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Utah's Mighty 5: An Overview of Utah’s National Parks

Visiting Utah’s National Parks is a bucket-list worthy adventure. From hoodoos to natural bridges, sandstone cliffs to narrow slot canyons, and rushing rivers to vibrant communities steeped in history, each place holds its own enchantment. If you’re visiting national parks in Utah, plan ahead and factor in rest and recovery since you’ll be exerting yourself most days.

Many of the parks’ campsites and lodges book out long in advance, and some trails and entry points require permits or timed entry. We recommend reserving at least a week for this trip. Travelers often fly into Salt Lake City and start their journeys in Moab—where two of the Mighty 5 are close by—and work their way to Zion, but you could easily reverse this order. Below, you’ll find legendary trails, nearby attractions, kid and pet-friendly activities, and places to stop along the way on this epic, breathtaking road trip.

Pick up an America the Beautiful National Park Pass (this will save you money in park fees) and hit the trails in Utah National Parks.

Arches National Park

Just outside the charming town of Moab, you’ll find the largest concentration of natural arches in the world. Though relatively small and crowded, with over 2,000 arches, it’s a great place to start your adventure. It'll give you a taste of the region’s wonders with first glimpses of sandstone fins, towers, ribs, hoodoos, and balanced rocks, too1.

Timed entry permits are required April 1–July 6 and August 28–October 31.

Top Activities in Arches National Park

Whether you’re an outdoors enthusiast or new to the national parks, there’s plenty to see and explore:

  • Hike to Delicate Arch at Sunset or Sunrise (4.2 miles, 682 feet, strenuous): The 65-foot arc steals the show, but it’s a steep trail on slickrock with little shade. The trail also gets quite hot in summer. Experienced hikers can look forward to a challenging day. If you’re traveling with small children, there are plenty of options with equally breathtaking views2.
  • Take the Scenic Drive: Enjoy a paved 36-mile path with trail access and overlooks3.
  • Hike Devil’s Garden Trail to Landscape Arch (2 miles, 250 feet, moderate): Spanning 306 feet, this arch is known for its slenderness; experts suggest it could collapse any time.
  • Explore the Sand Dune Arch Trail (0.4 miles, easy): Kids love exploring the natural sandpit and sandstone structures that make up this family-friendly trail.

Canyonlands National Park

Formed by the same rivers that forged The Grand Canyon (Green and Colorado), Canyonlands consists of five districts of towering mesas, pinnacles, cliffs, and spires. Most visitors stick to the Island in the Sky area as the others are quite remote.

Top Activities in Canyonlands National Park

The area in and around this park is a haven for photographers, whether you want to capture the natural formations or unique slices of life in a historic town:

  • Hike to Mesa Arch (0.5 miles, easy): One of the most photographed landforms in the West, the trail is perfect for beginners and families but still includes iconic vistas.
  • Drive the Grand View Point Road: Though dogs aren’t allowed on most trails in Utah’s Mighty 5, scenic drives are a good way to experience the parks with your pups4.
  • Explore Charming Moab: The perfect home base for both Canyonlands and Arches, the town has impressive restaurants (try Garage and Doughbird), fun tours, and hotels. If renovated roadside motels are your preferred type of lodging, check out Field Station5.

Capitol Reef National Park

This underrated park may see fewer visitors than the others, but it’s home to an unforgettable landscape. You’ll find an endless moody expanse of sky and desert rock, including the preserved Water Pocket Fold (a rippling of the earth’s crust 100 miles long) and a place steeped in Mormon settler and Indigenous history6.

Top Activities at Capitol Reef National Park

Discover what makes this hidden gem one of Utah’s finest national parks, including a taste of history and spectacular starlight:

  • View Petroglyphs East of the Visitor Center and Hike Through to Capitol Gorge (1 mile, easy): View etchings made by ancient Puebloan and Freemont indigenous people.
  • Hike Hickman Bridge Trail (2 miles, easy): Perfect for kids with plenty of rocks for them to climb on safely2.
  • Grab Some Pie at the Gifford Homestead: From June through October, you can pick fruit from the orchards and sample some of the best baked goods around at this former Mormon settlement. This is also a rare dog-friendly trail from the Visitor Center.
  • Watch the Sunset at Sunset Pt. and Stay for Stargazing: As a Designated Dark Sky park, this is one of the best spots in the country to see the Milky Way.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Drive the breathtaking Scenic Byway 12 from Capitol Reef, which passes through Grand Staircase Escalante to a fantasy land of hoodoos (tall, thin spires that protrude from the basin)5. Though these formations can be found all over the world, they’re more prevalent here than anywhere else.

