By Diane Crosby

I had seen what I thought was the remarkable West. I had been to Yellowstone and parts therearound. I had traveled to Texas and Las Vegas and nearby canyons. We had even journeyed to the southern rim of the Grand Canyon. Then my elder son’s family invited us to go along on a spring break trip to Utah. I was unprepared for the incredible beauty of the landscape.

We flew into Las Vegas and spent the night. We made our way the next morning headed for Utah but stopped in the Valley of Fire State Park just outside of Vegas on the Moapa Reservation. I had been to the park countless times, but never had I visited with three teenagers and an 11-year-old. Whereas I usually gently walked the trails, the four “kids,” as well as my 40-something son, mountain-goated their way down each canyon. It was a wonderful place to be free and young.

As we approached our home for the week in Kanab, Utah, we began to experience the endless vistas that defied logic. No matter which way you looked, there were terraced mountains of sandstone, pockets of caves, rugged red outcroppings and tilted strata. Even in downtown Kanab, the spectacular scenery wrapped 360 degrees. How do the locals ever adjust to the grandeur?

We selected two of the several national parks to visit. Because one required advanced reservations, we picked two that did not – Zion and Bryce Canyon. Our first stop would be Zion. A mile-long tunnel constructed circa 1930 leads into the park. The terrain is stunning the entire time you are out of the tunnel. Zion is a location that requires visitors to park and ride the shuttle buses. Because it is a canyon with a single in-and-out roadway, traffic is kept at bay by the system. Still, waits for the buses, especially at the visitors’ center, can be long.

One of the two popular things to do in Zion is walking in the river in rented waders through “the narrows.” Several different packages are available. Because it was cold on the day of our visit and the water was high, we opted out of this adventure. The other highlighted activity is to hike to the top of Angels Landing. You are allowed to hike a portion of the trail on the spur of the moment, but timed tickets are required to go from a checkpoint to the top. The trail leading to the checkpoint is pleasant enough. Beyond is a precarious, rocky summit, sometimes barely two feet wide with steep slopes on either side. Nothing but a chain assists climbers. 

My husband and I, being senior citizens, opted to stroll along the riverside trail until it began to ascend. “Ok, we’re done,” we agreed. We spent the remainder of the day taking the shuttle bus from stop to stop. Some in our crew went further with a few climbing the entire journey. I was relieved when they descended again to our mortal plane.

Bryce Canyon, another day trip from Kanab, was more suited to my abilities. It was a wintry April day when we drove there, and snowballs flew once we arrived. Visitors can park and walk short trails to see all the glory that is the vista of hoodoos in Bryce. Further hikes are available for those interested in exploring. Because the weather was still icy, some roads were closed. Weather can turn on a dime in the west. Summers are blisteringly hot. Elevation can affect temperature. For all who set out to hike or simply walk a bit, water is a must. Make sure you check the weather to know what you will be facing. Wearing layers of clothes is wise.

While I enjoyed flashing my senior lifetime national park pass ($80 well spent some years ago!), one need not restrict travel to national parks alone. Even within a few minutes of the small town of Kanab, there were some privately owned attractions, state parks, public lands, lakes and shopping destinations. Just a few include Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Buckskin Gulch, Cottonwood Canyon, Paria Canyon, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Moqui Cave, Kodachrome Basin and Nature’s Showcase rock shop. While Kanab, like many small towns in Utah, is easy to navigate, it has numerous authentic restaurants to enjoy with a variety of cuisines. We also took advantage of the grocery stores.

Because it was cold and we were a bit tired, the two oldest among us opted out of a crack-of-dawn ATV ride through the sands and to Peek-a-Boo canyon. This was a highlight for the younger travelers who enjoyed the thrill of off-roading and seeing amazing sights. Rolling down the sand hills was a plus for them, though I was happy to skip it!

The city of St. George, Utah, was a destination my spouse and I had previously visited as a diversion from trade shows in Las Vegas. It is well worth a stop If you have the time to visit such spots as Snow Canyon, the Dinosaur Discovery Site, Quail Creek State Park and many other parks. There are also several excellent restaurants in the area.

It is impossible to drive down a highway around Kanab without seeing cars pulled off randomly to allow the occupants to explore the terrain on foot. When areas are not cordoned off by fence, you will find folk out and about, climbing and hiking. Spending weekdays in Kanab, bookended by nights in Las Vegas, worked well for those of us flying from the east coast. We were able to rent a vehicle, grab a buffet and take in a show, in our case the Blue Man Group. We may have left southern Utah, but it will linger in our memories as an other-worldly part of the planet, a place where we will always visit in our memories.

Diane and Wiley Crosby own Red Dog Outfitters in Forsyth, Georgia. They took so much pleasure watching their grandchildren explore the wild outdoors.