Utah Mighty 5
5 national parks in 5 days - two very dusty people
We did Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce, and Zion in five days. This is how we'd do it again — and where we'd linger longer.
Follow the route.
Click a pin. Read the note. The whole trip, in stops.
The route, stop by stop.
Moab
Cute desert town with lots of shops. A great place to stop, refuel, and get a bite to eat while you're exploring Arches and Canyonlands.
Arches NP
This park certainly lived up to its name. So many arches to see and it took all day to see them all starting before the sun came up till after it had set.
Canyonlands
Woke up early for a sunrise at Mesa Arch, turns out everyone else did too. After getting as close to the front as we could with about 100 other people, we witnessed one of the most perfect sunrise locations ever.
Hollow Mountain
While you're on your way from Canyonlands, you'll need to stop for gas. Is there anywhere better than a hollowed out hill with a convenience store built inside. It's a super unique stop to fill up and grab some snacks before hitting the road again.
Moonscape Overlook
Moonscape Overlook is a great little stop between Canyonlands and Capitol Reef. It is a remarkable view of an otherworldly landscape that definitely looks like it's from the moon. The drive out to it is bumpy and it's really just a viewpoint with a place to camp on BLM land if you're interested.
Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef ended up being our favorite park out of the Mighty 5. A beautiful park with towering walls, narrow canyon hikes, and of course, PIES! Learning the history of the settlement with the beautiful desert landscape all around was incredible.
Bryce Canyon
Got to Bryce Canyon just after eating lunch at Ruby's Inn Cowboy's Buffet & Steak Room. Arrived at Sunset Point and started the Navajo Loop. A 3 mile trail that gets you down in the canyon and lets you see some of the highlights like Wall Street and Thor's Hammer. Continue on the Queen's Garden Trail for a longer hike that ends at Sunrise point. Be sure to catch sunset on the Rim Trail to end your day.
Zion
It's easy to see why Zion is the most popular of the Mighty 5. The canyon is breathtaking. Going to the end of the canyon and seeing the river that feeds the lush green plants against the dry, rocky canyon walls is so incredible. This park has so much to see. Doing the Narrows or Angel's Landing can take you hours to a whole day. Since we only had one day, we did shorter trails like Canyon Overlook, Weeping Rock, and the Watchman. The shuttle is a great way to see all the different spots in Zion Canyon. Recommend at least 2 days if you're doing one of the big hikes.
Gallery.
Film frames and phone snaps from the road.