Like Chris. G, I, too, am hesitant to review this place as I don't want it to be overrun, but I…read morealso doubt that many people will make the trek out in droves--and, yes, a trek it is. We journeyed out here a few weeks back in our Jeep Renegade on what would be our first time really using it in an off-road situation. We didn't get stuck at all, even though we don't know how to off-road very well, but there were a few sketchy parts so just be careful when you get to the part where high clearance 4WD is recommended because the warnings are serious. Once we got out to the views the path becomes pretty poorly visible so we didn't know exactly where we wanted to go, but we found a good spot where a fire had been previously and chose that as our campsite. It was awesome. Check out the photos if you don't believe me!! Also, we got there when there was plenty of daylight and left when there was plenty of daylight so we wouldn't have to worry about driving around next to cliffs and tons of slickrock in the dark.

One of the best views I've ever seen! The long, grueling trek in our Subaru Forester was totally…read moreworth it, and took us far away from the crowds. Even on Labor Day weekend, we saw maybe 6 other cars the whole time. A four-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle is strongly recommended. There are plenty of campsites with fire rings, but keep in mind there are no other campsite amenities. The landscape on the ride there was other-worldly, but the views of Lake Powell were just jaw-dropping. We got there in time for sunset views, then woke up to the best morning cloud porn of our lives. We were also lucky enough to watch not one, but two Sunday night fireworks displays going off on the lake below. Highly recommend for all you outdoorsy, adventurous folk!

After years of trying to apply for a permit, our group finally got picked! Highly recommend hiking…read moreat least once. I wouldn't do it again though, mainly because of how hard it was to get a permit. We visited in April and the weather was fantastic. It was actually freezing in the morning but as the sun rose, it warmed up to the point where we would sweat a little when hiking. I can't even imagine doing this in the summer but if you win the lottery then, make sure everyone brings plenty of water. To get to the trailhead, I'd recommend having a high-clearance vehicle, especially if it just recently rained. The road off of the freeway becomes unpaved and there are some ditches that can be flooded. Download an offline map of the trail and area for when you lose service. It gets spotty but you'll find reception every now and then. At the beginning, there are a couple of vault toilets. The trail itself is difficult to follow without an offline map. There's only a handful of signs pointing in a general direction. And until the Wave, we were pretty much the only people around. Considering only about 60 people are approved each day, it wasn't surprising, and honestly, kind of nice to be alone in nature. The Wave was everything we hoped for. We had clear, blue skies and that contrast with the red and orange rocks was beautiful. It looked exactly like the Windows background! There was even a pond further up with a ton of tadpoles. Besides the Wave, there's other neat waypoints to stop by but because we were tired, we didn't try for many of them. The only one we went out of our way for was the dinosaur tracks but it was anti-climatic. They just looked like larger chicken feet prints. Despite this hike being only about 6 miles round trip, it took pretty much the entire day. We stopped a lot to take pictures but also the landscape was difficult to hike. Lots of sand to walk through and lots of weird inclines to walk across, which kept our feet, knees, and legs at weird angles. There might have been easier pathways but as I said earlier, there's no clear indications of a trail. There was also a BLM worker at the Wave asking for the permit holders. If you hike without one and get caught, you'll get slapped with some steep fines. Drones are also not allowed!

My friend won the online lottery for the permit 4 months in advance but after talking to the…read moreranger, it seems that there's a good chance you can win the daily lottery since a lot of people cancel every day. It's easier if you have less people (like two people). Anyways, the orientation the day before was useful for weather and road conditions. The hike wasn't too bad, can be a bit steep in some parts but for the most part, not too much incline. It's moderate for the novice hiker but easy for an experienced hiker. For experienced hikers, probably can get to the Wave in 1 to 1.5 hours. For the inexperienced, it might take 2.5 to 3 hours. Either way, if you're planning to spend a lot of time at the Wave (some people take 2-3 hours for their extensive Instagram photoshoots haha), definitely go there early and spend all day there. I would definitely come back if I win the lottery!

Spend a month here, an hour at a time. Morning light,…read moremidday sun and the sundown hour each change the colors and shapes surrounding you in this eroded and haunting wilderness. Take Highway 89 to Big Water and turn right: the road into the badlands is not marked but it's the only one. It runs ENE along the cliffs at a distance of a mile or so. Occasionally, the dirt road jogs around large boulders that broke away from the cliffs and tumbled out to where you are now. Go there in the early morning. The rising sun finds shadows among the blue seamed cliff faces and the chinle mounds. The attached photograph "Monks" is one of those scenes I captured in the month of May. As the cliffs turn facing the sunrise, direct light outlines sharper shapes and brighter colors, even yellow desert flowers-- as you may see in the attached photo "Stealthfighters." Carbonates in leached clay show a strong green cast in the morning light, see "Peek." Colors in the same clay change in the midday sun, like that in the"Moby Dick" photograph in July. Late afternoon colors emerge in the rocks, as you see in "Attack." Toward sunset the golden hour reveals even more subtle colors in the rocks and clays. These pictures are of the badlands and the lower cliffs. If you get here from anywhere in time for sunrise, you will need to hangout in 100F heat for about 15 hours -- when the colors are least interesting. Or you can go on. Dont try to climb the cliffs or you risk landing under a rock slide -- and become another ghost of the Escalante. There are two roads up to the Kaiparowits plateau. One is mostly narrow switchbacks cut into the sheer face of the 1500-foot Vermilion cliff. When I look over the side, ghosts are waiting.

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!!

Let me set the record straight, slot canyons are my jam! I will go anywhere there is an opportunity…read moreto walk, shimmy, or rappel into a slot canyon. I just think they are the most interesting Mother Nature created places to explore. We came here on a July 4th holiday with some friends of my husbands. The road out here can be rough in spots and does require a 4X4 to get out here, but we made it safely to the canyon. These slot canyons are located within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in the beautiful state of Utah. This land is run by the BLM. Talk about beautiful! The canyon walls with their orange/red colored Navajo sandstone just envelopes you as you walk through this slot canyons. So many twists and turns with lots of crevices to peer or climb into. Be sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, good trail shoes (not Skechers HA! HA!), a hat and a small pack so you can move through the slot canyons comfortably. Both of these canyons are so worth the drive and the time. Most of all remember to Leave No Trace. Happy Adventuring!

We couldn't get into Peek-a-book Slot Canyon. The entrance is close to 15 feet up and a near…read morevertical approach in three pitches. The rock is slippery with just a hint of footholds. I probably could have gotten up, but don't think I could make it back down safely. The picture attached shows about 20 feet vertically. And not wanting to do Spooky I would have had to come back down that way. A long drive and a bit of a hot hike to find that out. There was a third slot canyon nearby that is easy to access, though not nearly as spectacular as, say, Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona.

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.

Easy drive with lots of free parking. Views were really nice but nothing exceptional. It would…read moreprobably be better if there was a nice sunrise or sunset.

another scenic spot if you're in the area! it's not even THAT cold yet but the wind was blowing…read morelike 25mph and that made it freezing lol beautiful to see the lake powell and canyons and sky connect so peaceful! can't imagine how much prettier it would be on a sunny day or a nice colorful sunset/ sunrise action

One of the most breathtaking views we saw during our Arizona road trip! Horseshoe Bend is…read moredefinitely worth visiting if you're already going to Antelope Canyon since it's only about a 14-minute drive away. The attraction itself is free, but parking costs $10 per vehicle. After parking, there's a short walk to the overlook. The walk is pretty easy, but it can get hot and windy depending on the weather, so bring water and wear comfortable shoes. Once you reach the viewpoint, the scenery is absolutely unreal. Seeing the Colorado River curve around the canyon in person is so much more impressive than photos online. The overlook is very high, which makes the views even more dramatic. If you're planning to take photos or videos, try walking around a bit because some areas get crowded. We found one of the higher spots for better views and it was totally worth it for pictures. Also, don't forget to stop by the "Page, Arizona" sign nearby before leaving! Overall, such a beautiful and easy stop to add to any Arizona or Southwest road trip itinerary.

Absolutely worth the stop when visiting Horseshoe Bend! This place is such an incredible photo spot…read moreand truly one of those must-see locations when you're in the area. The views are unreal in person, and we took so many amazing pictures here. I came with a group of about 15-20 girls and we all had such a fun experience. The walk over was manageable, and once you get to the overlook, it's definitely one of those "wow" moments. It was $10 per car to enter, and unfortunately the America the Beautiful pass doesn't work here since it's separate from the national park system. Still, totally worth the fee for the experience and views. The only thing I wasn't too crazy about were the bathrooms -- definitely different from what I'm used to at California national parks. I was very glad I brought my own flushable wipes just in case. But honestly, that didn't take away from the experience at all. If you're anywhere near Page or the Grand Canyon area, this is absolutely a must-stop destination!

This place is so underrated on social media--I only discovered it while randomly exploring the map…read more When I checked the Bureau of Land Management's website, I got even more confused because it mentioned that the dirt road requires an AWD and a high-clearance vehicle. As a national monument, I expected there to be an entrance ticket booth. I was traveling from Zion to Flagstaff. but this place was nowhere to be found the yelp map pointer we are taking you to a vista spot where later I realized you can see the whole vermillion from there in the distance. So how did I find it? I want to keep driving. And all the sudden I saw something stunning from the window... if there wasn't and a car parked there selling tribe souvenirs I wouldn't even know I could drive in there... It was a weekday and barely anyone there . The lady that was supposed to be selling the souvenirs was probably sleeping in the car and didn't bother to come out. I don't have high clearance vehicle , so I tried to park at a more flat area... but if you have high clearance vehicle, I think you can drive around all the rock formations without any problem. If not, you can also explore on foot!

Holy smokes, 280,000 acres! So much to see including a growing number of endangered California…read moreCondors. A lot of the condors are hatched and raised in a breeding program and then released. Although you can get some great shots from the main highway, most of the trails/roads you do need a high clearance vehicle/four wheel drive due to sand being so deep. Most of the roads are all dirt so be cautious if raining etc. if venturing in Coyote Buttes (the wave) you need a permit. Camping is allowed. While you could spend literal days here backpacking etc you still won't see it all. Take your time. I'm bummed we didn't see a condor or two. Maybe on our next trip.

Most accessible hike in GrandStaircase Escalante NM…read more Strange but cool shapes of hoodoos and scenery. Very good short hike for half a day. Only downside is so many people. More detail description at my blog: https://himebackpacker.blogspot.com/2025/04/toadstool-hoodoos-utah.html

This was my first ever hike and it was perfect for a beginner! Trail was well marked and mostly…read moreflat. There were a lot of footprints in the sand so trail was easy to follow. The views were absolutely gorgeous the entire way! Free parking with 2 porta potties.