Capitol Reef National Park

The Art of the Slow Roll: RV Guide to Utah’s Scenic Byway 12

Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 isn’t a road to rush. This comprehensive RV guide explores one of America’s most spectacular scenic drives through Bryce Canyon, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Boulder Mountain, and Capitol Reef. Discover the best basecamps, boondocking locations, campgrounds, slow travel strategies, and driving tips for navigating the famous Hogback while enjoying the journey at a relaxed pace.

Every few years, mainstream travel editors “rediscover” Utah’s Scenic Byway 12, publishing glossy features declaring it one of America’s most beautiful drives. They marvel at how 122 miles of two-lane asphalt can pack in a lifetime’s worth of red rock canyons, slickrock waves, and high-alpine forests.

They aren’t wrong about the beauty. But where the mainstream glossies miss the mark is the timeline. They treat this All-American Road as a scenic shortcut—a quick, three-hour connector to hustle you from the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon to the fruit orchards of Capitol Reef.

If you are piloting a motorhome or towing a travel trailer, rushing through this corridor isn’t just exhausting; it completely misses the point. To truly experience the rhythm of this rugged landscape, you need to throw out the three-hour itinerary, slow down, and treat the highway itself as the destination.

Scenic Byway 12 *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The landscape: A masterclass in changing elevation

122 miles, 9,000 feet, and zero room for rushing

Scenic Byway 12 stretches roughly 122 miles across south-central Utah, cutting a path through portions of the Dixie National Forest and the sweeping expanse of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

For an RVer, the defining characteristic of this drive isn’t just the color of the sandstone—it’s the relentless shift in elevation. You will start your journey surrounded by terra-cotta spires, climb through cool pine forests at elevations scaling past 9,000 feet, drop back down into canyon country, and finish among the towering domes of the Waterpocket Fold.

The 10-degree rule: In this rugged country, microclimates rule. You can drive a mere 30 miles and watch the ambient temperature plummet or soar by 10 to 15 degrees. Pack layers, keep your rig’s cooling system in mind, and prepare for alpine mountain passes even if you woke up in a sun-baked desert.

Because of these massive elevation shifts, timing your season matters. Spring and autumn offer the sweet spot for slow travel. The searing, triple-digit heat of summer can make stepping out at scenic overlooks uncomfortable while winter brings challenging, icy passes that require tire chains. In the fall, you get the added bonus of watching the cottonwood and aspen groves turn brilliant shades of gold against the red rock backdrop.

Strategy: Choosing your slow travel basecamps

Unhitch the rig, park the house, and explore deeper

Trying to see everything while moving your entire rig from point A to point B is a recipe for white-knuckled driving. A true slow travel approach means setting up deliberate basecamps, unhitching or parking the motorhome, and using a towed or support vehicle to explore the deeper, high-clearance dirt tracks that branch off the main highway.

1. The western gateway: Red Canyon to Bryce

Before you even hit the official start of the byway near Panguitch, you’ll roll through Red Canyon. Part of the Dixie National Forest, this area served as a historic hideout along the old Outlaw Trail used by Butch Cassidy. It offers an immediate showcase of brilliant terra-cotta sandstone towers and short trails like the Bristlecone Loop to stretch your legs.

Just 15 miles further, you reach Bryce Canyon National Park. Instead of treating it as a drive-by checklist, establish a basecamp here for a night or two. It allows you to catch the amphitheater when it shines brightest—at sunrise and sunset—without the midday crowds.

2. The Slickrock core: Kodachrome and Escalante

Moving east, your next logical staging ground is Kodachrome Basin State Park. Named for its vibrant, multi-hued sandstone cliffs and 67 massive stone spires, it feels like an otherworldly playground. The state park visitor center is an excellent spot to gather local geological history before heading into the town of Escalante.

Escalante serves as the beating heart of the Grand Staircase wilderness. This is where your downloaded digital maps and analog atlases become invaluable; cell service disappears entirely for long stretches out here. From an Escalante basecamp, you can take a day to tackle the popular six-mile round-trip hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls where a trail winds along a canyon floor to reveal a 126-foot waterfall plunging into a crystal-clear swimming hole.

