- ZION NATIONAL PARK
Narrow Escapes
One of the most visited
national parks in the United
States, Zion is popular for
its bucket-list options. High
on the list is the rugged
hike to Observation Point,
which rewards winter
visitors with uncrowded
conditions and one of the
park’s loftiest lookouts,
over views such as the
snowcapped slab of rock
dubbed Angels Landing
(itself a precarious trek in
icy circumstances). Also
accessible year-round is
the deep gorge known as
the Narrows. To experi-
ence this Zion showpiece,
rent dry suits and wet
boots from Zion Outfitter,
then wade through the
chilled, stone-dotted
waters of the Virgin River,
between 1,000-foot-high
canyon walls. Look for
waterfalls frozen in place,
seasonal works of ice art.LO
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- CORAL PINK SAND
DUNES STATE PARK
Painted in Pastels
It’s almost impossible to
drive past Mount Carmel
Junction’s Thunderbird
Restaurant, with its neon
sign touting “ho-made
pies.” Built as a diner and
fueling station in 1931, the
eatery still tempts truckers
with complimentary pie
slices that, you’ll discover,
live up to the hype. Fueled,
drive south to Coral Pink
Sand Dunes State Park—
and a watercolor come to
life. Nearly 4,000 acres of
sandstone dunes tinted
soft pink, orange, and gold
seem to shift before your
eyes, particularly at sunset.
This is the only home of
the Coral Pink tiger beetle,
distinguished by a metallic
back stripe that flashes
rose gold. For a thrill, rent
a sand board or sled at the
ranger station and carve
turns down the steepest
pitch you can climb.DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020Clockwise from top:
skiers warm up at Brian
Head resort; homemade
pies lure diners to the
Thunderbird Restaurant
(“home” was shortened
to fit the road sign);
hardy visitors wade the
Virgin River into the
Narrows, a slot canyon in
Zion National Park; Utah
musician Mason Cottam
lays it down at Brian Head
resort’s Last Chair Saloon.- KANAB
Animal Attraction
Before it became a hub for
adventure types, Kanab,
with its dramatic canyon
setting, drew filmmakers
of Western movies. More
than a hundred films and
TV shows, starring the likes
of Maureen O’Hara and
John Wayne, were shot
here, all celebrated at the
Little Hollywood Museum.
A walk around town also
reveals film-set remnants.
Animal lovers, too, flock to
Kanab to visit the 20,000-
acre Best Friends Animal
Sanctuary, a refuge in
Angel Canyon that on any
given day shelters some
1,600 dogs, cats, rabbits,
horses, birds, and other
critters. You can tour the
compound, play with
adoptable animals, even
volunteer. On your last
night, check in to the new
Best Friends Roadhouse
and Mercantile, a 40-room
hotel and general store
that serves vegan food
and takes pet friendly to
a whole new level.TIPS FOR WINTER
DRIVING IN UTAHÞ Four-wheel drive is
the way to go.
Þ Slow down. Posted
speed limits are for
ideal conditions.
Þ Download the UDOT
Traffic app to keep up
with weather conditions
and road closures.