Desert Southwest Guide
Our favorite destinations in the desert for (mostly) outdoor activities
Jump to:
beach |
campground |
coffee shop |
cultural site |
geologic feature |
historic site |
lake |
museum |
park |
restaurant |
rock art |
scenic drive |
shop |
trailhead |
visitor center |
waterfall |
biking |
caving |
hiking / walking |
rockhounding |
swimming |
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#26 Lone Rock Beachcampground beach lake swimmingSandy beach access to Lake Powell, with camping right on the beach
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campgroundLovely campground and picnic spot with pit toilets
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#26 Lone Rock Beachcampground beach lake swimmingSandy beach access to Lake Powell, with camping right on the beach
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campgroundState park campground convenient to St. George and Zion.
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campground hiking / walkingSmall, secluded BLM campground near dinosaur footprints and Red Reef trailhead.
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campground parkGreat views and a nice campground and mountain biking trails
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campground park geologic featureGreat camping option for tents or RVs just outside Escalante. Bonus: a short hike to see petrified logs.
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campground park geologic feature hiking / walkingBeautiful park with an excellent campground
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campgroundA BLM campground that is an alternative to camping at Goblin Valley State Park.
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campground park geologic feature hiking / walkingOne of our favorite state parks! Enjoy wandering among the goblins (hoodoos).
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#74 Kiva Koffeehousecoffee shopGreat coffee with an amazing view on the route between Escalante and Boulder.
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trailhead geologic feature hiking / walking4 mile rt hike to Morning Glory arch through Grandstaff canyon
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trailhead geologic feature hiking / walkingExcellent hike to a spectacular arch
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campground park geologic featureGreat camping option for tents or RVs just outside Escalante. Bonus: a short hike to see petrified logs.
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trailhead geologic feature hiking / walking
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campground park geologic feature hiking / walkingBeautiful park with an excellent campground
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campground park geologic feature hiking / walkingOne of our favorite state parks! Enjoy wandering among the goblins (hoodoos).
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geologic feature scenic driveIncredible view of a grey desert moonscape
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#26 Lone Rock Beachcampground beach lake swimmingSandy beach access to Lake Powell, with camping right on the beach
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park visitor center biking hiking / walkingExcellent park full of arches; requires timed entry passes certain times of the year
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campground parkGreat views and a nice campground and mountain biking trails
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park visitor center hiking / walkingCanyonlands district with Grand Canyon-like views, ruins, and hiking
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campground park geologic featureGreat camping option for tents or RVs just outside Escalante. Bonus: a short hike to see petrified logs.
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campground park geologic feature hiking / walkingBeautiful park with an excellent campground
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campground park geologic feature hiking / walkingOne of our favorite state parks! Enjoy wandering among the goblins (hoodoos).
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park visitor center hiking / walkingNorthern Capitol Reef offers many fun hikes
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rock art hiking / walkingPetroglyphs on boulders at the Santa Clara River Reserve
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rock artArea of excellent rock art, featuring tall, well-preserved pictographs
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trailhead rock art waterfall hiking / walkingOut and back hiking trail with waterfalls, rock art and ruins
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rock art visitor center hiking / walkingDistrict of Canyonlands with interesting hikes and Newspaper Rock petroglyph panel
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trailhead rock art hiking / walking
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trailhead rock art hiking / walking8 mile rt hike to a large, well preserved pictograph panel
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trailhead rock art waterfall hiking / walkingExcellent pictograph panel and hike to a small waterfall
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scenic driveRt 9 from Springdale winds through the park to the East Entrance Ranger Station
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scenic driveScenic drive from I-70 to Moab along the Colorado River.
