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Best Things to Do in Island in the Sky: Canyonlands National Park
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Complete Guide to the Cathedral Valley Loop: Things to Do, Driving Route & Maps
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One Perfect Day in Arches National Park (+ HELPFUL Tips & Map)
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One Perfect Day in Bryce Canyon National Park
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The Ultimate Arches and Canyonlands One Day Itinerary
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Zion National Park Itinerary: How to Spend 1 to 6 Days in Zion
Utah's Mighty 5
Stretching across southern and central Utah are five stunning national parks. Called the Mighty 5, these parks contain some of the most thrilling hiking trails and iconic landscapes in the United States.
Stand atop Angels Landing in Zion. Gaze across a wonderland of hoodoos at Bryce Canyon. Explore the Water Pocket Fold at Capitol Reef. Watch the sunrise at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands. And watch the sunset at Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.
Utah Itineraries
This is one of the best road trips in the USA. On this American Southwest road trip, you will visit Utah’s Mighty 5, the Grand Canyon, and a handful of wonderful state parks and national monuments.
This is the itinerary I wish we had when we planned our first road trip to the American Southwest.
Zion National Park
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Zion National Park Itinerary: How to Spend 1 to 6 Days in Zion
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10 Great Hikes in Zion National Park: Which One Will Be Your Favorite?
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Angels Landing Survival Guide: Things to Know Before You Go
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The Ultimate Guide to Hiking the Zion Narrows
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5 Things to Know Before Visiting Zion National Park
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The Canyon Overlook Trail, One of Zion’s Essential Hikes
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How to Day Hike the West Rim Trail in Zion National Park
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Hiking to Observation Point in Zion National Park
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Hidden Canyon: An Unexpected Surprise in Zion National Park
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Journey through the Zion Narrows in Photos
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10 Things to Do in Zion if You Don’t Want to Ride the Shuttle
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Zion Narrows Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up: Which One Should You Choose?
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How to Hike the Watchman Trail in Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
![Bryce Canyon Travel Guide](https://www.earthtrekkers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bryce-Canyon-Travel-Guide-Photo.jpg.optimal.jpg)
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Hiking Bryce Canyon: Queens Garden and Navajo Loop Trails
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One Perfect Day in Bryce Canyon National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
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Complete Guide to the Cathedral Valley Loop: Things to Do, Driving Route & Maps
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Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef National Parks: 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary
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14 Amazing Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park
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How to Loop the Fold in Capitol Reef National Park
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Capitol Reef National Park: Best Things to Do With Limited Time
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The Ultimate Capitol Reef National Park Itinerary
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Cassidy Arch, An Essential Hike in Capitol Reef National Park
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16 Epic Day Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park
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One Perfect Day in Capitol Reef National Park (3 Different Ways)
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Rim Overlook & Navajo Knobs Trail | Capitol Reef National Park
Arches National Park
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16 Amazing Things to Do in Arches National Park (+ HELPFUL Tips)
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Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef National Parks: 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary
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Delicate Arch: Best Photo Spots, Hiking Tips, & Interesting Facts
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Devils Garden Trail: The Best Hike in Arches National Park
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One Perfect Day in Arches National Park (+ HELPFUL Tips & Map)
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The Ultimate Arches and Canyonlands One Day Itinerary
Canyonlands National Park
![Canyonlands Travel Guide](https://www.earthtrekkers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Canyonlands-Travel-Guide-Photo.jpg.optimal.jpg)
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10 Best Things to Do in Canyonlands National Park
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12 Amazing Things to Do in The Needles, Canyonlands National Park
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Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef National Parks: 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary
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Best Things to Do in Island in the Sky: Canyonlands National Park
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Hiking the Gooseberry Trail in Canyonlands National Park
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How to Drive Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road | Moab, Utah
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How to Drive the White Rim Road in One Day
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How to Drive the White Rim Road: Map, Photos & Driving Tips
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How to Hike the Chesler Park Loop Trail in the Needles | Canyonlands National Park
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How to Hike the Syncline Loop in Canyonlands National Park
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One Perfect Day in Canyonlands National Park
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The Ultimate Arches and Canyonlands One Day Itinerary
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White Rim Road: Detailed Planning Guide and Checklist
Monument Valley
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How to Visit Monument Valley: Ultimate Guide for First Time Visitors
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Is Teardrop Arch in Monument Valley Worth It?
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What to Expect on a Monument Valley Sunrise Tour
Grand Staircase - Escalante
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5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Devils Garden in Grand Staircase-Escalante
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A Photojourney through Peek-A-Boo Gulch and Spooky Gulch
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Hiking the Willis Creek Slot Canyon in Utah
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How to Hike Zebra Slot Canyon in Grand Staircase-Escalante
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What’s It Like to Drive Cottonwood Canyon Road?
More Places to Go in Utah
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A Quick Visit to Kodachrome Basin State Park
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Best Things to Do in Dead Horse Point State Park
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Goblin Valley State Park: Things to Do with Limited Time
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How to Visit the Valley of the Gods in Utah
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Little Wild Horse Canyon – Bell Canyon Loop: A Step-By-Step Guide
More Information about Utah
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10 Amazing Slot Canyons to Explore in the American Southwest
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15 Great Places to Work Remotely in the USA
![Featured image for “Best National Parks in the USA: 15 Amazing Parks for Your Bucket List”](https://www.earthtrekkers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Capitol-Reef-Photo.jpg.optimal.jpg)
Best National Parks in the USA: 15 Amazing Parks for Your Bucket List
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Best USA Road Trips: 18 Ideas for Your Next Big Adventure
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Ultimate US National Parks List for 2024 (+ Printable Checklist)
Top Experiences in Utah
Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City is a modern and bustling metropolis set amongst mountains and on the shore of the Great Salt Lake. This city is a great place to take a break from Utah’s desert, as you can go sailing on the Great Salt Lake, ski down nearby slopes in the winter, eat at gourmet Asian and barbeque restaurants, and go bar hopping between famous breweries.
