Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are entirely our own, and we have not been compensated in any way for these opinions.
Zion, Bryce, Capital Reef, Arches and Canyonlands are known as the Mighty Five National Parks of Utah. A trip to the Mighty Five has been high on our bucket list for some time, and we were very excited to finally make this trip.
We decided to begin and end our trip in Las Vegas, traveling a clockwise, 1200-mile path that included all five parks, plus a few extra stops along the way. We started in Las Vegas because the flights just worked the best for us. However, a similar trip could be planned starting in other major hubs such as Salt Lake City, Denver or Phoenix.
We allotted 2 weeks for this trip, including our travel days. This timeline meant that we had 12 days for actually visiting all the parks. Although it would be easy to spend several days in each of these spots, our goal was to get a ‘taste’ of as many of the parks as possible during the 12 days. Therefore, we planned to spend 1 or 2 days in each place, sightseeing and hiking only the most iconic spots. We also knew that this trip would require a lot of driving. So, we tried to plan our trip such that we minimized the amount of driving time required on any one day.
Before discussing our actual itinerary, we would like to cover a few pieces of general information.
Time of Year to Visit
We flew to Las Vegas on April 17th, considered the early part of the tourist season. We selected this date for a few reasons. First, these popular national parks can get very busy. The early season tends to be somewhat less crowded. Second, temperatures in the parks can also get very high, making outdoor activities uncomfortable, if not downright dangerous. By visiting in later April, we found temperatures to be fairly comfortable, with relatively cool mornings and pleasant daytime temperatures.
Places to Stay
Since many of the parks are located near very small towns, accommodations are somewhat limited. We made all of our bookings many months in advance. You will not find a lot of chain hotels. Many places seem to be locally owned and operated. In general, we found our accommodations to be just fine. But be sure to book early, and carefully review all of the details for your selected accommodations. In this article, we will detail each of the places we stayed, as well as our thoughts on each one.
Where to Eat
Again, with small towns, dining options can be limited, and you will not find the normal chain restaurants. We tried to thoroughly review each place we selected before our trip. We found several really great restaurants that exceeded expectations. However, we did have a miss or two, and we will provide our thoughts on these as well.
Things to Do
Finally, as mentioned earlier, our goal was to visit some of the most iconic sights and hike some of the most popular trails. We will detail each of the hikes and what we liked and what we did not like about them. There are a lot of choices in the parks when it comes to hiking. So, depending on how comfortable you are with hiking, you might want either easier or more demanding hikes than those we selected.
TIP: Snow and ice are very unpredictable, especially at high altitudes. While the weather was very good on our trip, just a couple of weeks before we arrived, there was a major snow storm over the some of the northern areas on our itinerary. Be careful if you are planning a trip earlier in the year.
Now that we have discussed some of the general information, let’s get started on our itinerary.
— Day 1 – Las Vegas
We had a non-stop, morning flight from Charlotte and arrived in Las Vegas at 10 AM. After picking up our rental car, we drove to our hotel on the north part of The Strip. There are so many hotels available, for so many tastes and budgets that we do not feel the need to recommend one. Just choose whatever property works for you!
Since Linda had never been to Las Vegas, we decided to spend the afternoon walking through several hotels, including the Wynn, Venetian and Caesar’s Palace. For those that have not been to these hotels, they are very extensive, and it is quite the walk within and between them. We walked over 6 miles that day, just taking a minimal tour of the areas near our hotel.
We decided on a late lunch at Trattoria Reggiano Italian Restaurant located inside the Venetian Hotel. We were not sure how it would be, but were very surprised by the fresh pasta dishes and the friendly Italian staff.
Since we had a long day of travel, we decided to forgo the Vegas nightlife and just turn in early before our journey starting the next day.
— Day 2 – Kolob Canyons
We started the day by picking up some supplies for our trip at a local store in Las Vegas and then made the 2.5-hour drive to the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center. The Kolob Canyons district of Zion National Park is located at Exit 40 on Interstate 15, 40 miles north of the main entrance to Zion Canyon. We thought a half-day was enough to explore this area and would provide a good introduction to Zion National Park. While the Kolob Canyon is part of Zion National Park, its separate entrance, located so far from the park’s main entrance, makes this area much less crowded.
