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Travel: Return to Utah, Spring 2026
by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com
The plans for this visit were originally for February. The hotels, places to see had already been mapped out, but at the last minute, we set it aside and visited Death Valley instead; mainly because it was going to be warmer than Utah in February.
This trip resumes those original plans. Our goal was to see some of the lesser known places in Utah (places we knew about but never got around to visiting on past trips due to time constraints), as well as a couple we wanted to revisit. Gold Butte National Monument would be our first stop. From there on up to Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in Utah. These completed our first day.
Day 2 started with a morning visit to Kolob Canyon; a less-crowded section of Zion National Park (third time at this place but mainly focusing on an easy hike at the top we had always been wanting to do). This visit was purposely done in the morning to allow our next stop to warm up a bit.
That next stop was at Kanarra Falls, with hiking in very cold water, and even cooler temperatures. We finished the grueling (but worth it) 4 mile hike with some time left, and the navigator "magically" found yet another road in Zion Park we had never traveled on. It was a lesser known 20-mile road that darts in and out of the park, revealing the backside of the ever-popular Zion Canyon. Loved this drive!
On our third day we had two choices, the Vortex or Candy Cliffs (Yant Flats). We had visited both in earlier trips, but Candy Cliffs won out, especially since there was a portion of it we had never seen before.
Our last day had us saying goodbye to Utah and heading back to Vegas for our flight home.
My advice to Kentuckians on the fence about visiting Utah, is that it's really somewhat easy (and really not that expensive). Fly from Lexington to Vegas (cheap round trip flight), pick up a rental car near the airport (they have a free shuttle bus to the car rental) and make a beeline to St George, Utah, 115 miles away.
Secure some hotel reservations and start hitting the National Parks; Zion and Bryce, or maybe the Northern rim of the Grand Canyon. There's also numerous local places, State Parks, Candy Cliffs or the Vortex. The last two sometimes require an AWD vehicle to get to (depending on the weather) and require a little extra planning. Our goal of a 5 day getaway was to keep the cost under a thousand (for 2). If you go during peak season the cost goes up...but money well spent.
Click headline for photos from this trip, or click here to view all Robert's travelogues.
This story was posted on 2026-05-23 14:58:24
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Travel: Gold Butte National Monument (1 of 4)
2026-05-22 - Clark County, Nevada - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "Oh, you watch several videos of a destination, get all excited, then reality sets in. The 20-mile stretch of 'what was once a highway' that was ordered to be paved and was paid for by Howard Hughes (the road has been left to die ever since) and you were warned by all the videos this road was atrocious. That, plus the fact that to get to one of the places you wanted to visit, Little Finland, would be several more miles off-roading (a dirt road off of this one) NOPE! While we rented a proper vehicle and could get there; didn't want to risk any damages to the Bronco; besides, Utah was calling."
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Travel: Gold Butte National Monument (2 of 4)
2026-05-23 - Clark County, Nevada - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "The first stop at the end of the only 'paved' section of the park is Whitney Pocket. It is a neat geological area, but sadly lays under the shadow of the Valley of Fire seen in the far off distance.
This area I believe is part of that same formation, but on a much smaller scale, or maybe sampling would be a better term. This Monument is a very large, off-roading type park and perhaps maybe worth the effort; but once you experienced the Valley of Fire, you get picky in choosing your adventures. At this juncture we pulled the plug, and braced for that 20 mile drive back to the Interstate."
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Travel: Gold Butte National Monument (3 of 4)
2026-05-26 - Clark County, Nevada - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
The red sign reads, "THE MOST EXCITING THING I HAVE SEEN OUT HERE WAS A FLAT TIRE AND A HOT RADIATOR."
The smaller sign reads, "THIS SIGN WAS PUT UP CIRCA 1989 BY CLYDE, WHO ALONG WITH PAKOON JIM, DORA AND PYRAMID BOB WERE LONG TIME RESIDENTS OF JUANITA SPRINGS. CLYDE ALSO BUILT THE PYRAMID ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD SO THAT THE APTLY NAMED PYRAMID BOB COULD COMMUNE WITH ALIENS. BUT I THINK HE SCARED THEM OFF."
