The state of Utah is somewhat synonymous with national parks, being home to five of the country’s 63. It draws to mind Mars-like arches, Dr. Suess-esque hoodoos, eerie slot canyons and miles upon miles of desert landscapes.
It took me five years of calling northern Utah a second home before I finally made the trek south to see what all the fuss was about—an abysmal delay for someone who spends the majority of her weekends outdoors. But if I was going to do it, I was going to do it the all-Ameri...