We stopped at the Visitor Center for an orientation and picked up a few maps before we were on our way to the Taylor Creek Trail. The Taylor Creek Trail follows a narrow box canyon toward the Double Arch Alcove, where erosion has carved out natural openings in the Navajo sandstone. Along the way, we passed two homesteads and some beautiful scenery. The 5-mile hike is fairly flat and is a great way to ease into some of the tougher hiking we encountered later in the trip. We were very happy we decided to make a stop here, so be sure not to miss this area.
After the hike, we continued on a five-mile scenic drive along the Kolob Canyons Road, ending at the Kolob Canyons Viewpoint.
From Kolob Canyons we drove about 30 minutes to our hotel for a 2-night stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Virgin Zion National Park. The hotel is about 20 minutes from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. We were very happy with this choice of hotel. The hotel was very clean, the staff was friendly and helpful, and they offered a decent included breakfast. They also had one of the best pool areas I have ever seen for this style of hotel. There were actually two pools. There was one large pool, a second children’s pool and water play area, and of course a hot tub. The pool area was very expansive, so there was lots of room to sit and enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
One our first evening, we asked the hotel manager about a good restaurant for dinner and he immediately suggested Balcony One, which was just a short distance from the hotel. This dinner was one of the best that we had on our entire trip. While the restaurant has plenty of seating, it can get very busy. So, consider making a reservation in advance.
TIP: When we are looking for accommodations, we try to pick the places we like the best, even if it means that we will have a bit of a drive to our destination. In this case, we elected to stay in Virgin, about 20 minutes from the main entrance to Zion. Others may prefer to be closer to the park in the town of Springdale.
— Day 3 – Zion National Park
Within the main part of Zion National Park, no private cars are permitted beyond the Visitor Center. Instead, shuttles are provided to transport visitors throughout the park. The first shuttles of the day leave the Visitor Center around 7AM. There are no reservations or fees for the shuttle service, but parking is limited and the shuttles can have huge lines later in the morning. The Visitor Center itself does not open until 8 AM, but the restrooms are all open earlier.
There were only a few cars in the lot when we arrived just before 7AM, and we caught the second shuttle into the park. Our plan was to make the 4-mile hike to the Emerald Pools. Normally, to reach the trailhead one would get off on Stop 5 by the Zion Lodge. However, due to some storm damage, the trail was not accessible from that stop, so we instead started the hike from The Grotto at Stop 6, adding about an extra mile to our hike. The hike was on the Kayenta Trail, which was easy to moderate in difficulty. The Pools themselves were very picturesque, as was the scenery along the hike.
Since we started so early, we saw very few fellow hikers until just before we ended our hike. As we descended the trail back down to the shuttle station, there was an almost continuous line of people starting the hike. So, if you want to avoid these crowds, be sure to start your day as early as possible.
Our next stop was Stop 9, the Temple of Sinawava. From this stop, we enjoyed a 2-mile walk alongside the Virgin River. The end point of this walk marks the beginning of The Narrows. But early spring means snow melt, so the river was much too high to walk the Narrows. If the Narrows are high on your bucket list, then autumn would be a much better time to visit.
Another very popular hike in the park is Angel’s Landing, but this one is not for the faint of heart. Not only is it strenuous, but if you have a problem with heights or scaling up and down ladders, it may not be the right hike for you. Many people mentioned to us how much they enjoyed this hike, but we decided to pass on the Angel’s Landing hike.
We then traveled back to the Lodge at Stop 5 for a bite to eat, before continuing on to the Visitor Center.
When we left the Visitor Center at about 2 PM, the lines for the Shuttle Bus were extremely long and parking spots were scarce. In fact, cars were following people returning to their cars in order to snag a parking space. We were sure happy we started early.
Upon returning to our hotel, we grabbed a couple of beers from the small grocery inside the hotel and relaxed by the pool while enjoying the views of the mountains.
For dinner we opted for Oscar’s Cafe with menu items including Mexican cuisine and burgers. The restaurant is very casual and was a nice finish to our day in Zion.
— Day 4 – Bryce Canyon National Park (Day 1)
The next morning, we left early for the drive to our next stop, Bryce Canyon National Park. The drive is about 100 miles long, and there are many sights to see on this wonderful drive. Be sure to stop at Checkerboard Mesa and the Red Rocks of Dixie National Forest.
