. You may walk your pets on roads or in parking lots, but they must be leashed at all times when outside a vehicle.

Our favorite hike was to the Delicate Arch
To get to Delicate Arch, it is a 3-mile round trip hike with 480 feet of elevation gain. This hike, plus time to view the arch, takes most people 2 to 3 hours. The National Park Service describes this hike as difficult. A word of warning, this hike can get busy and once you reach the arch you may have to stand in line to have picture taken inside the arch. Not up for a walk then you can pull over and view the arch from the overlook;however, bring binoculars to really get the best view.

Fun fact about Delicate Arch. The arch is the most widely recognized landmark in Arches National Park and is depicted on Utah license plates and a postage stamp commemorating Utah’s centennial anniversary of admission to the Union in 1996. The Olympic torch relay for the 2002 Winter Olympics passed through the arch.

Quick link to Devil’s Garden Campground Website

Fiery Furnace Hike

This area of the park was closed when we attended, but when we return this is a must do guided tour within Arches. What can you expect? Everyone attending a Fiery Furnace hike should be aware of the challenging nature of the terrain and properly equipped for current conditions, including temperature extremes. During these physically demanding hikes, you will walk and climb on irregular and broken sandstone, along narrow ledges above drop-offs, and in loose sand. There are gaps you must jump across and narrow places that you must squeeze into and pull yourself up and through. In some places, you must hold yourself off the ground by pushing against the sandstone walls with your hands and feet.

Drone flying around Devils Garden Campground

Our drive from the Rocky Mountains towards Utah would not have been complete without a stay at Silver Queen 👸 Campgrounds within Maroon-Bells. The road through the Rocky Mountains National Park is called the Old Trail Rd. Wow! 🤩  This is a must do within the Rocky Mountain National Park. The journey takes you to views over 12,000 feet, boardwalks, and through an alpine tundra.  Multiple overlooks will take your breath away and numerous hikes along the way for those seeking more adventure. 

While driving towards Utah, we chose a stop 🛑 to take advantage of the beauty of Maroon-BellS located just 10 miles west of Aspen or 16 from Snowmass up Maroon Creek Road into a glacial valley. The 14,000-foot peaks (fourteeners) called Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak, truly epitomize the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

The reflective lake at the base of these mountain amplifies the surroundings that is impossible to capture on film.

Pro tip: if the roads are open (Snow) and your vehicle 🚗 is less than 36 feet, we highly recommend taking the scenic byway called Independence Pass into Aspen. You will not be disappointed; albeit, this road is not for the faint of heart. Narrow roads and no guard rails in sections can be a little hair raising.  We had no issue with our tear drop trailer.

Silver Queen Campground has five campsites available for advanced reservation. We took a chance and received the last fist come first serve site for the night. Great 👍  deal for $15 a night, this campground is able to accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs.

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Sites are equipped with picnic tables, vault toilets, food storage lockers (bear boxes), campfire rings and drinking water. Electrical hook-ups are not available; however, water is available at common locations.

Horses are not allowed in the campground. Be bear aware as we did have an encounter with a bear 🐻 that was a little close for comfort. Thank goodness a nearby camper warned us a bear was coming our way.  The bear was attracted to Robins cooking 🥘 and wanted to join us for dinner.  Luckily I had the car keys 🔑 and hit the 🆘 button.  This was enough to scare the bear away.  Always remain vigilant when camping as we are the visitors. See the video below.

Maroon -Bell has many hiking 🥾  trails provide access to plenty of photo-worthy scenes in the White River National Forest, including hypnotizing wildflower fields, abundance of wildlife (if the crowds are not to big), and quaking Aspens 🌳

If you are planning to hike in the area, be sure to bring proper shoes, sunscreen and drinking water. Dogs are welcome on the trails (and are allowed on the RFTA bus from the Aspen Highlands to the to the Marroon Bells), but they must be kept on a leash.

Maroon Lake Scenic Trail 
This easy 1-mile round-trip trek starts at the parking area and follows the circumference of the lake; keep an eye out for the active beaver pond. We sat for an hour and watched the beavers.

