Olya
If you’re searching for one epic American adventure, you’ll find it on the Southwest road trip. Some otherworldly landscapes, dinosaur tracks, wild mustangs, ancient petroglyphs and so much more are to be discovered in this amazing part of the USA. One road trip is simply not enough to see it all. Since it’s always been my dream to photograph wild mustangs, I knew that my Southwest road trip had to start in Salt Lake City. I would embark on a two week adventure to explore amazing national parks, search for wildlife, get into some unique outdoor fun like kayaking through Antelope Canyon, and simply enjoy every moment of being on the road, traversing the iconic landscapes that define this country. If like myself, you’re a major outdoor enthusiast with passion for outdoor sports, travel and wildlife photography, then this guide is just right for you.
Two weeks across Utah and Arizona
HIGHLIGHTS
- Photograph wild mustangs in the Onaqui mountains
- Visit Bonneville salt flats
- Ride an ATV at Hell’s Revenge, Moab
- Visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
- Go horseback riding at Monument Valley
- Kayak through Antelope Canyon at Lake Powell
- See Horseshoe Bend near Page
- Hike the Narrows and Angel’s Landing at Zion National Park
- Marvel at Bryce Canyon National Park
- Drive through Cathedral Valley at Capitol Reef National Park
TWO WEEK ITINERARY
- Salt Lake City – 2 days
- Moab – 3 days
- Monument Valley – 1 day
- Page – 2 days
- Zion – 2 days
- Bryce Canyon – 1 day
- Capitol Reef – 2 days
SALT LAKE CITY
As a starting point for the Southwest road trip, Salt Lake City earns some major points for its close proximity to the amazing Bonneville salt flats, the Onaqui mountains with their wild mustangs, and the alluring Antelope island that offers some fantastic hiking trails and is home to wild buffalo.
THINGS TO DO
Bonneville salt flats
Located approximately 110 miles away from Salt Lake City, Bonneville salt flats are definitely worth the drive. With beautiful salt crust patterns stretching for miles on end and mountains dotting the horizon, this unique landscape is also known as the place for setting land speed records at the Bonneville Speedway. This is a must-stop for landscape and travel photographers alike.
Wild mustangs
The sight of wild mustangs playing and galloping through the valleys of the Onaqui Mountain Range is pure magic. The entire process of looking for the mustangs, traveling along the historic Pony Express Trail, and finally spotting these beautiful animals is thrilling and stands out as a true highlight of the Southwest road trip. It takes about an hour to get to the Pony Express Trail from Salt Lake City, so be prepared to spend half a day or even a full day on this fantastic wildlife adventure. When you spot the mustangs, make sure to keep a safe distance of at least 100 feet. They’re very cheeky in their interactions with one another, so observe them quietly and have your camera ready at all times.
Antelope island
Antelope island felt wild, rugged, and beautiful in every way. I only wished I had more time to explore the island. I ended up hiking at the Buffalo Point trailhead, where I was treated to stunning views all around. On this hike, I spotted two buffalo strolling down the beach, with one eventually lying down and rolling in the sand. With 36 miles of hiking and biking trails, wildlife, water sports, and scenic drives, Antelope island is a perfect nature getaway just a short drive from Salt Lake City. If you enjoy stargazing, Antelope island is also one of Utah’s international dark sky parks. While there are several campgrounds on the island, be prepared for some aggressive, biting bugs!
MOAB
Moab is Utah’s paradise for outdoor adventures and sports. Serving as a gateway to the iconic Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Moab also offers water sports on the Colorado River and swimming in gorgeous waterfalls. You’ll be treated to incredible sights, including dinosaur tracks and ancient petroglyphs. If you’re seeking adrenaline-filled adventures, Moab is world-famous for its mountain biking and off-roading at Hell’s Revenge. All in all, exploring the outdoors around Moab will make you feel like Indiana Jones!
THINGS TO DO
Explore Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
If there’s a place on Earth that can easily make you feel small, Arches National Park is definitely one of them! Boasting over two thousand naturally formed arches and other beautiful rock formations, this park must be seen to be believed. A hike to Delicate Arch is so incredibly beautiful that you will want to pinch yourself just to be sure you aren’t dreaming. I will never forget walking along the edge of a rock wall to enter this circular rock formation, with Delicate Arch standing tall at the very end, overlooking snow-capped mountains in the distance. What a unique experience that was!
