Road Trip through the American Southwest

Spend the best week of your life exploring Arizona and Utah, and score several iconic views and hikes. Visit Zion, Bryce, Grand Escalante, Capitol Reef, Goblin Valley, Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands, Arches, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in this whirlwind tour of some of the best our park system has to offer.

Start in Vegas, end in Vegas. Pick up your rental car and head to Zion. Make sure you have your permits to hike the Subway route as they are hard to get on the spot. Make sure to hike the Subway, Observation Point, Angel's Landing, and the Narrows. Catch a magnificent sunset at the Canyon Junction Bridge before you head out to Bryce.

At Bryce make sure to hike the Queens/Navajo loop, drive the Rim to all the viewpoints, and if you have time, take a horse to the bottom of the canyon. It's an awesome experience you won't regret. From Bryce, take the scenic drive through Grand Escalante National Monument and arrive in Capitol Reef National Park.

In Cap Reef take the scenic drive, stop in the historic town of Fuita on the Freemont River, and do the short but excellent Hickman Bridge Trail. Next stop on your trip will be the often overlooked Goblin Valley State Park.

Goblin Valley seems like another world. The "goblins" are mushroom-like formations that litter the valley and give it an extremely strange look. This is a great place to take pictures due to the different textures and shapes. After you spend some time in this place, head to Canyonlands.

Most people don't go to Canyonlands because Arches gets all the glory. I liked Arches more, but Canyonlands has some awesome sites in it as well. Make sure to make it to Mesa Arch for sunrise, hike to the secret False Kiva, and check out the Upheaval Dome, and Grand View Point. After your day in Canyonlands, drive the short distance to Arches.

Arches is a photographer's paradise. Score a campsite in Devil's Garden way ahead of time if you can. This campsite might be the crown jewel of the parks. Each site seems like its own little world. Hike to all the different arches in Devil's Garden and see the world's longest free standing arch, Landscape Arch. Check out the Windows and Double Arch for some incredible views. Last, hike to Delicate Arch to watch the sun drop behind the La Sal Mountains for a view you will never forget.

After Arches, head south to Monument Valley. Stop for pictures on Forrest Gump Hill and take the scenic drive through the park. If you have time, go on a horse ride. After the loop is complete, head to Page, Arizona where you will visit Horseshoe Bend, and Antelope Canyon. in Antelope, try to take the first tour of the day at 8am because that is when the best light is for the lower section. When I did the tour the colors were gone by 9. Catch the sunset at Horseshoe Bend, which is a shot half mile hike from a parking area. Take a wide lens! After you wrap up in Page, head to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

At the North Rim, check out the magnificent lodge and have a bite to eat before you head out on the scenic drive. Check out Point Imperial, Roosevelt Point, Cape Final, and watch the sunset on Wotan's Throne from Cape Final. This concludes your trip and you can head back to Vegas with a lifetime of memories engrained in your brain, and camera, forever.