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.

This is a really random find but it's neat! Just 3-4 mins down the road from thunderbird restaurant…read moreand the main junction going towards/away from Zion's east entrance is this little cave formation. There's tons of parking in the gravel lot outside of it. The actual cave part is short, you can walk through it in like 5 mins. The path continues for a while outside; it's mainly sand and seems fairly flat but I didn't go far before turning back. Not the inside of the cave part does get VERY dark for a short distance; I was trying to use only light from the entrance exit and I almost ate dirt a couple times in the middle so use your flashlight. Overall, this spot isn't far off the path if you're road tripping around to national parks (which I was), but I wouldn't go out of your way if it's far/way off whatever path you're taking.

It's a quick thrill right off hwy 89. Worth stopping and doing if you're going through the area…read more It's free. Served as a manmade drainage tunnel under hwy so not natural but fun. Entrance 50 steps away from parking but have to get down a short concrete wall to go in. Bring a flashlight or use your cellphone light as it's dark in the center and isn't a wide walking area. About 40 yards through to other side. White dust particles in the air in here so wear a mask if you're sensitive.

Quaint little town in the middle of nowhere, lovely town to visit but very cold in the winter!! lolread more

I am giving this town a four star rating based upon location, and geographic idealism. It sits in…read morean eponymous mountain valley on the backside of a snowy massif in southern Utah. Towering peaks all around, limestone canyon just west of town, cradling the Santa Clara river as it meanders toward the volcanic cones just below in Veyo and beyond. A small alpine lake is a few miles eastward out of the "town" just beyond the boundary of Pine Valley Recreation Area. The only reason I have taken a star away is purely for the fact there are NO FACILITIES within 15 miles of the town. Other than that, it is idyllic, quaint, evocative and quizzical in its very being.

On the way to Goblin State Park and Arches National park so had to make a quick stop at the…read morebeautiful smooth city of Beaver. I love beaver. Nice little town. Clean, they trim their bushes and it smelled great.

Nieces people! Great food choices!…read more Love loaded burger, Beaver Taco, The Drive In, Kan Kun, Maria's, and the Timberline!

We came here for a couple of good reasons. 1st, my wife is a fan of the show "Sister Wives" and one…read moreof the cast members owns an AB&B in this city named Parowan. Because it is sort of in the was to Moab, we had to stop here. Plus, I'm a fan of all things ancient and there's that here too! Now, saw what you want about the tv show, the place that the cast member shares is really cute looking. I'll get the pic here later. The town is a small version of every other big Utah town. The way they number and name their streets seem to be similar in most places. If you go to the other side of the city, across town, to the outer edge, you will find petroglyphs. I like those things. Ok, and from here to Moab there are other evidence of ancient things. You know, hundreds of millions of years old. Evidence that the places you are standing in this desert once was a tropical rain forest. Pretty cool place. Hundreds of millions of years old. Love that!

I think the nearby Best Friends Animal Society bought the land since the parking lot for this hike…read moreshares a food truck of theirs. Also, the way up to the cliffs crosses some bare sandstone and there are cute paw prints to help guide you up. Cute! I went later in the day so it was not crowded with maybe a handful of other groups there. The first part of the hike is fairly level on the sandy ground, but the second part is on a inclined sandstone cliff. There's multiple ways to go up. Once you make it to the caves, enjoy the view! These caves are man made, from when there was a sand mining industry in the area. Since the walls are soft, some people have unfortunately carved graffiti into the walls. Bring shoes with traction and a flashlight (phone flashlight is fine since the caves aren't deep). No washrooms are available, so plan accordingly.

A really cool and challenging hike. From the parking lot the trail is kind of defined and you…read morefollow the pathway. It forks out in a couple of places and then comes back together to take you to the mountain side. Getting up the mountain is the challenging part. There is no defined path to get up to the Sand Caves. The mountain is sandy and sloped in some parts about 30 degrees. Definitely wear some good grippy shoes or hiking boots. Once inside the caves it was very sandy. The openings look out over the freeway and they have amazing views. Going further into the cave it gets pitch black and I had to use my cell phone flashlight to explore. It also gets a lot colder the deeper you go in. Now getting down the mountain was another challenge in itself. Luckily i found a path were it looked like water had drained down the side of the mountain. I was able to pistol sit and slide myself all the way down the mountain side. The caves are a definite to see, challenging at parts and not to be missed.

