Arches National Park is one of the most naturally beautiful and unique places in the world. The park contains over 2,000 natural stone arches and iconic red rock. Every way you turn, you will be in awe at the landscape in this park. The hiking and majestic sunrises and sunsets are unbeatable here. We recommend spending at least 2-3 days at Arches National Park and combining this destination with visiting Canyonlands National Park (see Canyonlands National Park Quick Guide). Here is our quick guide on Arches National Park.
Sunrise, Arches National Park
IMPORTANT UPDATE: From April 3rd-October 3rd 2022, the NPS is implementing a timed entry system. You must reserve a ticket to enter the park in advance (this would be in addition to your America the Beautiful Pass or Park Admission Ticket). Read more about the timed entry pilot here and book entrance tickets on recreation.gov.
FYI: This post is written based on a visit to Arches National Park in late September
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!
What to Do in Arches National Park
Hike Devil’s Garden
Variable lengths depending on how many arches you go to (7 possible). If you complete the trail as out & back or loop, 5.0 miles-7.8 Miles, approximately 500-1200 feet of elevation gain, out & back or loop.
Double O Arch, Devil’s Garden Trail, Arches National Park
We hiked the trail as an out & back and went to 6 of 7 arches. Doing this route, we ended up hiking 6.5 miles and about 1100 feet of elevation.
Landscape Arch, Devil’s Garden Trail, Arches National Park
This trail was our favorite hike in Arches National Park because we saw a lot of variety in not only arches but also other rock formations. Of the arches we saw, our favorites were Double O Arch (the furthest out), followed closely by Landscape Arch (third). At times, we felt like we had landed on another planet. If you can only do one hike in Arches, do this one. As we typically recommend, start this hike early to avoid crowds.
Hiking Views on Devil’s Trail, Arches National Park
Tip: The best views of Double O Arch are seen by going through the arch and up a small incline. By going through the arch you get a beautiful view with natural framing, as seen in our picture. Few people know to continue to this spot so we had it completely to ourselves during our visit.
Hike Delicate Arch (at Sunrise)
3.1 miles, 567 feet of elevation gain, out & back
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
Delicate Arch is the most iconic arch in Arches National Park. This is the Arch you see on most of the paraphernalia for Arches National Park. Despite previously seeing pictures of it, Delicate Arch is very impressive to see in-person.
Sunrise looking East from Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
We started our hike around 6:15 am before sunrise and wore headlamps on our hike up to see the sunrise at 7:10 am. The trail was a bit difficult to keep track of in the dark but just keep going up and look for the rock cairns to lead you. The sunrise at the arch was truly magical. Even with being there very early, there were still a decent amount of people at the arch. It only got busier as the day went on. This hike was a close second favorite.
Hike Double Arch, Windows Section Arches and Turret Arch
Double Arch: 0.5 miles, 32 feet of elevation gain, out & back
Windows Section and Turret Arch: 1 mile, 162 feet of elevation, loop
Turret Arch (left) and Double Arch (right), Arches National Park
These two areas are probably the most well-known and accessible landmarks in Arches National Park. All three sections can be accessed from the same parking lot and are less than 2 miles of total hiking. With being the most accessible, these areas are also the most busy. Go here early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds. If you want to get away from the crowds a little bit here, go on the primitive trail on the opposite (non-main) side of the windows as most people do not go this way. Of these arches, the Double Arch was our favorite.
Tip: If looking for a less busy/crowded hike in Moab, hike the Fisher Towers Trail
This trail is 4.7 miles out & back with 1,820 elevation gain. Ladders are located along this trail and aid you in your journey to the end of the trail. You may have this trail all to yourself on a weekday as it is much less well-known than trails in the National Parks. We would have not known about this trail if another couple we met hiking had not told us about it. Unfortunately, we did not have time to do this hike but if you have another day in Moab, consider checking it out.
We stayed at a cute casita, “Star’s Landing”, that we would highly recommend. This place is off the main tourist drag, tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, making it the perfect place to unwind. It is still close enough to the city for any quick trips needed into town. Further, this casita has very nice finishes and a full kitchen/laundry. We were very happy with our decision to book this place.
The Island in the Sky District in Canyonlands National Park is well-known for it’s deep canyon views as well as its trails with arches, domes and river views. This National Park reminded us of the Grand Canyon (see Grand Canyon National Park Quick Guide) but smaller and with less vibrant colored rock. We recommend spending a day or two in the Island in the Sky District. Here is our quick guide on Canyonlands National Park.
Canyonlands National Park
Note: Canyonlands National Park is split up into four districts–Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze and The Rivers. Our quick guide only covers the Island in the Sky District, which is the closest to Moab, Utah, as all four sections are actually quite far (hours driving) apart.
FYI: This post was written based on a trip taken in mid September
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!
What to Do in Canyonlands National Park
Hike Mesa Arch
0.8 miles round-trip, 85 feet of elevation gain, loop
Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park
This trail affords you iconic views of the canyons in the Island in the Sky District looking through the Mesa Arch. You can get the best pictures of the Mesa Arch at Sunrise or Sunset. Try to hike this trail early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the busiest times on this popular trail. This trail is not only popular because of its iconic views but also because it is one of the shortest hikes in the park, very close to the park entrance and does not require much skill level.
