Utah has come to be defined by its pioneer heritage, incredible ski slopes, and desert geology. But it also takes its place among the foremost pre-historical sites in the nation. Paleontology is the branch of science that deals with (and excavates) fossils. And Utah is a paleontologist’s playground. The most spectacular fossils are, without a doubt, dinosaur remains. Utah has some amazing dinosaur dig sites – including the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry. […]
Capitol Reef National Park will celebrate 75 years of conservation this August. In 1937, President Franklin Roosevelt declared the Capitol Reef area a national monument. President Nixon subsequently changed the monument’s status to a national park in 1971. Since that time, Capitol Reef has welcomed millions of visitors to explore its beauty and its wonder. We at the Lodge at Red River Ranch invite you to come celebrate Capitol Reef’s 75th birthday with us this August. […]
This July, on the fourteenth, the Division of Wildlife Resources will again host its Day of the Condor event. Every year the DWR sets up camp in a location in Southern Utah and invites the public to come view the rare Californian condor. This year, the “Day of the Condor” event will take place from eight until noon on Kolob Reservoir Road. Kolob Reservoir is located about 21 miles north of the town of Virgin. […]
Boulder, Utah is a little alpine town perfectly situated between the mountain high-country and the Grand Staircase National Monument. Boulder is a scenic destination that boasts an impressive museum and a host of specialty shops. This July, Boulder is holding its eight annual Heritage Festival. We at the Lodge at Red River Ranch think the short drive to Boulder this summer is worth the trip. […]
This spring, Southern Utah will experience a rare astronomical event – a complete solar eclipse. This type of eclipse won’t be seen again in Utah for nearly twelve years. In honor of this event, we at the Lodge at Red River Ranch have compiled a list of the best places to see the eclipse, and the best ways to enjoy it safely. […]
Walt Disney Pictures recently released John Carter. The film follows the story of a civil war soldier, John Carter, who is mysteriously transported to Mars. However, what got us so excited about the film were the filming locations here in Southern Utah. Because we found this one of the most appealing aspects of John Carter, we at the Lodge at Red River Ranch have compiled a list of the filming locations for you to visit.
One of the most iconic regions of Southern Utah is Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Monument Valley is, without question, a great place to drive through, but people seldom take the time to explore the fascinating locations nearby. This is unfortunate. We, at the Lodge at Red River Ranch, want you to make a few stops next time you head that way. We believe it will make your trip even more enjoyable. […]
Actively searching for, and hopefully finding, precious and semi-precious gemstones is known as rock hounding. You can go rock hounding on any public land. In addition to gemstones, you can also extract reasonable amounts of invertebrate fossils and petrified wood. In many ways, rock hounding is like prospecting except that you are not allowed to sell the specimens you find without a permit. […]
If you’ve just spent a long day exploring Capitol Reef National Park, hiking, four-wheeling, or driving around southern Utah, you’ll probably want to unwind and spend the evening relaxing. If our basement game room isn’t for you, we have another suggestion — spend the evening at the Entrada Institiute.
One of the most interesting State Parks, in our opinion, is located just outside of Richfield, Utah. It’s the Fremont Indian State Park. This is also one of the least visited State Parks, which is unfortunate. Next time you’re driving on Interstate-70, consider stopping by. Here is some information on the park. […]