Very peaceful, secluded find. Previous review really says it all. Space is very well taken care of…read moreproving the residents love providing this space in their beautiful red cliffs niche just outside of St. George. Worth the drive and time to reflect.

I just love thissss!! Beautiful desert rose labyrinth built by local residents in Kayenta. Shout…read moreout to my nephew for discovering this work of art in Southern Utah! Just 7 miles west of St. George. After an excellent lunch at Xetava Gardens Cafe, we walked across the street to explore the desert arboretum, which included this fabulous labyrinth. Open to the public 7 days a week. To me, it was a therapeutic visit! A pretty awesome space to sit and meditate. There were benches that were placed along the path as well as some interesting art sculptures to admire. Take your time to stroll inside the labyrinth to find its center. Great time to gather your most important thoughts and prayers. May peace be with you!

I finally made my way to Utah, yall! Whoo; Checked another state off my list! My homegirl and I had…read morea lovely weekend hanging out in Utah and hiking any available trail we seen along the way. On the way to Kanab, we did hit some nasty weather but thank goodness we made it to the hotel safe and sound. We found ourselves with only 1 night in the quiet city in Kanab but we truly enjoyed every minute we spent here. If you only have a couple of hours or days in Kanab, below is a small list of to-dos when you are in the City. First and foremost, I want to brag a lil' 'bout the amazing hotel we stayed it! Only have one night? Welp, I encourage you to treat yourself to the Comfort Suites--Please make sure you get the King Suite and life lavish for a night! :: Smiles:: During our short time here, we realized that Kanab is a quiet city that offers an abundance of things to do around the area. It's a central location to many different locations and activities. VISIT A NATIONAL PARK: Within the proximity of Kanab, there were 3 national parks along the way. Most of them took less than 80 minutes. Make sure you check out one of the following when in the area: Bryce Canyon National Park (1 hr and 30 min); Zion National Park (40 min); Grand Canyon North Rim (90 minutes) VISIT A STATE PARK: Yup! You heard me right! We drove about 30 minutes to check out Coral Pink Sand Dunes. A 3,700 acres park that can be seen from many different entrances. The park is pretty quiet and perfect for the 'Gram! Imagine everything from ATV riding, hiking and just playing around in the Pink sand. This park is truly the definition of unique in every way. TRAVEL IN FEBRUARY: Yes, Kanab is extremely popular in February! Experience the lovely weather to the Balloons and Tunes Festival that includes several activities including a street fair. BAR LIFE: Juniper Ridge Restaurant and Saloon for delicious drinks and live music! DINNER: Sego Restaurant Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen Escobar's Mexican Restaurant (Mexican Food) Iron Horse Restaurant and Saloon (Steakhouse) The only thing I wish I would have done is to stay longer in Kanab to really take in all the beauty! Make sure to book for more than one night as there is a lot to do in this little quiet City! Don't sleep on Kanab, yall, it has a little bit of everything for everyone!

When I was on the road during 4th of July I caught the community celebration here and it's one of…read moremy more memorable ones. The setting is in a park surrounded by the famous red rock cliffs of southern Utah. The fireworks show blazing in the skies and lighting up the nearby cliffs made for an amazing sight

Many smaller connecting areas that comprise this area. Lots of outlooks, trails, airfield,…read moremotel/mini-cabins and 4 wheeling. Don't expect a Walmart or lot of late night bars around here! That is what makes the area special. It's modern enough and popular enough to do a simple appeal to visitors, but whomps you with the nature, friendly residents and beauty. Lots of fun stops. Interesting local beers. Good hikes.

Again, I'm going to state since this is a four star review, I'm typically not going less than four…read morestars on a city review .... everyone goes to a city with an intention of doing something and it is typically catered to your specific likes. So, why the deduct of one star for Bryce Canyon City? Well, let's be honest Bryce Canyon is why someone is coming here .... seriously the only reason. Bryce Canyon would get a rating higher than 5 stars if possible. The city, however, isn't quite what we expected. Small is an understatement! There is very little here, again, that's find .... the reason you are here is to go to the canyon. But, that being said, there is a huge lack of places to eat and should you be camping in the area and want groceries, not really great options either. There are a few places, they all close early so plan accordingly. Now, the people, were all really nice ... why wouldn't you be, living as close to a national park as they do. All in all, highly recommend, but it's for the Canyon not for the city.