The Beauty of Utah National Parks

4.5 HOURS/274 MILES

Start your day early and head over to Moab, Utah experiencing the dramatic red colors of the Colorado Plateau. Known as the epicenter of Utah national parks, Moab is home to Arches National Park, featuring the iconic Delicate Arch, an astounding natural arch that has been carved from the surrounding rock. We definitely recommend taking a hike to see it. Then, try a mountain bike adventure on Moab’s famous Slick Rock Trail, or a boat tour on the Colorado River. Canyonlands National Park is one of the best places to ride a mountain bike, so if you are interested in this, we recommend an extra day there. Another must-see in Moab is the Dead Horse Point State Park, an ideal place to stop and take some incredible pictures of the Colorado Plateau.

3 HOURS/163 MILES

Today you are dipping into Colorado to see the amazing Canyon of the Ancients. This Colorado national monument contains the highest known archaeological site density in the United States, with rich, well-preserved evidence of native cultures. But before you head here, we would recommend finding a place to stay in Monticello for the night. There are a number of great options, but the Grist Mill Inn is a quaint little B&B and worth a stay. From Monticello, its a short drive to the monument, and you should plan to spend most of your day here, for there is a number of things to see. This cultural landscape contains more than 6,355 recorded sites reflect all the physical components of past human life: villages, field houses, check dams, reservoirs, great kivas, cliff dwellings, shrines, sacred springs, agricultural fields, petroglyphs and sweat lodges. Some areas have more than 100 sites per square mile. The number of sites is estimated to be up to 30,000, so don’t forget your camera.

2.5 HOURS/166 MILES

From Monticello it is just a short drive to Bluff and the surrounding splendor that is Monument Valley. Bluff will be your headquarters for this portion of the trip, and when you get to town, we recommend getting a room at the hip Willow Street Cottages. After dropping off your bags, head to Duke’s for thier world-famous breakfast. Try the Blue Corn Pancakes. Trust us. Then it’s off to the valley. Monument Valley is world famous for movie scenes, red rocks, and the endless highway that runs through the desert. The best viewpoints here come just before you enter Monument Valley from the north, looking toward the road and the horizon. When you enter the tribal park, enjoy the view points and connect with Indigenous history, as you are now in the Navajo Nation. Buy local arts and crafts and join an interpretive tour. This is also a great place to go on a horseback ride; ask Goulding Tours for their schedules.

2 HOURS 46 MINUTES/160 MILES

From Bluff, you will be heading down into Arizona and the spectacular Grand Canyon Country. From Page, it is a short drive north into Lake Powell and all the spectacular sites there are to see there. Though Page is a great town, we would recommend staying at least one night in Lake Powell itself at the Lake Powell Resort and Marinas. This is a great resort, and will give you access to everything the lake has to offer, including Airstream trailers, boat rentals, tours and a relaxing atmosphere for you take in the scenery.

3 HOURS 16 MINUTES/130 MILES

Today your trip will take you back through Page and into the Painted Desert of Arizona before entering Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon Village. Our recommendation would be to check in to the Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel, drop off your gear and head right out to explore this fascinating piece of American geography. It is up to you to decide how many days you want to spend here, but more than one would certainly be understandable. For early risers, we recommend experiencing the sunrise from one of the park’s view points (Mather Point is a fantastic one, though you really can’t go wrong if you choose another!) If you plan to be there an extra day, we recommend doing a couple of hikes, such as the Hermit Trail and the Grandview Trail. The most iconic backpacking trip is the “Rim To Rim” trail, a full two-day backpacking trip that requires a tent and an overnight stay at the bottom of the Colorado River.

From the Grand Canyon, your Utah national parks road trip will take you back north towards the wonder of St. George. Located in the far Southwestern portion of the state, St. George is a really fun outdoorsy town with all the beauty of Utah located in both the front and backyard. One not-to-be-missed experience is the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. The sprawling 60,000-acre Red Cliffs Desert Reserve (which includes the designated Red Cliffs National Conservation Area) contains a one-of-a-kind convergence of multiple different desert ecosystems, jaw-dropping scenery, and protected species seldom seen elsewhere. St. George itself is a bustling city of around 100,000, and there are a number of great things to do within the city limits as well. Though, as always, there are plenty of places to stay here, we would recommend the Crescent Moon Inn, if for nothing else than the pool and beach on the property.

1 HOUR/52 MILES

This is a short drive, and for good reason. Today you will travel to Zion National Park and explore one of the most naturally stunning parks in the Lower 48 for the day before reaching your destination in Cedar City. Take exit Hwy 9 to Hurricane and follow the directions toward Zion National Park.  If you prefer a leisurely hike, you can try the Emerald Pools, but if you are not scared of heights, we recommend the iconic Angels Landing hike, with incredible views into the canyon. Zion is the first of Utah’s national parks, and it is full of stunning scenery. Plan on taking a picnic with you for a one-of-a-kind- view while you eat. After getting your fill of Zion,  (Is there really such a thing?) it’s off to Cedar City and your stop for the night. Read more about Cedar City here

2 HOURS 45 MINUTES/157 MILES

Capitol Reef National Park may not be the biggest national park in the United States, but it is certainly one of the most beautiful. Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles. Capitol Reef is a hiker’s paradise, so lace up your boots and get ready to explore this lesser-known park. Your first stop should be to the Visitor’s Center. The rangers there will be able to help you on your way. Your entrance and the exit to Capitol Reef will be through the charming little border town of Torrey. Grab a cup of coffee at Dark Sky Coffee on your way in to the park and stay overnight in a Teepee at Capitol Reef Resort on your way back out.

3 HOURS 45 MINUTES/244 MILES

While your destination for the night is going to be the town of Duchesne, the majority of your day is going to be visiting the Ute Nation and the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. Located in Northeastern Utah, the reservation is located within a three-county area known as the “Uintah Basin”. It is the second largest Indian Reservation in the United States and covers over 4.5 million acres. The main hub for the reservation is the Roosevelt and Fort Duchesne area, and we would recommend heading first to the town of Roosevelt and Ft. Duchesne to visit the Ute Crossing Trading Post. This is a great place to find out info and where to visit on the reservation. Spend as much time as you want here, and then head back to Duchesne for the night as your next stop on your Utah national parks road trip.

1.5 HOURS/85 MILES

Park City is a fun place. That’s just the truth of it. There is so much to do in this little town, but the best thing about Park City is its dedication to the outdoor world. This was the place of the 2002 Winter Olympics after all, and the outdoor activities are extensive. But Park City has a great city-centric activity level too. In Park City it is realistic to be browsing through one of the numerous art or history museums in the morning and be lacing up your boots to hike one of the numerous trails just outside the town in the afternoon. The best place to start any time in Park City, though, is the Park City Visitor’s Center. Not only will it have all the information you need, but its also a really cool place, with some of the best coffee in town accompanied by a nice little breakfast and lunch cafe.

34 MINUTES/30 MILES

Best nightlife:

DOWNTOWN DISTRICT

Best cultural experience for families:

FOOTHILL CULTURAL DISTRICT

Best place to shop local:

THE DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY FARMER’S MARKET

Can’t miss restaurant:

VALTER’S OSTERIA

Best Mexican food in Utah:

THE RED IGUANA

Can’t miss outdoor experience:

GREAT SALT LAKE STATE PARK OR BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON