CANYON COUNTRY, UTAH
 Photo © Kenneth & Francesca Hulick
.......Red. The overwhelming impression of the Canyon Country of Utah (along with small parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado) is the red rocks, red sand, and spectacular red sunsets.
.......Beautiful and accessible all times of the year, Canyon Country can be hot in July and August, and cold in January and February. But even during those times, it’s a beguiling area to visit.
.......There are two well-known national parks (Arches and Canyonlands) that showcase the region at its best, but the landscapes of Grand Canyon National Park, Monument Valley (where countless John Ford and other movies were filmed), Valley of the Gods, the San Juan River, and the Colorado River all combine to give this place a special feel.
.......Activities abound. There’s world-renowned mountain biking around Moab, world-famous whitewater rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, incredible canyon hiking throughout the region, and photography that’s almost physically overwhelming.
.......Towns in the region worth a visit include Bluff (along the San Juan River; Zane Gray had a home here) and Moab (now-trendy and upscale recreation capital of the area). Less well-known destinations in the region include Goblin Valley State Park;  Capitol Reef National Park and the Waterpocket Fold; the region surrounding Boulder and Escalante; the Abajo Mountains outside Monticello; Goulding’s Trading Post in Monument Valley; and dozens of other hideaways.
Photo © Kenneth & Francesca Hulick
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Canyon Country contains ancient American Indian (Anasazi) archaeological sites, natural arches and bridges, and still-hidden corners where one can find solitude.
.......Lodging options are somewhat limited, but most of the towns in the region (especially Moab) have a few motels and B&Bs. Camping is popular and legal in vast tracts of the Canyon Country.
.......The extensive Navajo Indian Reservation forms the southern border of Canyon Country, and native artwork such as jewelry, weaving, pottery, and carving can be found in many places throughout the region.
.......And don’t think it’s just red rocks and desert. The LaSal, Abajo, Escalante, and Henry mountains are high enough to be snow-covered for four or more months of the year. In fact, the Henry Mountains (one of the hideouts for Butch Cassidy and the Hole-In-The-Wall Gang) are smack in the center of Canyon Country, yet are so “remote” as to be considered the last mountain range “discovered” in America.
.......Salt Lake City, Utah, is the closest international airport to Canyon Country, although Denver, Colorado, isn’t too much farther away. Denver can be a good option if you want to do some exploring in the Colorado Rockies on the same trip. Phoenix, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, may be good options if you’re also planning to visit the Grand Canyon (Phoenix) or the Santa Fe region (Albuquerque).
.......There are dozens, if not hundreds, of travel, hiking, biking, rafting, camping, and other guidebooks to the region. There are also many outfitters who run trips of all sorts in Canyon Country.
 Photo © Kenneth & Francesca Hulick
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