Artificial Intelligence is everywhere. It’s been embraced by every major tech company. But the problem with AI is that it’s not always accurate. (Although sometimes pretty hilarious.) And all this low-quality AI slop flooding the web could be ruining your vacation.

Photo by Mitchell Luo via unsplash.com

How AI Works. Very Simplified.

Here’s the problem: Large Language Models (LLMs) are the type of AI that are used to scour the web and generate text about any subject. They work kind of like the auto-complete function on your phone. And to be fair, it is very impressive technology. However, since it’s mostly concerned with making grammatically correct, complete sentences and paragraphs, it will often just “make up” whatever is convenient for the article it has been asked to write. This phenomenon is called “hallucinating.” And when you search on Google for travel ideas and it summarizes what the internet says about that location, you can get a lot of hallucination. And it can be even worse when you visit a travel site that has used AI to generate itineraries.

Photo by Red River Ranch via Midjourney. An AI-generated image of a man that is upset that his AI-generated itinerary ruined his AI-generated vacation. Plus, he’s probably upset that he has three feet.

So How Bad Is It?

A recent study found the following when looking at a representative sample of AI travel itineraries:

• 90% of AI-generated travel itineraries include at least one error, according to the research.
  Over half (52%) suggest visiting at least one attraction, restaurant or cafe outside of its opening hours.
• Nearly one in four (24%) recommend going to at least one restaurant, cafe or attraction that is permanently closed or closed until further notice.
• 30% of errors include a references to a Michelin-star restaurant.
• 1 in 4 (25%) of itineraries display a lack of logical planning, requiring travelers to backtrack or take unnecessary detours in order to reach places.

That can make for a pretty inconvenient, increasingly frustrating, and often more costly trip. So what can you do about it?

Photo by nps.gov. The National Park Service is your friend.

Find the Right Sources.

It can be a nightmare to try to determine what is AI-generated slop and what is good, old fashioned travel advice. So start with the prime sources as much as possible. Since the guests at the Lodge at Red River Ranch are coming to tour Southern Utah (and if you’ve read this far in the article we are assuming you’re also interested in a trip to Southern Utah) they should visit the official web pages of the national parks for all the most important information. Here’s the pages for Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Capitol Reef.

Then check out the official tourism website for the state, or city, that you wish to visit. For us, that website is visitutah.com.

And finally, rely on established brands that have been writing travel itineraries for years. The Lonely Planet website, National Geographic guide books, Frommer’s, etc. There is no guarantee that they won’t switch to AI, but they have a lot of brand-equity built into their continued reliability. Which means hopefully they fact-check things.

Photo by Red River Ranch.

And What About The Lodge? You Have Itineraries.

We do have itineraries, thanks for noticing! And we worked hard to make sure that they are accurate. You can check them out here. We also have about a billion blog articles which you can read here. All of which can help you build a better vacation.

And no, we don’t use AI to write anything on our website. We do it all by hand! But… we did use AI to make the main image on this blog post. It seemed fitting to use AI to make an image of a guy messing up his vacation by using AI to plan his trip.

“Wait,” we hear you say, “is it spelled Capital Reef or Capitol Reef?” Don’t worry, most people wonder the same thing. It’s spelled C-A-P-I-T-O-L Reef. With an O.

“Okay. But Why?”

Good question. To explain, let’s look at the definitions of both “capital” and “capitol.”

Capital –
1. of a letter: of or conforming to the series A, B, C, etc. rather than a, b, c, etc.
2. being the seat of government: London is the capital city of England.
3. chief in importance or influence
4. excellent: As in “a capital book”

Capitol –
1. a building in which a state legislative body meets or a group of buildings in which the functions of state government are carried out
2. the dome of the state capitol

“Hold up, that still doesn’t make that much sense,” again we hear you say. “There are no federal, state, or even local government buildings at this national park. Wouldn’t it be better if it was Capital Reef? With an A? At least that means ‘excellent.’ What’s going on?”