Robert writes, "There's some truth in this sign...to some degree. We found the little sign to be quite humorous. It will make more sense in the next photo."
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Travel: Gold Butte National Monument (4 of 4)
2026-05-26 - Clark County, Nevada - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "We passed by this little pyramid on the trip in, and wondered what it was all about. It was in an 'Oasis' on private property. Researching the area before our trip we knew about the Oasis, but we weren't privy to information about Pyramid Bob. It was only after stopping at the sign on the way back that we learned of its origin."
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Travel: Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (1 of 3)
2026-05-28 - St. George, UT - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "This Conservation Area has over 120 miles of hiking trails and this one, which is the most popular, is called Red Reef Trail. It is visited by over 100,000 hikers every year.
This was a fill-in destination, if we had time, and we were glad we did. It's an easy hike of around 1.5 miles, round trip. Usually the hike ends at a waterfall, but during our visit it wasn't flowing, and only some pools of water remained. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful place and a very enjoyable hike."
Read more about the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area at www.blm.gov.
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Travel: Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (2 of 3)
2026-05-29 - St. George, UT - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "This is the end of the Red Reef Trail for the Kentuckians. In our younger days we would have navigated those 'Moki' steps like this group of young hikers did. Previous videos I have watched all showed a rope hanging down to aid hikers in getting past this point. Now, in my Golden Years, my fear of heights has been elevated, and simultaneously my balance has worsened...oh well, we hike what we can.
I wound up talking to the guy in the hat that was closest to me, and found out they were all from Utah. He seemed interested in the hillbillies from Kentucky as much as I was wanting to know what life was like growing up in Utah.
On a side note, the night we checked into our hotel in nearby St George, the clerk told Tammy we were the third couple from Kentucky checking in that night."
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Travel: Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (3 of 3)
2026-05-31 - St. George, UT - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "I had to wait for the crowds to clear out and the wind to die down before I could capture this photo with a nice reflection of the sky. Almost looks like a hand stretched across and separating the two pools of water."
Click 'Read More' to see all of the Red Cliffs photos from this recent trip.
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Travel: Kanarra Falls (1 of 3)
2026-06-02 - Kanarraville, UT - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "This hike in Kanarraville, Utah, has been high on our to-do-list for a few years. On past visits, the water has been too cold to hike in. Since our most recent trip was in late May, we decided it was 'now or never.'
The trail is in a fee permitted area, and has a reservation maximum of 200 visitors per day. It appears that it is now sold out until July (but you can get on a waiting list). It is rated a moderate hike.
I would have to add 'strenuous' to that... up and down the trail, crossing the ice-cold creek numerous times, plus it's a 4-mile hike. The first mile and a half is mostly trails like this one, finishing with the last half mile in the creek. Here, Navigator Tammy is taking a breather before we descend down into the canyon/creek."
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Travel: Kanarra Falls Hike (2 of 3)
2026-06-03 - Kanarraville, UT - Photo by Tammy Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "A few minutes before we reached this slot canyon, I asked some folks, 'How much longer does this creek go on, and is it worth continuing?'
The creek was wearing me out. Of course I would continue on, but was hoping for some kind of motivation, and, thankfully, the number 150 yards was thrown out by the returning hikers. They said that it would turn into a slot canyon...and boy did it ever!
This is the third slot canyon we've been to in Utah, and while it is a short canyon, its colors, the water and beauty is unmatched! Somehow I got ahead of Tammy and she took this photo of me."
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Travel: Kanarra Falls Hike (3 of 3)
2026-06-05 - Kanarraville, UT - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "The slot canyon continues on to this set of stairs at the first waterfall. We did climb the stairs to see the second waterfall, but in order to continue on to the third, we would have had to climb over a huge boulder blocking the creek. Other hikers climbed over it, and continued on, but we made it our turn-around point for the 2-mile trek back to the Bronco."
