Utah
Nature|Caves & Rock Formations

Utah’s Little Grand Canyon Looks Even More Spectacular In the Winter

The San Rafael Swell, known as "Little Grand Canyon Utah," is especially breathtaking in winter, featuring stunning landscapes and active wildlife.

Updated Jan 21, 2024

Written by 

Catherine Armstrong

If you've ever visited the San Rafael Swell, you can see why its nickname is "Little Grand Canyon Utah." This vast area of canyons, gorges, mesas, and buttes inspires awe and captures the imagination. The Wedge is a particularly breathtaking part of the Swell, and it's even more spectacular in the winter. Come along with us to check it out:

Arizona might have The Grand Canyon, but Utah has the San Rafael Swell.

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Mike Scriver/Google

And one of its most stunning features is The Wedge - a vast canyon with the nickname of

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The San Rafael Swell is 75 miles long and 40 miles wide.

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Ken Lund/flickr

It includes slot canyons, like Little Wild Horse Canyon, shown here, as well as deep gorges...

...and stunning landscapes. During winter months, this place becomes even more spectacular.

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Mike Scriver/Google

A smattering of snow gives this vast canyon a new dimension. It's easier to see the unique variations of the rock formations when they're covered with just a dusting of white powder during Utah's winter season.

Sunrises and sunsets are chilly, and the light has an ethereal quality.

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Marian Meldrum/Google

Photographers love to capture the beauty here year-round, but winter is truly special.

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Ky Burton/Google

When the chilly fog rolls in, this vast landscape is a little bit eerie.

The Wedge Overlook has several different viewpoints.

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Marian Meldrum/Google

From each one, you can soak in the wintry beauty with a bird's eye view from above.

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Washbucket/Google

Watch for the interpretive signs that tell you about the millions of years of geologic history here.

Many of the animals that call The Swell home are still active during winter months.

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charles.bukowsky/flickr

Keep an eye out for beautiful Utah wildlife like the bighorn sheep who graze through the area.

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charles.bukowsky/flickr

At its higher elevations of nearly 7,000 feet above sea level, The Swell can get quite a bit of snow.

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The dirt and gravel road that takes you to The Wedge Overlook is typically easy for two-wheel-drive vehicles to navigate.

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Washbucket/Google

But when there are snowy and icy road conditions, it will be more treacherous.

For more information, check out the Visit Utah website.

Have you visited the San Rafael Swell in the winter? Does it seem to you to be like a Little Grand Canyon? Tell us about your visit, and share your photos in the comments!

A lot of hikers also love to go camping. If you'd like to try it in an RV but don't have one, visit RVShare. Whether you are new to RVing or are a seasoned pro, here are some great RV tips for your next adventure!

If you love Utah, you might enjoy reading 10 Reasons To Bundle Up And Visit Utah's Hogle Zoo This Winter.

If you’re still in the mood for more Utah adventures, take a look at this video:

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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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Nature|Caves & Rock Formations

The Little Known Cave In Utah That Everyone Should Explore At Least Once

Explore Mammoth Cave in Utah's Dixie National Forest, the largest lava tube in the state, offering adventurous underground passages.

Updated Jul 25, 2024

Written by 

Catherine Armstrong

Utah has so many different landscapes to explore so we’ll certainly never get bored. Visit the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park, hop on a houseboat at Lake Powell, or drop a fishing line in a lake surrounded by an alpine forest. There’s always something new to discover here in the Beehive State, and sometimes the adventure you seek is below ground like Mammoth Cave in Duck Creek Village, UT. Whether you’re an amateur or expert spelunker, chances are this will be one of your favorite caves in Utah. Let’s check it out!

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The Dixie National Forest covers a vast 1,889,106 acres in the southern portion of Utah. It's a beautiful place to explore.

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Nellie M. Palacios/Google

One of the best-kept secrets in this forest is Mammoth Cave. You'll find the cave just north of Duck Creek Village.

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Google Maps

Just two thousand years ago, a lava flow covered this area. As it cooled, some of the lava formed a crust over the still-flowing lava, which eventually created a tube. Mammoth Cave is the largest lava tube in the Beehive State, and you can explore it!

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R Trussell/Google

While there are some spots where the sun shines into the cave, it's a good idea to bring headlamps or flashlights if you want to venture very far into the cave system. The cave has tons of passageways - 2,200 feet to be exact.

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Sterling Udell/Google

In many spots, you can walk right through the lava tubes. In other places, you'll need to hunch over a bit to fit through...

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Debora Campos/Google

...but if you really want to be adventurous, you might have to crawl through some of the tighter spots. The exit of the cave is a belly-crawling tube, so if you're claustrophobic, you'll want to just retrace your steps to the entrance.

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Debbie R/Tripadvisor

The cave is home to several species of bats, and portions of it are blocked off from October through April to protect hibernating bats. During the summer, part of this grate is removed so you can access the cave here.

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Donald VanAusdall/Google

Make sure you wear some sturdy hiking boots and plan on getting really dirty as you scoot along on your belly. Some parts of the cave can get pretty muddy, so you might even want to bring a change of clothes so your drive home will be more comfortable.

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j h/Google

Have you visited Mammoth Cave? We'd love to hear about your adventure at these caves in Utah! For an above ground cave experience, head to Logan and hike to Wind Cave.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/utah/wind-cave-hike-ut/

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