Imagine spending ten jam-packed days road-tripping around southern Utah, exploring canyons, hiking to natural arches, wandering between hoodoos, trekking through raging rivers, and even eating pie and pizza in the most scenic places.
Make this happen by following my adventurous ten-day Utah National Parks itinerary!
As someone who’s explored these National Parks twice and taken this exact road trip, I’ve discovered some pretty amazing hikes, overlooks, and unique activities that I can’t wait to share with you in this itinerary!
With my 10-day Mighty Five Utah National Parks itinerary, you’ll see the best of each park by checking off bucket-list adventures and see parts of the parks most will never see.
Sound exciting?! Let’s go road-tripping!
Adventurous 10-Day Utah Mighty Five National Parks Itinerary
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on the links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks so much for your support!
Getting to the Utah National Parks
The five Utah National Parks, often referred to as the “Utah Mighty Five,” are all conveniently tucked into Southern Utah, each just a few hours apart from one another.
This, of course, is a huge reason why so many people (including me) choose to knock out all five in one giant road trip!
The best starting point for your road trip is Las Vegas, Nevada. So if you’re not local to Utah or don’t live within driving distance, fly into Harry Reid International Airport.
From the airport, rent a car and drive a little less than 3 hours to the first park on this itinerary, Zion.
Your road trip snapshot: Las Vegas > Zion > Bryce Canyon > Capitol Reef > Arches > Canyonlands > Las Vegas
Where to Stay When Visiting the Utah National Parks
To maximize your time in each park, I recommend staying inside each park. Some parks have lodging and camping, while other parks just offer camping.
If you don’t like to camp, or can’t snag a stay inside the parks, I’ll recommend a backup option or two for each park.
Zion: (3 nights)
- (Recommended) Watchman Campground – year-round campsites that can be reserved 6 months in advance, located near the Zion Canyon entrance and Watchman Trail
- (Recommended) South Campground – seasonal campsites that can be reserved 2 weeks in advance
- (Recommended) Zion Lodge – in-park lodge just steps from Emerald Pool Trail
- Petty Ranch Inn – within walking distance (or short shuttle ride) from the Zion Canyon
Bryce Canyon: (2 nights)
- (Recommended) North Campground – year-round campsites that can be reserved 6 months in advance, just steps from the Rim Trail and Fairyland Loop
- (Recommended) Sunset Campground – seasonal campsites that can be reserved up to 2 weeks in advance, located across the road from the Rim Trail and Sunset Point
- (Recommended) Bryce Canyon Lodge – in-park lodge just steps from the amphitheater between Sunrise and Sunset Points
- Best Western + Ruby’s Inn – no-frills hotel just a short shuttle ride from the park entrance
Capitol Reef: (2 nights)
- (Recommended) Fruita Campground – in-park campground in the heart of the lush fruit orchards, walking distance from Cohab Canyon and 10-minute drive to Cassidy Arch trailhead
- Capitol Reef Resort – glamping wagons, tepees, cabins, and western-themed rooms with on-site guided llama hikes, horseback rides, and Jeep Safaris, just 5 minutes from the park
- Red Sands Hotel – mountain retreat just 5 minutes from the park entrance and Chimney Rock trailhead
- Cougar Ridge Resort Ranch – luxury villas just 10 minutes from the park entrance and Chimney Rock trailhead
Arches: (2 nights)
- (Recommended) Devils Garden Campground – in-park campground in the heart of the red rocks, just steps from the Broken Arch Trail
- Red Cliffs Lodge – riverside retreat with unbeatable views, offers horseback trail rides, waterfront cabanas, and a heated pool, 30 minutes from the park entrance
- Under Canvas Moab – desert glamping with safari-inspired tents, perfect basecamp for exploring both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
Canyonlands: (2 nights)
- (Recommended) Needles Campground – in-park campground in the heart of the Needles
- Needles Outpost Campground – if you can’t snag a site in the park, this is the next closest camping option; campsites are just two miles from the Visitor Center
- Glamping Canyonlands – off-grid glamping tents, 45 minutes from the Visitor Center
- Inn at the Canyons in Monticello, Utah – 1 hour from the Visitor Center
- Best Western Plus Canyonlands Inn in Moab, Utah – 1.5 hours from the Visitor Center
When to Visit the Utah National Parks
The Utah National Parks are gorgeous year-round, but I recommend visiting in the spring or fall.
Each park sits at a different elevation, so visiting in spring and fall will help give you the best chance at avoiding extreme hot/cold weather, snow, and heavy storms.
We’ve been to the parks in late September, early May, and early June, and they were all great! However, September would be my overall top choice for a Utah Mighty Five National Parks road trip.
10 Day Utah Mighty Five National Parks Itinerary Overview
For this itinerary, you’ll need 10 full days in the parks, so plan a total of 12 days to account for one travel day at each end.