Hike Aztec Butte Trail
2.0 miles round-trip, 262 feet of elevation gain, out & back
Aztec Butte Trail, Canyonlands National Park
This trail gives you great canyon views. The first ¾ of a mile of hiking is on a very flat and well marked path through sand, followed by approximately a ¼ mile of scrambling up the side of a slickrock. Make sure to follow the rock cairns to stay on the path. You can also see several granaries (ancient puebloan structures) once on-top of the butte.
Hike Upheaval Domes Trail
1.5 miles round-trip, 300 feet of elevation gain, out & back
Upheaval Domes Trail, Canyonlands National Park
This trail has two viewpoints and we definitely recommend going to the second one for the best views (and it is less than a ½ mile further). Here you can see a salt dome in the canyon that looks different than anywhere else in the park. It is unclear how these salt domes came to be (many theories exist) but this adds to the mystique of this unique feature.
This viewpoint has a mile worth of paths around the area but we would not call it a hike. Rather, it is a stroll around the viewpoint. We encourage you to walk the whole path as you get much different views on different parts of the path.
Visit Green River Viewpoint
Green River Viewpoint, Canyonlands National Park
The Green River Viewpoint gives you deep and vast, less colorful, canyon views. When we visited, it was exceedingly windy and we felt like we might be blown over into the canyon.
Tip: There are several other viewpoints you can stop at in the park (we did stop at them), but we are only recommending the Grand and Green River Viewpoints as they are, in our opinion, the best views.
Where to Stay while visiting Canyonlands National Park
We stayed at a cute casita, “Star’s Landing”, that we highly recommend. This place is off the main tourist drag, tucked away in a quiet neighborhood making it the perfect place to unwind. It is still close enough to the city for any quick trips needed into town. Further, this casita has very nice finishes and a full kitchen/laundry. We were very happy with our decision to book this place.
Capitol Reef National Park is the least visited National Park in Utah. However, it arguably offers some of the most spectacular views out of all the National Parks in Utah. In this park, the views of slick rock, canyons, natural bridges and natural arches rival any of the National Parks. Additionally, this park offers quite a few non-hiking activities including harvesting fruit and a historic scenic drive. Capitol Reef National park is a true “hidden” gem within the National Parks system. We recommend spending 1-2 days here. Here is our quick guide on Capitol Reef National Park.
Capitol Reef National Park
FYI: This post was written based on a trip taken in mid-September
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!
What to do in Capitol Reef National Park
Hike Cassidy Arch
3.2 miles, 734 feet of elevation gain, out & back
Cassidy Arch, Capitol Reef National Park
This hike leads you to a giant natural arch that you can walk across. Can you see Natalie in our picture? We saw less than 10 people in total hiking on this trail and had the arch completely to ourselves when we got there. The views looking down into the canyon from this trail are unparalleled. If you can only do one hike in Capitol Reef National Park, do this one!
The hike is very flat for the first ¼ mile but then quickly becomes very steep for the next ¼ mile. The trail then continues to climb up but at a more steady and manageable incline.
Tip: Watch closely for the Cassidy Arch turn/sign to start the climb up the slick rock.
You actually start this hike on the flat Grand Wash Trail and then turn left (if coming from the Grand Wash trailhead) onto the Cassidy Arch Trail after 0.3 miles. There is a large sign indicating where to turn-off onto this trail but it is hidden behind a large rock when coming from the trailhead. We missed the turn off the first time we went by (we thought it would be more obvious) and ended up hiking almost a mile of the Grandwash trail. The Grand Wash trail is beautiful, we would recommend hiking it, but be mindful when hiking so you don’t miss the turn off.
Another helpful navigation tip is that the Cassidy Arch trailhead (which is the same as the Grand Wash trailhead) is at the end of the Grand Wash Road turn-off on the scenic drive, just south of the visitors center.
Hike Hickman Bridge
1.8 miles, 442 feet of elevation gain, out & back
Hickman Bridge Trail, Capitol Reef National Park
This trail, to our surprise, was one of our favorites. The pictures we had seen online were not very impressive but we hope our pictures give you a better sense of how pretty this hike truly is. The natural bridge the trail leads to is stunningly beautiful. This hike was our second favorite in the park, closely behind Cassidy Arch.
This trail is more popular and busy than Cassidy Arch because it is shorter/less steep so try to get here sooner rather than later during the day. We hiked this around 10am and had no problem parking in the small trailhead parking lot.
Hike Chimney Rock Loop
3.6 miles, 590 feet of elevation gain, loop
Chimney Rock Loop, Capitol Reef National Park
The Chimney Rock Loop is a wonderful hike that improves as you continue around the loop. However, if you are only going to hike to Chimney Rock, we do not think going to that alone is worth the initial very steep climb involved in this hike. The views you are afforded on the east side of the hike or furthest end of the loop make that climb completely worth it though. We encourage you to do the whole hike here so that you get all the different pretty panoramic and waterpocket fold cliff views this hike has to offer.