Upon arriving at the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center, we decided to drive the 17-mile scenic drive to its furthest point, which is Rainbow and Yovimpa Points. At over 9,000 feet, this spot was at the highest altitude of anywhere on our trip. There was plenty of snow on the ground, but the roads, parking area and main viewpoints were open and clear. However, many of the hikes in this area were still closed due to deep snow.
On the return trip, we stopped at all the viewpoints including Black Birch Canyon, Ponderosa Canyon, Aqua Canyon, Natural Bridge, Farview Point and Paria. Each viewpoint offers a different and unique perspective, so be sure to stop at each one. Some of the most iconic and picturesque spots are Bryce Point, Inspiration Point and Sunrise Point, all located in the Amphitheater Region, that we will cover in Day 5 below.
After leaving Bryce for the day, we drove 15 minutes to the town of Tropic and our accommodations for the next 2 nights. We stayed at the Bullberry Inn just outside Tropic. This is a charming B&B owned by Emily and Joe. They were very friendly folks who prepared a delicious and bountiful breakfast for us each morning, making for a perfect start to a day of hiking and exploring.
For dinner, we stopped at i.d.k. Barbecue in Tropic. We have to say, even with all the research we did, this was the worst food of the trip. We are not sure how this restaurant received so many good ratings, but we suggest you avoid this place. No need to go in to all the details, but the food was pretty much inedible. We stopped at the local store to pick up some food on the way back to our B&B.
— Day 5 – Bryce Canyon National Park (Day 2)
After driving the 17-mile scenic drive to the end of Bryce the day before, this day was set aside for hiking. Bryce is known for the Amphitheater Region, where many of its famous Hoodoos are located. A hoodoo is a tall, thin spire of rock formed by erosion. Although they are found many places, Bryce Canyon is home to more of them than anywhere on earth!
Our goals for the day were to see Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, Sunrise Point and the Bryce Canyon Lodge. We also wanted to hike point-to-point, meaning we wanted to start at Inspiration Point and end at the Lodge. In order to do this, we parked our car at the Visitor Center and hopped on Bryce’s very convenient shuttle system that carried us to Inspiration Point.
We did two main hikes. The first was the Rim Trail from Inspiration Point to Sunrise Point, which was about 1.2 miles. This is a very flat hike along the rim that affords some of the most beautiful views in the park. If you don’t want to do any strenuous hiking, but still want fantastic vistas, this is the perfect hike.
For our second hike, we wanted to hike down into the base of the Hoodoos, for a vastly different perspective of these geological wonders. We hiked from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point using the Queens Garden and Navajo Loop trails. The total hike was about 2.2 miles, descending about 600 feet from Sunset Point, before climbing back up 600 feet at Sunrise Point. Although this series of trails can be hiked in either direction, Sunrise Point is the suggested starting point because the trail on the Sunset Point side is a series of steep switchbacks. We agreed with other reviews that this seemed an easier direction.
After the hike, we walked to the nearby Bryce Canyon Lodge, and after exploring the area, caught the shuttle back to the Visitor Center.
As we headed out of the park, we had one more stop to make, Fairyland Canyon. The views were beautiful and it was not at all crowded. So, we recommend making the time for this stop.
After our disastrous dinner the day before, we found the jewel of Tropic as far as restaurants are concerned, The Stone Hearth Grille. The Stone Hearth is actually a B&B, but it also has a wonderful restaurant that is open to the public. The atmosphere was lovely, the food was fantastic and the staff was very friendly. If we were staying in Tropic for another day, we definitely would have returned to the Stone Hearth!
— Day 6 – Kodachrome Basin State Park and Escalante Petrified Forest
After leaving Tropic, we drove only 20 minutes to Kodachrome Basin State Park. There we hiked an easy 2.6-mile loop that was very pretty and there were very few people on the trails. It was definitely worth the stop.
From Kodachrome, we drove just under an hour to Escalante Petrified Forest State Park. If you have never seen petrified wood, then this is a good place for a quick stop and hike to see what petrified wood looks like. It is an easy hike and there is a fair amount of petrified wood to see. If you have seen petrified wood before, then you may want to pass on this stop.
