Tired of Utah’s National Park Crowds? Head to Utah’s National Monuments
Looking to explore Utah’s beauty, but hoping to avoid the crowds you find in National Parks such as Zion and Arches? Or maybe you’ve just been there done that. Check out these stunning Utah National Monuments. Thinking “if I wanted to look at monuments I would go to Washington DC?” Well not to worry a National Monument is basically a National Park, holding all the same environmental protections, the only difference, a National Monument is designated through executive order by a president and a National Park is voted on by congress. No statues involved. Check out these underrated Utah treasures this summer.
Dinosaur National Monument should be number one on everyone’s travel list this summer. This park combines the beauty, geology, history and archaeology of Utah’s most popular monuments and parks in one spectacular hidden gem. Dinosaur National Monument simultaneously makes you feel the past and present in every breathtaking vista; see million-year-old dinosaur bones, thousand-year-old petroglyphs, hundred-year-old homesteads and swim in fresh river waters in one day. The best way to experience the monument is on a river trip taking you into the depths of the canyon that you can only explore by boat. A Yampa River or Green River Gates of Lodore raft trip takes four to five days but cannot be beat for adventure, beauty, peace and an all-around great time. If you only have a day or two, be sure to hike to Harpers Corner for a view of the rivers and see the petroglyphs accessed along the paved road that runs through the monument from the visitors’ center.
Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges gets its name from the sandstone arches found within the boundaries of the monument. The bridges look very similar to arches; however, they are formed through different geological processes. Ancient streambeds ran into the sandstone, until the bulk of the stone was carved away forming the bridges. The monument also holds thousands of years of human history dating back to the archaic age, meaning there are ruins and petroglyphs scattered throughout the monument. Beautiful hikes range from 12 miles to under a mile to see the bridges.
Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument
Another Utah gem, located in Garfield county, the desert has turned itself into another kind of stunning geological mystery. Here the stone was carved by water to form bridges, holes, and slot canyons. Do an overnight backpacking trip through Coyote Gulch, or a day trip through another one of the beautiful canyons. Because most of the hikes are “wet,” meaning you will be walking through water, and narrow places in the earth protected from the hot sun, making it the perfect mid-summer destination.
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Cedar Breaks is a natural 8,000-foot-tall colosseum, with its base at 2,000 feet and the top at 10,000 feet. The rocks here form spires within the colosseum, the sandstone layers alternating between dark red and white, topped with dark green cedar trees around the rim, giving the monument stunning contrast. Stay hiking around the rim or drop into the valley on the Rattlesnake Creek Trail. Mountain biking more your thing? Just outside of the monument is Brian Head ski resort with world class riding.
