Heading to Utah to visit the 5 National Parks - what do I need to not miss?

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its going to be hot as shite.

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You'd be better with a Rocky Mountain NP/Grand Teton/Yellowstone trip this time of year.

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Rocky Mountain NP/Grand Teton/Yellowstone

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We did that 2 years ago, was awesome.

This one will be over July/August. I know it will be hot, but it was the only time on the calendar to fit in a trip this long.

just be aware that when you get to moab especially, you'll need to get to AC by 1ish, 2 at the latest. it was well over 100 every day we were there so we got up early, hit the parks then retreated to moab brewery to recover.

once the sun dips its safe to go outside again

We did this one night:

Dark Ranger Telescope Tours

the whole family loved it. It is near Bryce Canyon...

Download the Gypsy app, and buy the narration tours of the parks. The app uses your location to narrate your drive. Makes suggestions on not to miss items or items you might want to pass on, etc.

Well worth the money

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Download the Gypsy app, and buy the narration tours of the parks. The app uses your location to narrate your drive. Makes suggestions on not to miss items or items you might want to pass on, etc.

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We use this app. It's called GuideAlong now. The app is free and the tours vary in price from $5 to about $16. Or you can buy 20 US West tours for about $100. If you buy Zion/Bryce (they come together) and like it and want to buy the package they will apply its cost toward the package's cost.

We did the Utah 5 in 2021; flew into Las Vegas and then drove west to east. We didn't have the GuideAlong app then.

Get a National Parks Annual Pass if you don't have one or get a Senior one if you are old enough. Download the National Parks app onto your phone. It looks like this.
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When we went you did not need a timed entrance pass; don't know what you might need now.

Zion
- If you start in LV drive through Valley of Fire State Park on your way to Zion.
- Noth of St. George, along I-15, about 33 miles, 30 minutes, is the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center. There is a 5 mile drive, in and out, to Timber Creek Trailhead Overlook - we did the drive but not the hike. It's only ~ 1 mile in and out.
- One evening after supper we went to Virgin and drove up the N Kolob Terrace Road to Kolob Reservoir. It was worth the drive especially in the evening with the sun getting low in the sky.
- We were staying in a hotel in Springdale and thought the park opened at 6:00; actually, I don't think it ever closes. We got to the entrance at 6 and had a short wait to get in. Then we got to the visitor center to board the bus and that was a two hour wait to board. It went fairly quickly and didn't have any long waits for a bus the rest of the day.
- We left Zion on Hwy 9, the Zion- Mt. Carmel Hwy. Just as you exit the tunnel there is the Canyon Overlook Trail and there is limited parking so we didn't stop as planned. One day before you are leaving I suggest going to Canyon Overlook either early or late and then you can enter Zion from the East which I think will look different driving toward Springdale vs away.
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As you walk down to the Narrows do not feed the animals, no matter how much they pose and beg.

Between Zion and Bryce is Cedar Breaks National Monument; it's a little out of the way but it's an interesting drive; lot of lava fields.

Also, a little before you get to Bryce on Hwy12 is the Red Canyon Visitor Center for Dixie National Forest. It's worth a stop to talk to the rangers, get maps and get a good understanding of the area.

Bryce
- This my favorite; FWIW.
- It's one way in and out; there are about a dozen stops along the way to the end of the road.
- Catch a ranger talk if you can and do the night sky watch.
- We got up early for sunrise and we were in the park late for sunset but we didn't do the night sky viewing because it was full.
- Behind the lodge there are two places to go down in the canyon and walk among the hoodoos. We did the Navajo Loop Trail.

Capitol Reef
- We were only here one night; we stayed in a B&B type place, The Lodge at Red River Ranch. They are probably booked but if you need a room near Torrey you might check it out.
- We got pies at the Gifford house in the park; they were good but are not made on site as we thought but by a restaurant in town.


Arches and Canyonland
- We drove in the north side of Canyonland late in the day to watch the sunset. We did not get to the southside.
- At Arches we got up early for the sunrise which was worth it. We watched it at the Double Arch/Windows location.
- Arches is also an in and out drive. We drove to the end of the road at Devils Garden and walked to a few arches; not long hikes.
- You can see Delicate Arch from three places; the parking lot, hike a short distance from the parking lot up a fairly steep hill to get a closer look or hike all the way to it. Best to get to the parking lot early.
- There are numerous stops along the route and one I liked was Sand Dune Arch; short hike through a slot canyon with deep sand to see it.

Just north of Moab, next to the Colorado River is Lion Park. It is a good place for a picnic and then drive down the road that parallels the river for 5 miles or so. It's a great drive; a ranger told us about that.

Several things I would do if we go back.
- An off-highway vehicle tour of Arches and/or Canyonland, especially the south side. I think you can rent a vehicle and go on your own or go with a guide.
- See Dead Horse Point State Park. Can't believe we missed that.
- Might do a horse back tour in Bryce.

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Zion, should do angels landing if you aren’t afraid of heights. I enjoyed this over the narrows

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Angels landing is now permit only and you have to apply months ahead of time. They do have a few that you can applied for the day before but chances of getting one are pretty low.

West rim trail above scouts lookout is just as pretty but not as popular

I spent the night on west rim back in march, still had snow on the ground.

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West rim trail above scouts lookout is just as pretty but not as popular

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Agree. There are some amazing views from there. You go up higher than Angels Landing and can see over/past it.

View from west rim trail going up - LINK

If you're going to do a big hike in Bryce, which I highly recommend, walk in at Sunrise Point/Queens Garden trail and walk through the Queens Garden area and meet up with the Peek A Boo Loop Trail. Hike that loop and then go out up the Navajo Loop trail at Sunset Point. I think that's maybe 8 or 9 miles, but it's a really nice way to get down into and see the park.

If you have a few extra days, check out Hanksville. It's not too far from Capitol Reef and you have Goblin Valley state park not far north and Factory Butte right there. Take a morning hike out to the butte. It's like being on the moon.

Factory Butte - LINK

A father and daughter from my hometown of Green Bay were just found dead in Canyonlands. Gotta be careful out there, get out of the heat, and bring enough water in case you're out there longer than you expect to be.

Green Bay father, daughter found dead at Canyonlands National Park