Maroon Creek Trail
Start at the outlet of Maroon Lake and travel along Maroon Creek to encounter alpine meadows, aspen forests and rocky slopes. This 3.2-mile one-way trail is an excellent place to spot wildlife such as mule deer, red fox, bighorn sheep, porcupines and a variety of birds. We just did not have enough time to do this trail.

Crater Lake Trail
This 3.6-mile round-trip trail rewards hikers with breathtaking vistas of bushy Aspen woodlands and Crater Lake. Start at the Deadly Bells Kiosk from Maroon Lake Trail and be prepared for a steep and rocky ascent, cooler temperatures and spontaneous thunderstorms.

Quick link to Silver Queen Campground Website

If you do NOT stay in the park then you may need a reservation and be required to bus.

Because the natural landmark is so popular, there is restricted access to the area during the summer and fall. Autumn is an especially dreamy time to visit, when the Maroon Bells are cradled by cloud-speckled blue skies and golden-hued aspen groves. The best way to see the Maroon Bells is to take the public bus operated by the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) and visit mid-week when there are fewer crowds. The bus operates between 8am to 5pm from mid-June through early October.

Reservations are required this year to visit the Maroon Bells Scenic Area by personal vehicle or shuttle. 

The road will open on June 8, 2020 and reservations can be made for personal vehicles until June 27 for $10/vehicle fee.  

Starting June 28, visitors will be required to use the RFTA shuttle service between the hours of 8am–5pm. The fare will be $15.95 for all reservations. Personal vehicles ($10/vehicle) will still require reservations before 8am and after 5pm. 

Park your car at the Aspen Highlands parking structure (free for the first 30-minutes, then costs: .5–3 Hours: $10, 3–8 Hours: $15, 8+ Hours: $30). You can also take RFTA’s free Castle/Maroon bus to Aspen Highlands from Rubey Park Transit Center in downtown Aspen.   

For Maroon Bells reservation questions, please call 970-930-6442 or email [email protected]. 

Bear next to our camp site

Drone flying around Silver Queen Campground

Meditate to stream running past Silver Queen campgrounds ⛺️

We wanted to explore the Rocky Mountain National Park. What a phenomenal place! On day one, our goal was to hike the lower part of the Rocky Mountain National Park called the Wild Basin. Do NOT skip the Wild Basin because the hikes are first rate. Due to the Covid pandemic, we were forced to purchase admission tickets in advance. Do not go to the Rocky Mountain National Park unless you have these tickets or they will not let you enter until after 5. We chose a campground about a mile outside the entrance to the Wild Basin called Olive Ridge Campground ⛺️ within the Roosevelt National Forest 🌳.

There are 56 sites that will accommodate tents, campers, trailers, and RVs and most of the sites have full to partial shade and outstanding tree emersion. Picnic tables, fire grates, and vault toilets that are kept clean, and trash services are provided. 14-day stay limit. There is no hook-ups, dump stations, or showers. We had no cellphone 📱 serve at this location. All campsites with a tent pad have a bear locker.

Olive Ridge Campground is part of the forestry service. We truly love the USDA forestry service and try to camp in their campgrounds if the opportunity presents itself. This campground offered no electricity and no potable water 🚰 so plan accordingly. The camp host was so friendly and helped us acquire a first come first serve site for two nights. We were told moose had been seen in the campgrounds but we did not observe any. The campgrounds are close to the road but noises at night was not an issue and we were hiking during the day. The campground is about 30 minutes from Estes Park making exploring this city and other entrances to the National park very convenient.

The Wild Basin offers multiple hikes that we wanted to do on our first day in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Calypso Cascades is a moderate 3.6 mile hike to one of several waterfall destinations including Copeland Falls. This waterfall gets its name from the purple Calypso Orchids that bloom along the banks.

Quick link to Olive Ridge Campground Website

The hike is along a raging stream. Depending on the time of year and water flow. The good news is you can stop anywhere along the trail and turn around and come back if you feel too exhausted. If you’re feeling adventurous we encourage you to continue hiking to the Ozuel Falls which will add a few more miles to your hike and also change from moderate to strenuous hike. We decided to stop at the Cascades because this is the first hike we were attempting at close to 10,000 feet. It was kicking our butt.

While in the area, do not miss the drive on the Old Trail and a visit to the alpine lakes (Bear Lake and etc) within the Rocky Mountain National Par.

