Desert Solitude, we specialize in helping our guests get off the beaten path and enjoy epic adventures in Utah’s most incredible destinations. Some of our most popular destinations are Utah’s national parks. Utah ranks third on the list of states in the U.S. with the most national parks. It’s beaten only by California, which has…
The Capitol Gorge is a family-friendly dry hike through a 1 mile slot canyon with ample opportunity to climb and scramble on the sandstone rock formations. It’s difficult to imagine, but the Grand Wash was historically used as a primitive road for wagons and automobiles before an easier route was created after World War II.…
Cathedral Valley Loop is an off-road tour of northern portions of Capitol Reef National Park. This scenic driving tour showcases panoramic viewpoints, dramatic diversity in landscapes, historical remnants, geologic oddities, and more. This 57 mile (92 km) expedition quickly encounters a river ford crossing and leads on through the bentonite hills to Lower South Desert…
Mormon pioneers began to settle in what is now Capitol Reef National Park in the early 1880’s. Nestled next to the Fremont River they enjoyed a prolonged farming season and planted a variety of fruit trees. The settlement was called Fruita, where a small group of large families lived. A National Monument was established in…
Hickman Bridge is one of Capitol Reef National Park’s most popular attractions. With an impressive 133 foot (40 m) span and standing 125 feet tall, this arch is a must see when visiting this quiet park. The trail begins at the bank of the Fremont River and climbs gradually until reaching switchbacks leading up the…
Ancient scenes preserved on rock surfaces are found throughout Utah’s southern desert. These petroglyphs and pictographs give a glimpse into the historic living of the ancient people that once inhabited this harsh region. The people left behind paintings (pictographs) or carved images (petroglyphs) of human-like and animal-like figures. Like us today, these ancient civilizations were…
Scenic Byway 12 received the designation of an “All American Road” in 2002 by the Federal Highway Administration. This designation is awarded to routes with features that do not exist elsewhere in the United States and are unique and important enough to be tourist destinations unto themselves. Highway 12 snakes through Dixie National Forest climbing…
Utah leads the world with nine International Dark Sky Parks. The International Dark Sky Association has said “An International Dark Sky Park is a land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment.” As the sun…