The plan for Zion was simple: drive through the park from one entrance to the other and stop when the views demanded it. We stopped a lot.

Bryce Canyon was supposed to be a quick stop on a Utah road trip. A few hours, a couple of overlooks, and keep moving. Bryce had other ideas.

Let me tell you exactly how not to arrive at Valley of Fire State Park. Fly into Vegas, skip lunch, wait in the heat, grab roadside tacos, and then decide to hike anyway. Here's what happened.