(Day before: fly into Harry Reid + drive to Zion. Stay overnight in Zion)
Day 1: Explore Zion. Canyon Overlook + The Narrows + Emerald Pools + Watchman
Day 2: Explore Zion. Bike the Zion Canyon + Hike Angels Landing/West Rim
Day 3: Explore Bryce Canyon. Scenic Drive + Rainbow Point + Fairyland Loop
Day 4: Explore Bryce Canyon. Figure 8 Loop + Rim Trail + (Optional) Horseback Riding
Day 5: Explore Capitol Reef. Cruise the Scenic Drive + Hike Capitol Gorge + Grab Pies From the Gifford House + Explore Sulphur Creek (+ Optional Fruit Picking)
Day 6: Explore Capitol Reef. Hike to Hickman Bridge + Grand Wash + Chimney Rock + Explore Highway 24 Overlooks
Day 7: Explore Arches. Cruise the Scenic Drive + Stop At All Overlooks + Hike Short Trails
Day 8: Explore Arches. Explore the Fiery Furnace + Devils Garden Primitive Loop
Day 9: Explore Canyonlands (Needles). Cruise the Scenic Drive + Hike the Short Trails
Day 10: Explore Canyonlands (Needles). Chesler Park/Joint/Druid Arch Day Hike
(Day after: drive back to Las Vegas)
Day 1: Explore Zion. Canyon Overlook + The Narrows + Emerald Pools + Watchman
Your EPIC Utah National Parks road trip kicks off with…Zion!
There’s no better way to kick off your Zion itinerary than by driving the wildly scenic Zion-Mount Carmel Highway!
Your destination? The Canyon Overlook Trail, ideally at sunrise!
Arriving at the Canyon Overlook Trail at sunrise means you’ll be driving through the scenic highway in the dark, but don’t worry; you’ll get to drive it in the daylight on the way back!
From Springdale, head east and take the endless switchbacks out of the canyon, driving through the famous one-mile-long Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel along the way!
Be prepared to pay the $35 entrance fee or show your America the Beautiful Parks Pass before reaching the trailhead!
NOTE: Vehicles longer than 35 feet 9 inches, taller than 11 feet 4 inches, wider than 7 feet 10 inches, and/or heavier than 50,000 pounds are not allowed on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. Get more info here.
To hike the Canyon Overlook Trail, park in the trailhead lot right off the highway. The moderate 1-mile roundtrip trail leads to an epic viewpoint that rivals Angels Landing, but without the crazy effort!
Next, it’s time to head into the most famous section of Zion, the Zion Canyon. You’ll get to drive the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway again, this time going back down into the canyon, and this time in the daylight! The views around each bend are insane!
Unless you’re staying at the Zion Lodge, you won’t be allowed to drive on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive from March through November. So to get around the canyon and to the major trailheads, you will have to bike or ride the shuttle bus.
Since, spoiler alert, you’ll be biking tomorrow, I’d utilize the Zion Canyon shuttle bus today. That is, unless you want to rent bikes two days in a row, of course! Up to you!
If you decide to take the shuttle bus, you have a few options for parking:
- Visitor Center – walk to the shuttle station
- Your campsite at Watchman or South Campground – walk to the shuttle station
- Your Springdale accommodations – take the free Springdale shuttle bus into the park
Pay the $35 entrance fee (or show your America the Beautiful Pass to get in for free) and board the shuttle bus near the Visitor Center.
Side note: While you’re at the visitor center, you can also grab a map, stamp your passport book, fill up your water bottles, shop for souvenirs, and ask the rangers any questions you have, etc.
Okay, back to the shuttle! Ride all the way to the very last stop, Temple of Sinawava, and hop out. Welcome to your next hike, the Narrows!
As the name suggests, the Narrows is the most constricted section of Zion Canyon – some sections are just 20 to 30 feet wide! With the raging Virgin River winding between towering, thousand-foot rock walls, it’s easy to see why this is one of the most iconic hikes in Zion National Park.
The hike begins gently, with an easy, scenic 1-mile riverside walk. But once the paved portion ends, you’ll step into the water and begin your adventurous, exciting trek through the Virgin River!
The beauty of this trail is that you can hike as far into the canyon as you want (up to Big Spring) before turning around and heading back the way you came.
A few popular turnaround spots along the way are:
- Mystery Falls – 110-foot waterfall, 3 miles roundtrip
- Wall Street – narrowest and most scenic section, 6-8 miles roundtrip
- Big Spring – furthest you can go as a day hike, 9.4 miles roundtrip
After your bucket-list hike through the Virgin River, you’re probably going to be wet, tired, and ready for lunch! Catch the shuttle bus and ride it to the Zion Lodge for a bite to eat at the on-site Red Rock Grill.
Then conveniently walk across the street to hike the next trail on the itinerary, Emerald Pools!
Emerald Pools is an ideal spot to spend a warm, sunny afternoon because of all of the pools, shady areas, and waterfalls sprinkled throughout the 3-mile trail.
IMPORTANT: The pools are fragile, and wildlife relies on these rare water sources, so don’t go in the water!
Finally, hop back on the shuttle one last time today and take it all the way back to the Visitor Center. From the Visitor Center, walk over to the Watchman trailhead and hike the highly underrated 3.3-mile Watchman Trail.
