The Narrows, Zion National Park: The sheer 1,000-foot-high walls are awe-inspiring and almost frightening, as they enclose you in a 20-foot-wide world of hanging gardens, waterfalls, and sculpted sandstone arches, with the Virgin River running beneath your feet -- literally. The Narrows are so narrow that you can't walk beside the river. Instead, you have to wade right in it -- but the views are worth getting your feet wet.
Boulder Mountain Viewpoints (between Escalante and Torrey): The panoramas from the road along the crest of Boulder Mountain are extraordinary. You can see Capitol Reef, miles to the east, and the valleys and lakes nestled in between. It's like a fairyland, and we almost expected to see a gilded horse-drawn carriage passing through.
The Queen's Garden, Bryce Canyon National Park: Carved in stone by Mother Nature, presided over by majestic Queen Victoria herself, these thousands of colorfully striped spires present a magnificent display when viewed from the rim. From the trail below, they dazzle as the early-morning sun throws them into stark relief.
Monument Valley Buttes at Sunset: Impressive at any time, these stark sentinels of the desert take on a particularly dignified aura when the setting sun casts its deep colors over them, etching their profiles against a darkening sky. Although the park generally closes before sunset, you can arrange a sunset tour -- it's well worth the cost.
