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Wherever you venture in southern Utah, it is difficult to find a road that does not bedazzle you with unforgettable scenery and history and provide you with an experience of nature at its finest. Serpentine highways lead through contrasting landscapes - stunning red rock canyons, stark deserts of wind-polished rock, and cool, mountain realms of tall pines and sparkling streams.

Depending on the length of your nature-filled getaway all five national parks will have you returning again and again to find quiet, undiscovered corners across the region.

Arches National Park contains the highest number of natural stone arches found anywhere in the world. These natural wonders have formed over millions of years. View with awe, the breathtaking Devil's Garden, Turret Arch and Balanced Rock. Explore the uncanny rock monoliths known as Courthouse Towers along with the graceful Delicate and Landscape arches.

Nearby Moab, is perfect for lovers of the outdoors. Mountain bike the famous Slick Rock Trail and take the challenging ride from Moab Rim, reached by Moab Skyway, a scenic tram ride offering panoramic views. There are also many hiking and 4 wheel-driving routes. Moab is also the center for whitewater rafting on the Colorado River. Matheson Wetlands Preserve off Kane Creek Boulevard has 2 miles (3km) of hiking trails along a riverside wetland that is home to an abundance of birds and wildlife.

The Colorado and Green Rivers cut winding paths deep into rock, creating a labyrinth or rocky canyons that form the heart of this stunning wilderness. At its center, the rivers' junction divides the Canyonlands National Park into three districts:

The Needles Features its hundreds of red rock spires, or needles.

The Maze Canyons where outlaw Butch Cassidy hid out in the late 1800s, offer a challenge to skilled hikers.

Island in the Sky The grassy plateau is easily accessible and the Grandview Overlook offers panoramic views of the rocky canyons of the Green and Colorado rivers.

The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument gives you a chance to experience this living wilderness by driving such unpaved scenic routes as the Burr trail. The first 40 miles (64km) are paved and follow Deer Creek, rising through the winding red rock maze of Long Canyon. At the canyon end, the view opens to reveal the pristine valleys of the Circle Cliffs and Capitol Reef National Park. The trail crosses Capitol Reef National Park as an unpaved road before reaching Bullfrog Marina at Lake Powell.

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