And you would be right. But allow us to make our rebuttal with these two images:

Photo by Michael via unsplash.com

Photo by LJ Coates via unsplash.com

You see, it turns out that Capitol Reef is named for its geology. The many white, sandstone domes in the park are reminiscent of the domes that appear on most capitol buildings. When the 19th-century explorers came to this region, that was the closest thing that they had to compare these geological features to.

“I Guess That Makes Sense. But What’s The Word ‘Reef’ Doing In There?”

Right. Another excellent question. This one is easier. “Reef” is just an antiquated term for any rocky, impassable barrier. Similar to our modern usage of the word, which is now almost exclusively used for marine barriers. So to put it all together, “Capitol Reef” is just a collection of domed rocks that you can’t travel across.

“Huh. Cool. But I CAN Travel Across Capitol Reef, Right?”

Yes! With current road building technology, we have indeed made these domed rocks passable. Which means you can come visit and see these amazing domes for yourself!

We just talked about all the fall colors you can see on a Southern Utah roadtrip. But let’s talk about a couple other awesome fall activities that you can do this month, right here in Capitol Reef National Park – let’s go apple picking and star gazing!

Photo by Diane Helentjaris via unsplash.com.

Apple Picking

Today is September 17, 2024 and it’s one of our favorite days of the year. Because today is the first day of the apple picking season! Is there anything more autumnal than a crisp, tree-ripened apple? We don’t think so. And it tastes so much better when you pick it yourself!

So if you’re looking for a truly fall-inspired activity, head to the orchards located near the visitor center entrance to the park. You’ll see the “U-Pick Fruit” signs posted outside of the orchards. There will also be a sign telling you what fruit is available to be picked. This time of year, September through to October, apples are the showstopper. (They do also have pears, if that’s you’re thing.) You can eat as many apples as you like inside the orchard – for free – but for any that you take back with you, please use the scale to weigh your fruit and deposit the required cash in the lockbox nearby. (It’s very inexpensive.)

Avoid climbing any of the trees, and no dogs or other pets allowed inside the orchards. But if you’re lucky, you’ll get to spot some of the local deer also perusing the orchards for a sweet snack.

Photo by Joseph Corl via unsplash.com.

Heritage StarFest 2024

It’s StarFest again! Capitol Reef is putting on a week of stargazing workshops and lectures to educate and entertain. Starting Wednesday, September 25 and running through Monday, September 29 you can participate in this fantastic opportunity to learn more about the night sky and our place in the cosmos. There are also classes on how to take pictures of the milky way, so if your an amateur nighttime photographer this might be for you.

Note from the Park: you need to register to attend these photography classes. It’s free but spaces are limited. Email care_information@nps.gov or by call 435–425–4112. If no answer, please leave a voice message. In your email or voice message, please include your name, phone number, email address, which day you would like to attend and how many people you are signing up.

Here’s the schedule of events for StarFest 2024, pulled straight from this page here on the official website. We hope you get the chance to attend this year, it’s always a blast!

Monday, September 23rd – Thursday, September 26th

Nightly at the Fruita Campground amphitheater. Programs begin near dusk.

Join park rangers to learn about a variety of night-related topics including astronomy and nocturnal creatures.

Friday, September 27th

Programs will take place in Capitol Reef National Park.

Guest Speaker Series
3pm at the visitor center theater: Dr. Qicheng Zhang, Lowell Observatory, Anatomy of a Great Comet. Comets occasionally produce spectacular visual displays with ghostly tails stretching many degrees across the night sky, and one such bright comet may only be a week away.

5pm at the visitor center theater: Dr. Anil Seth, University of Utah, The Nearest Massive Black Hole. Focusing on the recent detection of a black hole in the Milky Way’s most massive cluster, Omega Centauri, and why this black hole is unique and interesting.

7pm at the Fruita Campground amphitheater: Dr. Kyle Dawson, University of Utah, Mapping the Universe: 5,000 Galaxies at a Time. The cosmos hold a wealth of information about the earliest times in the universe and the fundamental laws of Physics.

