If you are a national park junkie like me, you probably feel like you could spend your whole lifetime in each park. However, the reality is that most of us are working with a mere 1-2 weeks of vacation per year and thus are left with only enough time to “hit the highlights”.
What I have realized, after planning my fair share of jam-packed vacation itineraries, is that quintessential experiences are popular for a reason. Usually, they are the best of what the park has to offer or they are the most iconic way to experience the park. In other words- these are usually the experiences that prompted you to choose this destination in the first place.
Yes, most of the time that means dealing with crowds.
I know that many people are averse to crowds and have this desire to go “off the beaten path”. I get it. Crowds can be a pain in the butt. Waiting in line to snap the perfect photo or having people all up in your personal space can put a damper on that whole “one with nature” experience.
But, maybe you can try to reframe your take on crowds into a more positive one. Work with me here. Maybe you can think of them as other like-minded souls enjoying the same beauty as you. Maybe it could even be a connecting experience.
So, if you can get over the whole crowds thing…. then read on my friend.
This blog post is essentially a highlight reel of the best that Utah’s Mighty Five has to offer. It is perfect if you are planning a trip to Utah and only have a limited amount of time to see the sights. If you happen to have a week or more then check out my other post for a more detailed itinerary
1. Zion National Park
#1 Experience: Hike Angels Landing
~3-4 hr hike, 5 miles out and back, trailhead The Grotto
The summit is called Angels landing because it was thought to be so high only angels could land on it. That is honestly what I felt like once I got to the top, weightless and free, like an angel.
The view is truly breathtaking. You can literally see a panoramic of the entire length of the canyon. I could almost picture the way the earth split down the middle to form this natural wonder. I have never felt such a pure sense of elation or accomplishment as I did after hiking to the top of this beast.
And let me tell you, it is a beast. It is tough almost the entire way up. There is a series of switchbacks that are brutal. Once you overcome that hurdle, there is a rather harrowing segment where you will likely hold onto the safety chain for dear life.
It is physically strenuous and somewhat emotionally taxing (especially if you are scared of heights). However, that feeling at the summit is so rewarding it is worth all the sweat and tears. Hiking up to the top of Angel’s Landing is truly a magical and unforgettable experience that you CANNOT miss out on if you go to Zion.
Honorable Mention: Hiking The Narrows
2. Bryce Canyon National Park:
#1 Experience: Hike Among the Hoodoos.
Navajo Loop and Queen Garden’s Trail; ~2hrs, 2.6 miles RT
It doesn’t really matter which trail you choose, but I urge you to get down and dirty and experience the hoodoos first hand. It is so beautiful to look and take pictures from the viewpoints but it is another experience entirely to descend into the canyon and get up close and personal with the hoodoos.
Bryce Canyon was honestly my favorite of Utah’s National Parks for this reason! It felt like nature made a playground just for me. I took an absurd amount of pictures because those hoodoos are just so darn photogenic and so much fun to play with.
I would recommend starting at Sunset Point and hiking down wall street- this is the start of the Navajo Loop. Once you get into the canyon you will have the option to finish up Navajo Loop, take the Queen’s Garden Trail, or you can wing it and devise your own trail like I did. I wanted to spend my whole day in the hoodoos so I opted for the longer, Peekaboo Trail.
Again, it doesn’t matter which you choose- just get down there and enjoy those hoodoos.
Honorable Mention: Watch the sunset at sunset point. Pro tip- get there at least an hour before the actual sunset. The coolest part of the experience is the way the light dances over the hoodoos as the sun disappears behind the horizon.
3. Capitol Reef National Park:
#1 Experience: Actually Go! And then do the 25 mile scenic drive.
Capitol Reef is so commonly overlooked because it isn’t as exotic or mighty as the other Utah National Parks. However, if you are doing a Utah National Parks road trip like I did, it is literally on the way from Bryce to Moab and is a perfect half way pit stop.
The good news is, if you are in a hurry, you can see the wonderful sights from the car. Just stop in at the visitor center, pick up a brochure and pump some tunes as you take in all the beautiful sights of the scenic drive.
I, unfortunately was not able to do this, because my timing was off. I spent so much time hiking those hoodoos that I didn’t make it to Capitol Reef until after dark. At that point it was very creepy and deserted and I couldn’t really see anything anyways. Don’t make the same mistake I did!
4. Canyonlands National Park:
#1 Experience: Watch the sunset from Green River Overlook.
This was such a communal and spiritual experience for me and a beautiful way to watch the day fade. The Green River Overlook is the perfect place to watch the sunset because you can essentially drive right up to it. No hiking is required after dark, making it very safe for solo travelers.
I went by myself and sat along one of the rocks with only a handful of other people. Just enough to feel a sense of shared experience, but not so many people that I was overwhelmed by chaos.
IMO, the best way to experience Canyonlands is to just sit there and take in all of its majesty. You will not be disappointed.
Honorable Mention: 4WD on the White Rim Road
5. Arches National Park:
#1 Experience: Hike to Delicate Arch at Sunrise/ Sunset.
Confession/Disclaimer. I did not personally hike to delicate arch while I was at Arches.
I suffered from arch burn out as I was traveling through the park because I tried to see and photograph every single arch. I finally got the point where I thought ” if you’ve seen one arch you’ve seen them all”. Now this is not totally true…. but they do start to get pretty similar.
That being said, if you are ONLY going to see one arch, it should be Delicate Arch. Trust me- it is the most instagrammable and popular arch for a reason. If you can time it for sunrise or sunset- you are in for an even bigger treat.
Honorable mention: None. Again- if you’ve seen one arch you’ve seen em all.
