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.

Great flight with Kevin Mortensen94. He was our helicopter pilot. Knowledged flyer, handles the…read morehelicopter well, all the time, relaxed. Also knows about the areas we went through. Answers were good and awesome overall. He is great at what he does. Thanks

Big Kev was amazing!! He made us feel safe, welcome and felt right at home. I'm terrified of…read moreheights so I didn't think this was going to go as well as it did. 10/10​

This place has a view you'll be upset you missed. A nice walking path for those who don't hike a…read morelot. Even the drive up is breathtaking. There is a $25 fee per car to park. There is also a gift shop.

This review is for Bartizan Arch Trail which was a ~5 miles round trip that took ~3 hours to…read morecomplete. This was a surprisingly unique and stunning hike near Cedar City, Utah. While most of southern Utah was over 90°F; the temperature in this area was easily ~30° lower! Within the first ~1 mile to Spectra Point were amazing views of the canyon. This reminds me of Bryce Canyon National Park except you can't walk into the canyon. For the most part, the declines start after Spectra Point towards Bartizan Arch. As a result, the inclines back out can feel a bit strenuous. The trail was on the exposed rims of the canyon as well as parts of the nearby forest. Furthermore, the trail was slightly rocky and becomes narrower near the arch. Watch your steps! For those looking for a shorter hike; I would recommend going up to Spectra Point which would be a ~1.9 mile roundtrip. In my opinion, the view at Ramparts Viewpoint wasn't too much of a difference compared to the view at Spectra Point Viewpoint. Parking lot and restrooms were next to the Cedar Breaks National Monument visitor center. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/C9IpeLT1i3g

Zion National Park covers nearly 150,000 acres. Most people will go the most popular area in…read moreSpringdale, but there's a separate area known as Kolob Canyons which is located in a different area of the park about an hour's drive away. I spent a leisurely day here, which I thought was enough to enjoy the visitor center, the scenic drive, and hike Timber Creek Overlook as well as Taylor Creek Trail. The visitor center has the NPS ranger desk, a small gift shop with the usual NPS offerings, and information about the rocks. There's also washrooms here and water available. The drive was beautiful with many pull outs to enjoy the view. I drove up to Timber Creek Overlook which is at the end of the drive. It's about a 1.2 mi path, although it was evidentially super muddy in the past with super deep foot prints and people walking everywhere. It was ok. The Taylor Creek Trail was amazing. I've never hiked a trail with as many stream crossings, which made it fun. There's also two homestead cabins on the way, and the trail takes you through a narrow box canyon toward the Double Arch Alcove. The end of the hike was pretty chilly due to the shade and the water present. Brr. I think this is a great counterpart to the more famous area - it's definitely less visited and you get more solitude.

Though relatively small in size, Kolob Canyon is mighty when it comes to beautiful views and…read moreengaging hiking opportunities. Basically the back side of Zion, it has a short scenic road and both easy and more challenging hikes available. The views are pretty amazing from the road, even if you don't ever get out of the car. This is a regular stop on our road trips, usually on the way back home. During the rainy season or just after it, there are amazing waterfalls that drop from the sheer cliff faces. Definitely something worth seeing! As you drive up to the entrance, there is a little visitor center with some interesting local information. It's also where you will pay your entrance fee and interact with any rangers for additional information if you need it. They also have Zion date stamps. While it isn't a destination in and of itself, it is worth making a stop on any road trip. Five stars.

You get to The Narrows by taking the shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava, which is shuttle stop #9…read morewhen the shuttle is running, and going on the Riverside Walk which is a nice paved two mile round trip walk alongside the Virgin River. That trail ends at the river where The Narrows begin - aptly named as it's the most narrow part of the gorge. I spent a little bit of time in the river, but nothing serious as I didn't have enough time to dedicate to the trek to Wall Street. It's on my list of things to do for a future trip. You shouldn't enter the The Narrows if there's any rain in the weather forecast or any rain in the surrounding areas. It's too risky to be caught in the canyon with any chance of flash floods. There are port-a-potties and water at the shuttle station. Even though you're hiking in a river, that water should not be consumed as there have been cyanobacteria and their associated toxins found in the Virgin Riven. There is no known recreational water filtration or disinfection method that can reduce the toxins to a safe level for drinking!

One of the most beautiful outdoor experiences of my life…read more The Narrows combines stunning scenery, lush plant life, wildlife, and just the right amount of adventure. What more could you ask for? We visited on June 22 under nearly perfect conditions. It was hot in Springdale, but the slot canyon stayed cool and comfortable. The water was deep enough in spots to give the youngsters a little trepidation and excitement, but everyone made it through with huge smiles and a sense of accomplishment. The towering canyon walls, flowing river, and ever-changing scenery make this a hike unlike any other. Equal parts beauty and exhilaration. One final note: please don't feed the fat little squirrels. They're already living their best lives and definitely don't need the extra calories.

Zion National Park covers nearly 150,000 acres. Most people will go the most popular area in…read moreSpringdale, but there's a separate area known as Kolob Canyons which is located in a different area of the park about an hour's drive away. Kolob Canyons is a very pretty area, but less developed than Zion Canyon. Anyway, Zion has steep and sheer cliffs that leave you breathless. It also has a river and swampland, as well as emerald pools and waterfalls. It is so varied in its landscape, I really can't compare it to anything else. I hiked a whole bunch here: Angel's Landing, Emerald Pools, Weeping Rock, Riverside Walk, Canyon Overlook, even a bit of the Narrows. I want to do a through hike of the Narrows next time - I didn't have enough time in my schedule this time unfortunately. I saw more wildlife than expected too. I think a lot of the animals are habituated to humans, and aren't frightened at all. I also love how well run the shuttle system is. The bus drivers will radio to each other if there's a long line at any stop, and they will send an empty bus there to help avoid extended waits. It's so thoughtful. I stayed in the Zion Lodge, but I'm sure that the gateway town of Springdale has a similarly efficiently run shuttle system as well.

