A Comprehensive Guide to Utah’s National Parks

When you’re looking for a wonderful outdoor vacation, you should consider Utah’s National Parks as the right destination for you.

There are 63 national parks in the country, five of which are part of the landscape in Utah. Called “The Mighty Five,” the landscape and scenery offered in these parks are simply breathtaking, giving you some amazing views and the outdoor experiences you want to enjoy. The five national parks that are located in Uta are Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches. Let’s talk a little about each one to give you an idea of why you should visit them.

Zion National Park

On your route south from Las Vegas to Utah, the first park you’ll come across is Zion National Park. Does this mean you could have a combination vacation with some outdoor adventures in the wilderness and some indoor fun in Vegas? Yes, you can, but we digress. This park is known for its towering mountains and red canyons that are carved out by the Virgin River. There are many cool hiking areas that you can enjoy, but only if you’re an experienced hiker.

When you only have one day in Zion National Park, you will want to take on some of the shorter hiking trails, such as Angels Landing in the morning and then Emerald Pools in the afternoon. There are areas where you can rent a bike for part of the day if you want to enjoy mountain biking in this park.

When you have more time in the park, the Narrows is the hike you’ll want to enjoy. This hike takes a long time, and it’s a tough trail, but you’ll be more than happy to tell your friends and family about your experiences when you’re done.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Among one of the most visited and beautiful of Utah’s National Parks is Bryce Canyon. This park is filled with sandstone rock formations that look entirely different from Zion. If you head to Bryce Canyon during the summer months, a free shuttle is offered to take you to some of the most popular viewpoints of the park. This could be a great way for you to see everything you want to enjoy. This park is known for the eroded sandstone towers that are called hoodoos.

This is the largest collection of hoodoos anywhere in the world. The most incredible views can be found at Sunset Point and Inspiration Point during your visit to Bryce Canyon. Your one-day adventure should include a walk between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point, which is worth the time with some amazing views.

When you’re visiting Bryce Canyon for more than a single day, head down into the canyon and enjoy some of the hiking that will take you closer to the hoodoos so that you can see just how incredible these formations are.

Capitol Reef National Park

The most overlooked of Utah’s National Parks is Capitol Reef. When you have to compete with four other amazing parks, at least one of them has to be on the bottom of the list. Even though it is often overlooked, this park is more than worthy of your time during a visit to Utah.

This park is known for its cliffs and canyons in the Waterpocket Fold, which is a wrinkle in the crust of the Earth. You’ll want to see this amazing feature and admire how the world can be folded in such a way. You only need one day to see the highlights of Capitol Reef, including stops along the scenic drive.

There are some hiking opportunities in this park, including 15 different day-hikes that range from short to long and easy to strenuous. Select some of the different hikes that will make your time in Capitol Reef a lot of fun. You’re sure to have a fantastic time when you visit this park.

Canyonlands National Park

The park that is closest to the town of Moab is Canyonlands National Park. There are three different sections to this part: Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze. You’ll find two major visitor centers to give you the right place to start your tour in this park. The best way to see most of this park is to drive around. You’ll see nearly sixty miles of road between Island in the Sky and The Needles entrances.

Among Utah’s National Parks, Canyonlands is known for the vast canyons and buttes that have been carved out by the Colorado River. Yes, that’s the same river that carved the Grand Canyon. There are tons of places for you to go mountain biking.

When you only have one day, the Island in the Sky is the easiest part of the park to access, and it will give you some amazing views to enjoy.

When you have more time, you’ll want to enjoy some of the hiking in The Needles, which has more than sixty miles of interconnecting trails for you to have the hiking and outdoor fun you’re looking for.

Arches National Park

When you’re looking for a different look and experience in the parks you visit, Arches National Park is right for you. This park is also close to Moab, and it’s one of the most accessible parks in this small town. There are several easy walks to see the famous arches, for which the park is named.

Among Utah’s National Parks, Arches offers you incredible views that are different from what you find in the other parks. How does this park offer that for you? You’ll see more than 2,000 natural stone arches that have been cut into the landscape. This park is also home to pinnacles, cliffs, and balanced rocks, making it a destination for adventurers around the world.

If you’ve only got one day during your visit to Arches, you can enjoy some of the shorter walks, such as Park Avenue, Balanced Rock, and the Windows Section, to see some of the arched rock formations.

When you have more time, spend one day seeing all of the highlights and then spend a second day on Devil’s Garden Trail, which is a 7.2-mile hike that will give you some incredible memories.