The Watchman Trail, which is way less crowded than the others on this itinerary, follows the river at the beginning, then winds around soaring red cliffs and climbs to a panoramic viewpoint of the Watchman Spire and the town of Springdale.
It’s a perfect sunset hike and a great way to cap off the first day of your Utah Mighty Five National Park road trip!
After your first adventurous day in Zion has come to a close, cook dinner at your campsite or head into Springdale for some mouthwatering pizza at Porter’s. Then get a good night’s sleep because you have two more big (and very exciting) adventures tomorrow!
Day 2: Explore Zion. Bike the Zion Canyon + Hike Angels Landing/West Rim
For your last day in the park, I’m going to recommend that you do my very favorite activity in Zion: bike the Zion Canyon!
Biking vehicle-free roads (like the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive) is one of my favorite things to do in any national park, actually!
Exploring the Zion Canyon by bike is a wildly different (and superior) experience than riding the shuttle. Biking gives you freedom and flexibility, plus unobstructed panoramic views of the soaring cliffs.
You can hop on and off your bike wherever you want, whenever you want – never subject to the bus’s limited timeline.
Get an early start by renting bikes in Springdale as soon as the outfitter opens. Remember to book your reservations well in advance; walk-ins are rarely available, especially during peak season.
Before you head into the park, consider what you want to do for lunch. You can either eat at the Zion Lodge again today, or pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of the overlooks or on your hike. Your choice! It helps to plan ahead so you don’t have to leave the park and come back.
Alright, it’s time to pedal into the Zion Canyon! Ride your bike from the outfitter in Springdale to the Pa’Rus Trail to the Zion Canyon.
Enjoy your morning e-biking through the canyon, zipping up the road, and stopping at viewpoints that catch your eye. It’s one of the most scenic bike rides I’ve ever been on!
Once you reach the end of the road, at Temple of Sinawava, turn around and stop at any overlooks you may have skipped on the way back. Don’t miss the Big Bend Overlook!
When you’re ready for a break from riding your bike, I’d recommend hiking Angels Landing and/or the West Rim Trail! Don’t forget to lock up your bike at the trailhead (they’re included with all bike rentals).
Angels Landing is a classic 4.8-mile roundtrip trail famous for its final half-mile ascent on a narrow chained ridge. Hikers are rewarded for the harrowing climb with some of the best views in the entire park.
If you want to hike Angels Landing, you’ll need a permit. And they’re hard to get. But they’re 100% necessary to help limit the foot traffic and maximize visitor safety.
If the chains intimidate you or you can’t snag a permit, you have the option of just hiking a portion of the West Rim Trail instead. This is what we did, and we loved it!
You’ll start at the same trailhead as the Angels Landing hikers (West Rim, just across from the Grotto Picnic Area), but when you reach Scout’s Landing, instead of ascending the chains off to the right, you’ll veer left and continue on the West Rim Trail.
The entire West Rim Trail is about 15 miles point to point, so take this trail only as far as you want or have the time.
The reason I love this option is that it ascends higher than Angels Landing. From the West Rim Trail, you actually look down on Angels Landing, so the views are equally jaw-dropping. And since most prefer to hike Angels Landing, the West Rim Trail is significantly less crowded. Win, win!
After your epic hike on the West Rim Trail or up to Angels Landing, hop back on your bike and finish pedaling down the Zion Canyon.
Return your bikes in Springdale and then catch a beautiful sunset from the Pa’Rus Trail. There are many great spots, especially from the bridges!
After sunset, grab a delicious dinner at the classic Zion Pizza & Noodle Co (or grab takeout and take it to one of the river access spots on the Pa’Rus Trail) before heading back to your campsite or accommodations.
Make sure to look up and see if you can spot the Milky Way! If you don’t see it, don’t worry; there will be many other opportunities to see it along this road trip!
Day 3: Explore Bryce Canyon. Scenic Drive + Rainbow Point + Fairyland Loop
Alright, time to wake up early, continue your road trip, and drive to the next park on the itinerary, Bryce Canyon!
Similar to Zion (and spoiler alert, the rest of the parks), get a proper intro to Bryce Canyon by cruising the scenic drive.
You are allowed to drive your vehicle everywhere in the park, but to prevent traffic and congestion, shuttle buses pick up and drop off visitors throughout Bryce Canyon City and around the amphitheater.
However, if you want to continue further than the amphitheater to Rainbow Point, you will need to hop in your personal vehicle. No shuttle buses venture to Rainbow Point anymore.
So first hop on the shuttle bus to get a free ride around the amphitheater. Jump on and off at different viewpoints, or just sit back and relax and let the driver take you on the entire loop and give you the grand tour.
Make sure to stop at the visitor center (one of the shuttle stops) to grab a map, stamp your passport book, fill your water bottles, pick up a souvenir to add to your collection, etc.
Below is a map of the shuttle bus route. Click here to get the current shuttle schedule.
Next, hop in your personal vehicle and make the drive to Rainbow Point!
