Stillness and solitude permeate this landscape. Every time I turn off onto the dirt road that leads to the ancient Valley of the Gods, something shifts to the sacred. Ancient wisdom oozes from every craggy rock face here.

The Valley of the Gods in southeastern Utah is a 17-mile stretch of towering rock formations and sweeping desert vistas — south of the better-known Arches and Canyonlands and north of Monument Valley. But the hidden-in-plain-sight Valley of the Gods offers something those do not. It (and Bluff) are undeveloped and free of crowds. The off-the-beaten-path gem is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Organize your day to experience sunrise and dusk amidst the sandstone monoliths and the boundless sky.

Bluff (population minuscule) serves travelers with just enough sustenance along with a side helping of historic pioneer dwellings. The town’s so-called gift shop, at Twin Rocks Trading Post, should be rebranded as a Native American Museum. — Kim Grant