Enjoy the sounds of the Wild Basin

Drone flying around Moraine Valley

Our travels had us going through Colorado Springs and we found a gem of a campground in Divide, CO. This park was a win, win with 5,121 acres of mountain meadows, aspen and conifer forests 🌳, and wildlife 🦌 with a bonus of 50 miles of scenic trails. We enjoyed one of 132 campsites or 3 deluxe cabins, all nestled in a forest setting. The sites were a little packed in tight; albeit, with great views of Pikes Peak ⛰ it was acceptable. We recommend the Conifer Ridge campsites and the even numbers ie 28,30,32,34,36,38,40,& 42

There’s no lake at Mueller, so water recreation is out. Although there are a few ponds to hike to and family had their small children fishing in the dragonfly pond. Facilities include: the amphitheater, cabins and yurts, campgrounds, camper services building, dump station, horse trailer parking, picnic sites, playground, showers, & a visitor center.

We did not hike any of the trails inside the park but all appeared to be well maintained. Keep in mind you are almost at 10,000 feet 🦶 so altitude sickness 😷 is a reality to anyone like us, used to living at sea level. We did watch the sun 🌞 rise at Elk Meadow but saw no elk until two walked into our campsite 🏕 later in the day. The park was ideal for a day road trip to Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, and Pikes Peaks which is all less than 30 miles away.

Quick link to Mueller State Park Website

The city of Divide, CO is located just miles away from the park and is charming. The city received its name due to the way the water 💦 runs from its location. The water enters the town and divides to the north, south, east, and west. The town motto is Center of the Known Universe. How can you not love a city with a motto like that.

While in the area, do not miss the more than 1,700 plant and insect species immortalized in rock at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Also nearby is the former mining town of Cripple Creek, now booming with visitors and residents testing their luck at the many casinos in town.

Jemez Falls Campground is located in a stunning Ponderosa Pine 🌲 and forest meadow environment. The campground elevation is 7,880 feet above sea level 🌊. We visited in July and experienced warm days and cool nights.

We were traveling through Santa Fe (which we will review later) and chose Jemez Fall campground to explore Bandelier National Monument (we will review later) and hike the trails in the Santa Fe National Forest. The Valles Caldera National Preserve along the Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway made this an ideal location to enjoy 😊 New Mexico.

The campground contains 51 overnight tent and RV/trailer campsites. There is paved access from the highway and paved internal roads to individual campsites. There are no RV hook-ups at the campground. Drinking water 💧 is provided from spigots conveniently located throughout the campground. Vault toilets provide basic sanitation needs. A campground host is on duty during the summer camping season and was very helpful to advise about the hikes and visiting the falls.

Jemez Falls is located in Santa Fe National Forest, near Jemez Springs in the Sandoval County of New Mexico. Many people who visit Jemez Falls say that this is the most stunning waterfall in New Mexico. The unique thing about this waterfall is there is no development close by and many people feel like they are lost in nature, but in a good way.

The height of Jemez Falls is 70 ft. with a healthy flow of water cascading down. The hike to the waterfall is about 1/2 a mile round trip and a great way to relax to the sounds of the rushing water.

The trails are great for all levels of hikers, with a few different viewpoints along the way. We spoke to our camp host and decided to do the 5 mile hike to McCauley hot springs.

We recommend staying in the campground and you can begin this hike from behind campsite 28. It adds a little extra mileage but the walk through a meadow of flowers 🌺 is worth the extra steps.

We hiked from the Jemez Falls Campground to McCauley Springs Hot 🥵 Springs. The hike was a little under 5 miles and was all down hill on the way to the Springs. So on the way back it is all up hill.

Protip: one may skip the hike and park at the road and walk a short distance to reach the spring… but who wants that.

We packed a lunch and our bathing suits and once we arrived at the springs we ate and soaked in the waters for a little over an hour. The water was comfortable; albeit, once you exit the chills will run through you.

The reason we believe Jemez Falls Area is such a great location is because if you’re visiting Santa Fe… the Jemez Mountain National Scenic Trail byway will relax you as you climb into the clouds, the Valles Caldera National Preserve will amaze you as you wind through the mountain and valleys, the hikes are breathtaking, and a grand waterfall in New Mexico to dazzle you… We loved Jemez area and look forward to coming back.