The 18-mile scenic drive from the park entrance to Rainbow Point, the highest elevation viewpoint in the park, is incredibly picturesque.
Along the route, there are endless viewpoints to stop at. My favorites past the amphitheater are Natural Bridge and Agua Canyon!
At the end of the road is a surprise: you can wander through a grove of the oldest trees in the world by hiking the short nature walk through the Bristlecone Pines. How unique is that?!
Next, it’s time to think about lunch. You can either enjoy a casual meal at the Bryce Canyon Lodge, or grab some quick bites at the in-park General Store to take with you on the trail! (The latter is my personal choice).
Okay, get ready to step away from the crowds and dive into a quiet, hoodoo-filled oasis by hiking the 8-mile Fairyland Loop!
Starting behind the North Campground off the Rim Trail, the Fairyland Loop dips into the amphitheater, winds around a sea of hoodoos, skirts past a towering natural bridge, and passes by some unique pillar formations like the Sinking Ship, Chinese Wall, and Boat Mesa.
It’s a quieter, equally spectacular version of the Figure 8 Loop (on tomorrow’s itinerary!), just without as many crowds!
Finally, I can’t think of a better way to cap off your first day in Bryce Canyon than grabbing a pizza and watching a gorgeous sunset on the rim.
Conveniently, order a delicious pizza from the in-park pizzeria, next to the Bryce Canyon Lodge.
Then take it to the rim to watch the sun sink behind the hoodoos and the colors paint the sky. Though Sunset Point is the most popular viewpoint to watch the sunset along the rim (due to its name), there honestly isn’t a bad spot to view it along the amphitheater!
Pick an uncrowded spot and enjoy pizza while staring at the backlit hoodoos before heading back to your campsite or accommodations for the night.
Day 4: Explore Bryce Canyon. Figure 8 Loop + Rim Trail + (Optional) Horseback Riding
Welcome to your final day in Bryce Canyon. First up, a sunrise hike on the Figure 8 Loop!
The Figure 8 Loop is one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park. This loop combines the three most popular hikes in the park: Navajo Loop, Queen’s Garden, and Peek-a-boo Loop.
Along this trail, you’ll descend iconic switchbacks, wander amongst the clusters of hoodoos, and stroll along the rim floor with towering pillars rising above you.
This hike starts from Sunrise or Sunset Point (your choice), dips down into the amphitheater at a steep grade, traverses down some scenic switchbacks, and winds around the hoodoos and incredible formations.
Leave the rim and the noise in your rearview as you wander amongst the tall hoodoos.
Expect a bit more crowds on this trail than the Fairyland Loop. However, if you go at sunrise, you likely won’t see many people on the trail. We didn’t!
Next, slip a picnic lunch inside your backpack (grab some snacks and lunch food from the general store, if you’d like) and hike a section of the Rim Trail!
From Fairyland Point to Bryce Point, the Rim Trail skirts the rim of the Bryce Canyon amphitheater. Each section boasts a unique vantage point of the sea of orange pillars.
If you choose to do the entire 5.5-mile (one-way) hiking trail, you’ll pass by points of interest like Sunrise Point and Sunset Point!
And if you get tired, you can hop on the shuttle at one of the many points along the Rim Trail! Just make sure you check current shuttle hours before relying on this transportation.
If you have any extra pockets of time before dinner and sunset, I’d recommend taking a horseback riding tour! You’ll gain a new perspective of Bryce Canyon in a more leisurely, relaxing way.
The NPS designed 4.5 miles of horse trails that you can utilize on either a 2- or 3-hour tour with experienced wranglers.
I didn’t do this during my visit to Bryce Canyon, but I definitely will during my next one!
Lastly, I have two options for you to end your final night in Bryce Canyon, and both involve dinner and a show.
- Dinner and a show from Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill. Enjoy Western entertainment, music, and a buffet!
- Takeout from Ruby’s Inn and take it to the rim. I know you just did this last night, but we did this both nights and didn’t regret it! Enjoy a natural show by watching the sunset along the amphitheater rim.
Day 5: Explore Capitol Reef. Cruise the Scenic Drive + Hike Capitol Gorge + Grab Pies From the Gifford House + Explore Sulphur Creek (+ Optional Fruit Picking)
Good morning! Time to drive from Bryce Canyon to the next park on the road trip, Capitol Reef!
The drive is about 2 hours 15 minutes, so leave as early in the morning as you can. And when you get there, you already know what the first item on your itinerary is going to be: a scenic drive!
While you’re driving through the heart of the park, you can admire the landscape, get a feel for the size of the park, make mental notes about where to stop or how far apart waypoints are, and of course, stop at scenic overlooks along the way.
Before you head into the park, note that aside from some baked goods at the Gifford House, there’s no food in Capitol Reef National Park. Your best bet is to pack/make your own meals to maximize your time spent in the park. Or, you can pop back out to Torrey to grab a bite in between adventures.
Okay, let’s head into the park!
