Desert Solitude: Hiking Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah

I peer over the edge of the sandstone cliff at my five-year-old daughter below. She’s gripping the rungs of an iron ladder bolted into the side of the escarpment, gradually making her way down. With 25 feet between her and the rock below, she giggles as she descends the vertical wall. “This is so much cooler than those other hikes,” she says to her dad and me.

Looking out at an impressive 268-foot wide natural bridge—called Sipapu—looming on the horizon in front of me, I can’t help but agree. Utah’s Natural Bridges National Monument, located in the southeastern part of the state, is not only a sight to behold, but is also one that you’ll often be seeing in a state of solitude. Only about 100,000 people each year visit this mesmerizing landscape.