Quick link to Jemez Fall Campground Website

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This is one of those places on earth where you receive total tree immersion.

Flying a drone through a ponderosa Forest 🌳

The Grand Canyon of Texas! We highly recommend this park or if you are traveling in the heart ❤️ of the panhandle of Texas this is a must see with views of the second largest canyon in the country. Visit Palo Duro Canyon State Park; experience the canyon’s rugged beauty and enjoy its colorful history. We enjoyed our stop at the Visitor Center with a fascinating stories about the canyon and a great place to beat the heat. The Visitor Center sells books, pottery, jewelry and more. Looking 👀 for souvenirs, snacks, and meals at The Trading Post on the canyon floor. The Trading post claims the best burgers 🍔 in Texas. We did not try. Sorry can give no advise.

So far this year, the Lighthouse hike at Palo Duro has been our #1 hike of the year. It is considered a moderate 7 mile out and back trail. We read and watched youtube videos on the lighthouse hike to get tips and we are glad we did. We started the hike at 730 am. Pro tip: In July, the temps get hot fast. When we finished hike it was 103 degrees. I will say it again start early. The trail head is easy to find. We recommend bringing a lot of water. The park recommends a gallon per person. If you start early, I do not think you will need this much water 💦.The walk into the canyon is impressive with the sun just coming up over the rim. Be careful a 4 foot diamond back rattle snake 🐍 was crossing the path ahead of us. The snake did not seem to notice us so we stood back and watched him crawl in the desert.

The hike is relative flat until the last 1/4 mile scramble to the top. You can sit at picnic 🧺 tables if you are not up to finishing but the rewards to get to the top are incredible. We watched younger adults go even higher and hang their legs off the ledge of cliffs for selfies. We don’t recommend. Why not bring a lunch 🍴 and enjoy the views for a while. You have earned them.

Explore the canyon by 🦶 foot (bring lots of water), mountain bike, horse or car. The drive around the canyon was rewarding with views of the rim. This is more than 30 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. Camp, geocache, study nature or bird watch. During the summer, enjoy a performance of TEXAS Outdoor Musical.

Choose from campsites with water and electricity, tent sites, equestrian sites, or backpack camping areas. Beware in the summer is gets hot 🥵 with temps at 115 when we visited in July. Stay in one of three cabins on the canyon’s rim or four Cow Camp cabins on the canyon floor. Rent one of our pavilions for a wedding, reunion or meeting.

New to Palo Duro Canyon: Glamping (luxury camping)! Each glamping site is fully furnished with air conditioning, luxury rustic furnishings, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, games, bicycles, gas grills and gas fire pits, covered porches with rockers, porch swings, and much more. More information on glamping at Palo Duro Canyon.  

Take a virtual tour with our Interactive Trails Map.

Trails and backpack campsites may close due to wet weather or poor conditions. Contact the park, or check our Facebook page, for trail status.

Horseback riding 

Ride on trails through 1,500 acres set aside for horseback riding. You can also share two other trails with hikers and mountain bikers.

• Bring your own horses (original Coggins papers required). Park your trailer at the equestrian campground. Bring a water bucket for your horse.
• Take a guided tour. Old West Stables on the canyon floor leads tours for the whole family to Timber Creek Canyon. They also offer souvenirs and a snack bar. Reservations required; call (806) 488-2180.

TEXAS Outdoor Musical

TEXAS Outdoor Musical runs Tuesdays through Sundays in the summer at the Pioneer Amphitheater in the park. Watch the stories, struggles and triumphs of early settlers. The family-friendly show has singing, dancing, fireworks and lots of Texas humor!

Come early for a barbecue dinner on our covered patio.

A quick history lesson.

The canyon was formed by the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River, which initially winds along the level surface of the Llano Estacado of West Texas, then suddenly and dramatically runs off the Caprock Escarpment. Water erosionover the millennia has shaped the canyon’s geological formations.

Notable canyon formations include caves and hoodoos. One of the best-known and the major signature feature of the canyon is the Lighthouse Rock.

Quick link to Palo Duro State Park Website

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Drone flight around Palo Duro Camp Ground