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Travel: Lava Point Overlook (1 of 2)
2026-06-08 - Washington Co., Utah - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "The Lava Point Overlook in Zion National Park is seldom visited, and the navigator only happened to spot it while looking on her phone for 'other things to do'. Since we finished early in the day from our hike at Kanarra Falls, we jumped at the chance to explore yet another part of Zion that we had not seen before.
The black top road is 25 miles long, and is situated in the northwest section of the park along the Kolob Terrace Road, roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes from the South Entrance. You can't get to this road directly from main part of Zion...it's off the beaten path; a gem really, that you'll have almost entirely to yourselves. We both loved it. You get to a side of Zion that is rarely ever seen."
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Travel: Lava Point Overlook (2 of 2)
2026-06-09 - Washington Co., Utah - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "The white colored rock formation in the far off distance is part of Zion Canyon. In this scene we are climbing higher in elevation and leaving the views of Zion behind. There's numerous places along the way where you'll catch breathtaking views of the 'other side' of the Park.
It can be as slow of a drive as you want it to be perhaps only meeting a few other vehicles, with lots of panoramic views along the way. I definitely recommend adding it to your itinerary if you are making plans for visiting Zion National Park."
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Travel: Return To Candy Cliffs (1 of 2)
2026-06-11 - Leeds, Utah - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "Yant Flat, also known as Candy Cliffs, is somewhat close to nearby St. George, Utah. This was our second time visiting this place; this year we wanted to add another viewing area that you can't see from the main overlook. This image is of the main area. Hiking to the new location would add another mile to the already 3.5 mile out-and-back hike from the trailhead. To get to that second observation point you kinda have to 'feel' your way around through numerous footprints in the sand, that are seemingly heading to the right place.
In the end, the second area was another colorful, surreal place! Our visit in April, 2023, and this one were both on bright blue sky days, I can only imagine what it would look like after a rain; likely revealing even more vibrance to the crazy colors."
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Travel: Return To Candy Cliffs (2 of 2)
2026-06-12 - Leeds, Utah - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "We hiked the 'additional' 1/2 mile to this second observation point. In many ways it exceeds the first; mostly the swirls seem to be more prominent. The navigator stayed mostly at a higher level, and ultimately I scrambled my way down to this spot.
What looked like an easy hike, wasn't! In my youthful days I would have been crawling all over this place. I imagine sticking around for sunset would have yielded some spectacular views, but not for these Kentuckians...we had a little trouble (in full daylight) re-locating the 'goat path of a trail' that drops down into this area. That, combined with the hard-to-find trail at the top, made the decision to leave now the only wisely available choice.
Sadly, this gem of an area is often overlooked due to the National Parks, Zion and Bryce Canyon being the main destination of vacationers for this area. Running into another couple on this trail, we all agreed that this place is worthy of some kinda Park status. Road improvements, bigger parking area at the trail head and marked trails would draw more visitors to it. But...then again, does Utah need any more attractions?
Off in the far distance is the town of St. George."
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Travel: Las Vegas Street Photography (1 of 3)
2026-06-13 - Las Vegas, NV - Photo by Robert Ellis, robertelliswoodworking.com.
Robert writes, "On this trip to Utah we checked off all the places we wanted to see during our visit. Since we had a later flight on our departure day, and no specific plans, I suggested, 'Why not leave St. George early and wander around Las Vegas for a couple hours?'
'You just want to do street photography,' she said. Busted!!!
There's potential around every corner of that city, from the architecture to the crowds; walking around with a cell phone, and since everyone has one, provides the opportunity for clandestinely capturing photos without causing much of a fuss. I got a little too carried away and time got away from us. We wound up rushing to get the rental car turned back in and off to the airport in time for the flight back to Kentucky. Adventure can take on many forms!"
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