Just south of the border of Utah and east of Nevada is a stunning gorge known as the “mini Grand Canyon,” where you can camp peacefully under the stars or hike down to one of the Southwest’s most emblematic rivers. The Virgin River Canyon is just 25 minutes from St. George, Southern Utah’s largest city, and a visit to this stunningly colored canyon — with sandstone layers of reds, yellows, and oranges that seem to change color as the sun hits them from different angles throughout the day — will allow you to enjoy a variety of recreational activities or just a stellar view if that’s more your speed.
The canyon’s campsite — the Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area — offers access to hiking trails and the Virgin River itself, whose waters have been carving their way through Utah, Arizona, and Nevada for 13 million years to shape iconic landscapes like Zion National Park and this canyon. From this scenic camping spot, you can explore the two surrounding wilderness areas — the Paiute Wilderness and Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness, where you can hike trails like the Cedar Pocket Narrows, a short but steep path into a gorgeous slot canyon. You can also float the river if the conditions are right.
So, if you’re struggling to find solitude at the Grand Canyon, head to the Virgin River Canyon instead, whose sandstone and limestone cliffs eroded by the Virgin River offer a similar landscape, just at a smaller scale. After all, this gorge connects the Colorado Plateau with the Mojave Desert, so you can experience the best of the best of the Southwest within its colorful canyon walls.