While visiting
the many attractions in Utah, you'll find that Cove Fort is right
on your way. Travelers may be headed North to Provo,
Orem
or Salt
Lake City, or further to Yellowstone, or they may be headed
south or southeast to Zion
National Park, Bryce
Canyon National Park, Lake
Powell, Arches
National Park, Canyonland
National Park, Capitol
Reef National Park or even the Grand
Canyon North Rim. Regardless of where you are headed, you
should defiinitely stop at:
Zion
National Park, one of America's crown jewel parks, is
45 minutes from St. George, Utah and is one of the great attractions
of the area. Zion National Park is a myriad of deep sandstone
canyons, which extend over 30 miles from end to end and covers
229 square miles. The Zion Canyons were named by early Mormon
settlers (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints) and many of the formations in the park have names from
the bible. The park was established in 1909 as Mukuntuweap National
Monument and expanded in 1919 to Zion National Park. The park
is composed mostly of sandstone stained by the oxidizing of iron
in the rock. Zion National Park with its many canyons contains
75 species of mammals, 271 birds, 32 reptiles and amphibians and
8 fish in the streams and rivers, which have carved these canyons.
Canyonlands
National Park offers views thousands of feet down to the
Green and Colorado Rivers, or thousands of feet up to red rock
pinnacles, cliffs and spires create the incredible beauty of Utah's
largest national park, world renowned for its four wheel drive
vehicle and mountain bike routes, and its white water rafting.
In Canyonlands water and gravity have been the prime architects
of this land, carving flat layers of sedimentary rock into the
landscape seen today. Canyonlands National Park was established
in 1964, "...to preserve an area...possessing superlative scenic,
scientific and archaeological features for the inspiration, benefit
and use of the public." (Public Law 88-590, 1964). Canyonlands
is divided into three land districts which are two to six hours
apart by car. The park was expanded to its current size in 1971.
Arches
National Park contains one of the largest concentrations
of natural sandstone arches in the world. The arches and numerous
other extraordinary geologic features, such as spires, pinnacles,
pedestals and balanced rocks, are highlighted in striking foreground
and background views created by contrasting colors, landforms
and textures. Arches National Park is 76,519 acres in size.
Bryce
Canyon National Park. Thousands of delicately-carved spires,
called 'hoo doos' rise in brilliant color from the amphitheaters
of the park. Millions of years of wind, water and geologic mayhem
have shaped and etched the pink cliffs of Bryce, which is not
actually a canyon, but the eastern escarpment of the Paunsaguant
Plateau. The most brilliant hues of the park come alive with the
rising and setting of the sun. Visitors may take a 37-mile round-trip
drive to Bryce's most famous viewpoints, including Sunrise,
Sunset, Rainbow, Yovimpa, and Inspiration Points.
Capitol
Reef National Park splashes color for 75 miles from its
northern to southern boundaries. The Waterpocket Fold (left),
a bulging uplift of rainbow-hued sandstone creates the park's
"reefs" and canyons. Most of Capitol Reef is an inviting wilderness
of sandstone formations such as Capitol Dome, Hickman Bridge,
and those in splendid Cathedral Valley. In the midst of Capitol
Reef's red rocks and ancient petroglyph panels are large orchards
where fruit may be picked in season.
Glen
Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA) known as Lake Powell
offers unparalleled opportunities for water-based and backcountry
recreation. Lake Powell stretches hundreds of miles from Lees
Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah, encompassing
scenic vistas, geologic wonders, and a panorama of human history.
|