Hike Grand Wash Trail
2.2 miles, 200 feet of elevation gain, out & back
Grand Wash Trail, Capitol Reef National Park
This out and back trail is also the first part of the Cassidy Arch Trail. The deep canyon views on this trail are staggering and you feel very small walking between the cliffs. If you are looking for a less strenuous yet beautiful hike, this is the one to do. We only did part of the trail (by accident as we missed the turn off for the climb to Cassidy Arch at first) but the part we did was gorgeous. If you go further on the trail, there are some narrows as well.
This adorable little house, located at the beginning of the scenic drive in Capitol Reef National Park, sells homemade pies made from the fresh fruit grown right in Fruita (part of Capitol Reef National Park). Sam really LOVES pie and, as a self-proclaimed pie-expert, says these pies were quite excellent. The apple and mixed berry pies we enjoyed had a granola crunchy topping that was delectable.
While driving between our Hickman Bridge hike and Cassidy Arch hike, we were planning to eat Cliff Bars but when we saw this place, we opted to have these mini pies instead. What really happened was Sam was driving, saw the sign for “fresh pies”, yelled “PIE!” and made a sharp right turn into the parking lot. Life’s too short not to eat pie for lunch every once and awhile!
Tip: If you have more time in Capitol Reef National Park or have kids (or adults) that may be less keen on hiking there are other activities as well. Look into picking fruit from the orchards, explore the old pioneer town originally inhabited by Mormons and doing the historic scenic drive.
Where to Eat in Torrey
Capitol Reef Cafe
This cafe looks like nothing special from the road but do not be fooled by that. The food we enjoyed here was outstanding. Natalie had Salmon with a house made aioli and Sam had Chicken/Ribs. We would recommend both dishes. We started our meals with their special “Ten Vegetable Salad” that was served with your choice of homemade dressing. Both of our dressings, homemade honey mustard and homemade raspberry vinaigrette, impressed our taste buds.
Where to Stay while visiting Capitol Reef National Park
Stay in Torrey
Tuff Shed (left), Pasture Views from the Shed (Right)
Torrey is a small town located right outside of Capitol Reef National Park (on the west side). This cute little town has many different lodging options but since it is so small and really the only town close to Capitol Reef National Park. Be mindful that most accomodations fill up months out.
We stayed in a “tuff shed.” This is a basic accommodation (room with bed/desk/tv and shared (very clean) bathrooms). We booked this mainly because we were planning on passing through this town (as we left at 4:30 am the next day to head to Bryce Canyon on our Epic 10 Day Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip).
We hope this quick guide helps you plan your trip to Capitol Reef National Park. Anything you would add to our guide? Please see Epic 10 Day Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip for more details on our trip. Please also visit the Capitol Reef National Park Website for additional details. We would love to hear your feedback and questions. Please leave us a comment!
Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the world’s largest collection of hoodoos. The hoodoos are irregularly eroded rock spires that fill this park making it unique when comparing it to other National Parks. Bryce Canyon has excellent hiking but also many hoodoo lookout points that are easily accessible to visitors not keen on hiking. We recommend spending a ½ to a full day in Bryce Canyon. Here is our quick guide on Bryce Canyon National Park.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Tip: Bring layers! Unlike the other National Parks in Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is at higher elevations and drops below freezing around 300 days per year.
FYI: This post was written based on a trip taken in mid-September
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!
What to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park
Hike Queens Garden/Navajo Loop and Peek-A-Boo Trail in Figure 8 Pattern
6.4 miles, 1631 feet of elevation gain, figure 8 loop
Peak-A-Boo Loop, Bryce Canyon National Park
This hike combines the Queens Garden/Navajo Loop and the Peek-A-Boo Trail to create an all encompassing hike. Combining these trails gives you amazing hoodoo views.
Peak-A-Boo Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park
If you only have time to do part or one trail, we would recommend doing the Peek-A-Boo section as we thought it had the most stunning hoodoo views. The hoodoos feel like they “peak” out of the canyon throughout the hike, hence the name of the trail. The Navajo loop section is the easiest part of the loop but also the busiest so try to do this part of the hike earlier rather than later in the day. National Parks only tend to get more busy as the day goes on.
Watch Sunrise at Sunrise Point or Sunset at Sunset Point
Sunrise at Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon National Park
We watched sunrise at Sunrise Point and it was undoubtedly beautiful. However, in our opinion, sunset point has more neat hoodoo views than sunrise point. So if you are able to be at Bryce Canyon for sunset, we’d recommend sunset over sunrise.
Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park
Although we did not visit Sunset Point at sunset, we visited it late in the morning at the end of our Figure 8 Hike. It was beautiful at that time as well. The expansive rows of eroded rock spires are really stunning to see.
This restaurant is nothing fancy but we recommend it for the convenience factor. When driving from Torrey to Bryce Canyon, we were traveling through mostly rural, barren Utah. As we drove, not a single convenience store was open before 8am. This nuisance made getting our morning caffeine fix more challenging than expected. We were relieved that we were able to get coffee and tea at the Bryce Canyon Lodge Restaurant when it opened at 7:30am. This stop was after we watched sunset so we also ate breakfast here. Although the food was nothing special, it was really nice to have a hot breakfast before a long hike.
Tip: Bring your own caffeine/buy it beforehand if you are coming into the park early as there may be nowhere open on the drive into the park.