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geologic feature scenic driveIncredible view of a grey desert moonscape
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shopInteresting shop that sells locally quarried picture sandstone
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shop bikingRents excellent mountain bikes for adventures around Moab
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shop rockhoundingWonderful rock shop in Hanksville; can provide info on regional rockhounding
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trailhead cavingHuman-made tunnel that is fun to explore
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trailhead hiking / walkingSandy trail to dry, colorful slot canyon
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trailhead hiking / walkingShort hike to a short, red walled slot canyon
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trailhead hiking / walkingShort, dry, colorful slot canyon requiring a long sandy hike or 4 wheel drive
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trailhead cavingHuman-made caves that are fun to explore
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trailhead hiking / walkingSandstone that flows like fabric; incredible
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trailhead hiking / walkingProvides access to Edmaier's Secret and West Clark Bench (the Dive)
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trailhead hiking / walkingShort slot canyon hike to see a set of stacked cars
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trailhead hiking / walkingHike to some quirky sandstone formations
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trailhead hiking / walkingAccess to area of white rock hoodoos and Sidestep canyon
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trailhead hiking / walkingHike to several sets of beautiful, white hoodoos, plus some bonus slot canyons to explore
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#30 Red Reef trailtrailhead hiking / walkingShort, scenic hike that is popular (parking fills fast); dino prints nearby
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trailhead hiking / walkingProvides access to the scenic Candy Cliffs area
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trailhead hiking / walkingSemi-technical wet slot canyon requiring a permit
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trailhead hiking / walking
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trailhead hiking / walking
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trailhead hiking / walkingShort trail on Zion scenic drive that leads to an overlook
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trailhead bikingFun mountain bike ride with desert scenery
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trailhead rockhoundingArea to search for agate, chert, jasper, petrified wood
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trailhead bikingMiles of excellent trails; this is the south trailhead
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trailhead hiking / walking5 mile rt hike to scenic red rock spires
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#47 KlonZo Trailheadtrailhead bikingExcellent collection of beginner to intermediate mountain bike trails
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trailhead bikingMiles of excellent mountain biking, including some slick rock
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trailhead geologic feature hiking / walking4 mile rt hike to Morning Glory arch through Grandstaff canyon
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trailhead bikingExcellent mountain bike ride that is 14 miles point to point or a 30-mile loop
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trailhead geologic feature hiking / walkingExcellent hike to a spectacular arch
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trailhead rock art waterfall hiking / walkingOut and back hiking trail with waterfalls, rock art and ruins
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trailhead hiking / walkingSlot canyon in Capitol Reef
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trailhead hiking / walkingLong, beautiful slot canyon in Capitol Reef
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trailhead hiking / walkingSlot canyon with arches in Capital Reef
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trailhead hiking / walkingShort but colorful slot canyon
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trailhead hiking / walkingShort and sweet slot canyon
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trailhead hiking / walkingHike through a narrow canyon with overhanging walls
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trailhead hiking / walkingExcellent hike through a long slot canyon
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trailhead rock art hiking / walking
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trailhead geologic feature hiking / walking
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trailhead hiking / walkingSlot with beautiful pink and white striped walls
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trailhead hiking / walkingScenic slot with a small river running through it
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trailhead hiking / walkingExcellent slot canyons
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trailhead hiking / walkingExcellent non-technical slot canyon
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trailhead hiking / walkingPossibly interesting canyon with rock art
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trailhead hiking / walkingHike to a large alcove with a sky light and a slot canyon with petroglyphs
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trailhead hiking / walking6.5 mile out and back slot canyon in the Swell
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trailhead hiking / walkingFun loop hike through 2 fairly easy slot canyons
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trailhead hiking / walkingProvides access to an interesting cave
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trailhead rock art hiking / walking8 mile rt hike to a large, well preserved pictograph panel
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trailhead rock art waterfall hiking / walkingExcellent pictograph panel and hike to a small waterfall
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visitor centerStop off for the latest weather, road, and trail information
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park visitor center biking hiking / walkingExcellent park full of arches; requires timed entry passes certain times of the year
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park visitor center hiking / walkingCanyonlands district with Grand Canyon-like views, ruins, and hiking
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rock art visitor center hiking / walkingDistrict of Canyonlands with interesting hikes and Newspaper Rock petroglyph panel
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park visitor center hiking / walkingNorthern Capitol Reef offers many fun hikes
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trailhead rock art waterfall hiking / walkingOut and back hiking trail with waterfalls, rock art and ruins
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trailhead rock art waterfall hiking / walkingExcellent pictograph panel and hike to a small waterfall
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trailhead bikingFun mountain bike ride with desert scenery
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trailhead bikingMiles of excellent trails; this is the south trailhead