Top Activities in Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon truly has something for everyone, including families and visitors with adventurous dogs:

  • Do the Scenic Drive with the Guide Along App: A wonderful kid-friendly activity to learn more about the place as you stop at Inspiration and Rainbow Points2.
  • Hike Queen’s Garden to Navajo Trail (1.8 miles, moderate): Queen’s Garden is a short 0.9-mile route that drops 320 feet below the rim. The trail can loop back up by connecting with either branch of the Navajo Loop.
  • Explore Nearby Red Canyon: This is a mini version of Bryce that you can explore with your pups.

Zion National Park

Carved by water and time for millennia, the park invites you to participate in the very forces that forged it. Zion translates to “The Promised Land,” so we saved it for last. Before hitting two of the most epic hikes in the country, take time to rest—you’ll thank yourself3.

Top Activities in Zion National Park

This park is the perfect place to enjoy sunny days year-round and seemingly endless options for outdoor adventure and recreational activities:

  • Explore Springdale, St. George, and Hurricane: Resting up between hikes is an ideal time for shopping, visiting local galleries, and refueling in the towns surrounding the park.
  • Experience Rest and Rejuvenation at Zion Canyon Hot Springs: Located near Hurricane, this self-care destination boasts 50+ bodies of water including natural mineral waters, globally-inspired mineral soaking pools, a large family pool, cold plunges, barrel saunas, a cafe and bar, and more! It’s the perfect place to soothe your aching muscles before getting back on the trails.
  • Take the First Shuttle to Hike the Narrows (up to 9 miles, moderate) or Angels Landing Trail (5.4 miles, strenuous; permit required): The Narrows is a water hike to a slot canyon through some of the most beautiful rock forms in the Southwest. Stop in at the Visitor Center first to check conditions. Angels Landing, a top hike in the country, is a harrowing climb up roughly 1,500 vertical feet along the narrow fin of stone, but the views alone are worth the whole trip.

Whether you want to focus on one park at a time or plan the adventure of a lifetime by seeing a little of everything, Zion Canyon Hot Springs is the place to unwind and recover. Enjoy our pools and amenities and create a one-of-a-kind experience that will leave you feeling your best.

Sources:

  1. The Mighty 5. Visit Utah. Retrieved July 22, 2025, from https://www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/parks-outdoors/the-mighty-5
  2. Borchers, K. (26 December 2024). The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks with Young Kids. Dr. Kayla Borchers Holistic Physical Therapy & Wellness. Retrieved July 22, 2025, from https://drkaylaborchers.com/utah-mighty-five-with-young-kids/
  3. The Mighty 5: The Ultimate Journey. Visit Utah. Retrieved July 22, 2025, from https://www.visitutah.com/plan-your-trip/recommended-itineraries/the-mighty-5-ultimate-journey
  4. Exploring The Mighty 5 With Your Dog. Dog Friendly SLC. Retrieved July 22, 2025, from https://dogfriendlyslc.com/exploring-the-mighty-5-with-your-dog/
  5. (18 October 2024). Ultimate Utah Mighty 5 National Park Road Trip Itinerary. Lita of the Pack. Retrieved July 22, 2025, from https://www.litaofthepack.com/utah-mighty-5-road-trip/
  6. (26 June 2025). Utah’s Mighty 5: How to Plan the Perfect Road Trip Itinerary. Earth Trekkers. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.earthtrekkers.com/utah-mighty-5-travel-guide-and-road-trip-itinerary/

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Utah National Park Trips Powered by Outside. Retrieved September 3, 2025, from https://www.myutahparks.com/road-trips/road-trip-stops/kanab-kane-county-ut/

