|
St.
George, Utah - Day Side Trips To Scenic Beauty |
Anasazi Indian Village State Park
435-335-7308
Visitors to the Anasazi Indian Village State Park will go back in time to
1050 A.D. when the Fremont and
Kayenta Anasazi occupied the area. An
estimated 200 people once lived at the site, making it one of the largest
Anasazi communities west of the Colorado River.
Anasazi Indian Village State Park is located in Boulder on Scenic
Byway
12. It is open daily all year.
Capitol
Reef National Park
435-425-3791
Covering over 240,000 acres, the park is
remarkably formed by red sandstone cliffs, domes and
spires.
Early Native Americans referred to this area as the
"Land of the Sleeping Rainbow" Explore Waterpocket Fold,
the 186-mile-long, 3-mile-wide buckle in the earth's
crust which began to form over 65 million years ago.
The contours
of Waterpocket Fold catch pools of rainwater throughout the
year. Located east of Torrey on Utah 24.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
435-648-2800
This 3,700 acre recreational site features awesome, coral-colored sand.
The erosions form soft hills perfect for relaxing, walking and some
areas for off-road vehicles. The sand dunes provide a wide range
of recreational opportunities i
ncluding camping, hiking and photography. With
nearby camping facilities, showers for washing off the sand and
paved
bike routes, it is a great place to spend some time. Located on Sand Dunes Road just off Hwy 89 30 miles
west of Kanab
and is open year round.
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
435-826-4466
Hike past large specimens of petrified wood and dinosaur fossils at
Escalante Petrified Forest. It is located one mile
west of the town
of Escalante on Scenic Byway 12, Interpretive hiking
trails wind through the park provide
information about the colorful
mineralized wood and bones. The park's modern campground is open all
year.
All services are located in Escalante.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
435-826-5499
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a vast area of
sandstone canyons, plateaus, unique rock
formations and cliffs.
Almost two million acres of desert became a national monument in September
1996. Most of
the roads inside the monument are dirt roads
that are impassable when wet, and some require four-wheel drive
vehicles.
No services are available inside the monument. Call
the Interagency Office in Escalante for current information.
Kodachrome Basin State Park
435-679-8562
Located nine miles south of Cannonville, just off Scenic Byway 12,
Kodachrome Basin State Park is open all year. Temperatures are
comfortable in the early spring and the late fall in this semi-desert climate. Cacti and other wildflowers bloom in the
spring and winter brings a little snow that caps the spires, making the
colors even more intense.
Unique spires and chimneys called sand pipe
intrusions jut up from the valley floor creating surrealistic settings
at Kodachrome Basin. Their colors change during the day seeming to
glow at sunrise and sunset. A campground with
hot showers and rest rooms make
camping enjoyable at Kodachrome Basin.
Kolob Canyon
435-772-3256
Kolob Canyon, part of Zion's National Park, is located along
the western edge of Zion National Park. the visitor center
is
accessible from Interstate 15, Exit 22, 20 minutes north of St
George. You can hike trails, view wildlife and
take
photographs of the massive red rock formations of the Kolob Fingers
from pullouts along a five-mile paved road.
Drive time from St
George is abut 20 minutes.
Lake
Powell
Lake Powell, formed by Glen Canyon Dam,
is the second largest man-made lake in North America. The lake has
1,960 miles of shoreline, which is greater than the length of the entire
U S west coast. The crystal blue lake,
surrounded by red sandstone
cliffs, is known to be an artists' dream. Lake Powell is
250-square miles of unsurpassed
water recreation. Visitors come
from all over the world to enjoy water skiing, jet skiing, boating,
swimming and fishing
in the warm
waters. Also boat tours, river trips, scenic flights are
offered. You can find nearby hotel and dining accommodations.
Located 90 miles east of Kanab via Hwy 89.
Lake Powell
Chamber of Commerce
North Rim of the Grand Canyon
800-869-6635
www.nps.gov.grca
The North Rim features pine and aspen
forests of the 640,000 acre Kaibab Plateau. You will find
viewpoints of the
Grand Canyon higher than that on the South Rim.
Magnificent views from the lodge. Located 45 miles south of
Jacob
Lake. Drive time from St George is appoximately 3 hours.
North Rim
Pipe Springs Monument
This desert oasis was declared a national
monument in 1923 as a "memorial of western pioneer life." It is located on the Paiute Indian Reservation and they operate the
nearby campground. It also has a cafeteria, visitor center and
gift shop. The monument is located 20 miles
southwest of Kanab on
Hwy 389.
Scenic Byway 12
This 120-mile long Highway 12 Scenic Byway winds through the heart of
Bryce Canyon Country, including the newly designated Grand Staircase-Escalante
National Monument. The paved route has been chosen one of the top ten
scenic byways in North American by Car and Driver Magazine.
The wide range of beautiful scenery and recreational opportunities that
surround the route make Scenic Byway 12
unique. Colorful canyons,
desert slick rock, cool clear lakes, and forest covered mountains rising to
9600 feet
above sea level are all within a few hours drive. Take
time to explore this incredible route.
|