Utah
Nature|National & State Parks

Goosenecks State Park In Utah Was Named One Of The Most Stunning Lesser-Known Places In The U.S.

Goosenecks State Park in Southern Utah offers solitude, scenic vistas, and rudimentary camping.

Published Mar 23, 2020

Written by 

Catherine Armstrong

Sometimes you need to just get far from the fray, and find an endless, open space with scenic vistas and a great big sky. That pretty much sounds like all of Southern Utah, doesn't it? Well, if you go far, far south, down to the four corners area, you'll find a lesser-known state park that offers plenty of solitude and some very rudimentary camping. Check out Goosenecks State Park:

Do you wish you could just get away from it all? Utah has plenty of vast, open spaces, but there's one beautiful state park that's often overlooked, so you might just find some solitude here.

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reisegraft/iStock via Getty Images

You'll find Goosenecks State Park all the way down in the far southeastern corner of the state, near Mexican Hat and the Arizona border.

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Camilo Gaivoto/Google

This park only covers 10 acres, but it sits on the edge of a plateau high above the San Juan River, so when you're here, you'll find miles and miles of epic landscape to view.

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Gemma/Moment Collection via Getty Images

The skies here are BIG. Sitting under the canopy of clouds (or storm clouds), you'll feel like a tiny speck in the universe.

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David Cornejo/Moment Collection via Getty Images

Over 300 million years, the San Juan cut its way down into the earth, creating a chasm of more than 1,000 feet.

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Anna Gorin/Moment Collection/Getty Images

Goosenecks State Park is a no-frills spot where visitors check out the overlook, or camp overnight. The campsites are very basic, with just a picnic table/shelter and fire pit. There are vault toilets nearby. Eight sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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Deepak Kumar Biswal/Google

The camping is very rudimentary, and you're advised to bring your own water and fire wood, because there are no services here, other than the vault toilets. The upside? All eight sites are located right on the rim, with absolutely magnificent views.

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Brian Holle/Google

Campsites are just $10 per night; day use at the park is $5 per car. This remote, stunningly beautiful place is one of Utah's best-kept secrets. It's remote and wild, and oh-so-vast. Plan your visit soon!

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Boon Dokker/Google

Make sure to check the Goosenecks State Park website for updates and more information. We'd love to see your photos of Goosenecks State Park! Share them with our readers in the comments!

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Nature|Hiking

The Iconic Trail in Utah Everyone Should Hike Once in Their Lifetime

One of Zion's most popular trails is the Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail, and for good reason. It's not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but it's one of those bucket list-worthy adventures everyone should experience at least once.

Published Oct 28, 2024

Written by 

Katie Lawrence

When it comes to iconic hikes in Utah, Zion National Park is the first place I think of (along with Arches and Bryce Canyon, of course). After all, it's home to some of the most stunning views our state has to offer, and millions of people travel from all over the world each year to revel in its magic. One of Zion's most popular trails is the Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail, and for good reason. It's not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but it's one of those bucket list-worthy adventures everyone should experience at least once.

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AllTrails Kristin Kozelsky

At 3.6 miles long, the Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail is by no means the longest hike in the park, but it is one of the most challenging. The out-and-back trail is rated as hard on AllTrails due to its steep ascent. You'll climb over 1,100 feet in a relatively short distance, navigating tight switchbacks before arriving at the final viewpoint known as Scout Lookout.

While the view at the top is definitely the pièce de résistance, you'll enjoy breathtaking scenery along the entire trail. At the beginning, the path crosses the Virgin River on a bridge before paralleling the river for a short time. From there, the ascent begins, and as the scene unfolds before your eyes, it only gets more picturesque with every step you take. With the ancient, majestic canyon walls rising up all around, you'll swear you're looking at a painting or a postcard. That's just part of living in Utah - what a blessing to call such a state home where the scenery is almost too beautiful to be real.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can continue past Scout Lookout to Angel's Landing, but only experienced hikers should attempt this. Additionally, the trail does not offer much shade, so consider starting either in the early morning or late afternoon to beat the heat if you're visiting in the warmer months.

Visit AllTrails for more information about the Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail. I also recommend signing up for AllTrails+ if you're an avid hiker. The app is an incredible resource with features like 3D flyovers, wrong-turn alerts, and offline map access. Your first week is free, so there's no risk involved in trying it out.

Have you ever embarked on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure? What are your favorite iconic hikes in Utah? Tell us in the comments!

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Nature|Caves & Rock Formations

The Most Iconic View in Utah Is Also a Stunning Slice of History

Arches National Park has the most iconic view in Utah. Even with over 2,000 arches, one stands out from the rest.

Published Oct 4, 2024

Written by 

Jackie Sutherlin

Arches National Park is one of the most iconic views in Utah. Located just north of Moab and adjacent to the Colorado River, Arches National Park boasts more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches. Delicate Arch is the most well-known, but with over 2,000 to see, you could easily find a new favorite arch here. 

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With so many arches, this is the highest density of natural arches in the world. But why are there so many arches in Arches National Park? Well, the answer may surprise you!

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Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, UT.

The national park lies above an underground salt bed, which causes the arches, spires, and sandstone fins that Arches National Park is so well known for. Water erosion is a key ingredient to form these arches, and a lack of earthquakes ensures that these delicate arches are geologically stable. 

These stunning arches are truly slices of history. If you were to stand in this spot a million years ago, you’d only see a desert—no arches to be found. There may have even been vegetation growing!

These arches were formed over many, many years of erosion. And they will continue to form. Who knows what this landscape will look like a million years from now? It certainly won’t look like this. 

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Jamie Seidel/500px Collection via Getty Images

Fun fact: to become one of the park’s official arches, a hole must have an opening of at least three feet. There isn’t any requirement for width, and there are plenty of super skinny arches here. 

The only thing better than seeing Delicate Arch during the day is waiting around until nightfall. Arches National Park is one of the best places to go stargazing, and if you have the right camera gear you could capture some phenomenal shots!

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Photo taken in Moab, United States

April, May, September, and October are the best months to visit Arches National Park. Because the park is so popular, you’ll need a timed entry reservation if you’re planning on visiting Arches National Park between April 1 and October 31. Visitors to Arches National Park also need an entrance pass, which starts at $15.00.

Taking a tour of Arches National Park is the most eco-friendly way to visit this national treasure. Tourism is one of the major players in this fragile ecosystem, and for some reason, we just can’t be trusted to leave no trace. Tours reduce the amount of vehicles that enter the park, plus you’ll be with a knowledgeable guide the entire time who will regale you with all of the fascinating history of Arches National Park. 

Read on to discover some of our favorite places to stay in Utah and start planning your epic Utah adventure. 

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