There are many wonderful places to visit in Southern Utah. Some are well known – such as Zion National Park – and some are local secrets. One of the places that most tourists never visit is Escalante Petrified Forest State Park. The Petrified Forest Located near the town of Escalante, in Garfield County. It encompasses 1,300 acres of Southern Utah desert and offers the visitor a chance to explore ancient fossils, both from pant and animals – including dinosaurs. Read More
Southern Utah has some of the greatest scenic highways in the nation. We at the Lodge at Red River Ranch love driving the back roads in search of something new. There are many scenic routes in and around our national parks, and each one offers amazing views.
If you can, try to work scenic routes into your road trip plans. There are always worth the few extra miles. Of all the back roads and scenic byways that we know of, our favorite is Highway 12. Read More
The dramatic cliffs of Velvet Ridge frame the Lodge Red River Ranch. These cliffs extend for miles in both directions from the Lodge. As the sunlight moves across the face of Velvet Ridge, shadows appear and retreat, creating an ever-changing landscape. And while the sight is impressive from the ground, we think it looks better from up top. Read More
Rock climbing is an increasingly popular sport, especially here in Southern Utah. The rock walls of Southern Utah are fun, challenging, and scenic. In fact, there are so good that we attract climbers from all over the world. We at the Lodge at Red River Ranch have some advise for rock climbers coming to find a good time in our neck of the woods. Read More
If art is your thing, we at the Lodge at Red River Ranch have a suggestion for you. Take a photo or painting tour of Capitol Reef National Park. The park is a spectacular collection of sandstone folded and shaped by nature. The combination of subject and light makes this area a haven for artists. For those wishing to convey the canyon and desert landscape in canvas or print, Capitol Reef has endless opportunities.
While the whole of Capitol Reef National Park is definitely art-worthy, we at the Lodge have compiled a list of some of the best sites in the park to shoot or paint. In addition to the obvious beauty, these locations have the added benefit of not being over photographed – unlike Zion National Park. Check these places out. Read More