Where to Stay while visiting Bryce Canyon National Park
Stay in Torrey or Hurricane
Accommodation options are very limited in Bryce Canyon. Other than the Bryce Canyon Lodge itself, that books up to 6 months in advance, or a couple of very overpriced hotels right outside of the park, there are really no other close options. In our opinion, Bryce Canyon can be done in a half to a full day. We would recommend stopping here for a day on your way in between Zion National Park and Capitol Reef National Park. Please see Epic 10 Day Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip for more details on how we did this.
We hope this quick guide helps you plan your trip to Bryce Canyon National Park. Anything you would add to our Bryce Canyon National Park guide? Please see Epic 10 Day Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip for more details on our trip. Please also visit the Bryce Canyon National Park Website for additional details. We would love to hear your feedback and questions. Please leave us a comment!
Zion National Park is considered by many as one of the prettiest and most popular national parks. It is full of colorful canyons and narrow passages through the canyons that will certainly catch your eye. The views on the hiking trails here are insanely beautiful.
Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park
The park is split into 3 sections:
The East End (before the Zion Tunnel)
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (center)
Kolob Canyon (West).
The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is where the most popular trails/attractions reside but we recommend seeing all 3 parts of the park. In order to do this, we recommend spending 3-4 days at Zion National Park. Here is our quick guide on Zion National Park.
FYI: This post was written based on a trip taken in mid-September
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!
What to Do in Zion National Park
Hike Canyon Overlook Trail
1.0 mile round-trip, 163 feet of elevation gain, out & back
Trailhead location: East side of the Zion Tunnel, just before the Zion Tunnel
Canyon Overlook Trail
At the end of this trail, you are afforded stunning views into lower Zion Canyon. This trail has a very brief steep climb at the beginning but levels off after that. It is not too technically or physically challenging. You get amazing views on this trail for minimal effort. We saw several families doing this trail and think this trail is a good option for families with younger children.
East Side of Zion National Park
Tip: This trail is on the East Side of Zion Tunnel. If doing a road trip, it is best to visit this trail when coming from Bryce Canyon to avoid having to go through the tunnel numerous times. Please see Epic 10 Day Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip for more details on this trip.
We rented bikes from Zion Outfitters and rode them onto Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. With these bikes, we were able to stop at any point along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive to soak in the views or take a picture (unlike the park shuttle). The road is about 8 miles from the Visitors Center to the end of the road at the Temple of Sinawava stop. The ride on this road, mainly on the ride out, does involve a small amount of elevation gain (about ~300-400 feet) but we found this to be very manageable. The ride back is nearly all downhill and feels like a breeze which was especially appreciated after a day of hiking.
Rent from Zion Outfitters
Zion Outfitters is located literally right across the pedestrian entrance to the Zion National Park. You couldn’t get any closer to the park as far as renting bikes. We researched all the different rental options in Springdale and Zion Outfitters was the closest, least expensive and allowed you to have the rentals the longest amount of time. Use them.
Detailed Zion Outfitters Bike Rental Information
Bikes are rented on a first come, first serve basis. The store opens at 7am (per staff, you should have no problem renting if you arrive before 9am) and it costs $35 for full day rental that can be used from 7am-8pm.
A helmet is included in this rental fee. No lock or tire replacement kit is included in the rental fee but if something happens to your bike, we were told they would just bring you a new one. We opted to bring our own lock from home and would encourage you to do the same. A lock not only prevents your bike from getting stolen but also makes it clear which bike is yours. There tend to be a lot of the same bikes at the bike racks in the park so it is easy to lose which one is yours.
Tip: Try to park your car at the Zion National Park Visitors Center for FREE (per staff, typically fills up by 8am) and walk across the pedestrian bridge to Zion Outfitters. Otherwise, you have to pay $25+/day to park in Springdale right outside of Zion Outfitters.
Important Park Tip: Plan Shuttle, Bike or Private Shuttle WELL In-Advance to Access Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
Views hiking on Zion Scenic Drive
The only ways to access Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (road used to access trailheads for Angel’s Landing, The Narrows, Emerald Pools, etc. are located on) are:
Riding one of the limited Zion Shuttles (that you need to reserve a ticket to ride)
Hiring a private outfitter
Biking
Walking
You cannot drive on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (you are allowed to drive to the lodge if you are staying there)
We found biking to be the best option for us as it gave us the most flexibility in our schedule. Walking would lead to a VERY LONG day and could be dangerous in the heat if you are planning to do any real hiking in the park. However, if you don’t want to bike, make sure to find out the exact day that shuttle tickets (typically about a month prior) are released for the day/days you want to take the Zion Shuttle and set an alarm for 10 minutes before they become available so you buy them right away. Otherwise, you have a very small chance of getting tickets. They do release more tickets the day before but again, these tickets are limited and sell out within minutes of being released.
Hike Angel’s Landing
4.4 miles round-trip, 1000 feet of elevation gain, out & back
Trailhead location: The Grotto Shuttle Stop on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting April 2022, you need to apply for a lottery ticket to hike Angel’s Landing. See the NPS site for all the details here
Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park
This hike was our favorite and most memorable hike in Zion and is arguably the most famous. This trail leads to a steep landing, Angel’s landing, where you get panoramic Zion Canyon views.
Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park
The Chains Section of Angel’s Landing Hike in Zion National Park
Beware: This trail is not for the physically unfit or those terrified of heights as it has VERY steep drop-offs. When we hiked Angel’s Landing, the sign at the beginning of the chains section said 10 people had died hiking this trail. However, if you stay on the trail and use the chains provided to steady yourself, you should feel safe throughout the hike.
Views on Trail Leading up to Angel’s Landing
Tip: Get here early! This trail is a popular hike. With how narrow it is hiking the chain’s section to Angel’s Landing, you do not want to be dealing with a lot of human traffic. We started the trail around 8:15am and would recommend starting by this time or even earlier.
Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park
Hike Taylor Creek Trail
5.0 miles round-trip, 450 feet of elevation gain, out & back
Trailhead Location: First parking lot (after the Visitors Kolob Canyon Center) on Kolob Canyon Road.
Double Arch Alcove, Zion National Park
This trail crosses back and forth over Taylor Creek continuously on your hike. It also takes you through a forest and past two historic cabins. This trail ends at a colorful and unique double arch alcove that is truly stunning and different from the other scenery you will see in Zion National Park.
Taylor Creek Trail, Zion National Park
Further, this trail is located in the Kolobs Canyon part of the park. Traveling to this part is a very nice change of pace from the trails on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (the busy part of the park). We loved this side of the park, as there were minimal people and you are able to hike into the Zion Wilderness. We started this trail around 7:30am and were the first ones on the trail. It was exceedingly serene and peaceful.
Tip: GO TO KOLOB CANYON
Most people who visit Zion do not even go to this part of the park. Don’t make that mistake, visit the Kolob Canyon part of the park! Also, there is a scenic drive in this part of the park that you can drive your car down (no need for shuttle ticket).
Hike The Narrows
9.4 miles round-trip, 334 feet of elevation, out & back
Trailhead location: Temple of Sinawava Shuttle Stop on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
The Narrows, Zion National Park
This trail is along/through the Virgin River. The Narrows Trail gets its name as it is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. The river is only twenty feet wide at points and is surrounded by gorge walls that are thousands of feet tall.
The Views looking up on The Narrows Trail
You do not have to hike the whole Narrows trail as it does not lead to a specific point. However, if you want to get away from the crowds, you definitely need to go a couple miles in. After 1.25 miles, the water becomes higher than waist deep. We opted not to go further than knee-high water. When we visited, there was an outbreak of toxic cyanobacteria in the river (potentially deadly if you ingest). If the river is free from this bacteria when you visit and you want to hike the whole length, start early and plan for it to be your main event of the day. You can also rent special socks and shoes from Zion Outfitters to do this trail which we think would come in handy if you are hiking a large majority of the trail.
Beware: DO NOT hike the narrows if it has recently stormed or is going to storm because the river is subject to very dangerous flash floods.
Where to Stay while Visiting Zion National Park
Stay in Hurricane
We recommend staying in Hurricane, about 30 minutes from the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and 20 minutes from the Kolob Canyon entrance. Hurricaine is the perfect mid-point spot to explore both of these sides of the park. We stayed at a nice 2 bed, 2 bath house with a full kitchen, laundry, and a grill. It was fantastic to have such a nice, reasonably priced, place to relax after some long days of hiking.
In our opinion, the options in Springdale (right outside of Zion) are really overpriced. It would be neat to stay at the Zion National Park Lodge, as it would allow you to walk to the Angel’s Landing trailhead in the morning before any shuttles have come into the park. However, you have to make reservations at this lodge nearly a year in advance. So if you want to stay at the Zion National Park Lodge, plan ahead!
We hope this quick guide helps you plan your trip to Zion National Park. Anything you would add to our Zion National Park guide? Please see Epic 10 Day Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip for more details on our trip. Please also visit the Zion National Park Website for additional details. We would love to hear your feedback and questions. Please leave us a comment!
The Southwest is home to some of the prettiest scenery and hiking in the US. Particularly, in Utah, the five National Parks are magnificent to see. In these parks, you will not be disappointed by the natural arches, canyons, narrows and desert views. Follow our Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip: 10 Day Epic Guide to see all of these parks and some other Southwest gems alongs the way.
Utah National Parks and Southwest Road Trip
FYI: This post was written based on a trip taken in mid-September
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!
Day 1 Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip: Arrive in Las Vegas
To start your Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip, either drive or fly to Las Vegas. You could alternatively start your road trip from Salt Lake City but flight options tend to be more pricey, and often involve layovers to fly into Salt Lake City. We think your best bet is to fly in/out of LAS. There tend to be some amazing flight deals in/out of Las Vegas so keep your eyes peeled for those.
We flew into Las Vegas in the late afternoon but if you arrive earlier in the day, you might be able to catch a show or explore the strip. We have both visited Las Vegas previously. Though the strip was neat to see, the outdoors is more of our jam so we did not feel the need to arrive earlier.
We stayed at a hotel, La Quinta by Wyndham Las Vegas, right outside of the airport that was reasonably priced with free parking. We picked up our rental car (see How to Save on a Rental Car) right after landing so that we would have it available to us early the next morning to start our day.