Telescope Program
8:30pm – 11pm at the Fruita Campground amphitheater parking lot. Join park rangers and volunteers, and guest amateur astronomers as the Milky Way and other celestial wonders are brought to your eye with various telescopes.

Saturday, September 28

Events will take place at the Torrey Park (100 N. 75 East in Torrey, UT) and at the Entrada Institute’s Robber’s Roost (185 W. Main St. in Torrey, UT).

Special Speakers and Presentations
Throughout the afternoon and early evening at the Robber’s Roost in Torrey. Please see our community partner’s website at https://www.entradainstitute.org/ for more information and to register for a particular program at the Robber’s Roost.

Solar Viewing and Junior Astronomy Programming
4pm to 6pm at the Torrey Park. Join park staff and volunteers, and guest amateur astronomers to safely view our closest star with solar telescopes and participate in fun, child-focused astronomy activities.

Torrey Park Telescope Program
8:30pm – 11pm at the Torrey Park. Join park staff and volunteers, community partners and guest amateur astronomers to view the Milky Way and other celestial wonders through many different telescopes.

You’re ready to get outside. Like, really ready. Ready to hike and play in sunny Southern Utah! With Memorial Day Weekend only a few days away, it’s basically summer here in Southern Utah. And, as you no doubt know, summer here in the desert can be hot. Really hot. So it’s important to be safe when playing outdoors, and it’s important to learn how to spot some of the most common heat related problems – namely heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Of the two, heat stroke is by far the more dangerous, requiring immediate medical attention. Here’s how to tell heat exhaustion and heat stroke apart – and what to do next. Let’s talk about them and what you can do to be prepared.

Photo by MK via unsplash.com.

Heat Exhaustion

Symptoms
Faint and/or dizzy
Excessive sweating
Cool or clammy skin
Nausea or vomiting
Rapid, fluttery, and weak pulse
Muscle cramps

What to do?
If you, or someone in your party, is displaying signs of heat exhaustion, take action to cool down. If possible, get to an air-conditioned place. If that’s not possible, find shade on the trail. Drink plenty of water and take a long break. And be ready to turn back. It’s not worth trying to “finish” the hike if someone isn’t feeling well.

Of course, the best cure is prevention. Don’t hike when the sun is strong, but instead plan your adventures for the mornings and evenings.

Heat Stroke

Symptoms
Strong, persistent headache
Not sweating
Hot skin, usually dry
Nausea or vomiting
Rapid, over-strong pulse
May lose consciousness

What to do?
Call 911. Then take immediate action to bring the body’s temperature down. If you have access to ice, make an ice bath, or place ice compresses under the armpits and between the thighs. If you’re on the trail, move into deep shade and use wet-cloth compresses in those same spots. Do everything you can to cool the person down, and wait for emergency services to arrive.

Heat stroke is serious. But there are plenty of observable warning signs before a person develops heat stroke. Be smart when hiking in the summer months. Don’t attempt activities beyond your abilities. And always, always carry plenty of water. Plan ahead and you’ll be perfectly fine playing outside this summer.

We at the Lodge get asked a lot of questions about Capitol Reef. And sometimes those questions have interesting answers. Here’s a couple of common ones that you might have had yourself about the park and its history. And just remember you can always find more answers over here at the official site for Capitol Reef.

Capitol Reef exists today because of early conservation efforts. Photo by Glen Rushton via unsplash.com

When was Capitol Reef Formed?

Well, the area was dedicated a national park in 1971, but it was actually a national monument before that, and before that, it was a couple of brothers-in-law passion project. Starting in 1921, a Torrey local named Ephraim Portman Pectol founded a “booster club” that helped promote the idea of creating a protected area in Wayne County to preserve the natural wonders of the region. His brother-in-law Joseph S. Hickman (for whom Hickman Bridge is named) liked the idea enough to create the Wayne Wonderland Club – the suggested name for the protected area in question. When Hickman was elected to the state legislature in 1924 he pushed for his idea, but sadly, just as he was getting the ball rolling, he drowned in a boating accident.

