It’s eerie, this landscape. In hues evocative of Mars, yet far more accessible, this 7,240-acre expanse of sandstone plateau in southeastern Utah is known as Sand Flats Recreation Area, and it attracts bikers, hikers and those in search of primitive camping to its salmon-colored formations, collectively known as Slickrock. Located a couple miles west of the adventure Mecca of Moab, this twisting, turning assemblage of Mother Nature’s handiwork provides all the challenge any mountain biker could want, as well as chromatic displays that will keep shutterbugs smiling.
Yet visitors who don’t ride bikes can enjoy the small-town, tourist-friendly atmosphere and the outdoor wonders this part of the state offers so abundantly. Whether wandering among the mom-and-pop shops and coffee houses of Moab or among the geologic spectacles that present themselves around every turn in nearby Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, RVers can’t take a wrong turn in southeastern Utah. For the complete feature, go to trailerlife.com and click on Super Site.
The best way to experience Canyonlands National Park, off State Highway 313, is to descend into it, to feel it up close. The park’s Grand View Point Overlook provides nice views, but Dead Horse State Park, closer to town, provides much the same view of the geological layer cake. So, one should hike the park in order to really taste it.
Arches National Park appeals from all angles. Unimaginable red-rock formations hang precariously, defy gravity and arc like salmon-pink rainbows. The spires, turrets and monoliths alone are worth a visit, yet the 1,500 arches are what visitors will remember long after their stay.
Arches National Park, nps.gov/arch or (435) 719-2299; Canyonlands National Park, nps.gov/cany or (435) 719-2313.