Day 2: Valley of Fire State Park, drive to Page, Sunset at Horseshoe Bend
Valley of Fire State Park
Views Driving through Valley of Fire State Park
On this morning of your Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip, wake up early to start your drive towards Valley of Fire State Park. This state park is located in Nevada approximately 1 hour from the LAS airport. The striated sandstone, various colored limestone and slot canyons here will have you in awe of the natural beauty.
Tip: Bring exactly $10 cash as the park entrance fee of $10/car is self-pay and there is no option to pay with a credit card.
Hike at Valley of Fire State Park
Fire Wave, Valley of Fire State Park
At Valley of Fire State Park, hike one of the trails. We hiked several trails including Fire Wave (super neat striated sandstone that literally looks like a wave), White Domes Trail (named for the white domed rocks at the beginning of the trail), Mouse Tank Trail (Ancient Petroglyphs) and Elephant Rock Trail (as named, rock that looks like an elephant). Our favorite trail was the White Domes trail because it has the most diverse and includes the longest slot canyon in the park.
Hiking in Valley of Fire State Park
Tip: Hike Early! The desert sun is no joke. In September, it was already over 95 degrees by 10am at Valley of Fire State Park. The earlier you start your hike, the cooler it will be.
Next, drive to your next stop on your Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip – Page, Arizona. Page is about 4.5 hours from Valley of Fire State Park. During this drive you will cross the Utah and Arizona border a handful of times. The desert views on this drive are very pretty and much different than the geography we are used to in the Midwest. At some points, you will drive through Indian Reservations where service stations are limited. Make sure to be mindful of your car’s gasoline level.
Once we arrived in Page, Arizona, we checked into our Airbnb. We highly recommend it as it was only a 10 minute drive from Horseshoe Bend, very clean and reasonably priced. Our stay even included some delicious homemade banana bread, from the host, the next morning.
Once settled in Page, we headed to Horseshoe Bend to see Sunset. Horseshoe bend is truly goose-bump inducing with its natural beauty. Make sure to watch the sunset here if you can. It cost $10 to park at Horseshoe Bend for a carload and you can pay with cash or card.
Tip: Arrive about an hour or earlier to see sunset at Horseshoe Bend. It is a ¾ mile walk out to the viewpoint and it tends to be pretty busy here so you will want to get here early. Despite being busy, there is plenty of space for everyone to have their own spot and get pictures without other people in them.
Alternatives/Add-Ons to Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip
Antelope Canyon
You can also go on a tour at Antelope Canyon (iconic slot canyon) while in Page, Arizona. A tour, through Navajo Nation (the only way to see), costs about $55+/person. We opted not to do this because we saw slot canyons in Valley of Fire State Park.
Wire Canyon
Another slot canyon to consider is Wire Canyon in Kanab. This canyon is located 8.5 miles south of US 89 (the main highway you will take from Valley of Fire State Park to Page, Arizona). Although only a short distance off the road, this will add on about 50 minutes total of drive time while headed to Page. This slot canyon may take longer to access, but is also less expensive as it only costs $6 (cash)/person. Again, we opted not to do this but if you have an extra day or want to see another slot canyon, consider these options.
Day 3: Drive through Oljato-Monument Valley to Moab, explore Canyonlands National Park
Drive through Oljato-Monument Valley
Oljato-Monument Valley
The next morning on your Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip, drive from Page, Arizona to Moab, Utah. This drive takes about 4.5 hours in total. On this ride, you will drive through the very scenic and iconic Oljato-Monument Valley. This scenery is really cool to see in-person. It will feel like you are in a scene out of the movie Cars. Try to leave Page as early as possible as this day is jam packed.
Stop At Wilson Arch
Wilson Arch, Outside of Moab, Utah
About 30 minutes before arriving in Moab, stop at the Wilson Arch. This arch is located right along the main highway (US 191) heading into Moab. This natural sandstone arch is just a teaser of what you will see in Arches National Park
Settle in Moab
Before continuing on our Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip to Canyonlands, we checked into our Airbnb, a cute casita away from downtown Moab in Spanish Valley. This casita has a kitchen, laundry and high-end finishes. This was a great place to create a home base for the next 4 days/3 nights to explore Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park and Dead Horse State Park.
After briefly stopping in Moab, we continued onto Canyonlands National Park: Island in the Sky District, located about 50 minutes northwest of Moab.
Note: Canyonlands National Park is split up into four districts–Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze and The Rivers. Our quick guide only covers the Island in the Sky District, which is the closest to Moab, Utah, as all four sections are actually quite far (hours driving) apart.
Hike in Canyonlands
Aztec Butte Trail, Canyonlands National Park
While in Canyonlands National Park, hike some of the trails. We hiked the Aztec Butte Trail, Upheaval Dome and Mesa Arch. The most popular trail is Mesa Arch (the shortest hike) but our favorite views were on the Aztec Butte Trail and on the Upheaval Dome Trail.
We also were afforded some amazing canyon views at Green River Viewpoint and Grand Viewpoint. The Grand Viewpoint path affords you arguably the most stunning views in the park.