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You’ll find an endless moody expanse of sky and desert rock, including the preserved Water Pocket Fold (a rippling of the earth’s crust 100 miles long) and a place steeped in Mormon settler and Indigenous history6. Top Activities at Capitol Reef National Park Discover what makes this hidden gem one of Utah’s finest national parks, including a taste of history and spectacular starlight: View Petroglyphs East of the Visitor Center and Hike Through to Capitol Gorge (1 mile, easy): View etchings made by ancient Puebloan and Freemont indigenous people. Hike Hickman Bridge Trail (2 miles, easy): Perfect for kids with plenty of rocks for them to climb on safely2. Grab Some Pie at the Gifford Homestead: From June through October, you can pick fruit from the orchards and sample some of the best baked goods around at this former Mormon settlement. This is also a rare dog-friendly trail from the Visitor Center. Watch the Sunset at Sunset Pt. and Stay for Stargazing: As a Designated Dark Sky park, this is one of the best spots in the country to see the Milky Way. Bryce Canyon National Park Drive the breathtaking Scenic Byway 12 from Capitol Reef, which passes through Grand Staircase Escalante to a fantasy land of hoodoos (tall, thin spires that protrude from the basin)5. Though these formations can be found all over the world, they’re more prevalent here than anywhere else. Top Activities in Bryce Canyon National Park Bryce Canyon truly has something for everyone, including families and visitors with adventurous dogs: Do the Scenic Drive with the Guide Along App: A wonderful kid-friendly activity to learn more about the place as you stop at Inspiration and Rainbow Points2. Hike Queen’s Garden to Navajo Trail (1.8 miles, moderate): Queen’s Garden is a short 0.9-mile route that drops 320 feet below the rim. The trail can loop back up by connecting with either branch of the Navajo Loop. Explore Nearby Red Canyon: This is a mini version of Bryce that you can explore with your pups. Zion National Park Carved by water and time for millennia, the park invites you to participate in the very forces that forged it. Zion translates to “The Promised Land,” so we saved it for last. Before hitting two of the most epic hikes in the country, take time to rest—you’ll thank yourself3. Top Activities in Zion National Park This park is the perfect place to enjoy sunny days year-round and seemingly endless options for outdoor adventure and recreational activities: Explore Springdale, St. George, and Hurricane: Resting up between hikes is an ideal time for shopping, visiting local galleries, and refueling in the towns surrounding the park. Experience Rest and Rejuvenation at Zion Canyon Hot Springs: Located near Hurricane, this self-care destination boasts 50+ bodies of water including natural mineral waters, globally-inspired mineral soaking pools, a large family pool, cold plunges, barrel saunas, a cafe and bar, and more! It’s the perfect place to soothe your aching muscles before getting back on the trails. Take the First Shuttle to Hike the Narrows (up to 9 miles, moderate) or Angels Landing Trail (5.4 miles, strenuous; permit required): The Narrows is a water hike to a slot canyon through some of the most beautiful rock forms in the Southwest. Stop in at the Visitor Center first to check conditions. Angels Landing, a top hike in the country, is a harrowing climb up roughly 1,500 vertical feet along the narrow fin of stone, but the views alone are worth the whole trip. Whether you want to focus on one park at a time or plan the adventure of a lifetime by seeing a little of everything, Zion Canyon Hot Springs is the place to unwind and recover. Enjoy our pools and amenities and create a one-of-a-kind experience that will leave you feeling your best. Sources: The Mighty 5. Visit Utah. Retrieved July 22, 2025, from https://www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/parks-outdoors/the-mighty-5 Borchers, K. (26 December 2024). The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks with Young Kids. Dr. Kayla Borchers Holistic Physical Therapy & Wellness. Retrieved July 22, 2025, from https://drkaylaborchers.com/utah-mighty-five-with-young-kids/ The Mighty 5: The Ultimate Journey. Visit Utah. Retrieved July 22, 2025, from https://www.visitutah.com/plan-your-trip/recommended-itineraries/the-mighty-5-ultimate-journey Exploring The Mighty 5 With Your Dog. Dog Friendly SLC. Retrieved July 22, 2025, from https://dogfriendlyslc.com/exploring-the-mighty-5-with-your-dog/ (18 October 2024). Ultimate Utah Mighty 5 National Park Road Trip Itinerary. Lita of the Pack. Retrieved July 22, 2025, from https://www.litaofthepack.com/utah-mighty-5-road-trip/ (26 June 2025). Utah’s Mighty 5: How to Plan the Perfect Road Trip Itinerary. Earth Trekkers. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.earthtrekkers.com/utah-mighty-5-travel-guide-and-road-trip-itinerary/