Utah has some of the most beautiful National Parks in the USA! From a sky-high collection of arches and an amphitheater of eccentric hoodoos to narrow slot canyons and remote dirt roads, the Utah “Mighty Five” National Parks has something for every type of adventurer, photographer, hiker, and traveler.
So which Utah National Parks are worth the visit? In short, all of them are worth seeing on a bucket list-worthy Utah Mighty Five National Parks Road Trip. I myself have visited all five parks and plan to go back to each one simply because of how much I enjoyed them and how much more I have left to do. But if you are short on time or are curious about which ones are the “best” or “worst,” then continue reading as I rank all five of the Utah National Parks.
First, let me clarify that all of these parks are stunning, and each one is worth visiting. I hesitated to write a blog post like this that could paint certain National Parks in a negative light, so I need to specify what the goal of this blog article is. I aim to share the strengths and weaknesses by ranking the parks on six different factors (which I’ll mention next) to help you decide which Utah National Park (or parks) is worth your time.
Utah National Parks Ranking System
So how could I possibly rank the Utah National Parks? I created six factors that are important to me (and what I believe to be important to my readers aka YOU) when considering which National Park or other public lands to visit.
- Recreation – Are there diverse recreational opportunities found in the park like hiking, biking, paddling, climbing, camping, etc? I consider the amount/variety of recreation.
- Scenery – How scenic and photogenic is the park? Landscapes, wildlife, and structures are all taken into account.
- Crowds – How crowded is the park? I consider vehicle traffic, entrance station lines, amount of busy overlooks, congested trails, limited campsite/trail permit availability, etc.
- Amenities – Are there developed amenities in the park like campgrounds, restrooms, visitor centers, lodges, restaurants, etc?
- Accessibility – Is the park easy to access? I consider vehicle access, transportation options, parking, proximity to major airports, and in-park or nearby camping/lodging accommodations and services.
- Trails – Are the trails diverse? In other words, is there a good balance of easy, moderate, and strenuous trails? Is there a variety of scenes on the trails? How many trails are there? Are there trails that can be both day hiked and backpacked? How scenic are the trails?
Since you might hold more weight in one category than another, I will share my overall ranking (EX: 50/60) and a ranking breakdown (EX: Recreation: 8/10, Accessibility: 5/10) to help you see which park is stronger or weaker in each category.
For example, one park might have an overall ranking that is higher than another park, but the higher-rated park might have a lower score in one of the categories (maybe, recreation). So if recreation is the most important factor to you when considering which park(s) to visit, make sure you look at the breakdown (not just the overall score) to see which park(s) have the highest ranking in the recreation category.
To help you further plan your trip to the parks, I’ve included details on when to go and how long to visit, where to stay, the best things to do, and links to all of my in-depth individual guides on EACH of the Utah National Parks.
Make sense? Phew, okay, let’s get to it! Here are the Utah National Parks Ranked “Best” to “Worst.”
Utah National Parks Ranked Best to Worst
#1. Bryce Canyon National Park
- Recreation: 9/10
- Scenery: 10/10
- Crowds: 8/10
- Amenities: 9/10
- Accessibility: 9/10
- Trails: 10/10
When to Go
The best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park is May through September. Visiting Bryce in the summer and early fall will allow you to hike all of the trails with a snow-free experience. The weather is warmest during these months too!
If you’re okay with strapping on a pair of snowshoes, consider visiting Bryce Canyon in the winter months (October through April). Since the park sits at such a high elevation, snow and cool temperatures come early in the year and tend to linger. You won’t want to miss the fresh white snow blanketing the orange hoodoos!
Plan to spend at least one full day in Bryce Canyon. If you want to add backpacking, horseback riding, or one of the ranger programs to your hiking agenda, you should plan on spending at least two days in the park.
Where to Stay
- Lodge at Bryce Canyon. The only lodge in the National Park.
- Sunset Campground. Close to the amphitheater (and many of the trails).
- Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn. Located right outside of the park. There is a shuttle stop at this hotel!
Best Things to Do
- Hike the Figure 8 Loop (Queen’s Garden, Navajo, and Peek-a-boo Loop).
- Walk the Rim Trail.
- Drive to Rainbow Point and walk the Bristlecone Pines Loop.
- Take the shuttle to learn about the park and get dropped off at different destinations around the amphitheater.
- Go horseback riding in the canyon.
Read my Complete Guide to Bryce Canyon National Park!
#2. Capitol Reef National Park
- Recreation: 10/10
- Scenery: 10/10
- Crowds: 9/10
- Amenities: 6/10
- Accessibility: 7/10
- Trails: 10/10
When to Go
The best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park is spring and fall. Summers get toasty in the desert, so visiting in the cooler months will allow you to experience all of the hikes without collapsing from heat exhaustion. (It can still get hot in the spring and fall, especially during the day, so come prepared with plenty of water, a water-soaked bandana to wrap around your neck, and a cold pack that you can crack in heat emergencies!)
