Our first stop was Zion National Park. As we drove up to the entrance, we were greeted by massive canyon walls and towering cliffs displaying hues of cream, pink and red. 
To fully enjoy the beauty of Zion, we got out of the car, grabbed our hiking boots and hit the trails. 
We began with a trail to Weeping Rock, an alcove in a cliff that literally weeps. Rain and snowmelt soak into the sandstone, which then seeps out of the rock. 
We felt the cool sprinkle of water coming from above as we passed underneath the moist alcove covered in moss.
A more difficult trail took us along the edge of towering cliffs. It was so steep at times - we hiked along a narrow ledge cut into the cliff with a chain railing to hold on to. You may not want to look down, but it’s hard not to as the views on the way up are spectacular.
Finally, we took an adventurous path through a gorge in the canyon as we waded through the Virgin River. 
Our next stop was Bryce Canyon National Park. Hiking through maze-like trails as we zigzagged between sky-high spires and passed through arched pathways carved into the rocks, we found thousands of reddish-orange rock formations resembling chimneys jetting out of the U-shaped amphitheater.
We witnessed the brilliant colors changing with the rising and setting of the sun. The view from above will leave you in awe, but be sure to step into the canyon for a completely different vantage point. We found ourselves standing on the floors of a towering forest of rock. 
Our last stop was Arches National Park. As we entered the park, it felt like we were in another time and place, or on another planet – Mars maybe? Here you’ll find the largest concentration of natural sandstone arches in the world. Our first hike in the park took us through an area that looked like a prehistoric skyline made of thin sheets of red sandstone, standing tall with naturally carved out windows looking out into the sky.  Next, we were amazed by by the Balanced Rock, a 100-foot rock that sits upon a pedestal looking as if it could tip over at any minute.
Then, we headed over to the Devil’s Garden, wrongfully named, we thought, as this area was full of miraculous sights created by the glory of Allah. 
Here, we hiked more than seven miles through a natural art gallery. We passed a thin arch defying the laws of physics as it swept across the sky, connecting a large gap between two rocks.
We hiked across long vertical fins of stone that ran across the desert floor to an arch with two perfect circles hollowed out of a massive block of stand stone.
Along the trails, we came across numerous arches, each with its own unique disposition.  We saved the best for last, as we set out on our last hike in Arches for a strenuous two-mile uphill hike on slick rock to the astounding Delicate Arch. 
The last few hundred feet led us along a curvy rock ledge. Just as we turned the corner, we were astonished by Allah’s creation as we came to see, so majestically on display, a freestanding natural arch like no other. The arch exuded shades of red and orange as the sun set upon the desert.  
Throughout our entire trip, we couldn’t stop saying “subhanAllah” “masha’Allah.”  The parks credit all the beauty and grandeur of the sights to the power of erosion over time through wind, water and sand. 
While this may be the case, it was all by the grace of Allah that we contemplate His might and enjoy His creation. 

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