Off the grid: Primitive camping & public lands

Trade crowded hookups for silent, starlit desert skies

To truly embrace a slow travel philosophy on Byway 12, skip the crowded commercial RV parks with their tight spaces and bright night-lighting. Shifting your basecamp onto Bureau of Land Management (BLM) country or into the high US Forest Service (USFS) timber opens up the true magic of southern Utah: absolute silence and undisturbed dark skies.

When dry camping with a rig in this region, the key is matching your vehicle’s size to the dramatic transitions in topography along the route.

1. Red Canyon Campground (USFS) — Mile 3

Located just three miles east of the byway’s western terminus within the Dixie National Forest, this is an exceptional alternative to the frantic pace of nearby Bryce Canyon. While it is a developed Forest Service site rather than free dispersed land, it provides a perfect bridge for slow travelers: minimalist, spacious dry camping shaded by towering ponderosa pines, with red rock formations right out your trailer door.

Rig suitability: Excellent for larger rigs. Select loops feature generous big-rig access and wide, level asphalt spurs.
Amenities: Vault and flush toilets, fresh water spigots, and an easily accessible dump station.

2. Hole-in-the-Rock Road Dispersed Land (BLM) — Mile 61

Just past the town of Escalante lies the turnoff for Hole-in-the-Rock Road, the primary gateway into the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The first few miles of this unpaved route sit on BLM-managed land where free dispersed camping is permitted. The road is heavily washboarded but taking it at a crawl rewards you with sweeping, uncompromised views of the monument.

Rig suitability: Best for small-to-medium setups (under 30 feet) willing to rattle over a few miles of dirt to reach wide, flat staging areas.
Amenities: Strictly primitive. No water, trash service, or restrooms. You must pick up a free, mandatory BLM dispersed camping permit at the Interagency Visitor Center in Escalante before setting up.

3. Deer Creek Recreation Site (BLM) — Mile 85

Situated roughly six miles down East Burr Trail Road just outside the town of Boulder, this small, established BLM hideaway offers an incredible canyon-bottom experience alongside a flowing creek. It is a paid primitive site but it gets you entirely off the highway grid.

Rig suitability: Strictly limited to camper vans, truck campers, or compact, high-clearance travel trailers. The winding descent down the switchbacks of the Burr Trail can be intimidating for larger rigs.
Amenities: Vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. No trash collection or fresh water.

4. Boulder Mountain/Spruce Springs Dispersed (USFS) — Mile 95

As Byway 12 climbs past 9,000 feet onto Boulder Mountain, the landscape swaps desert slickrock for alpine meadows. The dirt forest service tracks branching off the highway near Spruce Springs and Roundup Flat provide exceptional high-elevation boondocking tucked away into the aspens and pines.

Rig suitability: Ideal for rigs up to 25 to 30 feet. The pullouts are generally flat and gravel-based, requiring only a short drive off the pavement.
Amenities: Completely primitive. However, cell service is surprisingly reliable at these higher elevations compared to the deep canyons below.
Slow travel value: The 9,500-foot elevation provides a cool refuge during the baking summer months, and many sites feature short walking paths that lead directly to dramatic overlooks of Capitol Reef in the distance.
The public land protocol: In the Grand Staircase region, pack-in/pack-out rules are strictly enforced. You are required to contain and carry out all human and pet waste if you camp outside an established campground. Ensure your black tank is empty and your fresh water tank is topped off before claiming your piece of the desert.

Navigating the Hogback with confidence

Two hands on the wheel, eyes on the road, and let the passenger look down

Ask any experienced RVer about Byway 12, and the conversation inevitably turns to the Hogback.

This famous section of highway between Escalante and Boulder is a paved ridgeline with steep, dramatic drops on both sides of the road and no guardrails. The asphalt is wide, smooth, and impeccably maintained, and thousands of large RVs cross it safely every single year.