Capitol Reef National Park doesn’t have a typical entrance booth like many of the other parks do. However, there is still an entrance fee. If you don’t have the America the Beautiful Pass, pay the $25 entrance fee at the visitor center at your earliest convenience.
While you’re at the visitor center, you can also grab a map, stamp your passport book, and fill up your water bottles. Plus, shop for souvenirs and ask the rangers any questions you may have!
Alright, time to hop on the Scenic Drive! The park’s main scenic road stretches about 8 miles from the Visitor Center to Capitol Gorge Road. From there, it continues another 2.5 miles on a well-graded dirt road to the Capitol Gorge trailhead.
The drive only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, but give yourself some extra time to pull over at any viewpoints that catch your eye. There are a few pull-offs along the first 8 miles.
When the pavement ends around mile 8, keep going. You’re now on Capitol Gorge Road! Despite being unpaved, it’s well maintained, so most vehicles under 23 feet can safely travel this road to the very end.
Capitol Gorge Road is my favorite stretch of the entire drive! The road narrows, and towering cliffs rise so close on either side that you can’t even see their tops from inside the car. It’s a wildly scenic finish to the drive.
At the end of the road lies the Capitol Gorge Trail parking area. I recommend stretching your legs and taking a break from the car by hiking this easy and scenic trail!
The Capitol Gorge Trail runs about 2.4 miles point to point, but you don’t have to hike the whole trail. If you’re short on time or aren’t feeling up for a long hike, I recommend just hiking the 2.2-mile roundtrip trail to the Tanks and back.
The trail twists and turns through a narrow wash with soaring canyon walls and passes a few panels of petroglyphs before eventually scrambling up a cliff to a series of natural potholes that collect rainwater and snowmelt.
These potholes, referred to as the Tanks, are a bit tricky to get to. Even though the turnoff to the Tanks is clear, the route to them is not. Use AllTrails to help stay on track!
After your fun hike through the rocky Capitol Gorge wash, head back the way you came and enjoy a riverside picnic lunch at the Doc Inglesby Picnic Area.
And for dessert? Pie! The Gifford House, conveniently across the road from the picnic area, sells all kinds of homemade goods like cinnamon rolls, ice cream, cookies, and their specialty, pies. You have to see why they’re so famous!
Next, if you visit the park during the summer or fall, you can spend your afternoon doing something you can’t do at any other national park in the country (that I know of): picking fruit!
Capitol Reef’s orchards house over 1,900 fruit trees, including apple, peach, pear, apricot, and more!
And from around late June through mid-October, the park opens some of the orchards up to the public and allows fruit picking!
A note from the NPS: “Only harvest ripe fruit from orchards that have ‘U-Pick Fruit signs. Fruit taken from the orchards must be paid for. A self-pay station, scale, and sign listing fruit prices is located near the entrance of orchards open for fruit harvest.“
Fenced orchard hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and unfenced orchard hours are dawn to dusk, so midday is the perfect time to go fruit picking!
Finally, cap off your first day in Capitol Reef by heading back to the visitor center. Most people (including us, for the longest time!!) don’t know that less than a mile behind the visitor center lies something super rare in the desert…a waterfall!
Until 2026, we had no idea this spot even existed! We finally hiked the Sulphur Creek Trail during our most recent visit in June. Since conditions were dry, the creek and the waterfall weren’t flowing. But it was still pretty! There were small pools in the creek, so I can only imagine how beautiful it is during the rainy season.
Even if you visit in the drier months, I still recommend hiking the trail to Sulphur Creek Waterfall. The trail from the Visitor Center is only 1.6 miles roundtrip, and it runs along (and through) the wash/creek until it dead-ends at the falls. Even if you don’t see a flowing creek and/or waterfall, the hike itself is beautiful!
Pssst: Since the trail travels through the creek at times, I’m assuming that you’d need hiking sandals in the wet months!
After a full day of scenic driving, hiking, fruit picking, and exploring, you’ll likely have worked up an appetite. Head back to your campground to cook dinner or grab dinner from Rim Rock Patio in Torrey, just seven miles from the Visitor Center.
Day 6: Explore Capitol Reef. Hike to Hickman Bridge + Grand Wash + Chimney Rock + Explore Highway 24 Overlooks
Today, we’re sticking to the Highway 24 section of Capitol Reef National Park by going for three truly epic hikes and even venturing to a few scenic overlooks that will leave your jaw on the floor!
Once again, it’s best to bring your own meals into the park…at least your lunch! Because today is going to be filled with tons of hiking, and you’re likely not going to want to leave the park!
First up, Hickman Bridge! I put this trail first on the itinerary today because the parking lot tends to fill up by 8 AM. So try to get there as early as you can!
Just 1.7 miles roundtrip, this hike begins along the Fremont River before climbing a series of switchbacks and traversing slickrock to Hickman Bridge, a stunning 133-foot natural arch that you can walk under and through!
This short and sweet hike is a perfect day starter!
Next, drive about 2.5 miles east on Highway 24 to get to the next trail: Grand Wash! Parking is on the shoulder of the highway, so use caution when entering and exiting.
