Utah
Nature|National & State Parks

Walk Where Dinosaurs Once Roamed And See Their Actual Footprints At Red Fleet State Park In Utah

Red Fleet State Park in Utah offers a unique experience with dinosaur tracks, water activities, and camping options.

Published Jul 26, 2020

Written by 

Catherine Armstrong

We love Utah's state parks, but some are definitely more popular than others. While parks like Goblin Valley and Dead Horse Point get a lot of attention, others are hidden gems that not many Utahns visit. Red Fleet State Park is one of those gems, and you can actually walk where dinosaurs once roamed!

Red Fleet State Park is located at 8750 North Highway 191, Vernal, UT 84078

Everyone in Utah knows that Vernal is the place to go to see evidence of the dinosaurs that roamed here 200 million years ago. Red Fleet State Park is a little-known gem, and it's a lot less crowded that some of the other spots around town.

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Canadian181/Tripadvisor

You'll enjoy all the classic red-rock beauty of Utah's wilderness here...

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IndySig/Tripadvisor

...and Red Fleet Reservoir is the perfect playground while you're here.

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Canadian181/Tripadvisor

Paddle around in a kayak or canoe, or explore on a paddle board. You can also swim and splash, and even jump in from the surrounding cliffs. Try your hand at fishing here, too! Rainbow trout, crappie, perch, walleye, and more are just waiting to bite.

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Nanette Ovard/Google

To see the 200-million-year-old dinosaur tracks, take the 1.7-mile-long Dinosaur Trackway Trail. It's a moderate hike with some elevation changes along the way.

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Wesley Aston/Google

Just follow the black dinosaur footprints painted on rocks along the way...

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Matthew Hawkes/Alltrails

...and soon you'll see the dinosaur tracks. Scientists know that the dinosaurs walked on two legs and had three toes, though they haven't identified the species. The best time to see the dino tracks is in the morning or evening hours - it can be hard to spot them when the sun is directly overhead.

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IndySig/Tripadvisor

During your exploration of the park, you'll likely see cactus, juniper, and other beautiful plants, and you'll want to keep your eyes open for wildlife, including rabbits, squirrels, mule deer, coyotes, and more.

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Barry G/Tripadvisor

A day at Red Fleet State Park is a good day, indeed! When the sun sets, you don't necessarily have to head for home. Plan an overnight stay at the campground, which offers tent and RV sites.

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Benedikt Fuest/Alltrails

The park also has two teepees! You can stay overnight in one for just $30 per night.

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Utah State Parks

Red Fleet State Park is the perfect place to stay while you explore Dinosaur National Monument and Vernal.

Learn more about Red Fleet State Park on its website, and give the park's Facebook page a follow to see what's new there!

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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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