Staff Pick

Road Trip Mighty 5 – Utah's Five National Parks

Salt Lake City Moab
1450
km
18h
drive
Spring
season

The Itinerary

The "Mighty 5" refers to Utah's five national parks — among America's most spectacular: Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion. A 1,450 km grand loop from Salt Lake City takes them all in one to two weeks.

Zion (southwest) is famous for Angels Landing and The Narrows — demanding hikes through ochre-walled canyons. Bryce Canyon dazzles with its "hoodoos," forests of orange fairy chimneys. Capitol Reef, the most under-the-radar, unfolds 160 km of geological folds along the Waterpocket Fold.

Canyonlands, split into three districts (Island in the Sky, Needles, Maze), serves dizzying overlooks of the Colorado and Green River confluence. Arches, at Moab's doorstep, holds more than 2,000 natural arches, including the legendary Delicate Arch. Arches now requires a timed-entry permit in peak season.

Points of Interest

  • ✦
    Zion – Angels Landing
    Iconic chain-aided hike, permit required, vertigo-inducing.
  • ✦
    Bryce Canyon – Hoodoos
    Amphitheater of orange fairy chimneys, sunrise photo.
  • ✦
    Capitol Reef – Scenic Drive
    Waterpocket Fold, historic orchards, petroglyphs.
  • ✦
    Canyonlands – Mesa Arch
    Cliff-edge arch, signature sunrise photo.
  • ✦
    Arches – Delicate Arch
    America's most famous arch, 5 km round-trip hike.
Practical info
  • Departure Salt Lake City
  • Destination Moab
  • Distance 1450 km
  • Duration 18h
  • Category Very long (500+ km)
  • Best season Spring
Themes
national-park desert canyon epic photo Hiking arch utah

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