The secret to enjoying it is simple: Put both hands on the wheel, keep your eyes on the white lines, and let your passenger look at the view. There are spacious, well-designed pullouts on either side of the ridge. Don’t try to sightsee while in motion. Pull completely out of the traffic lane, set the brake, and step out to look down into the labyrinth of carved slickrock canyons below.

The eastern terminus: High forests to Fruita

From alpine peaks to historic pioneer orchards

Past the Hogback, the road climbs dramatically onto the shoulders of Boulder Mountain, scaling high-alpine terrain where pine forests replace the desert shrubbery.

In the tiny, historic enclave of Boulder, take an afternoon to slow your pace even further at the Anasazi State Park Museum. The museum sits directly adjacent to an ancient Ancestral Puebloan village occupied from roughly A.D. 1 to 1300. Walking among the uncovered foundations and meticulously reconstructed room blocks provides a grounding reminder of the deep human history embedded in these canyons.

From Boulder, a scenic 50-minute descent brings you to the eastern end of the byway at Capitol Reef National Park.

Capitol Reef is a slow traveler’s paradise. You can wander through the historic pioneer orchards of the Fruita district, pick fresh fruit in season, and hike to the towering natural arch of Hickman Bridge.

When the sun goes down, the experience doesn’t end. As a designated International Dark Sky Park, Capitol Reef offers some of the clearest, most spectacular stargazing on the planet. Setting up camp at the developed, 71-site Fruita Campground puts you right beneath a canopy of stars that looks exactly as it did centuries ago.

Self-sufficiency is the ultimate slow travel tool

No bars, no fast food—just you and the open road

To successfully shift into a low-gear mindset on Byway 12, you have to accept that this isn’t an interstate corridor.

Fuel and supplies: Gas stations are sparse and smaller mountain towns have limited hours. Arrive with a full fuel tank, a topped-off fresh water tank, and a well-stocked pantry.
Navigation: Do not rely on live cellular streaming for GPS. Plot your route, note your stops, and have offline maps ready to roll before you turn the key.

By taking your time, planning your basecamps, and treating the road as an experience rather than a barrier, you transform a potentially stressful mountain haul into the ultimate slow travel journey. The red rocks aren’t going anywhere—there’s no reason to rush past them.

Final reflection: The view from the slow lane

The red rocks took millions of years to get here—don’t rush past them

At its core, Scenic Byway 12 is less of a highway and more of a conversation with time. The layers of ochre, cream, and terra-cotta sandstone that frame your windshield took millions of years to accumulate and erode. The Ancestral Puebloan foundations in Boulder have stood for nearly a millennium.

To rush through a landscape like this at sixty miles an hour, treating it merely as the asphalt bridge between two national park checklists, is a modern misunderstanding of travel.

When you navigate this corridor in an RV with a slow travel mindset—intentionally choosing your basecamps, stepping away from the grid onto public lands, and letting the microclimates dictate your pace—the entire experience shifts. The tension of driving a mountain highway dissolves into a deep appreciation for the terrain. You begin to notice the subtle shift from desert shrub to alpine aspen. You actually look forward to the moments where the cell signal drops out, leaving you alone with the silence of a canyon or a canopy of stars untouched by city light.

As RVers, we carry our homes on our backs. We have the unique luxury of not needing to rush to a hotel check-in or make it to the next major city before dark. The next time you find yourself turning onto Highway 12, drop your speed, take a deep breath, and remember: the red rocks aren’t going anywhere. Give them—and yourself—the time they deserve.

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Editor’s note

This article was originally published in July 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. Conditions, access, and amenities may change over time, so please verify current details before planning your trip.

To maintain transparency and editorial independence, this website contains no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just firsthand RV travel experiences and practical information for fellow travelers.

Slow Travel on Scenic Byway 12: Where the Journey Becomes the Destination

Experience 122.863 miles (to be exact) of pure driving bliss

Sometimes you find yourself on a road that immediately announces itself as something rare.

It’s not only the scenery though the views are impossible to ignore. Nor is it simply the quality of the pavement. There is something intrinsic to the byway itself, a sense that it was conceived with intention rather than convenience.