Grand Wash, a dry rockbed flanked by towering rock walls, extends 2.5 miles from Highway 24 to the Cassidy Arch trailhead. Technically, you can start at either end, but we started at the Highway 24 trailhead because we were already in the area hiking Hickman Bridge.
The entire hike through Grand Wash (point to point) is 2.5 miles, but the most scenic part is just a little over 1 mile in from Highway 24. This section is called The Narrows because it’s the narrowest point of the canyon! In this corridor, you’ll feel like the canyon walls, just 15 to 20 feet apart, are hugging you.
While you can certainly hike the entire 5-mile trail, we were told that the Narrows was the most scenic and that the rest of the trail beyond it was similar to the first mile. So we turned around and headed back to our car!
Back at the trailhead, turn around and head back the other direction on Highway 24 (toward Torrey) to reach your final hike of the day, Chimney Rock.
Since lunchtime is slowly approaching, either have a picnic lunch at the Chimney Rock trailhead or slip some food into your pack to enjoy at one of the overlooks. The latter option is my personal choice!
The Chimney Rock Trail, 3.6 miles roundtrip, is famous for its bird’s-eye views of Capitol Reef. In this loop, you’ll be winding from the base of the red rocks to the tip-tops and getting an aerial view of Highway 24 and the surrounding red-cliffed desert.
Before dinner, I’d recommend you make a couple of quick pitstops. Just a mile east of the Chimney Rock trailhead, off Highway 24, are a few scenic overlooks and short and sweet hikes that are worth checking out, especially near sunset:
- Panorama Point
- Goosenecks Overlook
- Sunset Point
First up is Panorama Point. This overlook is right off the highway and features, you guessed it, panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. In-your-face red cliffs, bush-dotted rock, and distant mountains roll on seemingly endlessly in all directions.
The other two viewpoints are located about a mile down a gravel road from Panorama Point. Due to its narrow width, oversized vehicles are not allowed on this road.
At the end of the road, you’ll find two trailheads to two different viewpoints. Goosenecks Point is about a tenth of a mile from the parking lot, while Sunset Point is about a third of a mile one way. I’d recommend hiking them both!
Alright, since you’re just a few miles from Torrey, this is a good day to try some local food in town! I’d recommend Capitol Burger!
With a full belly, it’s time to head back to your accommodations and rest up for tomorrow. You’re heading to Arches!
Day 7: Explore Arches. Cruise the Scenic Drive + Stop At All Overlooks + Hike Short Trails
Welcome to another driving day! Wake up bright and early and drive 2.5 hours to the next park, Arches!
There’s no better introduction to Arches National Park than, you guessed it, cruising the scenic drive!
There’s just something welcoming about zooming out and getting a wide-angle overview of the park I’m about to dive into and explore.
Aside from driving the main park road, you’ll spend today stopping at all of the scenic overlooks and hiking the short trails along the way.
Before you head to the park entrance, note that there’s no food in Arches National Park. I’d recommend you pack/make your own meals to maximize your time spent in the park. Or, you can pop back out to Moab to grab a bite in between adventures.
Alright, let’s head into the park!
Once you pay the $30 entrance fee (or show your America the Beautiful Pass to get in for free!), make a pitstop at the visitor center to grab a map, stamp your passport book, and fill up your water bottles. Keep in mind that there’s no water until the very end of the road at Devils Garden!
The main park road is 18 miles, stretching from the Visitor Center to Devils Garden. As you cruise the road, stop at any scenic overlooks that catch your eye. And if you need a break from driving, hop on one of the many trails to stretch your legs and explore further!
From scenic overlooks to short hikes, these are the stops I’d recommend making on the main drive (from beginning to end):
- Park Avenue Trail – easy 1.8-mile roundtrip hike through a rocky corridor (or just check out the viewpoint)
- La Sal Mountains Viewpoint – view of the rocky scenery and mountains
- Courthouse Towers – view of the sandstone monoliths
- Petrified Dunes Viewpoint – view of ancient dunes that have cemented into sandstone
- Balanced Rock Trail – easy 0.3-mile hike around the famous Balanced Rock
- Panorama Point – great picnic spot with 360-degree views
- Salt Valley Overlook – views of the valley and mountains
- Fiery Furnace Viewpoint – views of the maze of sandstone pillars
- Sand Dune Arch Trail – easy 0.3-mile roundtrip hike to a natural sandstone arch
- Skyline Arch Trail – easy 0.4-mile roundtrip hike to an impressive arch
If you have extra time, take the two paved side roads – Windows Road and Delicate Arch Road. There are some great overlooks (and trails) on these side roads!
After a full day of driving, hiking, and gazing at scenic vistas, it’s time for dinner! Head back to your campsite to cook up a cozy meal or drive into Moab and grab some tacos and margaritas at Fiesta Mexicana.
Then head to your accommodations to rest up for tomorrow’s epic adventures!
Psssst: If you’re camping at Devils Garden (10/10 recommend), make sure to look up in the middle of the night! Since Arches is an International Dark Sky Park, the Milky Way is perfectly visible on a clear night!
