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