Looking Back

It’s that time of year again! Things are wrapping up for 2019, and 2020 will soon be upon us. And, as per our tradition here at the Lodge, we’re looking back on the year and making a sort of “Best Adventures” list – remembering the places that are really awesome. So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, we present the Lodge at Red River Ranch’s Year in Review: The Top 3 Adventures of 2019.

The monoliths of Cathedral Valley. Photo by Red River Ranch.

Cathedral Valley

Now, we’ve been to Cathedral Valley before, but when we did it again this year to make our Definitive Guide we realized (again) how special it was. It’s such a remote and wondrous part of Capitol Reef; a place so few of our guests get to visit. So as long as they have a high-clearance vehicle, we have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who wants to expand their national park adventure. Of course, you can’t just drive the loop, you gotta get out and hike a bit too. Those overlooks will take your breath away!

White Pocket at Vermilion Cliffs. Photo the John Fowler via unsplash.com

Vermilion Cliffs

Vermilion Cliffs National Monument (see our detailed blog post here) is technically in Arizona, but only just barely. It’s super famous for The Wave rock formation, but our favorite part of the monument is actually White Pocket. We love the remoteness of the area, and the canyons of Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon. Vermilion Cliffs is truly a rock star of a national monument, and definitely worth discovering – even if you can’t get tickets to The Wave.

Some of the views from the White Rim Road. Photo via nps.gov

The White Rim Road

This is one of the craziest roads you’ll ever have the pleasure of driving. The White Rime Road loops through the backcountry of Canyonlands National Park, providing anyone who makes the journey with incomprehensibly beautiful views. And those sheer drop offs on the side of the road, they just make the White Rim Road more special. (But also a touch dangerous, so do be careful.)

That’s 2019!

That’s it for this year. We’ll see you again in 2020! Have a great New Year celebration. And just remember… adventure is always waiting for you here in Southern Utah.