Leaving the Escalante Petrified Forest, we continued on for another 1.5 hours to Torrey. But little did we know that Highway 12 between the Petrified Forrest and Torrey would be one of the most scenic stretches of road we have ever encountered, with its amazing vistas and elevation changes. Along the way, there is a 1.5-mile section of the drive known as ‘The Hogback’. With drops of hundreds of feet on each side and no guardrails, it is a little unsettling. However, the views are simply amazing!
Once in Torrey, we checked in to Austin’s Chuckwagon Lodge. Although it might not look like much from the road, it is actually a very nice place with a grocery store next door that offered a pretty decent breakfast.
Dinner that evening was at the nearby Chak Balam Mexican Restaurant. Again, the restaurant is not much to look at from the road, but the staff was very welcoming and they served large portions of excellent and authentic Mexican food. If you enjoy Mexican food, be sure to stop in here while in Torrey.
— Day 7 – Capital Reef National Park
A short 15-minute drive from the Chuckwagon Lodge is the Capital Reef National Park Visitor Center.
From the Visitor Center, we drove the 10-mile scenic drive to the end of the road. The last 2 miles are not paved, but the road was in pretty good shape, although a bit dusty. There are plenty of pull outs for pictures along the way.
At the end of the road is the 2-mile round trip hike called Capital Gorge trail. This hike is easy and follows a narrow gorge with high, steep walls. This is not the place to be in a rainstorm, for fear of a flash flood. But we were there on a warm, sunny day.
Along the hike are a group of 1,000-year-old petroglyphs attributed to the Fremont people, who lived in the area from 300 to 1300 AD. In addition, there are many carvings with the names of pioneers who traveled along this route, stopping to carve their names and dates into the walls of the gorge. About .6 miles from the trailhead, we found what is called the ‘Pioneer Register’, a jumble of names and dates on the left-hand wall.
After 1 mile, there is trail leading to the ‘Tanks’. The Tanks are depressions in the rock that are filled with water. The trail is a little bit rocky in some points, so although the trail ventured beyond the Tanks, we ended the hike and returned to the main trail and back to the parking area.
The drive to our next stop, the town of Moab, was just over 2 hours. Moab is a larger town than some of the others we stayed in, so there is a larger selection of places to stay and dine. Since we were staying 3 nights, we opted for an Airbnb condo at the Moab Redcliff Condos just outside of town. This condo gave us plenty of room to relax, a washer/dryer, and a patio with a grill.
We arrived in Moab a little before check-in, so we stopped at the Moab Brewery for a beer and food. They have a good selection of beers and food (hamburgers were great) and was the perfect stop to relax.
— Day 8 – Arches National Park
Arches National Park is located just outside of Moab and has a timed entry system to enter the park. Spots can be reserved using this link. We planned for a full day in the park and wanted an early start, so we reserved an entry time at 7 AM. The Visitor Center opens at 7:30 AM, but that time can vary depending on the date. However, the restrooms are open.
TIP: Arches is one of the most popular parks, so we recommend getting an early start to beat the crowds and heat. So, be sure to go online and get your entry time well in advance.
Arches has plenty to see, and if you are only spending one day in the park, you will want to prioritize your stops. The crowds definitely increase throughout the day. We decided to head to the Windows Section first, which was about 20 minutes from the Visitor Center. Our plan was to drive straight there, but the morning sun lit up the scenery so well that we had to stop for a few pictures along the way.
We reached the Windows Section parking lot with only a handful of cars already parked. There are several arches to see, including the North and South Window, Turret Arch and Double Arch. These arches are reached by two short and easy hikes from the parking lot.
From the Windows Section we drove to Delicate Arch, with a quick stop at Panaroma Point. The Delicate Arch trailhead was already very busy, so we decided to drive a bit further to the Delicate Arch Viewpoints. From this parking lot, it is just a short hike to the Lower Viewpoint and Upper Viewpoint. From the Upper Viewpoint, you can get some awesome views of the Delicate Arch and in the process save a lot of time by not actually hiking there.
After another 15-minute drive, we reached the Devils Garden Trailhead. There are many viewpoints along the way, so be sure to stop at these either on the way there or on the drive back. It was late morning when we reached Devils Garden and the lot was already very full. However, the parking lot is large so parking is possible even when it is very busy, though you might have to walk a bit to get to the trailhead.