Through this Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip itinerary, you’ll visit five National Parks and instead of paying for separate admission at each, buy an America the Beautiful Pass. This pass affords you admission to all the National Parks for one year and saves you money without having to buy separate passes at each park.
Day 4: Hike Devils Garden, Windows Loop and Double Arch in Arches National Park
Arches National Park
Double Arch on Devil’s Garden Trail, Canyonlands National Park
Today on your Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip, you’ll visit Arches National Park which is less than a 20 minute drive from Moab. Although only a 20 minute drive to the park, it will take you about 30 minutes more to drive to the Devil’s Garden trailhead for the park’s entrance. We arrived at the trail just before 7am and we were one of five cars there at this time. Arrive early at the trail. There is something really special about being one of the very few people on the trail at that time and seeing the Arches lit up in the morning’s golden hour.
Hike Devil’s Garden Trail
Landscape Arch, Canyonlands National Park
This is an amazing trail as it gives you the opportunity to see seven different arches. Of the arches we saw, our favorites were Landscape arch and Double O Arch. If you only can do one trail in Arches National Park, do this one as it has the most varied arches and other scenery.
Sunrise, Arches National Park
Tip: The best views of Double O Arch are through and past the arch, as seen in our first picture. Few people know to continue to this spot so we had it completely to ourselves during our visit.
Hike Windows Loop, Double Arch and Turret Arch
Turret Arch and Double Arch, Arches National Park
After hiking Devil’s Garden, visit some other spots in Arches National Park. We opted to head to Double Arch and the Windows Loop to do another short, less than 2 mile, hike. These trails are the most popular trails in Arches National Park as they are short and have minimal elevation gain. The Double Arch was our favorite of the Arches in this area. However, if you are short on time or energy, this would be the first thing we would cut out as the Arches here were all very crowded.
Day 5: Sunrise at Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, visit Dead Horse Point State Park
Sunrise at Delicate Arch
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
The next morning on your Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip, wake up early and head into the park in the dark. Keep in mind, it takes about 25 minutes to drive to the Delicate Arch Trailhead from the entrance to the national park. Plan to be at the trailhead and start your hike about an hour before sunrise in order to allow yourself enough time to get to Delicate Arch before sunrise. The hike up to Delicate Arch is a bit confusing in the dark but look for the rock cairns and keep going up. Don’t forget your headlamps!
Sunrise at Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
The sunrise views at Delicate Arch and looking to the East are really spectacular here.
After seeing sunrise at Delicate Arch, drive to Dead Horse State Park, which is about 30 minutes from Arches National Park. This state park affords you stellar canyon views with the Colorado River winding through it. We hiked the loop trail around the park that includes the West Rim, East Rim and Dead Horse Point Overlook. This trail ends up being about 6 miles in total.
Dead Horse Point State Park
The best views of the canyon are from the West Rim of the trail and at Dead Horse Point Overlook. If you are short on time, you can skip the East Rim of the trail but it does make an easy loop path. You could also drive and park Dead Horse Point Overlook to experience great views with less effort. From here you could hike the distance you had time/energy to complete. Park admission is $20. As long as an attendant is at the park, you can pay with card or cash.
Day 6: Drive to and explore Capitol Reef National Park, stop at Goblin Valley State Park on the way
Drive Towards Capitol Reef National Park
The next morning on our Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip, we packed up early and left to start our journey to Capitol Reef National Park, which is about 2.5 hours from Moab. The drive to Capitol Reef National Park had limited service centers so be very mindful of your gasoline level when you leave Moab.
Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley State Park
On the way to Capitol Reef National Park, you will pass a turnoff for Goblin Valley State Park after about 1.5 hours of driving. Turnoff here! This is a nice place to stop for a quick visit and to break up the drive.
Goblin Valley State Park
At Goblin of Valley State Park, alternating layers of eroded hard sandstone and soft siltstone create unique looking rock features here called Goblins. Here, we hiked the Carmel Canyon Loop (1.5 miles round-trip, requires some scrambling, several small slot canyons) and visited the Valley of Goblins. While hiking through this park, we felt like we had landed on Mars seeing the unique rock formations. Park admission is $20 and as long as an attendant is at the park, you can pay with card or cash. If arriving very early, plan to bring cash.
Capitol Reef National Park
Hickman Bridge Trail, Capitol Reef National Park
After briefly visiting Goblin Valley State Park, continue another 1.5 hours onto Capitol Reef National Park. This park is the least visited National Park in Utah and in our opinion, it is really underrated. It has beautiful canyon and slickrock views without the crowds of some of the more popular parks.
Hike Capitol Reef National Park
Cassidy Arch, Capitol Reef National Park
While in Capitol Reef National Park on your Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip, make sure to go hiking. We hiked the Hickman Bridge Trail, Cassidy Arch Trail, part of the Grandwash Trail and the Chimney Rock Loop. Our favorite and most unique trail we hiked was the Cassidy Arch as it brings you to a massive natural arch that you can walk across. This trail also provides stellar canyon and slick rock views along the way.
Chimney Rock Loop, Capitol Reef National Park
That being said, we would recommend all these trails and you may even want to add on an extra day here so you can spend some more time hiking in the park. There is also a scenic drive to several historical sites and orchards within the park that we did not have time to visit.
