There has never been a better time to upgrade a southern Utah road trip. Along Route 89, after the crowds of Lake Powell give way to the quiet gravity of Grand Staircase鈥揈scalante National Monument, there鈥檚 a stretch of highway flanked by stacked sandstone formations. They seem impenetrable at first, but a series of pull-offs suggest other颅wise. Many of the roads lead to dispersed campsites. Others lead to some stunning new tented lodging.
The latest outpost is from glamping operator . The company, known for finding picture-perfect locales near national parks, has outdone itself with this one, which opened聽in April (from $299). Perched on a canyon-rim plateau, with views of the adjacent monument and Lake Powell鈥檚 azure waters, the camp鈥檚 50 safari-style tents are spread across 220 acres. There鈥檚 yoga, hiking, and paddleboarding, tours of the lake by raft or kayak, and other adventures.
For an over-the-top, bucket-list splurge, head five miles south to , a new offshoot of nearby resort Amangiri, which has come to epitomize desert luxury since opening in 2009. With the launch of Camp Sarika last summer, guests have the option of staying in one of ten canvas-clad pavilions that include a living room and one or two bedrooms, and open onto a sprawling deck, plunge pool, and fire pit (from $3,500). With 600 acres of grand mesas, sandstone formations, and slot canyons, the property feels less like a hotel and more like a personal playground. From horseback riding atop ridges to yoga sessions in natural rock amphitheaters to a guided via ferrata hike up steep faces and across chasms, there鈥檚 plenty to do without venturing far.
A two-hour drive away, 18 miles west of Zion National Park鈥檚 southern entrance, you鈥檒l find . The 80-acre site, which opened in March, has just three high-end tents, making it feel like you鈥檝e got the place to yourself. The largest, which sleeps four, comes with a soaking tub. Each one is either tucked into a rocky cove for privacy or set on a rim, offering stunningly picturesque views (from $439).