We hiked the trail for about 1 mile, (2-mile roundtrip). It is an easy trail and mostly flat. There are several arches including Tunnel, Pine Tree and Landscape arches. Each arch is unique, so be sure to take the side trails to see each arch.
Arches National Park was one of our favorite parks and there is a lot to see. If you have time, we would recommend spending at least 2 days in this park.
After our day in Arches, we returned to our condo. We had a full kitchen, so after eating out for 7 days straight, we decided that staying in and cooking would be a nice way to relax after hiking all day. And with a grill on the patio, steaks were on the menu.
— Day 9 – Canyonlands National Park – Island in the Sky District
Our next stop was Canyonlands National Park. Specifically, the Islands in the Sky District. This park is located almost directly across the highway from Arches, yet has a totally different look.
After stopping at the Visitor Center, our first stop was the Schafer Canyon Overlook and then on to Mesa Arch. There is a 1-mile loop trail to reach the arch. This arch is unique because the arch actually frames a magnificent vista, as seen in the picture.
When leaving Mesa Arch, we turned turn right on to Upheaval Dome Rd. The 1.5-mile hike leads to Upheaval Dome, which is an eroded crater from a prehistoric meteorite impact. The crater is 5 km across and features a dome-shaped center. In addition to the dome, the views from this area are also worth the hike.
We also stopped at Whale Rock, which is close to the Upheaval Trail. This rock formation is supposed to look like a whale, but you really have to use your imagination to see it.
The next stop was the Grand View Point Overlook at the end of Island in the Sky Road. The views are awesome from the parking lot, but you can hike the 1-mile (each way) rim trail to the viewpoint. Hiking along the rim provides spectacular views for the entire mile of hiking.
We originally planned to drive in to Dead Horse State Park, which is adjacent to Canyonlands, but decided to relax after all the hikes that day.
For dinner, it was another home cooked meal at the condo.
— Day 10 – Monument Valley, Page Arizona and Horseshoe Bend
After completing the Mighty Five parks, we continued our clockwise loop by heading south to visit more scenic areas. Our next stop for the night was Page, Arizona, about a 4.5-hour drive.
We left Moab on US-191, and then followed US-163 to drive through Monument Valley. We decided not to drive into Monument Valley itself, but just admired the views from the highway. We did stop at the iconic site from the Forrest Gump movie, known as Forrest Gump Point. If you are familiar with the movie, you may remember that this is the point at which Forrest ended his cross country run. Of course, we stopped to take the obligatory photo. Overall, this drive was excellent with many exceptional views of all the rocky outcroppings and surrounding mountains.
We arrived in Page just after lunch and drove to Horseshoe Bend, located a few miles south of town on US-89. The parking lot is right off the road. The cost is $10 for cars and it is a short 1.5-mile round trip hike. The views are incredible and there is plenty of room for viewing, even if it is a bit crowded.
We stayed the night at the Hampton Inn & Suites Page – Lake Powell. The hotel was nice and very convenient to all the sites around Page.
For dinner we went to Bonkers , a conventional Italian restaurant offering a wide variety of traditional dishes that were very good.
— Day 11 – Antelope Canyons -Upper and Lower
After reading and hearing about Antelope Canyon for years, a tour of Antelope Canyon Tours was high on our list of things to see. All tours have to be arranged with a private tour company that will provide transportation and a guided tour of the canyons. Tours of the canyon are very popular, so it is essential to book tours a number of months in advance. We booked the Upper Canyon with Antelope Slot Canyon Tours and the Lower Canyon with Ken’s Tours. There are many tour companies in town, and a lot of them have similar names. So, be sure to double check the address and directions so you arrive at the right tour company.
We started with a tour of the Upper Canyon, which was only about a 15-minute drive from the tour company’s downtown office. The canyon itself is only 225 yards long, and it is any easy walk. However, pictures cannot do it justice. The various sites and formations inside the canyons are so unique and spectacular. It is a one-way trip through the slot canyon. The return to the parking lot involves exiting the canyon and proceeding up a couple of flights of steps before traversing a metal walkway and then descending several more flights of stairs. If you are in this area, we highly recommend this one-of-a-kind tour.
