Prepare To Be Blown Away By This Utah Destination With A Natural Sun Roof

You’re already familiar with so many gorgeous Utah destinations…you’ve visited Delicate Arch, marveled at the vistas of Bryce Canyon National Park and trekked across the Mars-like terrain of Goblin Valley. Here’s a place that you’ve likely never seen…a stunning, peaceful place that many Utahns don’t even know exists. Read on to find out more…

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This is Golden Cathedral. John Fowler/flickr It's a remote spot that requires a fairly difficult hike to reach. As a result, you'll typically find quiet solitude here. To get there, you'll hike to the lower end of Neon Canyon. John Fowler/flickr Neon Canyon is part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The hike is about 9.2 miles round-trip. Water erosion created holes in the ceiling of this “cathedral.” John Fowler/flickr The three holes are considered natural bridges. Runoff spills water through the holes, creating the pool underneath. The rays of sunlight streaming into the amphitheater and reflecting off the water is just incredibly beautiful. Troy Smith/flickr This photo gives you an idea of how immense this amphitheater really is. John Fowler/flickr That little blue speck down by the pool is a hiker! Some people rappel down through the natural bridges into the pool. Lofty3/flickr To do so, you must take the upper Neon Canyon trail, which requires technical skills.

The hike to get the Cathedral is somewhat tricky. You’ll need to have some navigation skills, because the trail isn’t clearly marked. A GPS unit is a good idea. Start from the Egypt trailhead and watch for cairns along the way. You’ll traverse some sandstone desert and then along (or through) the Escalante River until you reach Neon Canyon. The Cathedral is located at the end of the canyon. Before you tackle this hike, get some specific directions from a hiking site like this one.

Make sure to check the weather before you go – a summer storm can cause deadly flash floods in the area. Take along plenty of drinking water, and travel with others for safety. Make sure you have sufficient navigation skills for this hike.

Looking for another hike that will take you to a gorgeous pool of water? Check out Lower Calf Creek Falls!