MSN Features Bryce, Arches, North Rim

See Bryce on Horseback

“Bryce Canyon is a park that's perfectly suited to horseback tours. Let the horses do all the hard work, while you take in the scenic views.”

So says Beth J. Harpaz in a new article on MSN Travel.

“Our lead guide, J.B. Kessler, cracked jokes in between pointing out landmarks and describing the history of the place. ‘I'll be sending each and every one of you home with a souvenir,’ he announced cheerfully at one point. ‘Every time you sit down, you'll remember this trip.’"

(We have a short video clip showing a horseback ride in the Bryce area.)

Read the complete article.

Crowd-Free National Parks

MSN Travel also has an article describing 10 favorite crowd-free national parks.

Arches National Park tops the list: “Arches National Park, one of a quintet of stunning Utah national parks, may not attract the same number of visitors as the state's more-accessible Zion or Bryce Canyon parks, but its surreal terrain of towering sandstone arches makes this Southern Utah wilderness wonderland one sensory experience not to be missed.”

Grand Canyon North Rim is listed at number 7: “Those who do go the extra mile (or 215 in this case) will be rewarded with serenity, a complete absence of McDonald's and bowling alleys, and an unblocked view of one of Mother Nature's most stupendous creations.”

Capitol Reef National Park should be on the list, in our opinion. It is never crowded. It is located off the beaten path, and it includes a large backcountry area where it is easy to wander in solitude. A visit is well worth the required time and travel.