But Pectol didn’t give up. In the coming years he raised enough funds to hire a photographer to record images of the proposed “Wayne Wonderland National Monument.” Then, when Pectol himself was elected to the legislature in 1933, he lobbied president Franklin D. Roosevelt to make the Wayne Wonderland dream a reality. And Roosevelt was on board. Over the next few years federal survey of the area was commissioned and completed. Then in 1937 Roosevelt signed a proclamation creating the Capitol Reef National Monument.

A large, impassable sandstone formation. Named, fittingly enough, Pectol’s Pyramid. Photo by Luke Richardson via unsplash.com

Why is it Called “Capitol Reef”?

“Capitol Reef” is kind of an odd name, when you stop to think about it. Other parks are named after people – Bryce Canyon, for instance – or for ideals – Zion – or for their prominent geological features – you know what to expect from Arches and Canyonlands by their names. But what does Capitol Reef mean? Well actually, it turns out that Capitol Reef is also named for its geology. The many white, sandstone domes in the park are reminiscent of the domes that appear on most capitol buildings. So that solves the “capitol” part of the name. And a “reef” is just a now-out-of-use term that denotes a rocky barrier, something impassable during the time of the 19th-century explorers and settlers. So “Capitol Reef” is just a collection of domed rocks that you can’t travel across.

Of course our road building capabilities have improved since the area was named, so that now you can travel through Capitol Reef National Park. And we highly recommend that you do.

If you’ve ever driven from Salt Lake City to Capitol Reef National Park, then you’ve seen Pando – earth’s largest organism! Pando is a tree. Or more accurately, Pando is a clonal tree colony. What appears to be a forest of thousands of single quaking aspen trees is actually one living organism – Pando, the Trembling Giant. Located about a mile outside of Fish Lake, Pando is clearly visible from Utah State Road 24, near the Koosharem reservoir.

By SoloTravelGoals via Unsplash.com

Lots of Awards

Judging by the genetic markers taken from trunks all over the colony, Pando is estimated to span over a hundred acres. And it weighs about 6,600 tons – making it both the largest and the heaviest known single organism in the world! Determining Pando’s age is a little tricker, but most studies estimate it to be about 80,000 years old (although some suggest that it may be as old as one million years.) Its age easily ranks Pando among earth’s oldest organisms.

By Andrea Reiman via Unsplash.com

See Pando Yourself

As we pointed out, Pando can clearly be seen on Utah State Road 24. But if you want to walk among the 40,000 trunks of Pando, then you should check out Fish Lake and Fishlake National Forest. The Fishlake Scenic Byway – also known as Utah State Road 25 – will reveal large swaths of Pando. Feel free to get out and stretch your legs on top of the Trembling Giant. (And while you’re up there, but sure to check out Fish Lake. It’s the largest fresh water lake in the state, and is pretty awesome too.)

Not Feeling So Well

Unfortunately, Pando has been exhibiting signs of stress. Some scientists believe it could be dying. The exact reasons for this are not known, but competition with encroaching conifers, wide-spread grazing, and drought are thought to be contributing factors. The Forest Service is currently trying various tests to see if we can’t help improve the health of this amazing organism.

If you’ve ever been hiking in the deserts of Southern Utah, then you’ve probably come across strange, blackish bumps in the sand, about an inch or two tall. And you may have wondered to yourself, “What the heck are these things?” Well we have the answers! Those are biological soil crusts. And they are complex colonies of bacteria, fungi, algae, and lichens. You can find biological soil crusts here in Capitol Reef National Park, in the high deserts of Southern Utah, and in arid and semi-arid regions everywhere across the world. And it probably won’t surprise you to learn that they play a vital role in these environments.

Photo by Nihonjoe via Wikimedia Commons

What Do They Do?

