An impromptu stop at Hovenweep National Monument on our road trip led to a surprising discovery - some of the most unique structures from the Ancestral Puebloans that we've ever seen! With a mountain backdrop, these Indian ruins are magical. Hovenweep National Monument was once called home to Ancestral Puebloan people from about AD 500 to AD 1300. The culture focused on farming, creating a landscape capable of growing food for an estimated 2500 people. To live and store crops they created masterful structures with impressive masonry - structures with numerous similarities to those found at other locations like Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon. Structures found at Hovenweep vary wildly. One can find buildings with squared corners, rounded corners, and D-shaped dwellings. The fact that these structures have stood the test of time perched on mesa edges and boulders is astounding. There are six units that comprise Hovenweep National Monument spread out over 20 miles. Some of the remote locations are not as easily accessible. The Square Tower Group is the most accessible featuring the park's visitor center and a campground. The trail is 2 miles long that includes an 80 foot descent and ascent in and out of the canyon.

Despite being a National Monument, this park was a complete unknown to us until research started taking place for an upcoming trip to Utah. How this park never landed on our radar until now is a mystery but we want to make sure that it is on yours. Natural Bridges National Monument is a treasure and one of the most unique areas that we've explored to date. Located in southeast Utah, just south of Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument is a group of three rock bridges formed millions of years ago. Sand, silt and mud layered over time by an ancient sea. Colliding plates pushed the layers upward to create the Colorado Plateau. Eventually the Colorado River would carve canyons into the rock and streams from this carved away to create these magnificent bridges. The three arches of the park - Sipapu, Kachina and Owachomo - represent different stages of erosion. Kachina Bridge is thicker than the delicately thin arch of Owachomo. This is nature and time on full display. When visiting, one has a number of options to observe and take in the majesty of these bridges. There are overlooks at each bridge for those short on time or not physically abled to hike down the canyon to get closer. For those wanting to hike, there are individual trails from each overlook down under the bridge as well as a 9.8 mile (15.8 km) full loop trail that passes all three natural bridges and two shorter loop trails that connect the Sipapu Bridge to Kachina Bridge (5.7 mi/9.2 km) or Kachina Bridge to Owachomo Bridge (6.5 mi/10.5 km). If visiting, there is an available campground featuring 13 first-come first-serve sites that feature tent pads and can accomodate RVs up to 26 feet in length. Sites have no water or electrical hookups.

Due to its size, Chaco Canyon needs time to fully explore & take in the accomplishment of a past culture. Sadly, its location can make that hard. Luckily, there's a campground one can lay down their head - right where that culture did as well! Gallo Campground provides visitors to Chaco Culture National Historical Park an opportunity unlike any other - the ability to check out the remains of the Puebloan people who inhabited the area centuries ago without the worry of the nearest lodging being over an hour away. Visitors can spend hours fully exploring the site to their heart's content. The campground itself is tucked next to cliffs where petroglyphs and ruins provide a reminder of a previous time. In the distance are sweeping views of a rugged landscape and buttes. There are 32 individual campsites in total. Of those, one is ADA compliant, and five are RV only. In addition, there are two tent-only group campsites that can accommodate up to 30 people. Two restroom facilities are available with flushing toilets and running water. No showers are available. Hookups are also not available, however, there is a dump station. Due to the remoteness of the location, campers are advised to bring all necessary food and supplies as no convenience stores are nearby. Cell phone service is also not available.

Embark on a stunning journey with us from Capitol Reef to Natural Bridges, discovering some of Utah's most awe-inspiring landscapes along the way. Begin with a stop at Goblin Valley State Park, where unique hoodoo formations create a surreal, otherworldly playground. Nearby, the slot canyons of Little Wild Horse Canyon invite you to wander through twisting sandstone corridors, a perfect mix of adventure and tranquility. Continue your route toward Hite Overlook, where sweeping views of the Colorado River and the dramatic cliffs of Glen Canyon showcase the raw beauty of Utah’s high desert. As you approach Natural Bridges, marvel at the seamless connection between nature’s artistry and the timeless landscape. Each stop along this route offers a piece of Utah's geologic story, ensuring the journey is as remarkable as the destination.

Welcome to Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah! Did you know they have a beautiful campground on the premises? We decided to break our normal form and made a site by site walk around, featured every site, as there are only a total of 13 sites and on the day we filmed, and every site was vacant and filmable. Overall, we feel you can't go wrong with just about any site in this campground, but we do of course have our favorites and have a couple recommendations of some to avoid depending on your overall goals and camping preferences. The campground is tucked away with Juniper and Pinyon Pines. above the canyons where the three natural bridges are. You do not get views of any of the canyons from up here, but what you do get is great privacy as most sites are generously spread out and most sites are hard to see from others as the dense trees blocks site lines. The facility is also very nice, providing many tent pads and very clean vault toilets. We had a very pleasant overnight stay at this campground and are confident most people will too!