I've heard the lottery permit for The Wave is one of the hardest to win. I had previously missed…read moreout on the advanced lottery for 3 dates I submitted for mid-May and sorta planned out my 9-day roadtrip in AZ without visiting here. I really only had 1 day to fit in a trip to The Wave while I was staying in Page for 4 days and took a shot with the daily lottery permit and won! I was super pumped when I got the email notification! The 2-day advance daily lottery permit can only be applied for while you are in a nearby geofenced area and you have to pick up the permit and go through orientation/training at either Page, AZ or Kanab, UT. One tricky thing about the permit application hours is that it is based on UT and Navajo time, not AZ time. If you are in Page, you'll have to ignore the local time and make sure you are 1 hour ahead of the daily application closing time. Anyways, this was one of the most jaw-dropping other-worldy places I've hiked. The journey to reach The Wave features some of the most unique terrains and landscapes I've seen. There are geologic features all around, everywhere you look. Once you reach The Wave area, you almost can't believe what you are seeing. Some areas look like the rings of Saturn. Some areas look like huge ocean waves. I was in awe the entire time I was there. I can't even explain everything I saw, as words can't describe the scenery. Just look at the pictures. I didn't really explore past the main area because I was on a tight schedule and needed to head back. I would have to say this hike may be too challenging if you only rely on the paper map provided during orientation. I would highly recommend GPS tracking app, I used AllTrails to track my hike and even then I went off trail a few times, as this is definitely not a straight forward hike. Not a long hike at about 3.3 mile each way, but I would start early as it can get quite hot in this area. Also, there was a gentleman from BLM that was checking for permits at The Wave, if you were curious about enforcement.

How the heck did I get so lucky to be selected in the monthly lottery?!!?…read more You want to do as much research as you can prior to your visit that way you can feel comfortable prior to your hike. There is a 4 mile dirt path to get to the parking lot. In the parking lot there are bathrooms, but no trash throughout the park. Please bring a plastic bag to put your garbage in and toss it when you get to your destination outside of the park. There are wild animals as you get to the parking so please be cautious when driving on the dirt road. Read the weather forecast for the day of your hike and prepare accordingly. Since I went in the spring my hike started out with the sun shining and ended with the sand hitting my face because it started to get windy. Again, there are wild animals so please be cautious and be prepared. Do take breaks along the way, hydrate and most importantly enjoy it all!!

This feels like a review in progress because the area is so large - but was pleasantly surprised by…read morehow much more I want to explore this region. We did Willis Creek Narrows and Lower Calf Creek Falls - both incredible. Now adding to the wish list for return trips. The drive along US 12 is just spectacular. Definitely recommend a high clearance vehicle with 4WD to access some of the more remote locations. Be prepared to adventure and bring what you need as this is not a manicured national park, but more a haven for those looking for an off-grid escape.

I didn't have a ton of time to explore here but simply driving by left quite an impression on me!…read moreWOW. I'm not exaggerating when I say I pulled off the road maybe every 50 feet because every new angle provided a new exciting view of this vast and beautiful stone monument. In general this is a HUGE monument to explore and I'm not sure you could even scratch the surface on a simple vacation, let alone during a road trip. I've since come to learn that this area was the last part of the lower 48 states to be cartographed and, according to the Bureau of Land Management, it spans five life-zones - from low-lying desert to coniferous forest, and paleontologists have unearthed countless dinosaur bones and fossils from within its canyons and deserts. Truly incredible stuff, here! But don't let the size and scope intimidate you. As I said, even driving by or taking a day or afternoon to explore is worth the journey. It's an incredible resource that we're lucky to have here in the US.

I came upon the Blanche Russell Rock House by accident as I drove past Vermillion Cliffs into…read moreMarble Canyon. I had no idea what this spot was but I got out of my car to explore anyway and it was one of the more memorable stops during my road trip. First thing I noticed were the huge boulders scattered about, including one that looked like a dinosaur skull and another that defies the laws of physics with it's skinnier base and much wider top. The next thing I noticed was a very modest stone structure, like a home, built amongst the boulders. I took loads a photos and dropped a pin in my map so I could look up the structure later. Came to find this structure was the Blanche Russell rock house, a home built by former Ziegfeld Follies girl, Blanche Russell and her husband Bill, who came across the area and sheltered under the boulders briefly when their car broke down in 1927. While spending time waiting for someone to come by to help, they fell in love with the landscape and decided to literally set up shop. They built the stone house and sold food to passerbys heading to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. She also bartered food for help building the structure and assistance expanding their footprint to a restaurant and a trading post up the road. The restaurant, Cliff Dwellers', still exists nearby to this day! As a history nerd I was totally fascinated by this story and I'm grateful I was able to take it all in, even if it was brief.