Biological soil crusts are very important for the health of the desert ecosystem. The help fix atmospheric carbon and nitrogen, providing essential nutrients for the sparse vegetation that does grow here. They also reduce soil erosion, and collect water, preventing the sands from being washed away during rainstorms. Most of these colonies of bacteria have large populations of cyanobacteria, which are actually capable of photosynthesis. And because they absorb some of the sun’s rays, the desert sands are less reflective in areas with established soil crusts. Which is good news for your eyeballs. (If you’re curious, the measure of reflective light off of a surface is call albedo.)

How Are They Made?

Biological soil crust begins to form when fungi spores colonize the area between desert plants. Once the fungi has stabilized, cyanobacteria and other bacteria, such as bryophytes, congregate around the fungi structures. Eventually, lichens and algae join the party. The whole process takes a long time to complete. Depending on the amount of water available in the region, it can literally thousands of years for mature soil crust to develop.

Photo by Nihonjoe via Wikimedia Commons

Look. But Don’t Touch.

Biological soil crusts are extremely fragile. (Which, considering how long they take to form, is completely understandable.) Crushing and tearing soil crusts can result in widespread colony collapse. You may permanently destroy the soil crust, or at least, impact the area for decades, if you step on it. This in turn leads to substantial soil erosion – negatively impacting desert plant life and, in turn, the animal life which depends on the plants.

Everyone who visits the national parks of Southern Utah falls in love with the area. Help do your part to keep this place as beautiful as it is. One way to do that, is to not damage the soil crusts that are so important to the life of our deserts. So when you’re hiking or riding your ATV in Southern Utah, think of the little colonies all around you, and avoid any distribution of the biological soil crusts. Stay on the designated trails and roads, or if you’re hiking where there are no trails, walk in sandy washes or on bare rock so as not to destroy the little guys. They’re our friends, after all.

You can learn more about biological soil crusts here on Wikipedia and here on the National Parks Service website.

Capitol Reef is not just a fantastic place to see the beauty of Southern Utah, it’s also a fantastic place to learn a lot of new things! Throughout the year, there are ranger-lead programs that can teach you about everything from geology to astronomy. So let’s look at what is on offer, and how you can sneak a little learning into your vacation.

Photo by iStockPhoto.com

Current Ranger Programs

So here’s the lineup for 2023! Visit this calendar page on the Capitol Reef website to see all the details about each of these events. And remember these are totally free, and you don’t need any kind of reservation. Just be at the right place when they start!

We’ve got Archeology Talks! Every day at 11am. Meet at the Petroglyph Panel boardwalk and learn about cultures that called this place home. The program lasts for 30 minutes

Geology Talks are presented every day at 3pm. Meet at the Fruita Campground Amphitheater, near the C loop of the campground and the Fremont River Trail. (It’s not difficult to find, it’s the largest structure in the campgrounds.) Discover the geologic story of Capitol Reef National Park. The program lasts for 30 minutes.

This one is our favorite! Evening Talks are available every evening at 8:45pm. Meet at the Fruita Campground Amphitheater. (Same place as above.) And explore a variety of topics in depth. Lasts about 45 – 60 minutes.

The Astronomy Program is presented every weekend on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Meet at the Gifford House picnic tables at 10pm. The presentation lasts about an hour (sometimes a little longer). Tour the night sky with the naked eye before exploring the cosmos by telescope. Bring a red flashlight.

It’s worth double-checking with the Visitor Center if these events are still scheduled for when you are planning on being in Capitol Reef. Sometimes there are unforeseen events – like severe weather, or an absent ranger – that cause the talks or programs to be cancelled. So check here, and just call the day of to confirm. Here’s the Visitor Center’s number: 435–425–3791

Photo by iStockPhoto.com

More Ways to Learn

Speaking of the Visitors Center, there a couple of great additional ways you can learn about Capitol Reef and all its complexities. And first is at the Visitor Center! The whole Visitor Center has recently been renovated, and the exhibits have been updated and expanded. This is a great way to get an overview of the history and timeline of Capitol Reef, from the eons of time in which it was formed, to the native inhabitants, to the recent events that lead to its inception as a national park. You can even grab the NPS Audio Description Tours mobile app and have all the exhibits narrated to you! So be sure to stop by the Visitor Center!

