April 15 – 27, 2024
Picked up our rental car at Las Vegas airport and drove the three hours to Springdale, Utah. Stayed the first three nights at the bed and breakfast: Inn at 37 Main.
Grafton area: only a few miles from our B&B (April 16th – morning)
Grafton Cemetery (1862-1924)
Explored the stunning scenery on a walk that starts next to the cemetery
Grafton Ghost Town
ZION NATIONAL PARK (April 16th)
Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway (State Route 9): 25-mile scenic route that winds through the park. You’re allowed to take your car through this part of the park.
A free shuttle runs from the Zion National Park Visitor Center to nine shuttle stops within the canyon. Private cars are not allowed on this route eight months of the year. Full disclosure: Zion was our least favorite park of this trip. It was too crowded. We took the shuttle one afternoon and got off at a few stops but didn’t have time to do any real hikes before the shuttle shut down for the evening. We were fine with this and had no desire to return. There were many more parks to come!!
Zion’s Kolab Canyon Area (April 17th)
Lots of great stops and scenery on our way to Tropic, Utah for two nights at the Bryce Canyon Inn. (April 18th)
Parowan Gap Petroglyphs (April 18th, morning)
Lunch stop at Panowan Cafe (small-town diner)
CEDAR BREAKS NATIONAL MONUMENT North View Overlook – 10,435 feet (April 18th, afternoon)
Panguitch Lake (8200 ft)
Driving through Dixie National Forest
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK (April 19th, morning)
KODACHROME BASIN STATE PARK (April 19th, afternoon)
Sentinel Trail
ESCALANTE PETRIFIED FOREST STATE PARK
Petrified Forest Trail
Lunch stop
Larb Hollow Overlook
Almost to our destination of Torrey, Utah
Stayed 3 nights at the Bed & Breakfast: Skyridge Inn in Torrey, Utah
CAPITAL REEF NATIONAL PARK (Day 1, April 21st)
Sunset Point
Gifford Homestead (famous for selling homemade pies, and yes we did partake. And they were so good!)
Capital Gorge Trail
Pioneer Register
Petroglyphs as well
CAPITAL REEF NATIONAL PARK (Day 2, April 22nd)
Grand Wash Trail
The Fremont Culture petroglyphs along Utah State Route 24
On our way to the next lodging in Moab (April 23rd)
Goblin Valley State Park
Temple Mountain Wash Pictograph
Moab Springs Ranch for 3 nights
CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK (April 24th morning)
Mesa Arch
Green River Overlook (elevation 6000 ft)
Grand View Point Overlook
Upheaval Dome
DEAD HORSE POINT STATE PARK (April 24th afternoon)
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK (April 25th)
Park Avenue Trail
The Organ on the right and the Tower of Babel in the center
The Fiery Furnace
We’ve never had so many scenic picnics as on this trip!
Skyline Arch (we accessed it by going to Devil’s Garden Campground and parking by the amphitheater.)
Devil’s Garden Trail
Tunnel Arch
Pine Tree Arch
Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail
The Windows Trail
One night stay at Hilton Garden Inn in Lehi, UT on our way to Salt Lake City Airport
And Favorite park goes to:
CAPITAL REEF !!