If you are looking for a “best of the best” hiking and wilderness experience, we recommend visiting Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks.
Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks are known for their rugged beauty, diverse geographical features, and majestic wilderness. Utah’s Mighty 5 include Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef. Each park is located 1.5 to 3 to 5 hours apart from the next. Visiting all 5 parks, you will drive 16 hours and 1,000 miles round trip if you depart from Las Vegas, NV.
We found it very helpful to realize that these amazing parks are so far apart. Oftentimes it is possible to assume that all the National Parks in one state are close together. In this case, the fact they are hours apart intensified our wilderness adventure because traversing the vast terrain added to our anticipation of seeing them. Each park is completely different and has charms of its own. We recommend visiting all of them!
We recommend flying in to Las Vegas and renting an SUV. If you can rent a vehicle with 4-wheel drive, it will be even better! We rented a Jeep and found it was worth it! Jeeps are great adventure vehicles. It was perfect for traversing the rugged terrain and allowed us to go off-roading to some places we would not have been able to visit in a regular rental car or SUV.
On Day 1, we drove to the outskirts of Zion National Park and camped at a private encampment. It was the perfect way to start our trip and get our bearings in a quiet meadow overlooking majestic Zion and spending the night under the serenity of the stars.
Day 2-4 we camped and hiked in Zion National Park. Zion National Park contains one of our nations most rugged, majestic mountain wildernesses.
The best and most comfortable time to visit The Mighty 5 National Parks is May. We are from Texas and we went in June expecting the weather to be in the high 60s to high 80s.
During our stay in Zion, we had unexpected weather which taught us a thing or two about the need to be doubly-prepared when you are in rugged terrain. Normally the temperature is in the 60s-80s in June, which is comfortable enough for camping. However, unbeknownst to us, an inclement weather event occurred and a heat dome trapped a thermal heat layer on the rocks causing the entire ground area to range from high 80s to 111 in temperature. We didn’t know this, however, because we did not have a weather radio and no one was issuing notices about anything unusual regarding the weather. We just knew it was hot – unusually hot. It was so hot it made us woozy and even lethargic!
When you are reserving a campsite, it will ask if you want partial shade or full shade. I had selected partial shade because I had been to Zion before and figured we would be fine in 60-80 degrees. Yet it was so hot the only way we could get cool was to sit in our AC in the Jeep or swim in the river! We tried having a picnic lunch under the little sliver of trees that we had but it was not enough to really keep away the scorching heat because of the heat dome! So the first 24 hours we were lethargic until we became more hydrated and cooled off. I bought a bandana and covered my head with it as well. I truly learned the value of a bandana on this trip! I wore it often from then on, whether to provide extra shade from the sun or to shield from accumulating dust.
The Mighty 5 National Parks are worth visiting because each one has its own unique geography and landscapes. Here is a description of each of them.
ZION NATIONAL PARK
Zion National Park is stunning and majestic in its beauty and splendor. It is definitely worth a visit in one’s lifetime. The park can be crowded during summer months. April and May are the most pleasant time of year to visit, especially if you can go before the summer crowds.
We visited in June and although there were crowds, the park did not feel crowded because it is a vast wilderness. We recommend setting out early in the morning – even just before sunrise – to immerse yourself in the solitude and morning majesty of the park. We set out to hike Angel’s Landing in the early morning and the hike was refreshing and peacefully pristine.
Angel’s Landing
Angel’s Landing and The Narrows are two of the park’s most famous hikes. Angel’s Landing is a steep, gradual switchback-laden ascent which arrives at a daunting precipice. The last .5 miles of the hike require balance and skill, as they take place along a narrow path and require sure footing and a sheer bravery to traverse to the top of the precipice.
However, just before the last leg of the hike, there is a viewpoint where anyone who is not going to go all the way to Angel’s Landing can enjoy the magnificent view and exultant pleasure of ascending to the top of a beautiful outlook where you can see 360 degree views of Zion National Park.
The Narrows
The Narrows is an enjoyable river-bed hike which requires special shoes for the utmost sure-footedness to be able to go whatever distance you would like. You can rent durable water shoes and a hiking stick at Zion Outfitters just before you enter Zion National Park.
We hiked Angel’s Landing and The Narrows in the same day. Hiking The Narrows in the afternoon proved refreshing in the intense heatwave. Most families would probably want to hike one the first day and the second the next day.
We enjoyed both hikes for different reasons. We highly recommend both of them if you are up to the challenge. And they really are do-able if you take your time and make sure to stop and enjoy the scenery along the way.
Camping in Zion National Park is highly memorable; it is thrilling to awaken surrounded by the beauty of the pink-coral mountains against the brilliant blue sky. We camped at the Watchman campground. We highly recommend reserving a full-shade campsite if possible. You may need it. The sun can be intense, especially in summer months.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Bryce Canyon National Park is a 1 1/2 hour drive from Zion National Park. You can eat at Thunderbird Cafe en route if it’s open. It has typical local cuisine and offers hearty fare in a Southwestern setting.
Bryce Canyon National Park features a unique geographical landscape of orange, white and gray hoo doo formations which seem other-worldly at the onset. The park’s roads and walking paths make it possible to see the entire vista on a flat walking path from above.
Hiking into the canyon is an enjoyable and unique experience. The canyon depths present a form of orange solitude as one walks through a fairly-land like forest amidst the unusual geological formations.
We hiked through the canyon near dusk and found it to be serene and enjoyable. The park is also known for its dark sky visibility. On clear nights, you can see a pantheon of stars.
Campsites in Bryce Canyon National Park are located in a forested area, which provides a nice respite in contrast to the plethora of aridly rugged campsites which make up most of the camping options in the Southwest.
A few miles outside the park, Ruby’s Inn offers food, accommodations and a wide variety of souvenirs and sweets to punctuate your visit to Bryce Canyon National Park with a memorable tourist-stop.
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Arches National Park features arch-shaped formations in an arid landscape and it, also, has an other-worldly feel. What is great about Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks is that they are completely different from one another and all worth visiting.
Utah’s famous monument, the Delicate Arch, is located here. It is a must-see in the park. We recommend getting up an hour and a half before sunrise to hike up. You will need to use GPS or AllTrails to navigate the trail, as it is sparsely marked and the Arch is located deeper within the park but does not have a clear and straight walking path and is not easily visible. Getting to it is half the wilderness adventure!
Although it is called the Delicate Arch, it is massive and robust, all the while fascinating, too!
We brought granola bars and pastries for breakfast and enjoyed the satiation of sitting adjacent to the arch, watching the sun rise and taking in the glory of the beautiful morning.
This was the most populated hike we encountered during our travels and although the trails were not crowded, there were lots of people enjoying the arch as well at 6 a.m. However, the rock area surrounding the arch is very spacious and most travelers are gracious and take turns getting pictures with the Delicate Arch so there is no crowding.
We hiked other places in the park as well. We enjoyed a sunset hike as well.
We camped at Devil’s Campground. Although we are not fans of the name, the campground itself was very nice. The campsites provide lovely views of the park and you get a sense that you are in a vast wilderness yet with others nearby.
The park facilities were clean and pleasant. In fact, we did not see one piece of stray trash in any bathroom or anywhere else during the entirety of our trip! Utah is a very clean place and its citizens and visitors do a great job keeping it clean.
CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Canyonlands National Park is a vast wilderness with an overall foreboding feel. We hiked a few trails there but since we could not find campsite availability, we shifted our priorities to finding a camping spot.
We planned to camp at Canyonlands National Park in the camping area, but it was first-come-first-served and all sites were taken. We have found first-come-first-serve to be mostly unavailable in general at campsites which do not have many spaces so we have learned not to count on it.
Sarah researched and recommended that we try an alternative camping option: the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sites. To our surprise and delight, she found the most picturesque campsite we have ever enjoyed in the Southwest. We camped in pristine wilderness on the edge of a canyon rim and we had the entire canyon to ourselves! There were two other campers nearby but far enough away that we didn’t even see them. It was one of our most picturesque, favorite camping experiences of our lifetime! And a truly enchanted evening!
We had rented a 4×4 Jeep. Four-wheel drive makes all the difference, giving access to the BLM sites. They are located on seemingly random dirt-roads which are more narrow than most roads – and they don’t even look like roads. They look like someone took a dirt-bike and made a thin trail in the midst of a tall grass meadow.
