Zion National Park

About two and a half hours northeast of Las Vegas in southwestern Utah, Zion is a canyon cathedral where the Virgin River carved 2,000 foot walls of cream and red Navajo sandstone. Angels Landing is the signature thrill, a half mile fin of rock with chains bolted along the final spine and a sheer drop on both sides, and the chained final stretch now requires a permit won through a seasonal or day before lottery. The Narrows flips the script, sending you wading straight up the river between walls a thousand feet tall and sometimes only twenty feet apart. Spring and fall are the sweet spot, with mild air for the heights and warm enough water for the river.