Capitol Reef National Park might be the most underrated of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks. I’ve lived in Utah for most of my life and never really thought about visiting Capitol Reef until the pandemic has forced me to explore local. I know lots of Utahns who similarly haven’t been. What a mistake! I’ve managed to visit 4 of Utah’s 5 National Parks during the pandemic, and so far, Capitol…

The Cassidy Arch Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park. This hike takes you up along the side of a cliff to the top of a high plateau, offering amazing views all along the way. Your ultimate destination is a natural arch sitting along the edge of the plateau – an arch you can actually walk across! Cassidy Arch is named for the…

Capitol Reef National Park is one of Utah’s famous Mighty 5 National Parks.  On a recent trip to Capitol Reef, I made it a point to explore the Park’s Cathedral Valley. Cathedral Valley is located in the remote north part of the Park, and is only accessible via a 58 mile loop of dirt road – the Cathedral Valley Loop. It is estimated that only 1% of Capitol Reef visitors…

While Utah is well-known for its Mighty Five National Parks, the state is also home to 45 State Parks. We visited Kodachrome Basin State Park while on our first Socially Distant Local Road Trip of the pandemic.   Bryce Canyon National Park was our primary destination, but I wanted an alternate afternoon locale to escape the anticipated midday Saturday crowds in Bryce.  Kodachrome Basin is located only 30 minutes from…

Bryce Canyon National Park is one of Utah’s treasures. It’s the second most visited of Utah’s Mighty 5 Parks with 2.5 million visitors per year (nearby Zion NP is first with 4.5 million). And strangely enough, despite having lived in Utah for most of life, I had never visited. I’ve actually driven past the main road into Bryce Canyon several times over the years – and never gone in! The…