A change of pace; we took my mother-in-law on a road trip this past summer, with stops at Parowan Gap, UT; the Grand Canyon, Four Corners & Mesa Verde, then up to Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone. Parowan Gap was actually an unplanned, short side trip, discovered when we spent a night at the nearby small town of Parowan. More on Parowan Gap.
Parowan Gap has two features of distinction, one natural, one man-made. The pass near Parowan is a classic example of a wind gap, an unusual geological landform marking where an ancient river has cut a 600-foot-deep notch through the Red Hills.
Secondly, the gap is a nationally recognized extravaganza of petroglyphs--a superb "gallery" of Native American rock art. Here one can witness what is at least a 1,000 year accumulation of artwork pecked into the rock. Geometric designs, images of lizards, snakes, mountain sheep, bear claws and human figures adorn the smooth canyon walls of the pass.
I grew up with petroglyphs close by in Southeast Colorado; my father was somewhat of a local expert on them and loved to give tours, so it was a delightful, although unanticipated find on our way to the Grand Canyon. We hope you enjoy!