Thanks to a series of flowing rivers, Utah's Canyonlands National Park is split into different districts, each with their own offerings.
Most travelers tend to spend time at the Island in the Sky district, since it's the easiest to visit in a short amount of time, but if you're willing to venture some 60 miles south from there, you'll be on your way to the Needles district, which Irish describes as an otherworldly landscape.
"As soon as you get off the trail, you're suddenly transported to this different world, surrounded by these pink sandstorm formations," Irish said of the location.
But the needle formations themselves aren't the only impressive sight you'll see.
"The same thing that formed these needles, which is water erosion over the years, has also carved out these valleys and slots that make the hike more challenging, but with that comes the beauty of having this trail to yourself and wandering through this incredible scenery," Irish added.
One of their favorite locations within the district is the Chesler Park Loop, where the needles are particularly well formed, and a hike lets you descend into a giant slot canyon you can walk the bottom of.
Enjoying the splendor of some of America’s most breathtaking national parks can be tough when you’re dealing with crowds of tourists.
Thanks to their massive size, these national parks are home to mesmerizing corners and corridors that most travelers never get the chance to explore.
We spoke to former National Geographic travel photographer Jonathan Irish, who visited every national park in the U.S. last year with his partner, Stephanie Payne, to find the top hidden gems in popular parts around the states.
“Our goal was to celebrate what these parks mean for us, so it was important for us to dig into every park and not just hit the main points, but to get to the heart of the park and find the places that most people don’t get to,” Irish told Travel + Leisure of their trip.
From hikes that lead into craters to campsites in the Everglades that sit right in the water, here are some of their top finds.