Utah National Parks

Utah’s national parks are special. Sure, other states have incredible parks. Some even have more parks (just two, though). But Utah’s national parks were made for each other. With a rugged uniqueness at the heart of each park and a stunning array of landmarks sitting in between them, there’s just nothing like the Mighty Five.

Map of National Parks in Utah

Wondering how to get to Arches, Bryce Canyon or Zion? This map’s got you covered. Gee, it sure looks like a map of your next road trip, doesn’t it? There’s a reason people rarely visit just one or two of Utah’s Mighty Five parks. The route practically draws itself. 

Park Details

Arches National Park

The Holey Land. Aka the densest concentration of natural arches found anywhere on the planet. There are over 2,000 arches within the park, ranging from anonymous arcs to the welcome sign superstars. And that’s just the tip of the … rock. There are all kinds of unique geologic formations at this iconic Moab park. (See: Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, Fiery Furnace)

Plan your trip to Arches →

Canyonlands National Park

The slow work of merciless rivers. Carved over millennia by the meandering Green and the mighty Colorado, Canyonlands is a park that rewards daytrippers and dedicated adventurers alike. There are easy panoramic views for those who want them, and some of the most rugged wilderness in the lower 48 for others. (See: Grand View Point, Horseshoe Canyon, how tough you are)

Plan your trip to Canyonlands→

Capitol Reef National Park

A 100-mile snag in the earth’s crust, featuring pies. Utah’s most underrated park is filled with wonder for those who choose to seek it. Here you’ll find geologic marvels, historic homesteads and fields of active orchards. (See: Waterpocket Fold, historic Fruita)

Plan your trip to Capitol Reef→

Bryce Canyon National Park

Sometimes-snowy erosions, elevated. The home of hoodoos stuns in all seasons. It’s cool in the summer, snowy in the winter and idyllic in the in-betweens. Travel through Bryce Amphitheater’s forest of red-rock spires, then hike back up for a sweeping view from atop the Paunsaugunt Plateau. (See: Navajo Loop, Fairyland Point/Loop)

Plan your trip to Bryce Canyon→

Zion National Park

The oldest. The most visited. The most jaw-dropping? Well, let’s just say you don’t get a name like “Zion” for no reason. With towering canyon walls, sweeping views and some of the most unique and iconic hikes in the world, you can file Zion along with air fryers, the Northern Lights and Billy Joel concerts under “Things That Are Worth the Hype.” (See: Subway, Angels Landing, your life flash before your eyes)

Plan your trip to Zion→

Utah National Park FAQs

Are there bears in Utah’s national parks?

Black bears can be found in Bryce Canyon and occasionally in Arches and Canyonlands. There are no grizzly bears in Utah’s national parks.

In Arches and Canyonlands, black bears typically wander from the nearby mountain ranges (LaSal and Abajo) in late August and September, following river corridors and seeking fruit. Black bears are more common year-round in Bryce Canyon.

Learn more about what to do during black bear encounters from the experts at the National Parks Service. (Hint: Don’t play dead. That’s grizzlies.)

Where is Zion / Bryce Canyon / Capitol Reef / Canyonlands / Arches National Park?

People ask these questions a lot. It’s OK, it’s not like we gave you a map or anything … 

Sorry, that was sassy. Here are some more detailed directions: 

• Zion National Park is located in the southwest corner of the state. Zion is about 30 minutes from St. George, a little over two hours from Las Vegas and a touch under four hours from Salt Lake City.
• Bryce Canyon National Park is about two hours northeast of Zion, on the footsteps of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. It’s a little more than two hours from St. George, four hours from Las Vegas and four hours from SLC. 
• Capitol Reef National Park is the most central of all the parks. It’s smack-dab between the southwest pair (Bryce and Zion) and the southeast pair (Arches and Canyonlands), bordering the northeast reaches of Grand Staircase-Escalante. Capitol Reef is two hours from Bryce Canyon, two hours from Arches and about three and half hours from SLC. 
• Arches National Park is located just 10 minutes outside of Moab in southeast Utah. It’s a little over three and half hours from SLC, two hours from Capitol Reef and an hour and a half from Grand Junction, Colorado. It’s also got the closest neighbor of any park — Canyonlands is just 30 minutes away.
• Canyonlands National Park is also located outside Moab, but it has three distinct districts. 
  • Island in the Sky District is located about 40 minutes from Moab and four hours from SLC. 
  • The Needles District is an hour and a half outside of Moab, about 5 hours from SLC. 
  • The Maze District is the least accessible district of the park, and home to some of the most remote wilderness you can find in a national park outside of Alaska. The canyons of the Maze are about five to six hours from Moab and require high clearance vehicles to access.

What are the hoodoos in Bryce Canyon?

The short version? Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos are “freakin’ awesome.” Now for the long version — weathering, erosion and tectonic plates all combined over thousands of years to create the perfect circumstances for these unusual rock spires. 

For more than half the days in a given year Bryce Canyon experiences temperatures above and below freezing in the same night. Water seeps into the cracks in the rocks, then freezes and expands before melting away again. This process causes larger rock formations to break apart into smaller hoodoos. 

Since there are multiple types of rocks in Bryce Canyon, the hoodoos dissolve and erode at different rates. This helps create the unique patterns and offset layers that make Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos some of the most picturesque in the world.

Recently Visited