Don't miss this one! When we first arrived in Fruita, Colorado. The Colorado National Monument was…read morenot on our list of things to visit. We would of totally missed it if it hadn't been for some people we met at a restaurant. Colorado National Monument is not a National Park; it is a National Monument managed by the National Park Service. It's name doesn't portray the beauty and magnitude of this gorgeous park. It is a 23 mile drive and is often called the mini-grand canyon. The towering red rock monoliths and the Canyon views were absolutely incredible.

What bliss this is…read more Colorado National Monument is basically the smaller in scale sandstone-stacked cousin of the Grand Canyon, but without all the horrific traffic and crowds upon crowds, especially at the start of summer. This place has miles of views with gorgeous towering cliffs, dramatic canyons and many trails for walking and hiking. You can also see the Grand Mesa (the world's largest flat-topped mountain) and the Book Cliffs from the monument. And it has that Grand Canyon feeling when you look at its depth -- as though you are looking directly into a painting. Along about a 20-mile highway (with an east and west entrance) you can enjoy the full views. There are plenty of places to pull over and park to take a look or to plan for a hike. And be very, very careful. The main drive is very deeply beloved by cyclists, so be sure to drive slow and keep eyes on the road. Do not miss Independence Monument. This is a glorious rock spire. also, the Kissing Couple is adorable. The Coke Ovens are these beautifully shaped domes -- some of my favorites in the area. Also, be aware of wildlife. I did not get lucky, but there are regular sights of bighorn sheep, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, eagles and many other animals. I did see a pretty spectacular aerial fight between a hawk and a raven during a recent visit, though. Also, be sure to check out the visitor center on the west side. It has some natural history exhibits and a gift shop. There is also the Saddlehorn Campground, which is very well maintained and has a good number of spots, but not all with sprawling city or canyon views. All told, there are three loops with nearly 80 sites. Some are small and best for a pair and others that are good for a couple of tents on one site. Overall, bring lots of water and snacks, because it is dry and sometimes feels desert like. And do not over rely on cell service, as there are a number of dead zones.

Went in for a map but they only have maps for purchase. Restrooms available. Informational items…read moreand souvenirs offered. You can also donate to the public lands in the state of your choice. That was cool. Some nice flexible metallic, UV resistant stickers. Walking staff accessories. Fun stop.

Super friendly and helpful people staff this place. Inside, you will find dioramas and displays…read moreabout points of interest, as well as a small shop selling hats, postcards, toys, and various sundries. The bathrooms are clean. It's worth a stop!

Closed for the season. Reopening in May. Luckily the restrooms were open so we headed in. There's a…read morewater bottle filler station which was handy. The women's restroom was fairly clean. Not stocked with toilet paper but they had hand soap so that was fine. Parking lot not large but enough. Also the start of the Discovery Trail is right there and Cobbett Lake.

Kind friendly owners who are willing to take the time to help you get what you need. And very…read morehelpful on what flys to use.

Review #2000 I have…read morebeen to this park a couple of times now. I am a huge national park fan and Arches National Park is one of my favorites. The first time that I came here, I was passing through Moab with a buddy and we decided to make a quick stop here while on our way home. I had always wanted to visit here and it did not disappoint. Arches National Park offers the largest density of natural sandstone arches in the world. There are close to 2,000 of them here. There is so much to see and do at this park. I love to hike and was able to jump on a couple of trails while exploring this park. Arches National Park also has camping, rock climbing and biking. When I am visiting national parks, I try to do a hike at every park that I visit. Delicate Arch is the most popular arch and is listed as one of the best hiking trails (three miles round-trip). The arch itself is so picturesque with great panoramic views along the way. I was not able to hike it on my first visit to the park. But I made sure that I had time to hike the trail on my most recent visit. It is an amazing arch to see in person. We also hiked Devil's Garden Trail to see Landscape Arch - the longest arch in the park. It is a bit shorter and easier to do. Even though we didn't hike the full trail, Park Avenue Trail is the first attraction that you see after passing the visitor center. It is a great introduction to the park. You see colossal sandstone walls on both sides of the trail that resemble skyscrapers. If hiking is not your thing, there are many scenic driving routes for viewing some of the park's largest arches. They even have a viewpoint with a shorter walking distance for checking out Delicate Arch from afar if you cannot do the hike. The visitor center is really nice with rangers on hand to answer questions. They have a topographical map of the park and lots of educational material to read. Some of the other highlights of the park that I enjoyed checking out were The Organ (Courthouse Towers), Double Arch, Balanced Rock, Garden of Eden and the Window Arches. Arches National Park is such a unique park. I enjoyed reading about how this park came about. The park itself lies above an underground salt bed which helped to cause the formation of these arches over time. There are hotels in nearby Moab for lodging and a number of great places to eat at. Canyonlands National Park is not too far if you want to add more exploration to your trip here. Admission is free with an America the Beautiful National Park Pass.

