Utah

Snow Canyon State Park

Snow Canyon State Park is situated in the far southwest of Utah, a few kilometers from St. George and covers an area of 30km². The creamy white and orange hues of sandstone, petrified sand dunes and volcanic rock will make it a visit well worth it and you might even wonder why it wasn’t declared as a national park.

Two canyons, West Canyon and Snow Canyon, begin side-by-side at the north end of the park and cut into the sandstone of the Red Mountains to converge in the middle of the park. This unique landscape was carved through time by volcanic eruptions, the might of ancient waterways and the wind.

Snow Canyon State Park offers numerous exploration opportunities, many of which are ideal for hiking with children because of the park’s relatively flat canyon floor. It is also popular with cyclists and even accessible for rollerblading thanks to the paved Whiptail Trail (9.7km). Following the Petrified Dunes Trail (1.6km) visitors can explore petrified sand dunes frozen in time, perfect for incredible photo opportunities. Another favorite is the Hidden Pinyon trail (2.4km) which reveals many impressive geological features and native plants of the park.

Count on 2 to 3 hours to discover the park and enjoy a scenic hike. Equine enthusiasts can also enjoy Snow Canton on horseback.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes

Coral Pink Sand Dunes is situated in the southwest of Utah, between Mount Carmel Junction and some 30km of the western city of Kanab. The coral-pink sand dunes of this small but impressive 15km² state park create a very special landscape.

The dunes are estimated to be between 10.000 and 15.000 years old and were formed from the erosion of Navajo Sandstone surrounding the park. High winds passing through the notch between the Moquith and Moccasin Mountains pick up loose sand particles and then drop them onto the dunes.

Hiking on the fine and warm sand is an enjoyable and child-friendly activity, though climbing the highest dunes might require some more perseverance. ATVs and OHV are allowed on about 90% of the dunes, a favorite for the off-road lovers!

Count on 1h30 to discover the park through hiking or with an ATV. We suggest visiting the park just before sunset as the best time to admire the breathtaking colors of the sand dunes and the surrounding cliffs.

Website: www.stateparks.utah.gov/parks/coral-pink

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is situated in the southwest of Utah and covers an area of 145km². It is one of the five nation al parks in Utah and is famous for its unique geological rock formations. Technically Bryce Canyon isn’t really a canyon because it was formed by headward erosion, but a collection of enormous amphitheaters consisting of numerous so-called hoodoos. These earth pyramids are sculpted by acid rain and water seeping in the cracks of the rock, freezes in the winter, expands and breaks of parts of the rock. The name hoodoos was given by the Paiute indigenous people who firmly believed that angry gods turned had people here into stone.

The spectacular red, orange and white colors of this surreal landscape make for a truly unique experience, full of breathtaking vistas. A remarkable place you will not soon forget. At sunset and sundown is where the magic really happens and during the night you’ll find one of the best places on earth to stargaze. The low light pollution and the exceptionally high air quality make sure of it.

Visitors can admire the fascinating rock formations up close thanks to the many hiking trails, on the ridge or in the valley. The 13 viewpoints are easily accessible by car along the 30 km route on the ridge and offer incredible panoramic views of the park. Make sure you stop at Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, and Bryce viewpoints if you are in a hurry. During the summer, a free shuttle service even transports visitors between viewpoints.

There are so many possibilities to explore Bryce Canyon National Park: horseback riding and assisting to a cowboy rodeo, a fly over in helicopter, off-road ATV and during the winter even putting on your snowshoes and discovering a completely new side of this phenomenal park.