| Utah is a great place for camping. One | | | | your RV and motor home. You can keep it |
| of the reasons it attracted Mormon | | | | as rugged or as comfortable as you want. |
| settlers was because it was full of | | | | If you really want to see the best of |
| stunning natural beauty, like nothing | | | | what Zion has to offer, you have to hit |
| anyone had ever seen before. | | | | the backcountry. This may mean strapping |
| The good news for all you campers and | | | | everything to your back and stretching |
| hikers is that all that scenery has been | | | | those legs a little bit, but it will be |
| preserved by the park service for us to | | | | well worth it. |
| enjoy today. If you look at a map of | | | | At Zion, you'll see stark cliffs rising |
| Utah, you'll see that almost the entire | | | | out of the canyon floor, rushing streams |
| south-central portion is national park. | | | | cutting through walls of rock, wind and |
| You could easily spend several weeks in | | | | water-sculpted rock formations that look |
| Utah and always find new things to see. | | | | like something from Mars, strikingly |
| Bryce Canyon | | | | beautiful wildflowers growing out of |
| Utah has some of the greatest camping in | | | | bare earth... and maybe even a mountain |
| the country, and Bryce Canyon is a | | | | lion! Don't worry, they're shy. If you |
| choice spot. Bryce is about 250 miles | | | | see one, it will be for a split second |
| south of Salt Lake City and about 7,000 | | | | before he runs off to safety. |
| feet up in the air. At Bryce, you'll | | | | Arches |
| find hiking trails that lead right into | | | | Arches National Park is named after its |
| the canyon, and a nice, high desert | | | | most striking feature - the arches. |
| climate. | | | | These arches are made of all natural |
| It may not be New York City, but Bryce | | | | sandstone. Over time, the wind has |
| Canyon has its own Wall Street. It's a | | | | carved them out of this delicate rock. |
| little different, though. It's one of | | | | For geologists, it's a goldmine of |
| the many canyon trails that winds around | | | | ancient fossils. For hikers and other |
| into the canyon, where you are | | | | outdoors types, it's full of spectacular |
| surrounded by towering rock formations | | | | scenery. |
| that cast shadows every which way. Bryce | | | | In addition to the arches that make it |
| Canyon is a desert hiker's dream. | | | | famous, the park is full of barren |
| Because it's so high up, Bryce gets its | | | | desert beauty. Giant boulders stand |
| fair share of weather extremes. In the | | | | balanced on top of each other, like they |
| summer it is hot, and in winter it is | | | | might be ready to fall at any moment. |
| freezing cold. Many find that late | | | | Unearthly rocky shapes stand out in a |
| spring or early fall are good times to | | | | landscape of sand, shrub and brightly |
| go. At those times of year, you can have | | | | colored wildflowers. Arches is a |
| some warmth and sunshine for your day | | | | photographer's paradise, with its rock |
| hikes and the cool desert night to sleep | | | | structures that subtly change shape over |
| in. | | | | the course of the day as the sun hits |
| Bryce Canyon has 2 campgrounds, but | | | | them at different angles. |
| there are also places where you can | | | | There's only one campground at Arches, |
| pitch your camp out in the wilderness. | | | | the ominously named Devils Garden |
| Both campgrounds are RV accessible. | | | | Campground. If you plan to go, |
| Zion | | | | especially during summer, you should |
| Zion is an amazing place because it's | | | | call to make a reservation. You can also |
| located in the spot where three distinct | | | | make a reservation online. There are |
| landscapes meet. It's located at the | | | | both tent camping spots as well as those |
| crossroads between the Mojave Desert, | | | | that can accommodate larger vehicles, |
| the Colorado Plateau and the Great | | | | trailers and RVs, complete with |
| Basin. This is why Zion offers sights | | | | hook-ups. |
| you won't see anywhere else. | | | | You can plan a whole camping vacation |
| Hiking and mountain biking are the best | | | | around Utah alone. Besides these popular |
| way to see Zion. For those of you who | | | | national parks, there are more |
| are not into long all-day hikes, there | | | | out-of-the way places to camp in Utah, |
| are lots of trails that aren't too long. | | | | where you can really get away from it |
| There are three campgrounds with varying | | | | all. |
| levels of accommodation with spots for | | | | |