Exploring Utah's Natural Wonders: Our Favorite Spots and Trails

Unveiling Key Insights

Ryan and I do an annual hiking trip each year because his goal is to hike all of the national parks in the US. I’d say it’s mine too, but in all reality I’m just along for the ride and the vacation. We started this tradition of going together in 2021 when we tested our relationship hiking in Estes Park, Colorado. In 2022, we decided a long road trip around Utah in October would be fun. In this blog post, I will share the good, the bad, the ugly aspects of driving out to Utah and around it in one week. 

• ITINERARY: 8 days
• Day 1: Drive 15 hours from Iowa to Utah
• Day 2-3: Moab (2 days)
• • Hike: some text
    • Arches National Park
    • Canyon Land National Park
  • BML Campsite - Courthouse Rock Campground
• Day 4: Antelope Canyon
• • Visit Antelope Canyon (Antelope Canyon Tours)
  • Visit Horseshoe Bend Overlook
  • Campground: Lone Rock Beach Campground
• Day 5: Yonder Escalante Glamping Experience (Now Ofland Escalante)
• • Drove through Escalante and spend the night at Yonder. 
• Day 6: Drive back to Moab
• • Hike: some text
    • Stopped at Spooky & Peekaboo Slot Canyons at Grand Staircase National Monument
    some text
    • BML Campsite - Courthouse Rock Campground
• Day 7: Moab
• • All Day Off Roading Experience: Bronco Off Roadeo
• Day 8: Drive back to Iowa
• • Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride (Redrock Ballooning)
  • Drive 15 hours home

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Day 1: Travel Day to Utah

We took off driving to Utah early on a Friday and prepared for the 15 hour trip through Colorado to get there. See my roadtrip recommendations in my Amazon store (Linked Here).

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Day 2: Arches National Park

We arrived early Saturday morning around 3 am at Courthouse Rock Campground which is a BML campground North of Moab. It was pure black with no lighting around so we missed the turn into the campground area and about got stuck in the mud a little further down the road. Naturally, we woke up a little late to go hiking through Arches National Park. Here’s the trails we did:

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Devil's Garden Trail and Double Arch Trail 

No visit to Utah would be complete without exploring the iconic red rock landscapes of Arches National Park. Devil's Garden is a popular trail that takes you past some of the park's most famous arches, including Landscape Arch, the longest arch in North America. The trail winds through rugged terrain, past towering rock formations and hidden alcoves, before culminating at Double Arch, a stunning pair of arches that seem to defy gravity. It's a hike that will leave you breathless—in more ways than one. Definitely worth visiting at least once!

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Day 3: Canyonland National Park

Syncline Loop Ridge:

Canyonlands National Park is a vast and rugged wilderness, with towering mesas, deep canyons, and sweeping vistas as far as the eye can see. The Syncline Loop trail offers a challenging yet rewarding hike through some of the park's most spectacular terrain. This 8.3-mile loop takes you through deep canyons, up steep switchbacks, and along narrow ledges, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape at every turn. It's a true adventure in the heart of the desert, where every step brings you closer to the beauty and majesty of Canyonlands. This trail definitely isn’t for the faint of heart and wouldn’t recommend it if you have kids along. 

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Day 4: Southwest Utah

Antelope Canyon Tour 

Located near Page, Arizona, but just a stone's throw from the Utah border, Antelope Canyon is a mesmerizing slot canyon carved by wind and water over thousands of years. Its swirling sandstone walls and ethereal light beams make it a photographer's dream and a must-visit destination for anyone exploring the region. Walking through the narrow passageways of Upper Antelope Canyon, with sunlight filtering through the cracks above, feels like stepping into another world—a world of stunning natural beauty and wonder.

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Horseshoe Bend: 

Just a short drive from Page, Arizona, Horseshoe Bend is one of the most iconic landmarks in the American West. This dramatic meander of the Colorado River, with its towering sandstone cliffs and emerald-green waters, is a sight to behold. Standing on the edge of the sheer cliff overlooking the bend, you can't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder at the sheer power of nature.

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Lake Powell: Lone Rock Beach Campground

Situated on the shores of Lake Powell near the Utah-Arizona border, Lone Rock Beach Campground offers a unique camping experience unlike any other. With its soft sandy beach and stunning views of the surrounding red rock landscape, it's the perfect place to pitch a tent, roast marshmallows over a crackling fire, and fall asleep under the stars… that is as long as it’s not 30 mph winds and you’re not planning on sleeping in a tent. We had BIG goals of camping at Lone Rock and attempted multiple times to set up our tent in a “less windy” section. However, after attempting to eat our sandy hot dogs roasted over our sad little fire, we ultimately found sanctuary at a Holiday Inn. I'm not complaining because I was ready for a hot shower. 

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Day 5:  Escalante

Yonder Glamping (Now called Ofland) in Escalante

For those seeking a more luxurious outdoor experience, Yonder Glamping in Escalante offers the perfect blend of comfort and adventure. Nestled in the heart of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, this oasis of tinyhome cabins and airstreams offers everything you could ask for. There’s a heated swimming pool, vintage car outdoor movie theater, hot breakfast around a fire in the morning, and so much more! This was by far one of my favorite stops of the trip!

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Day 6: Drive back to Moab

Spooky & Peekaboo Slot Canyons in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

We stopped to check out Spooky & Peekaboo Slot Canyons located in southern Utah. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a vast and remote wilderness, home to some of the most stunning slot canyons in the world. These two slot canyongs are a pair of narrow, twisting passages carved into the red sandstone by centuries of wind and water erosion.

Exploring these slot canyons is like entering another world, where towering walls of rock rise up on either side, casting deep shadows and creating a sense of mystery and wonder. As we squeeze through narrow passages and navigate labyrinthine twists and turns, we're constantly amazed by the beauty and complexity of these natural formations.

After hiking we drove back to Moab and spent the night at the Courthouse Rock Campground again. 

Day 7: Bronco Off Roading Experience
My dad had bought a new Bronco to use on the farm so Ryan and I used his complimentary Bronco Off Roadeo experience  while in Moab. We had a blast learning how to drive the newly released Bronco with all its cool features and enjoyed learning how to drive off-road. Lunch was spent at a nice overlook of the valley before driving back down. We did get a little tired of the rocking of the vehicle so if you tend to get motion sickness, I wouldn't recommend.

Day 8: Travel Day back to Iowa
I would love to say our camping experience was great while in Utah, but it certainly wasn’t ideal. The weather was very cold and windy most of the time at night so we didn’t spend too much time around the fire. Our mattress got a hole in it so the last night was spent with Ryan’s back on the ground and me with barely any air on my side keeping me afloat. We would’ve just given up and hit the road, but I had booked us a hot air balloon ride that was less than impressive due to the wind dying down completely by the time we got up in the air. Any other day it would’ve been great, but we weren’t moving very fast and didn’t get to see as much as we had hoped. After that we hit the 15 hour road trip back to Iowa and ended up having to change a flat tire in Colorado. 

Conclusion: 

Utah is a land of endless adventure, where every turn of the trail reveals a new wonder to behold. From the swirling sandstone of Antelope Canyon to the towering cliffs of Canyonlands, each destination offers its own unique blend of beauty and excitement. So grab your hiking boots, pack your camera, and set out to explore the wonders of Utah—it's a journey you'll never forget; whether it's the good, the bad, or the ugly. ;) 

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