Unfortunately, the area experienced a lot of rain the night before our planned tour, so the lower canyon was flooded and all tours that day were cancelled. Unfortunately, due to the narrowness of the slot canyon, flooding after a heavy rain is fairly common. The company apologized and our refund was very prompt.
Since the tour was cancelled, we spent some time driving to Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam.
In the afternoon we started a 2.75-hour drive to our next stop in Williams, Arizona, located just a few miles south of the Grand Canyon. After passing through Flagstaff, we actually traveled on Historic Route 66 through some mountainous areas, still with plenty of snow on the ground even in late April.
That afternoon, we checked in at Inn History Grand Canyon. Inn History is about 45 minutes south of the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. This accommodation was one of the nicest places on our entire trip. They offer comfortable one and two-bedroom stand-alone cabins. Each is well appointed and very up-to-date.
— Day 12 – Grand Canyon
We arrived very early at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and were rewarded with a prime parking spot in Lot 1. From the parking lot, it was just a short walk to the Rim Trail and Mather Point.
The Rim Trail is exactly as stated, it is a flat, paved trail along the rim of the Grand Canyon. We walked from Mather Point to the Bright Angle Trailhead, a 2.7-mile walk that takes about 1 hour. However, there are many viewpoints and other things to see along the way, so we probably spent about 1.5 hours on this trail. We thought this trail provided the best way to see all of the different viewpoints along the canyon. At the end of the walk, be sure to stop at the Museum and Lodge.
The Bright Angel Trailhead is the main trail to hike down into the canyon. Since we only planned for one day at the Grand Canyon, we did not hike this trail. If you do decide to hike it, be sure to understand how strenuous this hike can be and be sure to take plenty of water and snacks.
By using the free Grand Canyon shuttle service, you can make the Rim Trail a one-way walk, as we did. Check the shuttle times and routes here.
After returning to our car, we drove south on Desert View Drive to Desert View Overlook. This drive is about 22 miles long with plenty of places to stop along the way including, Yaki Point, Grandview Point, Moran Point, Lipan Point, Navajo Point and Desert View Watchtower. This drive is beautiful and definitely highlights all of the grandeur of the Grand Canyon.
For dinner we drove into Williams and ate at the Grand Canyon Brewery. After a long day, it was nice to relax with a pizza and a flight of beers.
— Day 13 – Hoover Dam
On the way back to Las Vegas, we wanted to stop at the Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam tour tickets can only be purchased on-site on a first come/first served basis and they can sell out fast. Tickets go on sale at 9 AM, when the Visitor Center opens. The drive from Williams to the dam is just under 3 hours. So, we got an early start, leaving at 6 AM so we could arrive when the tickets went on sale at 9 AM. Luckily, we were able to purchase tickets for a 9:15 AM tour.
The Hoover Dam is an amazing structure, and our guide provided many insights into its history and the complex construction. If you are traveling near this area, it is well worth the time to stop.
We had lunch at the Hoover Dam Café, which is next to the parking garage. The food was actually pretty good, considering it is a large café full of tourists.
From Hoover Dam the drive to Las Vegas was only 45 minutes. We had an early dinner before catching the show at the Sphere near the Venetian. If you are not familiar with the Sphere, it is a 360-foot-tall spherical structure that hosts concerts and other events in an immersive atmosphere. We attended a program entitled “Postcards from Earth”. Honestly, we were not that impressed with the show. There seems to be a lot of mixed reviews, and we thought it was a little pricey. Frankly, the view of the Sphere from the outside, with all of its continually changing visual displays was more impressive than the actual show. However, that is just our opinion, some folks loved the show.
The next day our trip wrapped up with an early flight back to Charlotte.
We really enjoyed this trip and if you love visiting National Parks, we think you will too! This itinerary can easily be modified to change the start and end points, or the number of days of the trip. No matter what you decide, the Mighty Five will not disappoint.
We hope you found our review of the Mighty Five National Parks in Utah helpful and informative. And we hope you join us in the future as we explore some of our other travel destinations.
Safe travels!
Thanks you for this post. We are planning the same trip in 2 weeks so will be referring to this article frequently.
Hope you have a fantastic trip!
Great commentary. Thanks.