That feeling comes from its history and engineering. Nowhere is this more apparent than along the vertiginous Hogback where the road balances along a narrow ridge with dramatic drop-offs on either side. Here, the design feels both daring and deliberate, a careful negotiation between human ambition and the limits of the land.

What ultimately sets the byway apart is how seamlessly it connects to the landscape. Utah State Route 12 feels embedded in the slickrock as though it belongs there even though it was once a bold intrusion. Like a lightning-sparked fire that clears dense undergrowth and allows a forest to regenerate, the land has adapted around the road. Over time, byway and terrain have settled into a quiet coexistence. Route 12 is no longer just a passage through the landscape—it has become part of its living system.

Slow travel: The new way to explore

Exploration shaped by nature, not speed

For years, travel was all about speed: tight itineraries, multiple cities, and checking off must-see sights. Today, many travelers are seeking a different rhythm—slower, more immersive, and connected to nature. Small towns, rural regions, and scenic byways now draw those looking for open skies, quiet trails, and the chance to linger in remarkable landscapes.

As explored in The Long View: What Slow Landscapes Teach Us About Travel, crowded cities are increasingly giving way to winding scenic drives, dirt trails, and high-desert vistas. Slow travel encourages RVers and road-trippers to pause at mountaintop overlooks, trace a river canyon from the comfort of their vehicle, or wander a hiking trail at their own pace. Multi-day drives along scenic byways and time immersed in nature offer real rest—a chance to breathe, reconnect with the land, and savor the journey rather than rush toward the next destination.

Utah’s Scenic Byway 12, an All-American Road stretching through red-rock canyons, alpine forests, and high-desert vistas embodies this approach. Every mile rewards slowing down whether stopping at a panoramic overlook, hiking a hidden canyon, or letting the winding road reveal its cinematic scenes. For RV travelers and anyone drawn to nature and unhurried exploration, Byway 12 transforms the drive itself into the destination.

Scenic Byway 12 embodies everything slow travel promises. Each mile invites lingering—pausing at panoramic overlooks, stretching legs along a short canyon or alpine hike, or simply rolling along the winding road to watch the landscape unfold.

An All-American Road

One of America’s most scenic corridors

Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 is 122.863 miles (to be exact) of road that invites you to slow down and stay awhile. Officially known as A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway, it is also designated an All-American Road, an honor granted to only about one-third of the nation’s scenic byways. The designation recognizes roads so distinctive they are destinations in their own right, places where the experience of traveling matters as much as where you’re headed.

Scenic Byway 12 links U.S. 89 near Panguitch with State Route 24 near Torrey but it was never meant to be the fastest way between those points. For RV travelers especially that’s part of its appeal. This is a road that rewards patience. Grades are steady, curves feel intentional, and the scenery unfolds gradually encouraging frequent pullouts, short walks, and unplanned stops.

Near the byway’s summit at roughly 9,000 feet a scenic overlook invites a pause that puts the journey into context. Layers of atmosphere soften the distant Henry Mountains while Grand Staircase–Escalante stretches across the horizon. To the east, the red rock of Capitol Reef glows in the high-altitude light. Closer in, groves of aspen and subalpine fir frame the view reminding travelers just how dramatically this route moves through changing ecosystems.

What makes Scenic Byway 12 especially memorable is the shared rhythm of those who travel it. RVs roll steadily alongside motorcycles, classic roadsters, convertibles, and everyday sedans. There is an unspoken understanding here, a collective respect for the road and for one another. This is slow travel at its best where the journey itself becomes the destination and everyone on it is there for the same reason: to experience the land, not rush through it.

Exploring Scenic Byway 12

Where the journey sets the pace

Scenic Byway 12 is the kind of road that resists being rushed. As noted in Scenic Byway 12: An All-American Road while you could drive its full length in about three hours doing so misses the essence of the journey entirely. Even four days only begin to reveal what this corridor offers. The byway threads between an extraordinary concentration of public lands with easy access to state parks like Kodachrome Basin, Escalante Petrified Forest, and the Anasazi State Park Museum, as well as the iconic landscapes of Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks. Add in the vast reaches of Dixie National Forest and it becomes clear that this is a route built for lingering where each stop is an invitation to explore at a relaxed, unhurried pace.

