How to Visit Utah’s National Parks
A family road trip through Utah’s five national parks and the surrounding areas is a classic American vacation. Of course if you’re traveling over summer vacation, you may not be the only one on the road. In fact, June is one of the busiest months for Utah’s national parks. What does that mean for you? Well, if you can be flexible with your travel, it can yield big rewards.
We’re human; we forget things. For your trip to any of The Mighty Five, some things are more essential than others. Visitors are advised to carry a lot of water — at least one gallon per person per day. In Zion, there are several water refilling stations, so you don’t have to carry in absolutely everything you’re going to drink during your stay unless you have a permit for more remote areas. Arches National Park near Moab has water at the visitor center near the entrance and at the Devils Garden Campground. There's a water bottle filling station in the visitor center of Bryce Canyon National Park. In other areas of the national parks in Utah, water is significantly more scarce, particularly in Canyonlands National Park. If there are any concerns, check at the visitor center to learn about water availability and always plan ahead. Many travelers carry water coolers or extra jugs of water in their cars to fill up before a hike.
5 Tips to Help You Prepare
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State Parks Near the Mighty 5
Visitors to Utah quickly realize the natural beauty extends well beyond the national parks. Here’s eight state parks you won’t want to miss.
There are many ways to explore Southern Utah. Stunning images and the promise of big adventure lure travelers from around the world to The Mighty 5® national parks. Once here, visitors soon realize Utah’s natural beauty extends well beyond their borders. Some of Utah’s best state parks dot the landscape of Mighty Five country, swaddled by adventurous national forest or the rugged Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Here are eight enticing state parks along the The Mighty 5 road trip, which means each day you’ll have the option to stop at the national parks if it’s your first time to Utah, or leave them for the other travelers if you’re looking to see Utah from another angle. Best of all, most of these parks offer a wider array of recreation opportunities, including mountain biking, ATV riding, kayaking, SUPing, boating and fishing (with a Utah fishing license of course).
Here are eight enticing state parks along the The Mighty 5 road trip, which means each day you’ll have the option to stop at the national parks if it’s your first time to Utah, or leave them for the other travelers if you’re looking to see Utah from another angle. Best of all, most of these parks offer a wider array of recreation opportunities, including mountain biking, ATV riding, kayaking, SUPing, boating and fishing (with a Utah fishing license of course).
Dining Between The Mighty 5
Whether you’re visiting a single Utah national park or all five, take time to explore and enjoy the local food on the spectacular routes between the parks.
Known as The Mighty 5, Utah’s national parks — Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion — are the rock stars of the rock world. And just like hearing your favorite band or tasting a memorable meal, the moments of anticipation throughout your visit are a slice of the experience, ones that you savor long after you returned home.
Savvy travelers know that experiencing The Mighty 5 a la carte or as a multi-course meal is more than stamping your visitors' pass, snapping photos at the must-do viewpoints and then exiting through the gift shop. It is observing each park in context: its geology, history and culture, both ancient and contemporary.
The parks are more than exquisite rock formations and iconic hikes; petroglyphs and dwellings are found throughout. Indeed, people have always been a part of where The Mighty 5 stand today, and the roads and trails that connect them tell stories of the inhabitants and their foods that settled in these incredible and, sometimes, inhospitable lands. So, whether you’re visiting a single park or all of them, take time to explore and enjoy a coffee, pastry, meal or dessert on the spectacular routes between The Mighty 5, prepared by those drawn to these remote, rugged and romantic surrounds. To paraphrase Anthony Bourdain, you haven’t experienced Paris if you’ve only seen the Eiffel Tower. Eat the croissant!
Savvy travelers know that experiencing The Mighty 5 a la carte or as a multi-course meal is more than stamping your visitors' pass, snapping photos at the must-do viewpoints and then exiting through the gift shop. It is observing each park in context: its geology, history and culture, both ancient and contemporary.
The parks are more than exquisite rock formations and iconic hikes; petroglyphs and dwellings are found throughout. Indeed, people have always been a part of where The Mighty 5 stand today, and the roads and trails that connect them tell stories of the inhabitants and their foods that settled in these incredible and, sometimes, inhospitable lands. So, whether you’re visiting a single park or all of them, take time to explore and enjoy a coffee, pastry, meal or dessert on the spectacular routes between The Mighty 5, prepared by those drawn to these remote, rugged and romantic surrounds. To paraphrase Anthony Bourdain, you haven’t experienced Paris if you’ve only seen the Eiffel Tower. Eat the croissant!
Check out this family-friendly itinerary from Bryce Canyon National Park to Kanab, with great hikes for kids, impeccable local eats and unbeatable sunset locations.
Southern Utah is what family road trip dreams are made of. With five national parks and countless other natural wonders, the possibilities for fun are endless. But with limited time and young children, it can be hard to know where to start.
Known for its otherworldly hoodoos, pristine dark skies and easy hiking trails that waste no time getting to the scenic views, Bryce Canyon National Park is a great option for families. So my two boys and I were eager to hit the road to Bryce for a four-day, family-friendly adventure. Beginning in Salt Lake City, with stops in Beaver, Bryce Canyon and Kanab, here are our recommendations for great kid hikes, local eats, unbeatable sunset locations and some unique travel spots to make memories with your family.
Known for its otherworldly hoodoos, pristine dark skies and easy hiking trails that waste no time getting to the scenic views, Bryce Canyon National Park is a great option for families. So my two boys and I were eager to hit the road to Bryce for a four-day, family-friendly adventure. Beginning in Salt Lake City, with stops in Beaver, Bryce Canyon and Kanab, here are our recommendations for great kid hikes, local eats, unbeatable sunset locations and some unique travel spots to make memories with your family.
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