Plan on spending at least 1-2 days in Capitol Reef. We only had one day and regretted the lack of time we had in the park. There is plenty to do and see to keep you busy for at least two days!
Where to Stay
- Fruita Campground. The only developed campground in the park.
- Cathedral Valley Campground. Primitive campground in the Cathedral Valley district.
- Capitol Reef Resort. Rooms, suites, and glamping options.
Best Things to Do
- Eat a pie at Gifford Homestead. They’re open for the season on Pi Day! (March 14th)
- Cruise the Scenic Drive and Highway 24 for some epic views.
- Hike the Cassidy Arch and Grand Wash trails.
- Venture into the Cathedral Valley district.
- Stargaze at Panoramic Point.
Read my Complete Guide to Capitol Reef National Park!
#3. Zion National Park
- Recreation: 10/10
- Scenery: 10/10
- Crowds: 6/10
- Amenities: 10/10
- Accessibility: 5/10
- Trails: 10/10
When to Go
The overall best time to visit Zion National Park is spring and fall. In the summer, crowds are thick and the heat can be unbearable. We visited in late summer (around the middle of September), and temperatures were still above 100 degrees Fahrenheit for all three days that we were there.
If you’re wanting to hike the Narrows, avoid spring because the canyon is often closed for weeks (or sometimes, months) due to the high water levels from the winter run-off. The best time to hike the Narrows is in the summer and fall.
If you don’t mind cooler temperatures or occasional snowfall risk, consider visiting in the winter. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is open to vehicles, and crowds are much slimmer. Be prepared to be flexible with your plans as trails could temporarily close due to hazardous conditions.
Plan on spending at least 2-3 days in Zion.
Where to Stay
- Watchman Campground. Located near the South entrance.
- Pioneer Lodge. Located in Springdale. The shuttle stops here!
- Under Canvas Glamping. Glamping sites!
Best Things to Do
- Hike the Narrows.
- Bike the Pa’Rus Trail.
- Navigate the Subway (permit required).
- Bike the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (vehicles aren’t allowed on this road during the spring, summer, and fall seasons).
- Go canyoneering in the slot canyons.
Read my Complete Guide to Zion National Park!
#4 Canyonlands National Park
- Recreation: 10/10
- Scenery: 10/10
- Crowds: 9/10
- Amenities: 6/10
- Accessibility: 5/10
- Trails: 10/10
When to Go
The best time to visit Canyonlands National Park is spring and fall. The summer months can get dangerously hot. Sensing a trend here? The desert is not really a place you want to be in the summer unless you love heat and come prepared.
One day is enough time in Canyonlands if you’re just spending time at the Island In The Sky District. If you’ll be venturing to the other districts – Maze, Needles, and Horseshoe Canyon – you’ll need more time. The districts are far apart from each other, and the Maze, Needles, and Horseshoe Canyon districts are all remote and require 4×4 access. For more in-depth information about each of the districts, read my Canyonlands Districts guide.
Where to Stay
- Island in the Sky (Willow Flat) Campground. Island in the Sky campground.
- Under Canvas Moab. Glamping in Moab near Island in the Sky.
- The Needles Campground. Campground in the Needles.
Best Things to Do
- Drive White Rim Road in Island of the Sky.
- Spend a day off-roading in the Needles.
- Spend a day off-roading in the Maze.
- Hike to Grand View Point in Island of the Sky.
- Hike to Druid Arch in the Needles.
Read my Complete Guide to Canyonlands National Park!
#5. Arches National Park
- Recreation: 10/10
- Scenery: 10/10
- Crowds: 6/10
- Amenities: 6/10
- Accessibility: 7/10
- Trails: 10/10
When to Go
The best time to visit Arches National Park is spring and fall. In the summer, crowds choke the scenic drive and the trailheads, and the heat can be excruciating.
While snow is possible even in the desert of Arches, it can be a great time to visit to escape the crowds and gaze at the snow dusting the red rocks.
Plan to spend 1-2 days exploring Arches National Park.
→ Read Next: 6 Best Hikes in Arches National Park
Where to Stay
- Under Canvas Moab. Glamping in Moab.
- Devil’s Garden. The only camping in the National Park.
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites. Hotel in Moab.
Best Things to Do
- Hike to Delicate Arch (GO EARLY!)
- Hike the primitive Devil’s Garden loop.
- Hike the Fiery Furnace either by yourself or with a ranger. (Permit required)
- Go off-roading with a 4×4 or mountain bike on Willow Flats.
- Stargaze at the Windows District.
Read my Complete Guide to Arches National Park!
Summary
No matter which Utah National Park (or Parks) you decide to venture to, I hope you have fun on all of your adventures!
