I've done the Southwest many times — solo, with family, with corporate groups on incentive trips — and it never gets smaller. The canyon country in Utah and Arizona, the red rock of Colorado, the sheer alien quality of the whole thing — it's overwhelming in a way that accumulates with each visit rather than diminishing. These are the five stops I'd never cut.
Mesa Arch in Canyonlands at sunrise — one of the great photography moments in America
Mesa Arch is a sandstone arch on the Island in the Sky mesa in Canyonlands National Park. At sunrise, the underside catches the first light and glows orange, framing the canyon 300 meters below. It looks unreal. It's a 30-minute walk from the trailhead. At peak season, photographers claim spots before dawn — get there early. I've watched this happen a few times and it still stops me every time.
Angels Landing in Zion — but book your permit months ahead
Angels Landing is a 454-meter sandstone monolith in Zion with a trail that ends with a half-mile ridge walk using chain assists, drop of several hundred meters on both sides. One of the finest hikes in North America. Zion's permit lottery (introduced in 2022) means you need to plan well ahead — apply for the seasonal lottery for peak season visits. The view from the top, looking down the canyon in every direction, justifies everything.
Antelope Canyon Upper — and book the morning light tour
Antelope Canyon's famous light beams — shafts of sunlight piercing through narrow openings in the sandstone — are one of the most photographed natural phenomena in the world. Access is guided only, through Navajo Nation operators. The 'light beam' tours run at midday between March and October when the sun is high enough. Book months ahead. Do it properly or wait for next year.
Bryce Canyon at golden hour — when the hoodoos turn orange
Bryce Canyon isn't technically a canyon — it's a series of amphitheaters filled with thousands of hoodoos: tall spindly rock spires in orange, red, white, and pink. At sunrise and sunset the color shifts so dramatically it looks like a different place. The Rim Trail walk is one of the finest easy walks in the national park system. The Navajo Loop Trail descends into the amphitheater and puts you among the hoodoos rather than looking down at them — that's the version I'd choose.
Stay at Under Canvas — glamping that works for every type of traveler
Under Canvas operates glamping camps near several Southwest parks — Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, Moab. Canvas tents with proper beds, wood-burning stoves, en-suite bathrooms. No roughing it. In the evening you eat well, sit around a fire, and look at stars with almost no light pollution. For mixed groups where some people want the outdoor experience and some want to sleep properly, this is consistently the solution that works for everyone. I've used it with corporate groups and the response is always positive.
The Southwest is one of the best road trip itineraries in the world — accessible, logistically manageable with the right planning, and capable of producing shared experiences that groups talk about for years. Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) are the times to go. Summer is brutal and crowded.
Written by
Jenn
Founder of Memorable Travel & Adventures. Jenn has personally traveled to every destination in this journal. She plans trips to all of them.