The Windows Arches and Double Arch shouldn’t be missed either. These hikes are easy and offer rewarding views that you may recognize from some of Hollywood’s classics like Indiana Jones.
The night sky at Arches was filled with stars. Like many others, we parked at one of the viewpoints and watched them for hours.
Go for a thrilling ATV ride at Hell’s Revenge
For thrill-seekers, Hell’s Revenge is the ultimate place in Moab to experience firsthand. After watching videos of ATVs climbing steep rocks at Hell’s Revenge, I couldn’t wait to try it myself. It was exciting, scary, and unforgettable, and I couldn’t imagine my Southwest road trip without off-roading at Hell’s Revenge.
I booked my ATV ride with the Moab Tourism Center in advance and would happily recommend their team to anyone interested in this incredibly fun activity.
Search for dinosaur tracks and petroglyphs around Moab
Dinosaur tracks and ancient petroglyphs are abundant around Moab, making this area even more fascinating in addition to all the natural beauty it has to offer. I spotted my very first dinosaur tracks and petroglyphs on Potash Road while heading to potash ponds. If you have a 4WD and love going off-road, I highly recommend this drive.
The road is paved up to the dinosaur tracks and continues further until you get close to the potash ponds. You’ll be driving alongside the Colorado River and tall, red rocks. When the road becomes unpaved, you enter a beautiful valley covered in large rocks. Keep following the “Public road” signs until you spot the sparkling blue potash ponds. The stark contrast between the blue potash ponds of different shades and the bright orange desert with giant rocks creates an usual scene in the middle of nowhere. If you enjoy taking landscape photos with a drone, this place is perfect for it.
Enjoy a beautiful hike and swim at Mill Creek waterfall
I absolutely loved my discovery of the Mill Creek waterfall in Moab. The hike to the waterfall felt adventurous, with gorgeous views throughout, and I even spotted petroglyphs closer to the waterfall so be sure to look around on this lovely trail. It’s best to bring water shoes since the trail gets pretty rocky in places, and you end up walking up the stream with water up to your knees at times. There are two waterfalls on this trail; the first one is tall but looks a bit unnatural. Make sure to reach the second waterfall which is truly wild and where you can even take a swim. This place is a perfect break from the national parks near Moab.
MONUMENT VALLEY
Monument Valley, the sacred land of the Navajo people, will take your breath away. These world famous landscapes, with beautiful sandstone rock formations, are so unique they easily rival Arches and the other “Mighty Five” parks of Utah. This is an essential stop on the Southwest road trip. To make the experience even more special, jump on a horse with the Navajo people to take one epic ride towards the Mitten Buttes and Sentinel Mesa. It’s one of those experiences that will stick in your memory forever. A scenic 17-mile drive inside Monument Valley is another must-do at this iconic destination.
THINGS TO DO
Go horseback riding
For a long time, I had imagined what it would be like to ride a horse through Monument Valley, but the experience turned out to be a thousand times better. Riding behind a Navajo girl through the sacred land of her people felt authentic and fun. If I ever set out on another Southwest road trip, I will definitely do this all over again.
You can find and book this amazing experience using the link below:
Enjoy a scenic 17-mile loop drive inside Monument Valley
This dirt road will take you through some of the most stunning scenery in the valley. As you pass by the famed buttes and other quirky rock formations, you’ll encounter a striking blend of bright orange soil and rocks contrasted with lush green vegetation, resulting in a truly spectacular landscape.
PAGE
Page, another outdoor paradise on the Southwest road trip, is home to the world-famous Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell. Each year, millions of people travel to Page to marvel at these natural wonders.
THINGS TO DO
Take a kayak down Antelope Canyon at Lake Powell
Antelope Canyon is mesmeric and kayaking through it is one epic adventure on the Southwest road trip. You will need to kayak for a good 40 minutes on Lake Powell to reach the canyon’s entrance. Once inside the canyon’s walls, you will kayak for another hour to reach a small beach where you can leave your kayak and start hiking through the canyon.
We hiked for about one mile, navigating some fun, narrow passages and climbing ladders in places before turning around. On the way back, we made stops for floating and swimming sessions; the water in the canyon was clear and perfectly refreshing. If I were to rank my Southwest adventures, this one would definitely make it into the top five!
