Utah

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Start in Moab, UT; then drive to Blanding, Hite, Hanksville, Escalante, and Kanab, UT; proceed to Page, AZ and Lake Powell; returning to Blanding, UT via Monument Valley, AZ. 

Optional side trips are notes in each segment.

Side trip off I-70 exit 131 North: San Rafael Swell, take 332, then west on 406, then south on 405.  Includes San Rafael River Swinging Bridge, Buckhorn Wash Pictograph Panel, Dinosaur Footprint, Little Grand Canyon, The Wedge Overlook.  The Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry, an active dinosaur dig, is located north on 405/332, then east on 215.  

Chicken Corners turned me into a chicken.  Overlooking the Colorado River, view Thelma & Louise Point across the way.  A braver person than I took this picture!  Moab has so much amazing scenery with Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, and Deadhorse SP.   Get a map, rent a jeep, and you'll be busy for days.

Side trip before Moab: Thompson Springs/Sego Petroglyphs, I-70 exit 187 north, then take Thompson Canyon Road to Sego Rock Art

Drive two hours to another base in Blanding.  This area is a hub of ancient history where you can explore Newspaper Rock, Edge of the Cedars SP Museum, or drive the challenging jeep trail to Hotel Rock.   For something tamer, check out Montezuma Canyon Road, a great SUV drive between Monticello and Bluff with a paradox of sights from ruins to modern cave houses.

If you like hiking, you've found your happy place along Highway 95.  Try Butler Wash Ruin, Mule Canyon Kiva, House on Fire Ruin, Grand Wash, or stop at Natural Bridges NM.  On to Hite, with red rock, white capped mountains, gaping canyons along the Colorado River.  Isolated with no services. Boondock, take an ATV over Blue Notch, scramble down into White Canyon, or just peek down into the Colorado River gorge.  

Side trips: Halls Crossing Immigrant Trail 4x4 overnight or the tamer Moki Dugway on Highway 261.

Consider Irish Slot Canyons, serious hikes between Hite and Hanksville.  Remember the movie 127 hours and the guy who cut his own arm off?  Don't be that guy.  Get a guide.  Stay with a group.  Better yet, try Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyons in Goblin Valley SP, north of Hanksville.  Then, head west out of Hanksville on Highway 24 to drive through Capitol Reef NP with stunning views throughout and many opportunities for extra hiking or ATV riding.  The Notom Road in Capitol Reef follows this Waterpocket Fold.  

 Highway 12 heads southwest out of Torrey and takes you through mountain pines, aspen groves, then along the hogback with colorful windswept sandstone and dizzying drop-offs to Escalante.  If you're nervous with heights, find a driver.  We think it's awesome! Near Escalante is a popular hike at Lower Calf Falls, Kodachrome Basin SP, and Grosvenor Arch, pictured here.  

4x4 Side trip: Take Cottonwood Canyon Road to the Paria Outpost or Hole in the Rock Road to overlook Lake Powell.

 Prepare for a kaleidoscope of color and rock formation.  Continue on Highway 12 through colorful Red Canyon and past the pink spires of Bryce Canyon NP.  It's gonna get busy but if you've never seen Bryce, it's a must see. Turn south on Highway 89 to drive past the white cliffs of Orderville to your next base in Kanab.   

Several day trips are available out of Kanab, each with a unique panorama of multi-colored and distinctive rock formations.  Check out Zion NP, North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Toroweep Overlook, or Vermillion Cliffs NM, including "the wave" hike which requires a permit. 

  The striking drive from Kanab to Page gives access to scenic hikes.  Historical Paria Townsite with its striped rock hills and Toadstools, a delightful 1.5-mile roundtrip hike just off Highway 89.  

Remarkable experiences, breathtaking views are offered on day trips from Page, including the desolate SUV drive to Alstrom Point with overlooks of Lake Powell, tour boat rides to world famous Rainbow Bridge, Antelope Slot Canyon hikes with Indian guides, kayaking on the Colorado River below the dam at Lee's Ferry, and the Horseshoe Canyon viewpoint - hang onto the kids!

Complete the loop on Highway 98, 160 and 163 through Navajo Nation with Indian markets, awesome Monument Valley, and Forest Gump Point.  The overlook at Goosenecks SP near Mexican Hat might make your knees wobble.  Less traveled Valley of the Gods is an enjoyable SUV drive before reaching Bluff, UT, a historical Mormon outpost.  From here you can return to Blanding and Moab on Highway 191 or spend time on the sights and hikes missed earlier.