Second is the Ripple Rock Nature Center. This building is located just a minute or two south of the Visitor Center, and is used to host outdoor activities for kids of all ages. The programs are usually hosted by Utah Valley University and are a great way for your children to discover a range of topics. Check the calendar for schedules (and filter by “Children’s Programs”) to see what is available when you are visiting.

Last one! Stop by the Gifford House! It’s a very cute, little, pioneer home that has been remarkably well preserved. It functions as a sort of museum/baked-goods shop today, and it’s a great way to see how the Mormon settlers of the region lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There are original and era-appropriate furnishings inside and lots of information about the Giffords. So check it out! And don’t forget to by some ice-cream while you’re there!

We’ve made so many advances in our modern world, and made so many gains. But we’ve lost a few things too. If you live in a city or other heavily developed area, then you probably don’t get much of a chance to see the stars. Which is a shame. Stargazing is (to us at the Lodge, at least) one of the great joys of life. But in an urban area, there is just too much light pollution to see what’s going on up there. Luckily, there are plenty of places that you can travel to for a chance to see the night sky in all its splendor.

Photo by Aaron Roth via unsplash.com

Meet the IDA

The International Dark-Sky Association is a non-profit organization that helps protect places from light pollution. If a location – say, a national park – meets certain requirements to promote dark skies, then it can be certified by the IDA. And there’s nowhere like Southern Utah to see the night sky. It has the largest concentration of official Dark Sky Places in the world. (And it’s also where the first location was designated, at Natural Bridges.) So if you want to reconnect with the stars, then we can’t think of a better place.

Photo by Septumia Jacobson via unsplash.com

Here’s the List

You’ll be able to experience truly dark skies at all of these locations in Southern Utah. If you want to know more about any of the locations, just click on the link. We’ve written about most of these places before.

• Arches National Park
• Canyonlands National Park
• Dead Horse Point State Park
• Natural Bridges National Monument (First in the World!)
• Hovenweep National Monument
• Rainbow Bridge National Monument
• Capitol Reef National Park (Hey! That’s by us!)
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Goblin Valley State Park
• Cedar Breaks National Monument
• The Town of Torrey (Also us!)

Also, if you want to hear from the experts at visitutah.com, then check out their info on the amazing Dark Sky Places of Utah here.

We at the Lodge love discovering little gems in Southern Utah – the places that most people drive right past, or that are a little tricky to get to. And we love suggesting these gems on our blog, so that you can discover a Southern Utah that’s off-the-beaten path. So, with that in mind, here’s a little state park that nobody seems to know about – the Fremont Indian State Park and Museum.

Photo by The Dye Clan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

What You’ll Find

As the name suggests, this state park focuses on preserving the history of the Fremont Native American tribe that dwelt in this region. (And also some of the other tribes in the more distant past.) It’s got a pretty impressive little museum, with lots of artifacts – pottery, arrowhead, textiles, tools – from the area. The park also has outdoor exhibits. There are several re-created dwellings that let you see how the Fremont people lived.

But you can’t leave the Fremont Indian State Park until you’ve explored some of its trails. Because the trails lead you to the coolest part of the park – all the rock art. There are tons of petroglyphs and pictographs everywhere. And, as you hike around, you’ll get to see plenty of it. (One of the canyons that you can explore is actually designated as an outdoor museum.)

Photo by James St. John via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

More Details

The Fremont Indian State Park is located just outside of Richfield Utah, on Interstate–70. Google Maps location here. It was actually during the construction of the Interstate that crews came across the artifacts currently stored at the park. According to its website, it was the largest known Fremont Indian Village to be uncovered. And so the state park was created to preserve its history.

There is are two campgrounds at the park, the Castle Rock Campground and the Sam Stowe Campground. You can reserve spots at reserveamerica.com.

There’s more to learn and discover about the Fremont Indian State Park and Museum. You can read a more in-depth version of its history and mission here. And, of course, you can always stop by for a visit and see it all for yourself.