It seems to me that we often take for granted the very best things in our lives. If you were born and raised in Utah, you surely know about our five amazing national parks. Many Utahns take advantage of the breathtaking beauty and many recreation opportunities that our parks provide, but others put off their visits, figuring they’ll see the parks someday.
Our national parks are so incredible that people come from all over the world to see them! Every Utahn should do the same, and here’s a little secret. The best time to visit our parks isn’t in the summer, when the rest of the world is there. Instead, visit in the late winter or early spring. You’ll experience fewer crowds and enjoy more solitude.
I’ve organized this vacation from Arches to Zion, but of course you can start at the opposite end. You can spend as many days as you’d like in each park. I recommend that you allow at least one full day at each, though all of them offer enough to see and do that you could easily spend several days exploring..
If you’re starting from the Salt Lake City area, the drive to Arches National Park takes about 3 ½ hours. The park contains more than 2,000 natural arches. This one is Double Arch.You’ll find tons of hiking opportunities in this park.
For the best photo opportunities, visit Delicate Arch at sunset, or wait until the next day to catch the sunrise. Our most famous natural arch is beautiful all day long, but it’s particularly stunning when the sun is rising or setting.
Take the short 26-minute drive to Canyonlands National Park. The park is divided into four districts. The most accessible is the Island in the Sky District, where you’ll view overlooks like this. The mesa is about 1,000 feet from the canyon bottom below.
Take the moderately difficult 2-mile Aztec Butte trail from the mesa to visit two ancestral Puebloan granaries. View them from afar to help preserve and protect them.
Your next stop is Utah’s least-visited national park: Capitol Reef. Hike the 3.6-mile Chimney Rock Loop to see vistas of Waterpocket Fold and the distinct landmark, Chimney Rock.
The Cathedral Valley District is less accessible than other parts of the park, but if you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, the 57-mile loop offers stunning views and several hiking trails. This area is remote and rarely visited, so make sure you take plenty of water and gas, a spare tire, food and a shovel in case you get stuck.
Bryce National Park is your next destination — about 3.5 hours from Capitol Reef. Bryce offers gorgeous views and the largest collection of hoodoos in the world. From Rainbow Point, you can see many of those hoodoos, along with a remarkable vista that stretches as far as the eye can see.
Bryce offers stunning views from several vantage points. From Bryce Point you can see the entire amphitheater. It’s particularly gorgeous during sunrise. Hike the Peek-a-Boo-Loop Trail to see the Wall of Windows and Three Wise Men. The trail is steep, but worth the climb.
Inspiration Point fits its name well. The edges of this point are particularly crumbly, so stay on designated paths, unless you’d like to find your inspiration at the bottom of the canyon.
Sunset Point is the perfect place to end your day at Bryce. Take the Navajo Loop Trail through a slot canyon. Combine that hike with the Queen’s Garden Trail.
Zion National Park is Utah’s most popular park. It’s about 2 hours from Bryce. The Virgin River Narrows is a fun hike on a warm day — you’ll get your feet wet as you traverse the narrow canyon. Check the weather report before taking this hike. Because the canyon is so narrow, flash flood is always a concern during storms.
Visit the Emerald Pools for some pretty scenery including the pools and waterfalls. Stay on the path — it’s slippery near the upper pool and the fall is deadly.