by Andrea Jasper | Feb 25, 2024 | Blog
Six iconic Southern Utah birds “Where are all the birds?” It’s a common inquiry we get on our tours that surprised us at first. We finally brought the question to a Utah birding group whose members said there are simply fewer resources to support birds in our arid... 
by Andrea Jasper | Feb 8, 2024 | Blog
No Greater Reward Guiding a Grand Canyon backpack It’s something you’ve always wanted to do but the idea is daunting, hiking across the Grand Canyon. Camping down in the bottom. Watching the mighty Colorado River flow beneath the footbridge you are walking on. It... 
by Andrea Jasper | Feb 4, 2024 | Blog
WFR training helps keep guests safe in the backcountry Though injuries and medical incidents are rare on our trips, Wilderness First Responder training gives us confidence to share remote desert settings with thousands of guests each year. Imagine the following... 
by Andrea Jasper | Jan 22, 2024 | Blog
Our most active hiking trips And why even expert hikers use a guide We share incredible, backcountry landscapes with folks who might not ever experience them on their own. It’s what we love most and do best. This typically involves driving a high clearance 4X4 through... 
by Andrea Jasper | Jan 7, 2024 | Blog
Frosted Enchantment: Winter In The Southwest Every winter, I consider taking a seasonal break from guiding to rest, rejuvenate and visit friends who live in a warmer climate. But I just can’t bring myself to do it. I’ll miss too much. Simply sitting indoors long... 
by Andrea Jasper | Mar 24, 2023 | Blog
Backpacking – A Beginner’s Guide Immerse yourself in a pristine landscape. Miles from roads, sirens and street lights, a natural world prospers without a corner coffee shop or an evening news broadcast. You start to notice subtleties: A gentle breeze that... 
by Andrea Jasper | Feb 20, 2023 | Blog
Grand Canyon Backpacking Rim-to-Rim Grand Canyon is a land of contrasts. Start a rim-to-rim hike at dawn on May 15 and you’re likely to find residual snow banks and temperatures near freezing at the North Kaibab trailhead. Fourteen miles later, you’re standing on a... 
by Andrea Jasper | Feb 2, 2023 | Blog
Guides Gear Corner #4: Fancy Footwear Some national park visitors might get by in sneakers, but if you plan to be doing much hiking in the Southwest you really have four options for footwear: High or mid-top hiking boots, hiking shoes, trail runners or hiking sandals.... 
by Andrea Jasper | Feb 2, 2023 | Blog
Guides Gear Corner #3: Emergency Gear for Desert Hiking and Driving If you’re heading out on your own desert adventure, there are some things you can bring along to help keep you safe. While we like to stress the importance of a light pack, experienced desert hikers... 
by Andrea Jasper | Apr 4, 2022 | Blog
Why Do We Use Chevy Suburbans At Dreamland Safari Tours? Our fleet of Chevy Suburbans transports small tour groups across deserts of deep, dry sand, over rocks, and through unbelievably sticky mud. After years of driving them, we’re still sometimes surprised by their... 
by Andrea Jasper | Sep 3, 2021 | Blog
A Guide To Understanding America’s Public Lands Stretching from sea to shining sea, America’s public lands let us dream big…camp red rock country miles from the nearest road, scale a 3,000-foot granite monolith, kayak a secluded stream, or uncover hints of... 
by Andrea Jasper | Apr 13, 2021 | Blog
How to drive in the sand near Kanab UT without getting stuck. Over the past 20 years, Dreamland guides have acquired a lot of off-road expertise while driving Southern Utah’s sandy roads. We want to share our knowledge! Read this article to learn about choosing the... 
by Andrea Jasper | Oct 4, 2020 | Blog
The trip through Buckskin Gulch is exhilarating and absolutely magnificent. My first through hike exceeded my expectations in every way. The brilliant sandstone walls grew high overhead and the ever-changing light illuminated the canyon in orange and yellow. Each... 
by Andrea Jasper | Jun 4, 2020 | Blog
Life in America has changed since Horatio Nelson Jackson embarked on the first cross-country road trip in 1903, back when there were only 150 miles of paved roads in the entire U.S., 8,000 registered vehicles and absolutely no gas stations. He set out on a 3,000-mile... 
by Andrea Jasper | May 4, 2020 | Blog
Easy-to-access hiking trails right in Kanab The American Southwest is big country. But you don’t have to spend your entire vacation driving. Here are several hike ideas within 10 minutes of your Kanab hotel or vacation rental. All are well marked and accessible in a... 
by Andrea Jasper | Apr 27, 2020 | Blog
Even the best hikers feel humbled to watch desert bighorn sheep charge seemingly straight up the steep, sandstone cliffs of Southern Utah. Their incredible agility and balance is unmatched, helping them avoid predators such as mountain lions, bobcats and coyotes. It’s... 
by Andrea Jasper | Apr 21, 2020 | Blog
If you ask that question while you’re standing somewhere in South Central Utah, chances are, you’ve already found the Grand Staircase, and you are, in fact, standing on it. The immense geologic feature is a series of different colored rock layers with steep sides and... 
by Andrea Jasper | Dec 26, 2019 | Blog
Peekaboo Slot Canyon offers a quiet alternative to Antelope Canyon Book your PEEKABOO CANYON Tour I lean my back against the cool Navajo sandstone and gaze up at the brilliant red walls of Peekaboo Slot Canyon. Colors vary from black to purple to every shade of red,... 
by Andrea Jasper | Apr 26, 2019 | Blog
What kind of weather can I expect during my trip to Kanab, Utah? Understanding Southern Utah weather Many consider spring and fall the best times to visit the American Southwest. Kanab averages 256 days of sunshine each year, so chances are good that you will see... 
by Andrea Jasper | Mar 26, 2019 | Blog
Appreciating the delicate sandstone fins of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument Step on the edges, break the ledges. That’s what one of our favorite Bureau of Land Management rangers tells winners of the Wave permit lottery during an orientation about North... 
by Andrea Jasper | Feb 26, 2019 | Blog
Driving to Peekaboo Slot Canyon: a tour guide gains off-road skills in desert sand It would make sense for a tour company to accentuate the risk of off-road driving in order to sell tours. And it’s often difficult to get an objective opinion on road conditions because... 
by Andrea Jasper | Jan 26, 2019 | Blog
Biological Soil Crust The fascinating community that holds the Utah desert in place If you’ve spent much time hiking the Arizona desert, you’ve probably come across a sign that says, “Don’t bust the crust!” These signs refer to a... 
