Visiting the Mighty Five in Utah
The total distance between all five parks is less than a 7 hour drive, and around 370 miles. I've done all five in a week, and it was very doable and not rushed. That being said, each park is gorgeous and you can easily spend 3 days at each. Arches and Canyonlands are about 30 minutes apart, and Capitol Reef is about 2 and a half hours away from Arches and Canyonlands. Bryce Canyon is a little over 2 hours away from Capitol Reef, and Zion is about an hour and a half away from Bryce Canyon.
If you want to camp in the parks, or near the parks, be sure to make reservations as soon as possible. Camping spots book up very quickly! Otherwise, some hotels and other lodging options are located in each section below.
Arches National Park
One of the most iconic national parks, probably thanks to Delicate Arch, Arches is truly stunning. Situated just down the street from Moab, Arches could fill a whole long weekend with it's fun hikes and relaxing breweries in town.
Some Hikes to Add to your List:
● Delicate Arch Trail (Moderate, 3.2 miles)
● Devil's Garden Trail (Hard, 7.9 miles)
● Double O Arch Trail (Moderate, 4.2 miles)
● Windows Loop and Turret Arch Trail (Easy 1.2 miles)
● Double Arch Trail (Easy, 0.6 miles)
Other Things to Do
● 4x4 Tour of Arches
● Visit the town of Moab (recommendations below)
● Stay the town of Moab (recommendations below). Moab could be a good base to visit Arches, Canyonlands, and even Capitol Reef.
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands is often lumped in with, by overshadowed by, it's neighbor - Arches National Park. Some absolutely stunning views can be found at Canyonlands, and it shouldn't be missed!
Some Hikes to Add to your List:
● Mesa Arch Trail (Easy 0.7 miles)
● Grand View Point Trail (Easy 1.8 miles)
● Upheaval Dome via Crater View Trail (Moderate, 1.3 miles)
● Aztec Butte Trail (Moderate, 1.6 miles)
● White Rim Overlook Trail (Easy, 1.8 miles)
Other Things to Do:
● Visit Dead Horse State Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Easily the most underrated of the five, this often overlooked park is worth a visit! It was less crowded than the other four Utah parks, and provided stunning views for scenic drives, hikes, and creek side lunches. Below are some recommended activities:
Some Hikes to Add to your List:
● Hickman Bridge Trail (Moderate, 1.7 miles)
● Cassidy Arch Trail (Moderate, 3.1 miles)
● Grand Wash Trail via Northeast Trailhead (Easy, 4.7 miles)
● Rim Overlook Trail (Moderate, 4.3 miles)
Scenic Drives & Other Things to Do:
● The Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef is a 7.9 mile paved road that leads to two dirt spur roads. Definitely allot some extra time for these spur roads, named Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge.
● 4x4 Trip of Capitol Reef and Cathedral Valley
● Horse Ride through the Park
● Eat at the nearby town of Torrey, and even stay the night if you'd like:
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon is jaw dropping and incredibly unique thanks to the hoodoos found here. Hoodoos are similar to stalagmites, and are red sandstone pillars that are the result of erosion.
Some Hikes to Add to your List:
● Wall Street and Queens Garden Loop Trail (Moderate 3.2 miles)
● Fairyland Loop Trail (Moderate, 7.9 miles)
● Peekaboo Loop Trail (Moderate, 5.2 miles)
● Sunset Point and Sunrise Point via Rim Trail (Easy, 1.2 miles)
Other Things to Do:
● Visit the town of Bryce Canyon City
Zion National Park
Zion is home to some of the most iconic hikes in the United States, unsurprisingly due to it's insane natural beauty. Entering the park from the Mount Carmel Tunnel on the east side is still one of the most beautiful views I've ever seen. Keep reading to find out what you need to add to your list so you don't miss anything!
Some Hikes to Add to your List:
● Angel's Landing Trail (Hard 4.3 miles)
● The Narrows (Hard 16.1 miles) *You can do as many or as little miles as you want!
● The Watchman Trail (Moderate, 3.2 miles)
● Emerald Pools via Kayenta Trail (Moderate, 2.7 miles)
● Zion Canyon Overlook Trail (Easy, 0.9 miles)
Other Things to Do:
● Sunset Jeep Tour
● Stargazing Tour
● Eat and drink around the surrounding town
Other Things to See
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