I’ve always been drawn to the trails that lead you to a place of solitude. The ones that require a bit of dust, a few miles of trail under your boots and even a dirt road to find. Canyonlands quickly became one of those places that reminds me why I take the long way to find adventure away from the pavement.

The journey started off spectacularly. A well-maintained trail of packed sand wound through impressive red rock formations and deeper into the desert. After a short incline, we witnessed the dramatic ribbon of red rock over the horizon. Past this arch is when the trail transformed into something far more demanding.

Often overshadowed by its famous neighbors, Capitol Reef National Park proved to be an unexpected highlight during our Mighty Five in Five Days adventure, complete with geological wonders, a hiking highlight and a new fresh-baked favorite.

Zion National Park is a park of contradictions. It is a stunning, diverse ecosystem that also, often feels like the "Disneyland" of the National Park System. The park is often swarmed with touristy crowds checking off a box, as well as nature lovers competing for a moment of quiet. But even amongst the noise, there’s not doubt you can still find those high-reward moments that bring the desert magic to life.

Discovering the iconic Four Corners Monument - the first of many stops on our journey to check off our 10th National Park.