UT NPs are some of my absolute favorites. Arches, Bryce, Zion, etc ...
If you do Canyonlands, consider trying the Schaeffer Trail. It runs from the upper bluffs in the Park down to Pot Ash Rd and back into Moab.
CAUTION: you'll need 4x4 and reasonably high ground-clearance vehicle. I did it in my 2006 Chevy 4x4 CCLB and barely had enough clearance for some of the shelf-rock drop-offs, and off-camber ledges. Believe it or not, I've even gone down on my 2000 Honda Valkyrie, but then no one has ever said that was a good idea.
If you want something also off the beaten path, near Zion, consider taking the road called Kolob Terrace, which runs from the west boundary of Zion (right out of Virgin), up past the Blue Spring and Kolob reserviors, and will eventually take you up to US-14 (assuming you don't get lost!). Again - 4x4 and decent ground clearance is a must.
You don't need a jacked-up-to-the-sky 4x4 monster truck or Slick-Rock-ready Jeep; they aren't that bad. But you'll not be happy getting stuck or bashing a transfer case in a pretender SUV or such. You need some skills and common sense for these "roads". (Imagine me clearing my throat in jest using the word "road" in context here ...). Spare water, fuel, good nav tools and patience are also a very good idea when exploring the outback areas of UT
If you do Canyonlands, consider trying the Schaeffer Trail. It runs from the upper bluffs in the Park down to Pot Ash Rd and back into Moab.
CAUTION: you'll need 4x4 and reasonably high ground-clearance vehicle. I did it in my 2006 Chevy 4x4 CCLB and barely had enough clearance for some of the shelf-rock drop-offs, and off-camber ledges. Believe it or not, I've even gone down on my 2000 Honda Valkyrie, but then no one has ever said that was a good idea.
If you want something also off the beaten path, near Zion, consider taking the road called Kolob Terrace, which runs from the west boundary of Zion (right out of Virgin), up past the Blue Spring and Kolob reserviors, and will eventually take you up to US-14 (assuming you don't get lost!). Again - 4x4 and decent ground clearance is a must.
You don't need a jacked-up-to-the-sky 4x4 monster truck or Slick-Rock-ready Jeep; they aren't that bad. But you'll not be happy getting stuck or bashing a transfer case in a pretender SUV or such. You need some skills and common sense for these "roads". (Imagine me clearing my throat in jest using the word "road" in context here ...). Spare water, fuel, good nav tools and patience are also a very good idea when exploring the outback areas of UT