Haven't been to Zion national park in a few years. Used to come visit from Las Vegas all the time,…read moreenjoyed all the trails and camping in the park. This visit arrived with 2 nights reserved at south campground $70. Entered park gate for $35. We get to the campground and the first thing we see "no fires" sign....it would of been nice to see that on the website before reserving, glad I brought steaks/pork/fish to grill... Woke up early before sunrise and headed straight for the trails of Zion, only to arrive at a gate with a code box reading "reservations only" ......huh?? Either this gate was never there before or it was always open, in all of my visits in the past. So I drove back to the entrance gate to ask if the trails were available. I simply ask the lady at the front gate "hi are the trails available to hike?" She replies in a very assertive voice "did u get a map!?" Me "yes I did", gate lady "well if u read right here it says reservations only". I reply with oh is that gate new? I've come to this park many times in the past and have never had to stop there." Gate lady: "that gate has been there many years" ....i guess I was hallucinating all those years i did those trials and all these pictures of all the trials I've done in Zion are fake? Gatelady really made me feel warm and welcome at Zion. We left as soon as we were done talking, I'll take the loss on my 2nd night at the campground, what are we supposed to do spend a whole day doing the "scenic route" a small driving only route jammed with traffic and lines. No thanks. I took time off work and my life to come out here to hike and enjoy nature, Zion was a waste of time and money will never be returning. Glad I got to enjoy the park before it became a tourist trap

How tall do you think this mammajamma is? Wrong...it's taller than that. Go see. It's a quick…read moredetour from I-15 and is a nice place to stretch your legs. It's on private property so be cool. When I was there they also had some self-serve stray bales for sale. You can tell the owner puts some love into their property. Nice work, owner. Thanks for the roadside attraction. Plenty of space to pull over/off the road, even if you were pulling a trailer, etc. They have a spot you can toss your old plates so they can add them someday. Some questions: How do they get up there?! Is there a Maryland plate? (The good folks at the MDOT are kooky about recovering their old plates!)

Mood - Weird Stuff Part 2…read more As I was in the area def wanted to check out more things to arouse my curiosity. This pole came on my radar. The rain started to pour down and it became a bit of an adventure. Upon arriving you cant miss it. This pole is clearly seen from the intersection. It is on private grounds. The pole stands 81 feet tall and is adorned with license plates from all 50 states. Kimball Gardner is the proud owner of this roadside attraction as it sits in his yard. He welcomes you to drop off any plates you would like to have added to his continual work in progress. This work of art started in a smaller state of mind and after gaining much attention the pole had to be increased in size to allow for all of the plates that have been donated to his cause. Would def recommend as it is something to see. Even if just once. Pricing is free. However be mindful as it sits on private property. Location is E Washington Dam Rd - St George UT, ample parking on the street.

I took my dogs on this trail for a hike and they were happy and tired! HAha. Amazing rock…read moreformations and views! It's only 1hr and 45 mins drive from Las Vegas. Just wanted a different scenery out of Vegas. They also have a garden area. It is worth a drive! No entrance fee. Free parking and they have plenty different areas to park.

We visited Pioneer Park for the first time recently, and while it's definitely a beautiful and…read moreunique spot, our experience was a bit mixed . We didn't really know where to start when we arrived, and there wasn't much direction, so we ended up just climbing the first rock formation we saw. Honestly, if it weren't for a group of people ahead of us, we probably wouldn't have had any idea where to go. I was hoping to make it to the arch, but the climb felt a little too steep and slippery, especially with kids. We were carrying our three-year-old and keeping a close eye on our six-year-old, who was feeling a bit more adventurous than we were comfortable with in that terrain. We didn't make it very far in and mostly just stopped to take a quick photo so we could say we visited. It was also pretty hot, with the sun beating down the whole time, which made it harder to explore and enjoy the park fully. That said, the park itself is really nice, and you can tell there's a lot to see if you're prepared and know where you're going. I'd recommend going earlier in the day, bringing plenty of water, and maybe looking up a map or trail guide ahead of time, especially if you're visiting with young kids. Overall, it's a cool place, but we didn't get to experience it as much as we had hoped. Definitely worth another try with better planning!

You have to be careful when trying to use Google Maps when getting here (Petroglyphs site). You…read moremay go to the wrong side of the mountain if you're not careful, it's best to use GPS coordinates. 36.982827, -113.503066 This is free to visit and an easy activity for families, singles, or groups. The hike is easy and short, less than a 1/2 mile. There is a sort of gate that you have to squish through. The best Petroglyphs are the right on the "trail". It's a short trip, I would pair this with glitter mountain and warner valley dinosaur tracks. This trail also has a toilet and picnic area on site. If it has rained recently you may not want to visit. Cars can get stuck in the mud! All wheel drive not required when it's dry. Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and garbage bag. Keep an eye on kids so they aren't messing with the Petroglyphs, or can be tempting for them to scratch at things with the rocks laying around. Always clean up after yourself!

Great little hike for all ages. There is a porta potty one seater. There is a little picnic table…read more Easy walk to read the history of the petroglyph. Staying on the path you will see plenty of the petroglyphs. Further in there is a platform you can walk up to see the other petroglyphs.