It's sad to see the destruction from last year's wildfires. Heartbreaking. Still a beautiful area,…read morenice place to stop to stretch your legs and a cool lookout/viewing area. Nearly everything surrounding this overlook has remnants of fire scars. Very popular stop place.

This part of the 89A gets dusted with snow anywhere from November to February. We were lucky enough…read moreto be driving through when it happened around Thanksgiving. While there is no bathroom here it's still a nice stop off to check out the area and stretch your legs.. - The parking lot can be very slippery after a snow storm because ice gathers on the ground.

Very beautiful highway. This is one of those yelp freebies. You have to take this route anyways to…read moreget to Bryce Canyon, lol.

I have lived in Utah for over 45 years. I drove Scenic Highway 12 for the first time earlier this…read moresummer. Most incredible drive I have ever experienced in Utah. Changing landscape every few miles. Well worth the time and effort!!

What an amazing experience going through the canyons ,a bit rough on the road driving into the…read moretrailhead due to flood damage so a 4x4 is way better ,once you arrive bathrooms are clean .

Disclaimer please check Ranger stations and understand with any amount of rain whatsoever slot…read morecanyons can be dangerous and flash floods are deadly. It was dry when we went. I can't recommend this enough. If you want a rugged wonderlust adventure, skip antelope canyon and try this hike instead . On the way in we went up over the trail over the canyon and it was pretty rugged. On the way out we stayed in the river bed and there was a ladder and this was an easier route. If you want the easier route in just stay in the riverbed for the entire hike. When you finally reach the end of the wire pass and you meet the convergence of buckskin Gulch, hang a right. It is a "T" shape and you have to choose right or left. The left is a lot of black rock and not as dramatic view. The right has more oranges and reds and is more dramatic with lighting. We hiked approximately 45 minutes into buckskin Gulch and the views were absolutely breathtaking and dramatic. I think the lighting for awesome photos would be best from eight or 9 AM until maybe one or 2 PM. You can go as far as you want but eventually you might reach water puddles that you don't want to go through. We chose to hike two hours in to buckskin gulch and then come back out wire pass. Remember to get online and get your permit and write down the permit number and stick it in your windshield or you will get a ticket on your windshield. You can buy the wire Pass day pass on recreation.gov. I've already been to antelope Canyon and I was at Zion. Not overly thrilled with crowds and it feels very structured. If you want unstructured beauty and no crowds I would suggest this instead because it's just as beautiful and dramatic. A lot of the features that you would see at White pocket and other places you will find in small areas of this hike.

This is a must see if you're staying in Duck Creek or close by. Breathtaking scenery and so…read morepeaceful!

Amazing views of red-orange rock formations with white tops. The road to get there is a bit rough,…read morebut well worth the trip! See my drone footage at: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCm3s9p8izuOtqEsyBP1rVwUCrO6F032K

If you're heading to Zion and want something that feels straight out of a Western movie, Grafton…read moreGhost Town is 100% worth the quick detour. We stopped here not expecting much, and it ended up being one of the most unique spots of the trip. This place dates back to the 1860s and was settled by pioneers trying to farm along the Virgin River. Between floods, isolation, and tough conditions, the town was eventually abandoned--but what's left behind is seriously cool. Unlike a lot of ghost towns, Grafton actually has several well-preserved buildings, including an old schoolhouse, homes, and even a cemetery. Walking through it feels quiet... almost too quiet. It's the kind of place where you can actually picture what life was like back then. And the setting? Unreal. You've got massive red rock cliffs from Zion in the background, which makes it feel way more cinematic than your average historical stop. It's no surprise this place has been used in movies. There's no entry fee, no crowds (usually), and no over-the-top tourist setup--just raw history and insane scenery. If you're already visiting Zion, skipping Grafton would honestly be a mistake. It's quick, eerie, beautiful, and totally unforgettable. Follow us for more hidden gems on our socials @reessroots

I remember going to Grafton with my family when I was a child, so when I had the opportunity to go…read moreback and visit as an adult, I was excited to see how it changed. It's much cleaner and well-maintained than I remembered. I think the LDS church owns the property now and is doing some renovations on the buildings. You can walk through most of the buildings as well as the grounds around them. It's a neat stop and worth taking the time to be in the space and energy of some of Utah's history.