We visited Arches National Park with our 2.5-year-old and were blown away by how accessible it was…read morefor a toddler. If you're worried about bringing a little one to the desert, don't be! The park offers several manageable hikes and a fantastic "giant sandbox" experience. Top Tips for Parents: Time: Budget 2 full days. This allows you to see the sights without rushing or risking a mid-day meltdown. The Best Hikes: We highly recommend Balanced Rock, Sand Dune Arch (it's a massive hit with kids because of the deep sand play), and The Windows Section. Where to Stay: Stay in Moab. It's incredibly convenient to the park entrance and has plenty of family-friendly amenities. The Visitor Center: Don't skip it! We spent 2 hours there exploring the exhibits; it's a great way to introduce kids to the environment. Essentials: It gets incredibly hot. Pack twice as much water and snacks as you think you'll need.

Nice clean campground well maintained . River access for fishing as well as a few ponds . Full…read morehookups are reasonable and setup conveniently.

We've been coming here for years and I cannot believe I haven't written a review! This park is…read morestunning. Here, you are embraced by nature and beauty. The bike/walking path meanders along the river and you'll see wildlife and beauty around every bend. For the kids there are two playgrounds and ample room to run and play to their hearts content. The Rangers that work here have always been friendly and happy to impart their wisdom.

One of Utah's awesome 5 national parks and one that you should check out…read more Also located in Moab along with the much busier Arches, this is still worth a visit for sure. You'll likely be able to get in pretty easily and park at each of the trails and viewpoints. There are some great sights and plenty of easy trails. I'm not much of a hiker but there are some easier trails that even beginners should be able to handle at a reasonable pace. Good facilities throughout and places to stop for a quick bite. Check this place out.

Fear of heights/ cliffs will be nerve wracking for the person. But it's doable in an AWD vehicle…read more IF you continue on Potash Rd you will need a full SUV type clearance and 4WD vehicle. Ranger gave inadequate advice re:vehicular clearance for this road. We went to Gooseneck overlook ( think Thelma and Louise end of movie) and back up to enjoy the rest of the Canyonlands.

Back in June 2022, I went to Canyonlands National Park (NPS). I dropped by their visitor center to…read morepick up some magnets as I always do. It's a very nice visitor center with tons of souvenirs. The center wasn't that big, but organized and clean. Staff was friendly and very helpful. Tons of people looking around and shopping. They have lots of goodies and souvenirs. Restrooms are outside... they have actual little potty stands in a building. So do drop on by and check them out when you're at Canyonlands NPS. You may find something nice to bring back home as a remembrance of your lovely visit. Happy Canyon'ing!

I highly recommend going to all the visiting centers. Collecting all your stamps. Supporting the…read morenational Park with the merch learning interesting facts about the park getting the map and seeing what's happening that day.

This visitor center is on the smaller side, but packed with information about points of interest…read moreand great hikes. There is a small gift shop area that is standard through all the NPS visitor centers. The parking lot is small and many people had to park on the side of the road. Pit toilets - as this is a water scarce area, I can see why they would want to avoid the water usage from all of the visitors they receive. If you need potable water they do have a spigot out in front to refill water bottles. It's the only place to get water in the park.