Hear about travel to lesser-known parks in Utah, Arizona, and Nevada as the Amateur Traveler talks to Justin Barnes from justinandcrystal.com about their recent road trip through the American Southwest.
Justin said, “When I got back, I realized that in addition to all the photos we had from the national parks, which obviously are well covered, including, I think it was episode 503, I actually had more photos of the places outside the national parks and Monument Valley than I did inside the national parks and Monument Valley.”
This itinerary summarizes Justin Barnes’s recommended road trip through Utah and the surrounding region. It focuses on smaller, high-impact stops outside the major national parks, designed to be combined into a coherent, scenic route.
Overview
- Length: 7–8 days
- Best seasons: Spring or fall
- Route: Moab, Utah → southern Utah & northern Arizona → Las Vegas, Nevada (or loop back to Moab)
- Trip style: Short hikes, overlooks, geological curiosities, scenic drives
This route works particularly well as a companion to visits to Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Capitol Reef, but it stands on its own as a tour of lesser-known landscapes.
Day 0–1: Moab Base
Moab, Utah
- Evening arrival in Moab
- Sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park, overlooking the Colorado River and canyon formations
Morning
- Hike the Corona Arch Trail, an easy walk to a massive freestanding arch
Afternoon
- Drive south and take the spur road to The Needles Overlook of Canyonlands National Park, a remote viewpoint above the Needles District
Overnight in Moab.
Day 2: Toward Monument Valley
- Drive south from Moab
- Scenic backroad drive through Valley of the Gods, a free, unpaved route among red rock buttes
- Optional stop at Goosenecks State Park, overlooking dramatic bends in the San Juan River
- Brief stop in Mexican Hat, Utah, to see the namesake rock formation
Overnight near Monument Valley, ideally at Goulding’s Lodge, Monument Valley or another Monument Valley View hotel.
Day 3: Page, Arizona & the Colorado River
- Morning revisits to Mexican Hat or Valley of the Gods for better light
- Drive west toward Page, Arizona
- Lunch at Birdhouse, Page
- Midday visit to Horseshoe Bend
- Short stop at Page, Arizona Caves: The One Hidden Behind the Shell Gas Station
- Walk across the Navajo Bridge near Lees Ferry
- Optional breakfast stop at Cliff Dwellers Lodge if traveling early
Overnight in or near Page, Arizona.
Day 4: Vermilion Cliffs & White Pocket
- Walk across the Navajo Bridge near Lees Ferry
- Optional breakfast stop at Cliff Dwellers Lodge if traveling early
- Turn north onto House Rock Valley Road beneath Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
- Stop at the Condor Viewing Site
- Explore White Pocket, ideally via a Private White Pocket Vermilion Tour
Drive north via Jacob Lake and Kaibab National Forest, then descend toward Kanab, Utah. Dinner in Kanab at Sego Restaurant. Overnight in Kanab.
Day 5: Kanab Area
- Morning visit to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park for dune walks, sandboarding, or ATV tours
- Afternoon visit to the Once Upon a Time in America museum
Optional add-ons:
- Discover Kanab Sand Caves & Moqui Cave in Utah » Our Wild Wanderers
- Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon or Peekaboo Slot Canyon Tours (requires sandy driving conditions)
Second overnight in Kanab.
Day 6: Highway 12 & Grand Staircase–Escalante
- Drive northeast on Highway 12
- Stop for pie at Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant (with or without a Bryce Canyon visit)
- Scenic pullouts, including Boynton Overlook and Hogback Overlook
- Turn onto Hole In The Rock Road
- Explore Devils Garden, a natural area filled with hoodoos and arches
Overnight in Torrey, Utah, or Hanksville, Utah.
Day 7: Hanksville Highlights
- Morning stop at Kathline Rock View Area
- Explore Goblin Valley State Park
- Optional hike in Little Wild Horse Canyon (weather permitting)
- Visit the Bentonite Hills near Mars Research Station Utah
- Short hike to Long Dong Silver Spire in Utah
- Sunset at Moonscape Overlook
Overnight in Hanksville or Torrey.
Day 8: Fish Lake to Nevada
- Morning visit to Pando (tree) near Fish Lake, the world’s largest living organism
- Drive south and west toward Nevada
- Afternoon visit to Valley of Fire State Park, including:
- Fire Wave Trail
- White Domes Trail
- Petroglyphs at Mouse’s Tank Trail in Valley of Fire State Park
End the trip in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Planning Notes
- Download offline maps; cell service is limited in many areas
- Be mindful of Utah vs Arizona time changes
- Slot canyons should be avoided during flash flood warnings
- Valley of Fire trails are seasonally restricted due to heat
This itinerary emphasizes variety, remoteness, and overlooked landscapes, combining dozens of short stops into a cohesive and visually striking road trip.
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Show Notes
Travel to Utah’s National Parks – Episode 503
Moab, Utah
Dead Horse Point State Park
Corona Arch Trail
Corona Arch
The Needles Overlook in Canyonlands National Park
Valley of the Gods
Goosenecks State Park
Mexican Hat, Utah
Monument Valley View
Hotels in Monument Valley
Goulding’s Lodge, Monument Valley
Monument Valley
Birdhouse, Page
Horseshoe Bend
Page, Arizona Caves: The One Hidden Behind the Shell Gas Station
Navajo Bridge
Cliff Dwellers Lodge
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
House Rock Valley Road
Private White Pocket Vermilion Tour
Condor Viewing Site
White Pocket
Grand Staircase
Jacob Lake, Arizona
Kaibab National Forest
Kanab, Utah
Sego Restaurant
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Kanab Utah Tour Company and ATV Adventure Tours
Tours Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Once Upon a Time in America
Discover Kanab Sand Caves & Moqui Cave in Utah » Our Wild Wanderers
Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon
Peekaboo Slot Canyon Tours
Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant
Hole In The Rock Road
Driving the Hole in the Rock Road (U.S. National Park Service)
Devils Garden
Boynton Overlook
Hogback Overlook
Boulder, Utah
Goblin Valley State Park
Little Wild Horse Canyon
Hanksville, Utah
Kathline Rock View Area
Bentonite Hills
Mars Research Station Utah
Mars Desert Research Station
Long Dong Silver: Utah’s Hidden Spire
Long Dong Silver Spire in Utah
Moonscape Overlook
Pando (tree)
Valley of Fire State Park
Petroglyphs at Mouse’s Tank Trail in Valley of Fire State Park
Community
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Amateur Traveler Trips
