My first trip to a National Park was in the Summer of 1992. Perhaps it was just lucky to choose Bryce Canyon as a destination as I knew very little about the western USA having spent my entire life in Ohio.

After moving to Las Vegas almost 20 years ago I have made the trip to Bryce and Zion many times. The trip can be accomplished from Las Vegas in one day, at least for early risers. However, it would be much more enjoyable with 2 or more days to enjoy the views.

The scenic byways are the most enjoyable for me as I am still a big fan of the great American car trip. Utah rightfully boasts of 27 state and national scenic byways and they are destinations themselves. Some of the photos that you see here were taken along Scenic Byway 12 and also US 89.

The iconic Colorado river photo in the video is “Horseshoe Bend” which is part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and is accessible from Page Arizona. There is a $10 entry fee per car but certainly worth it to get a great picture. I will leave it to someone braver than me to stand closer to the edge for a more intimate view.

One potential downside to the trip was the crowded parks. This has been an ongoing situation in recent years. Perhaps more so now because so many people have free time combined with recent “Cabin Fever”. At Zion, there can be long lines waiting to board a tour bus through the park. Last week at Bryce, all the nearly 200 campsites were filled before noon even though the weather was still rather cold with some snow on the ground.

Seems the great American road trip is still alive and well!