Moab. Moab is a quaint and outdoorsy city located in between Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. It is the perfect town to stay in if you are traveling to either of these parks. And Moab is packed with adventure activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, canyoneering, horseback riding, rafting, and hiking. The town itself is a beautiful one to walk around, and it has many delicious local restaurants, cafes, and breweries to enjoy after a day of adventure.
Park City. Park City is a quaint ski town nestled amongst large mountains and open wilderness. It is a popular destination to go for skiing, but they also have great outdoor activities all year round such as mountain biking, hiking, and kayaking.
Monument Valley. With sandstone buttes, colossal mesas, and panoramic vistas, Monument Valley is one of the USA’s iconic landscapes. You can take a scenic drive through Monument Valley independently or with a Navajo tour guide.
Canyonlands National Park. Canyonlands is an enormous National Park. Over 330,000 acres are filled with arches, buttes, mesas, canyons, hiking trails, dirt roads, campgrounds, and overlooks. It would take days, weeks even, to fully explore all that Canyonlands has to offer.
Arches National Park. Arches National Park is a wonderland of desert vistas, short hiking trails, unique rock formations, and you guessed it, arches. Not only will you find over 2,000 arches here, but you will also see hoodoos, fins of sandstone rocks, massive mesas, and balanced rocks. Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, and Balanced Rock are three popular sites to see here.
Capitol Reef National Park. Capitol Reef, often an overlooked national park, is full of many wonderful surprises. With an amazing scenic drive, hiking trails that rival those in Zion, rugged, remote areas to explore by 4×4, short, easy slot canyons, historical landmarks, and even delicious pie, this national park is absolutely amazing.
Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon National Park…a fantasyland of hoodoos, bizarre rock formations, and sandstone pillars. This is a beautiful place, and its unique landscape sets it apart from other national parks. Although Bryce may not have the same sweeping, expansive vistas as the Grand Canyon, it’s still a breathtaking experience the first time you see gaze across this landscape.
Zion National Park. Zion National Park is a hiker’s paradise. This relatively small park is packed with some of the most thrilling hikes in the United States. From the awe-inspiring hike up Angels Landing to the bucket list-worthy Zion Narrows to the family friendly Riverside Walk, there is something here for everyone.
The Narrows. The Zion Narrows is one of Zion’s most popular hikes, for good reason. This is the quintessential slot canyon hike. For miles, you hike in the North Fork of the Virgin River, surrounded by sheer rock walls and amazing beauty. It’s challenging, it’s unique, and it makes for a very memorable experience. If you are looking for a hike that will astound you, test your limits, and give you a greater appreciation for the beauty of the American Southwest, the Zion Narrows is perfect for you.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Grand Staircase-Escalante is a huge area of protected land in southern Utah. It is one of the last unmapped areas of the United States. Scramble through slot canyons, drive on dusty, dirt roads, and be amazed at the diverse beauty of this part of the United States.
Dead Horse Point State Park. Dead Horse Point is a beautiful park that has all of the ingredients of a perfect outdoor destination: easy but fun hiking trails, low crowds, and a jaw-dropping view that just may be better than anything you would get in the nearby national parks. Plus, its small size makes it easy to explore if you are short on time. This state park has many hiking trails and viewpoints overlooking buttes and mesas. You can also go mountain biking here.
Goblin Valley State Park. Goblin Valley is an easy to visit state park that is located in southeastern Utah. With its hoodoos, toadstools, “goblins,” and short but sweet hiking trails, this park is pure fun to visit. Kids, and kids at heart, will LOVE this park!! The main section of hoodoos and goblins is free to explore…there is no need to stick to a designated hiking trail. Which means that kids are free to explore, play hide and seek, and discover the nooks and crannies of this magical place.
Little Wild Horse Canyon. Little Wild Horse Canyon is one of the most thrilling slot canyons in Utah. With tight passageways, curving, scalloped walls, and short sections of easy rock scrambling, this hike is fun for both kids and adults. You can hike the narrowest (and most fun) section of Little Wild Horse as a fast out-and-back hike, or do this as a loop, adding on Bell Canyon. And, this Canyon is only 10 minutes from Goblin Valley State Park.
Snow Canyon State Park. Snow Canyon is a beautiful state park with colorful sandstone cliffs to rock-climb and lava caves to explore. There are many hiking trails in this park that will take you to spectacular overlooks over the canyon, as well as some through slot canyons to see ancient petroglyphs. Snow Canyon is a relatively uncrowded park, and it serves as a great place to enjoy outdoor activities without having to fight through packs of tourists.
Best Time to Visit Utah
The spring and fall months are the best times to visit. Weather conditions are pleasant and you can avoid the big crowds that flood the park in the summer.
During the summer months, expect soaring temperatures, large crowds, expensive prices for hotels, and lots of traffic at viewpoints and on hiking trails.
In the winter, the parks are much less crowded, but temperatures can get below freezing and snow is likely (especially in Bryce Canyon).
October is our favorite time to visit Utah. The temperatures were wonderful, crowds are lighter than the summer months, and the fall colors make several of the parks look even more beautiful than they normally are (notably Zion and Capitol Reef). Surprisingly, I also really liked our November and December visits. Temperatures were cold, but while hiking we never got hot or needed to bring much water. Plus, like the fall colors in October, the snow was an added bonus.
US National Parks
![Glacier National Park](https://www.earthtrekkers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Glacier-National-Park.jpg.optimal.jpg)
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