Day 8: Explore Arches. Explore the Fiery Furnace + Devils Garden Primitive Loop
Alright, we’ve arrived at your final day in Arches. But don’t be sad because I have some extra exciting hikes planned for you!
Today, you’re going to be hiking two epic (primitive) routes: the Fiery Furnace and the Devils Garden Primitive Loop. Both of these are going to blow your mind!
First up: the Fiery Furnace!
The Fiery Furnace, named after its flaming red rocks, is a maze-like labyrinth of towering sandstone fins, narrow canyons, and natural arches.
Due to the fragility and complexity of this route, permits are required to enter the Fiery Furnace. This visitor restriction is one of the reasons so few people get to see it each year. The other reason? It’s extremely challenging and intimidating. But that’s part of the fun!
Limited ranger-led tour permits are dished out daily in the spring, summer, and fall for those who feel nervous about attempting it on their own.
But for those feeling adventurous (and capable of route-finding), I’d highly recommend wandering through these canyons on your own. Snag a self-guided permit to explore the maze of red rock at your own pace!
Stumbling upon natural arches that less than 2% of visitors have seen, climbing up giant mansion-sized boulders, and hopping across giant chasms are just a few of the exciting things you can look forward to.
You will get lost, but that’s part of the excitement!
Lastly, end your day with one final great adventure: Devils Garden Primitive Loop! Slip a packed lunch into your backpack to enjoy at one of the natural arches because you’re going to be on this trail for a while!
Most visitors will park at the Devils Garden Trailhead and venture to one or all of the following arches: Landscape, Tunnel, or Pinetree. I can see why; the paths to these arches are short and easy, and the arches are gorgeous.
But the same people who hike to those turn around and head back to the parking lot and therefore miss the best arches in the area: Partition, Navajo, Black, Double O, and Private.
So how do you see all of these? By venturing beyond Landscape Arch, beyond the crowds.
Similar to the Fiery Furnace, this is a primitive route. The terrain past Landscape Arch is rugged, rock scrambling is required, and route-finding is necessary.
To complete the Devils Garden Primitive Loop, you’ll have to hike (and scramble) around 8 miles in total, navigating narrow ledges with steep drop-offs, route-finding slickrock, crossing a pool that may be filled with water at times, and scrambling sandstone fins on hands and knees.
Reward yourself for conquering two of the hardest, most epic, and most rewarding routes in Arches National Park with a cold drink and bar food at Trailhead Public House and Eatery before getting one final night of rest (and one final look at the Milky Way) in Arches.
Have an extra day in Arches? Head over to my 3 Day Itinerary and use “Day 2” to complement this road trip.
Day 9: Explore Canyonlands (Needles). Cruise the Scenic Drive + Hike the Short Trails
Alright, it’s time to drive to your final park on this itinerary, Canyonlands!
The drive from Arches to Canyonlands (Needles District) is about 1 hour 45 minutes.
While most people will venture to the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands, I’m going to recommend that you visit the Needles instead! Of course, if you have time for both, that would be even better. But I particularly love exploring places that fewer people visit!
The Needles District is that happy medium between crowded and isolated. It’s remote and quiet, but self-sufficiency isn’t necessarily required.
Similar to many of the other parks, there is no food in or anywhere near the Needles District of Canyonlands. Unless you want to drive 1 hour+ (one way) to get food, plan on bringing your own food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks, everything) into the park for this itinerary! Potable water is available at the Visitor Center and campground.
Okay, let’s dive in! Your first full day in the Canyonlands Needles is going to be quite chill compared to the second day. I’d recommend dipping your toes into the park by cruising the scenic roads, admiring the scenery, stopping at overlooks, and hiking the short trails along the way.
Even though the main Scenic Drive in the park is only about 7 miles long, the 30-mile drive from Highway 191 into the park is entirely scenic, too. It cuts through Bears Ears National Monument and offers jaw-dropping vistas as you wind through the towering red rock cliffs.
Don’t forget to stop at Newspaper Rock on your way in or out of the park!
Start your morning at the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center’s hours change by season, but they’re typically open from 8 AM – 5 PM in the spring through fall, with slightly shorter hours in early spring and late fall, and closed most of the winter. Check current hours here.
At the Needles Visitor Center, you can grab a map, fill up your water bottles, and stamp your passport book.
NOTE: Since there is no entrance station in the Needles District, you will have to pay the $30 entrance fee at the Visitor Center. Or show your America the Beautiful Pass to get in for free!
Okay, let’s cruise the Scenic Drive! Turn right out of the Visitor Center, then drive about 6 miles down the road, enjoying the stunning views out your windows.
Just before the end of the Scenic Drive, pull into the shoulder parking on the right for the Slickrock Trail. This is your first hike of the morning!
The Slickrock Trail is a moderate 2.4-mile loop that traverses bare rock and leads to four beautiful overlooks of the surrounding canyons and distant mountains.
Some of the overlooks involve minor scrambling to reach, which just adds to the fun!
