Page 145 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

SOUTHERN UT AH  143
SOUTHERN UTAH

Wherever you go in southern Utah, it is hard to find a road
that does not dazzle the visitor with unforgettable scenery.
Winding highways lead through stunning red rock canyons,
stark deserts of wind-polished rock, and cool, mountain
realms of tall pines and sparkling streams. The five national
parks in this region are favorite destinations, so much so that
each is inundated with up to four million visitors a year. Despite
this, even in summer there are quiet, undiscovered corners to be found
across the region. The Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument offers visitors a
chance to experience this living wilderness by driving such unpaved scenic routes as
the Hole-in-the-Rock Road (see p151).
The first people to live here were Paleo-Indians 12,000 years ago. Later, the Ancestral Puebloan
people thrived in southeastern Utah, building cliff dwellings along the San Juan River.
The Mormons arrived here in 1847, successfully establishing settlements in this harsh land.
Today, most people come to the area to enjoy the outdoors. Hiking, mountain biking, and
4-wheel driving are all popular activities, as well as riverfloat trips and whitewater adventures.
St. George and Cedar City are the biggest towns in southern Utah. A number of smaller
communities, however, such as Springdale, Torrey, and Bluff, have good motels and
restaurants. Moab meanwhile offers outdoor activities by day, and entertainment by night.

Sights at a Glance
National and State Parks,
and National Monuments
1 Arches National Park 8 Boulder
3 Canyonlands National Park r Cedar City Key
4 Dead Horse Point State Park y Kanab Interstate
6 Goblin Valley State Park u St. George Major highway
7 Capitol Reef National Park Areas of Natural Beauty
w Grand Staircase–Escalante Highway
National Monument 9 Burr Trail Railroad
e Bryce Canyon National Park 0 Hole-in-the-Rock Road
q Lake Powell/Glen Canyon
t Zion National Park
National Recreation Area
Historic Towns and Cities
2 Moab
5 Green River
191
Salina
15 Thompson
Black
Rock Richfield 70
24
72 Muddy Creek
Milford
62
Beaver Torrey Hanksville Green
Minersville Kingston 24
191
95
89 22 Colorado
Panguitch Escalante Monticello
Modena 56 Tropic
12 Ticaboo Blanding
Enterprise Long Valley
15 Junction 276
18 Bluff
Washington Springdale Mexican
Hurricane 89 Big Lake Hat
Water Powell
Fredonia
Colorado Page 0 kilometers 50
City
0 miles 50
One of the numerous graceful stone arches in Arches National Park For keys to symbols see back flap
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