The Best Sidetrip

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument: This vast wilderness, covering some 1.7 million acres, is known for its stark, rugged beauty, including striking red-orange canyons and deep river valleys. Unlike most other national monuments, almost all of this sweeping area is undeveloped -- there are few all-weather roads, only one maintained hiking trail, and two small developed campgrounds. But for the adventurous, there are miles upon miles of dirt roads and practically unlimited opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, camping, and exploring.