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#47 KlonZo Trailheadtrailhead bikingExcellent collection of beginner to intermediate mountain bike trails
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trailhead bikingMiles of excellent mountain biking, including some slick rock
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park visitor center biking hiking / walkingExcellent park full of arches; requires timed entry passes certain times of the year
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trailhead bikingExcellent mountain bike ride that is 14 miles point to point or a 30-mile loop
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shop bikingRents excellent mountain bikes for adventures around Moab
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trailhead cavingHuman-made tunnel that is fun to explore
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trailhead cavingHuman-made caves that are fun to explore
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trailhead hiking / walkingSandy trail to dry, colorful slot canyon
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trailhead hiking / walkingShort hike to a short, red walled slot canyon
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trailhead hiking / walkingShort, dry, colorful slot canyon requiring a long sandy hike or 4 wheel drive
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hiking / walkingArea of beautiful sandstone with waves and teepees
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trailhead hiking / walkingSandstone that flows like fabric; incredible
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trailhead hiking / walkingProvides access to Edmaier's Secret and West Clark Bench (the Dive)
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trailhead hiking / walkingShort slot canyon hike to see a set of stacked cars
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trailhead hiking / walkingHike to some quirky sandstone formations
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trailhead hiking / walkingAccess to area of white rock hoodoos and Sidestep canyon
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trailhead hiking / walkingHike to several sets of beautiful, white hoodoos, plus some bonus slot canyons to explore
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rock art hiking / walkingPetroglyphs on boulders at the Santa Clara River Reserve
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#30 Red Reef trailtrailhead hiking / walkingShort, scenic hike that is popular (parking fills fast); dino prints nearby
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trailhead hiking / walkingProvides access to the scenic Candy Cliffs area
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trailhead hiking / walkingSemi-technical wet slot canyon requiring a permit
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trailhead hiking / walking
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trailhead hiking / walking
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trailhead hiking / walkingShort trail on Zion scenic drive that leads to an overlook
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campground hiking / walkingSmall, secluded BLM campground near dinosaur footprints and Red Reef trailhead.
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trailhead hiking / walking5 mile rt hike to scenic red rock spires
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park visitor center biking hiking / walkingExcellent park full of arches; requires timed entry passes certain times of the year
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trailhead geologic feature hiking / walking4 mile rt hike to Morning Glory arch through Grandstaff canyon
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trailhead geologic feature hiking / walkingExcellent hike to a spectacular arch
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trailhead rock art waterfall hiking / walkingOut and back hiking trail with waterfalls, rock art and ruins
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park visitor center hiking / walkingCanyonlands district with Grand Canyon-like views, ruins, and hiking
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rock art visitor center hiking / walkingDistrict of Canyonlands with interesting hikes and Newspaper Rock petroglyph panel
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trailhead hiking / walkingSlot canyon in Capitol Reef
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trailhead hiking / walkingLong, beautiful slot canyon in Capitol Reef
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trailhead hiking / walkingSlot canyon with arches in Capital Reef
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trailhead hiking / walkingShort but colorful slot canyon
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trailhead hiking / walkingShort and sweet slot canyon
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trailhead hiking / walkingHike through a narrow canyon with overhanging walls
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trailhead hiking / walkingExcellent hike through a long slot canyon
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trailhead rock art hiking / walking
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trailhead geologic feature hiking / walking
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trailhead hiking / walkingSlot with beautiful pink and white striped walls
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campground park geologic feature hiking / walkingBeautiful park with an excellent campground
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trailhead hiking / walkingScenic slot with a small river running through it
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trailhead hiking / walkingExcellent slot canyons
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trailhead hiking / walkingExcellent non-technical slot canyon
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trailhead hiking / walkingPossibly interesting canyon with rock art
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trailhead hiking / walkingHike to a large alcove with a sky light and a slot canyon with petroglyphs
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trailhead hiking / walking6.5 mile out and back slot canyon in the Swell
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trailhead hiking / walkingFun loop hike through 2 fairly easy slot canyons
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campground park geologic feature hiking / walkingOne of our favorite state parks! Enjoy wandering among the goblins (hoodoos).
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trailhead hiking / walkingProvides access to an interesting cave
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trailhead rock art hiking / walking8 mile rt hike to a large, well preserved pictograph panel
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park visitor center hiking / walkingNorthern Capitol Reef offers many fun hikes
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trailhead rock art waterfall hiking / walkingExcellent pictograph panel and hike to a small waterfall
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trailhead rockhoundingArea to search for agate, chert, jasper, petrified wood
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rockhoundingArea to find agate, grape agate, celestite geodes, and more
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shop rockhoundingWonderful rock shop in Hanksville; can provide info on regional rockhounding
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#26 Lone Rock Beachcampground beach lake swimmingSandy beach access to Lake Powell, with camping right on the beach
Last updated: December 22, 2024