Utah Parks

Nothing whets the appetite for a road trip quite like America's Wild West. Plan your trip along the Colorado River scenic byways and you'll be treated to a natural spectacle like no other. Just take U-9 zion park scenic byway, right into Zion National Park, where you will find immense plateaus reaching into a vast blue sky. These plateaus were formed from land that was flat hundreds of millions of years ago. But over time, erosion permanently etched these mammoth formations into the landscape. But rocks aren't the only thing you will find here. Because of the varying altitudes in Zion, there are many different climates, creating habitats for diverse plant and animal populations. On the desert floor, don't be surprised to see a chuckwalla sunning itself on the rocks. Higher up, you could have a chance encounter with a cliff chipmunk. With over 400 animal species, 160 miles of rivers and streams, and 57 miles of road, you will never run our of things to see and do in this portion of the Red Rock desert. And just off to the east is Highway 12, which will take you to Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon is at the top of a formation known as " the grand staircase", which also includes Zion National Park, and the Grand Canyon. Like Zion, Bryce Cayon's limestone rock has been shaped by eons of erosion. A process known as frost-wedging, which refers to the repeated freeze-thaw cycle that can occur in certain climates, has created some fascinating shapes in the Utah desert, like these famous spires known as " hoodoos". There is no shortage of wildlife in Bryce, either. Keep an eye out overhead for the California Condor, and the Peregrine Falcon. Or, if flora is what you're after, there is plenty of that, too. From Zion Park to Bryce Canyon, from the Grand Staircase to Cedar Breaks National Monument, there is something for everyone along the Colorado River scenic byway.