When we first saw how narrow it was, my first thought was, “I’m going to drive this on that?” Sarah looked at me and said, “Please just trust me. Trust the process. There is a beautiful canyon campsite on the other side!” So I did. We did! And we are both so glad we did!
We spent a night of wonder in the wilderness! We set up our camp as the sun had just set and the soft glow of the evening filled the sky. We put together a camp kitchen on the ledge overlooking the canyon, found a bush to hang our portable small LED string lights, and made our freeze-dried lasagna (Mountain House Lasagna with Meat Sauce ready in 10 minutes! Just add boiling water!).
While we were waiting, we had half of our cheeseburgers and left-over French fries for a snack. We set them in a paper bag near our camp kitchen on the rock. Suddenly, a desert mouse and a spider came to join us. The desert mouse tried to hop into the bag of French fries. We gave a French fry to each of them. The desert mouse grabbed it and ran off gleefully. The spider pounced on his and kept jumping for joy! He ate a bite and then jumped for joy! Over and over again. Who knew spiders could be overjoyed? What else do they eat out here? I wondered!
We spent the night in serenity and solitude under the canopy of stars. We knew we had found one of Canyonland’s best-kept secrets.
The next morning, we awoke to the morning majesty of the dawn’s early light against the canyon walls. We packed up camp and spent the day exploring Moab.
Moab is a college town located within driving distance of Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. We enjoyed a Southwestern fare breakfast at Jailhouse Cafe. We ate a delicious pizza for lunch-dinner at Canyon Pizza Company.
The Main Street of Moab hosts restaurants, shops and lodging. You will find a variety of souvenirs and food options.
We went for a refreshing swim and took hot showers at Moab’s recreation center for $15/per person. The aquatic center is open year-round.
When we were trip-planning, we made sure to include a variety of excursions – mostly wilderness wandering and hikes along with some urban experiences. The balance creates a pleasant diversity of travel delights to contribute to overall travel joy. We also brought our glamping equipment: string lights, a cozy, joyful throw, and blow-up mattresses! You can be a wilderness expeditionist and enjoy the journey even more by adding some amenities like these! Our philosophy is Why go camping when you could go glamping? Little extras go a long way to make moments even more memorable!
CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK
Capitol Reef boasts very unique and picturesque geographical terrain. When we were first researching this trip, we noticed that Capitol Reef was not as well-known as the other parks. One of our favorite parts of experiencing the park was the drive from Arches National Park to Capitol Reef National Park. When we drove into Capitol Reef via Arches, we marveled at the unique, colorful geological terrain. It truly has an allure all its own. We hiked and explored the park. It was a vast and quiet wilderness.
Capitol Reef National Park gets its name from the white sandstone domes in the park which look like the U.S. Capitol building and the 100-mile-long ridge of steep cliffs which are present in the parklands and create a barrier (although there are roads and one can enter the park).
To our delight and surprise, we enjoyed one of our most superlative moments on the trip just outside of the park when we visited Color Ridge Creamery in Torrey, Utah.
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
There are several additional landmarks and places to visit which we highly recommend on your journey to visit Utah’s Mighty 5.
Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell (Arizona)
En route to Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks, we took a detour to visit the famed Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell (all located in Arizona). Visiting these iconic sites provided a memorable visual contrast to the other amazing feats of nature we witnessed on our travel journey. Also, after all the vertical ascents and hiking prowess we exerted, the stop in Arizona made for a nice respite because all of our walking was on fairly flat ground!
We took an open-air rough road ride to Antelope Canyon. You must arrange a tour in advance because Antelope Canyon is located in Native American territory and requires a permit through approved tour agencies.
We enjoyed a serene sunset visit to Horseshoe Bend, taking in the magnitude of this unique geological formation. When you arrive to the site, you park and walk for about 10 minutes to get to the bend.
The best part of our travels were getting to spend Mama-Daughter quality time together! Nothing replaces outdoor adventure time together in the wonder of the vast wilderness and enchanted evenings under the stars taking in the beauty of creation and enjoying exhilerating travel expeditions across the vast expanse of these magnificent and mesmerizing landscapes. Each park is a masterpiece of its own!
All in all, Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks are all worth visiting. They are a “best of the best” experience you do not want to miss!
Visit nps.gov to learn more about Utah’s national parks and make reservations.