Chimney Rock Loop, Capitol Reef National Park
Pie in Capitol Reef National Park
Gifford House Homemade Pies, Capitol Reef National Park
Make sure to get fresh homemade pie at the Gifford house here. We did not expect to find these homemade pies in the park and they were a very nice surprise. We highly recommend the apple and mixed berry pie.
Torrey is a cute little town with a population of less than 250 people. We really enjoyed the small town feel here. We recommend eating dinner at the cute Capitol Reef Cafe. Maybe it was just the appetite we had worked up from all the hiking we had done but we found the food here to be excellent. We stayed in a Tiny House that we would recommend if you are looking for simple accommodations for the night while passing through Torrey.
Day 7: Drive to and explore Bryce Canyon National Park, drive to Zion National Park
Sunrise at Bryce Canyon
Sunrise at Bryce Canyon National Park
The next morning on your Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip, get an early start if you want to get to Bryce Canyon National Park for sunrise. This park is well known for its unique orange hoodoo rock formations. Keep in mind it takes about 2.5 hours to drive to Bryce from Torrey. We were able to catch sunrise at Sunrise Point in Bryce National Park. The sunrise colors were really spectacular.
Tip: Buy a caffeinated beverage for the road the day prior. No service centers along the drive from Torrey to Bryce were open prior to 8 AM so we were SOL in regards to getting our normal caffeine fix before arriving at the park.
Hike Bryce Canyon
Peek-A-Boo Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park
Next, pick a trail to hike in Bryce Canyon National Park. We recommend hiking the Queens Garden/Navajo Loop and Peek-A-Boo Trail in Figure 8 Pattern. This trail is about 6.5 miles round-trip with a little over 1600 feet of elevation gain. The hiking journey is well worth the effort. You will be afforded stellar hoodoo views on this trail. We ended this trail at Sunset Point. You can easily walk to this point from the parking lot if you are not up for the hike.
Queens Garden/Navajo Loop, Bryce Canyon National Park
Drive to Zion National Park & Hike Canyon Overlook Trail
Canyon Overlook Trail, Zion National Park
After getting your fill of the Hoodoos, head south towards Zion National Park, the next stop on your Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip. Take this day to explore the east side of the park, the area east of the Zion Tunnel and Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The views driving through this side of the park are quite spectacular. We recommend stopping right before going west through the Zion Tunnel to hike at Canyon Overlook Trail. This trail rewards you with stunning views of lower Zion Canyon for minimal effort (less than 2 mile hike).
Day 8: Ride Bikes on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Hike Angel’s Landing and The Narrows in Zion National Park
Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park
Ride Bikes on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
The next morning, get another early start to rent bikes from Zion Outfitters and ride them into the park. Make sure to get there early (before 8am) so you can park in the Zion Visitor Center parking lot for free before it fills up. Then, take a short walk across the pedestrian bridge to Zion Outfitters. We loved riding bikes through the park and feel it was a much better option than taking the limited Zion shuttle.
Ride your bike to the Grotto where you will start the hike Scout’s Lookout and Angel’s Landing. This was our favorite hike in Zion, mainly because hiking the narrow chains section of Angel’s Landing is so exhilarating. The views from this landing are awe-inspiring with steep drop-offs. Plan for this hike to take 2-3 hours.
Views hiking up to Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park
Hike the Narrows
The Narrow, Zion National Park
This narrow river, surrounded by gorge walls that are thousands of feet tall, is a unique trail in Zion National Park. This trail, round trip, can be up to 10 miles but we only hiked the first 1.25 miles. At times, this hike requires you to swim as the trail itself is through the river. If you are hiking the whole trail, consider renting neoprene socks/water shoes and hiking this on a different day than Angel’s Landing.
Day 9 Utah National Parks Road Trip: Explore Kolob Canyons in Zion National Park
Hike Taylor Creek Trail
Double Arch Alcove, Kolob Canyon, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
The next morning on your Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip, drive to the west side of the park to explore Kolob Canyon. This area is the least visited part of Zion National Park, making it more serene than the busy Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. In Kolob Canyon, there are several hiking trails that bring you into the Zion Wilderness. We recommend hiking the Taylor Creek Trail as it brings you to a very unique Double Arch Alcove that is different from anywhere else we saw in the park. Consider driving on the Kolob Canyon Drive and doing the short Timber Creek Overlook Trail
Taylor Creek Trail, Zion National Park
We spent the rest of the day relaxing. We felt this was well-deserved after a lot of hiking on the trip. However, if you are feeling more ambitious, you could consider going to the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive to further explore or visit downtown Springdale.
Day 10 Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip: Drive back to Las Vegas, Fly Home
This morning, drive about 2.5 hours from your accommodations near Zion back to Las Vegas to end your Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip. Alternatively, you could fly out late on Day 9 but it is much more enjoyable to do it on day 10. On your ride back, you will see more pretty desert scenery. Drop off your rental car before heading home.
We hope this itinerary inspires you to plan your own Utah National Parks/Southwest Road Trip. Anything you would add to our guide? We would love to hear your feedback and questions. Please leave us a comment!