See Horseshoe Bend
One for the postcards, the view of Horseshoe Bend is both incredible and terrifying. It’s about a 1.5-mile loop hike from the parking lot to the overlook and back. To get close to the iconic view, you’ll need to stand on a steep cliff with a 1000-foot drop. There’s a small fenced overlook point, while the rest of the cliff remains open to preserve the natural beauty of the place. Many travelers will hike around the area close to the edge, but be warned about occasional strong wind gusts and unstable ground – safety should always comes first.
Visit Upper and/or Lower Antelope canyons
It goes without saying that Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons are renowned for their beauty worldwide. It is advisable to book these tours in advance to avoid the disappointment of missing out.
Enjoy some swim time at the Wahweap Swim beach
Since we had some time to spare before getting on the road to Zion, we decided to head to the Wahweap Swim Beach. With its bright turquoise water by the shoreline and rugged cliffs all around, this place had a Greek island feel! If you’re in no rush to get to your next destination, this beach is a perfect rest stop.
ZION NATIONAL PARK
Zion, the second most visited national park in the USA, offers over 100 miles of hiking trails, and two of them are the notorious Angel’s Landing and The Narrows. Zion is yet another hikers’ paradise on the Southwest road trip. As you drive through the historic 1.1-mile Zion-Mount Carmel tunnel, you will be catching glimpses of Zion canyon through the tunnel’s windows. The view of tall sandstone rock cliffs dotted through a green valley are for the books!
THINGS TO DO
The Narrows
Hiking The Narrows is one of the most unique experiences in Zion. On this trail, you mainly hike in the Virgin River, where water levels can vary and reach up to your chest in some places. Due to the very uneven waterbed with boulders of all shapes and sizes covering the entire ground, proper hiking shoes, socks and a walking pole are essential for both safety and comfort. I rented my gear from a local store called Zion Guru and was very happy with my decision not to wear my regular water shoes.
The Narrows is 16 miles long and can take up to 12 hours to complete. We trekked roughly 7 miles up the river until the canyon narrowed significantly and the water became shallower. The hike was stunning and adventurous, leaving us completely exhausted by the end due to the intense mental focus needed to navigate the boulders and avoid falling.
The Angel’s Landing
Angel’s Landing, like Half Dome at Yosemite National Park, is an iconic trail that every hiker wants to check off their list. Keep in mind that you will need to obtain a permit to hike The Chains, the head-spinning final section of the trail. Since we couldn’t get the permits, we stopped at Scout’s Lookout. Park rangers were stationed right at the start of The Chains section, checking everyone’s permits.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
While Bryce Canyon is the smallest national park among Utah’s Mighty 5, it’s very unique and shouldn’t be skipped on your Southwest road trip. It boasts the largest concentration of hoodoos in the world, and together, these quirky spire-shaped rock formations create the most enchanting place.
THINGS TO DO
Hike Queen’s Garden/Navajo combination loop
Queen’s Garden and Navajo combination trail is perfect for first-timers. It’s 2.9 miles long and takes about 2 to 3 hours to complete. You can start hiking either at Sunrise or Sunset point. The trail features stunning scenery with fairy-like hoodoos and iconic switchbacks.
CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK
Nestled in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef is a breathtaking park that seems like it’s from another planet. There’s even Mars Desert Research Center, which says something about Capitol Reef park. The fact that it isn’t as well known as the other Mighty Five parks in Utah is shocking, yet perfect at the same time. It is a place of contrasts, where lunar-like landscapes clash with Martian-like scenery. Bentonite Hills with their popcorn texture seem straight out of science fiction. As for the Cathedral Valley loop drive, it was designed for off-roading adventure seekers.
THINGS TO DO
Cathedral Valley loop drive
This 57.6-mile loop drive is fantastic for off-roading fun in unbelievable settings. You will either start or end this drive by fording the Fremont River so a high-clearance vehicle is a must. Cathedral Valley is remote and rugged, featuring some of the most stunning monoliths, such as the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon.
See Mars Desert Research Station
Seeing Mars Research Station surrounded by the orange Bentonite Hills in the desert will make you feel like you’ve landed on Mars.
With a bit of luck, you might spot scientists dressed in analog space suits carrying out their research outdoors.
Southwest road trip is a classic American adventure that every passionate traveler should experience at least once in their lifetime. So start planning and packing your bags for this epic road trip!
*AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL ANNUAL PASS – If you plan to visit most of the national parks on the Southwest road trip, you should consider purchasing an America The Beautiful annual pass at one of the national parks’ visitor centers. This pass is a great way to save on entrance fees and can be used for visits to other national parks throughout the year.