Next, head back on the Scenic Drive, toward the Visitor Center, and drive for a little over a mile. Your next stop is on the right: the Pothole Point Trail!
The Pothole Point Trail is an easy half-mile loop that circles Pothole Rock and travels across dimple-filled slickrock. The views of the surrounding desert toward the middle of the loop are spectacular!
NOTE: Please don’t step in the potholes. Wet or dry, they are home to extremely fragile ecosystems. One step can cause detrimental damage.
Next, you’ll be passing right by a picnic area as you drive south on the Scenic Drive, so if it’s lunchtime, this is a good spot to eat! We sat at the picnic table on the right side of the parking lot. It had great views, and no other tables on this side, so we had the area all to ourselves.
To allow your food time to settle after lunch, I’d recommend stopping at an overlook next! About 2 miles from the picnic area, down the Scenic Drive and on the right, is the Wooden Shoe Overlook. At this roadside stop, look for the hole in the rock that resembles a, you guessed it, wooden shoe. It’s kind of far away, so it might take a minute to spot it!
Next is a trail that totally surprised us: Cave Spring! The trailhead is on a dirt road, just off the main Scenic Drive and Wooden Shoe Loop.
The Cave Spring Trail is an easy 0.6-mile loop that passes under a rocky outcrop, by ancient artifacts, and up two ladders to stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
Who knew this was here?!
Finally, I have one more stop for you today: Stone Storehouse, just a half-mile before the Visitor Center. This is an easy 0.3-mile loop that leads to some more historic ruins.
In my opinion, this one wasn’t nearly as impressive as Cave Spring, so if you only have time for one, make it Cave Spring!
Time to head back to your campsite to cook up dinner. While you can see the sunset from some of the campsites (like ours, site B22), you can also watch it from Big Spring Canyon Overlook, at the end of the Scenic Drive, if you’d prefer. This is the one overlook on the Scenic Drive that you may not have stopped at today!
After dinner, have a campfire (if fires are allowed on your trip) and rest up, because I have an epic all-day hike in store for you tomorrow!
Day 10: Explore Canyonlands (Needles). Chesler Park/Joint/Druid Arch Day Hike
Now that you’ve had a nice, relaxing, slow intro to the Needles, it’s time to dive head-first into the (arguably) best part of the Needles: Chesler Park!
Get up as early as you can, pack a lunch in your day pack, and head off down Elephant Hill Road to the Elephant Hill trailhead.
Elephant Hill Road is located in Loop B of the Needles Campground, so if you’re camping here, you’ll get first dibs on the hard-to-get spots at the small Elephant Hill trailhead parking lot!
The 2.7-mile section of Elephant Hill Road from the campground to the Elephant Hill trailhead is dirt, passable for most standard-sized vehicles, and doesn’t require a permit.
Beyond the trailhead, Elephant Hill Road becomes more technical, requiring 4WD, high clearance, and a permit.
So for this itinerary, you won’t need a special permit or vehicle.
The first 2.7 miles of Elephant Hill Road are narrow, steep, and windy at times, with constant amazing views. The Elephant Hill trailhead is located at the end of this stretch, just before the permitted 4×4 section begins.
This trailhead is the gateway to some of the best trails in the entire park. And since there are dozens of interconnected trails, you have quite a few options for how to spend your day at Elephant Hill:
- You can hike to the Chesler Park Viewpoint. Short and sweet at just 5.8 miles roundtrip, this trail is a great intro to the Chesler Park web. It travels across exciting terrain and to a fantastic viewpoint of the sandstone spires (Needles).
- You can hike the entire Chesler Park and Joint Loop. 10.7 miles roundtrip, this trail leads to the jaw-dropping viewpoint listed above and continues beyond, passing more panoramas and winding through technical rock fractures.
- You can hike to Druid Arch. 10.8 miles roundtrip, this trail leads to some of the most spectacular views in all of Canyonlands. It starts on the Chesler Park Trail, travels through the bottom of Elephant Canyon, and ends at a unique natural arch. It has adventurous scrambling and ladder climbing along the way.
- You can hike the Chesler Park and Joint Loop to Druid Arch. 16.8 miles roundtrip, this trail combines everything above, including all the epic views and fun technical features.
After your full day of hiking through the Needles, head back to your campsite for dinner, a campfire, and one final colorful sunset.
Finish Planning Your Utah Mighty Five Road Trip
Here are more in-depth guides to the Utah National Parks!
- Should You Visit Zion in September? Yes! Here’s Why
- Skip Angels Landing: Hike These Instead
- One Day in Zion Itinerary
- 7 Things to Know Before Visiting Zion
- Complete Guide to Hiking the Zion Narrows
- 6 Helpful Things to Know Before Visiting Bryce Canyon
- 6 Best Hikes in Bryce Canyon
- Cassidy Arch Trail Guide
- 6 Best Hikes in Arches
- Mesa Arch at Sunrise: Everything You Need to Know
- Canyonlands Vs Dead Horse Point: Should You Visit Both?
Discover Your Next Adventure
Where to next? I’ve got some suggestions!
PIN IT AND SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!
