Natural Wonders of Utah that Should Not Be Missed

Utah still has some amazing natural landscape to despite the decision of Pres. Bush to roll back 30 years of federal authority to protect wilderness areas in the state. The Interior Dept. under the Bush administration opened 2.6 million acres of scenic Utah land to oil and gas exploration. You should head to Utah as soon as possible to enjoy its natural wonders before oil is discovered and all its beauty is erased by the likes of BP and Exxon.

Valley of the Gods

Valley of the Gods is often showcased in terms of being a smaller brother to the more famous Monument Valley. The Valley of the Gods reveals hundreds of amazing rock formations that will take your breath away.

Natural Bridges National Monument

An overlook drive allows you to view each of the natural bridges at this Southeastern Utah natural wonder. Three natural bridges are each contained within a separate stage of evolution. You can follow a trail to Sipapu which is the most mature of the bridges and offers the second-biggest natural bridge in the known world. The carving process is still in place at the Kachina bridge while Owachamo is in a state of erosion. Get a look at these natural wonders before they collapse under their own weight or are destroyed in the search for oil.

Arches National Park

Southeastern Utah offers you the opportunity to visit the world's largest concentration of natural arches. You will find in excess of 2,000 different arches in this otherworldly landscape. Made from sandstone, some of these natural wonders stretch more than 300 feet in width. You will have to lace up your hiking boots to get a look at the most impressive of the arches like Delicate Arch and Double Arch, but many more arches are visible from the park roads.

Dead Horse Point

Dead Horse Point is a Utah natural attraction that overlooks the Colorado River. Based 2,000 feet above that famous waterway is a 40-acre parcel of land that received its unique name courtesy of a cowboys that attempted to corral a herd of mustangs there only to watch as the horses died from thirst due to the lack of water on the mesa. The showcase of Dead Horse Point is the view offered over 5,000 square miles of brilliantly colored canyons and the surrounding mountains. The red canyons of the Colorado River is the scenic highlight of a visit to Dead Horse Point.

Dinosaur National Monument

The Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center is home to thousands of dinosaur bones. Visiting this Utah national park is like stepping into that scene at the beginning of Jurassic Park when the scientists scare the bejebus out of the little kid. The canyons that were carved over millions of years by the Green and Yampa Rivers make up the bulk of Dinosaur National Monument and provide incredible views either from a raft or a 31-mile long road. You can also enjoy this Utah park by taking a walking trail that provides spectacular views of the rivers almost 2,000 feet below.

Sources:

http://www.nps.gov/nabr/index.htm

http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/mexican_hat/valley_of_the_gods.html

http://www.utah.com/stateparks/dead_horse.htm

http://www.nps.gov/dino/index.htm