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