For RV travelers and slow explorers, the opportunities multiply. Well-prepared adventurers can branch off onto legendary backways such as Cottonwood Canyon Road, Hole-in-the-Rock Road, the Burr Trail, and Hell’s Backbone, each offering its own rewards and demands. Others may choose shorter hikes, scenic pullouts, or quiet afternoons in nearby towns. Outdoor recreation here feels virtually limitless shaped by elevation changes, open space, and a sense of solitude that’s increasingly rare.

But before chasing every side road, there is value in simply staying with the byway itself. Scenic Byway 12 stretches from Panguitch in the west to Torrey in the northeast linking Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef while passing through the heart of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument as highlighted in The Ultimate Guide to Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. Along the way, geological oddities, expansive views, and thoughtfully placed stops encourage travelers to ease off the accelerator and let the road set the pace. On this route, exploration begins not at a single destination but the moment the wheels start turning.

Kodachrome Basin State Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Highlights worth lingering for

Places that invite you to pause

From state parks to scenic backroads, Scenic Byway 12 is filled with highlights worth lingering for, each stop inviting travelers to pause, explore, and savor the landscape.

Kodachrome Basin State Park is a kaleidoscope of color and form, a place that feels sculpted by both wind and imagination. Towering sandstone spires, vibrant red and orange cliffs, and unusual geological formations known as sand pipes create a landscape unlike anywhere else in Utah. Meandering trails and short hikes allow RV travelers to step into this otherworldly scenery, with each turn revealing new textures, shadows, and striking contrasts against the deep blue sky.

Whether viewed at sunrise when the colors glow softly or in the golden light of late afternoon Kodachrome Basin invites slow exploration, lingering moments, and a deep appreciation for the desert’s sculptural beauty.

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is a quiet gem that rewards unhurried exploration. Scattered across its high desert landscape are ancient logs turned to stone, some stretching more than a dozen feet, their colors ranging from deep reds to soft creams. Short walking trails lead through groves of these fossilized wonders, offering up-close views that hint at a time when lush forests once thrived here.

Beyond the petrified wood, the park’s open vistas and rolling hills invite lingering pauses to watch the light shift over the horizon making it a perfect stop for reflection, photography, or simply soaking in the expansive, timeless desert scenery.

Anasazi State Park Museum in Boulder offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the Ancestral Puebloans who once inhabited the region. The park preserves the ruins of a 12th-century pueblo and the museum showcases artifacts, pottery, tools, and interpretive displays that tell the story of this ancient community.

Short walking trails allow visitors to explore the excavated site and imagine life in the high desert centuries ago while the museum provides context for the culture, trade, and daily life of the Anasazi people. For RV travelers and slow explorers it’s an accessible and enriching stop that pairs perfectly with the scenic drives and natural wonders of Scenic Byway 12 offering a pause to connect with the human history embedded in the landscape.

Cottonwood Canyon Road is a 47-mile backway that links Scenic Byway 12 in the north with U.S. Highway 89 to the south offering a deeper look into the heart of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. The route passes near Kodachrome Basin State Park and provides access to a wide range of opportunities to explore the monument from short walks and day hikes to longer backpacking trips.

Highlights along the road include Cottonwood Narrows at the southern end and the striking stone spans of Grosvenor Arch to the north. Conditions can change quickly as many sections of the road are vulnerable to storms and mud so it’s wise to check current conditions at monument visitor centers before setting out.

Hole-in-the-Rock Road is a 62-mile route that traces much of the path taken by the pioneer Hole-in-the-Rock Expedition in their search for a crossing to what is now Lake Powell. Most of the road lies within Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument with the final roughly five miles entering Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Many visitors travel the first 11 miles to Devil’s Garden or continue 26 miles to the turnoff for the slot canyons Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch.

The BLM recommends high-clearance, two-wheel drive vehicles in dry conditions though beyond these points the road becomes more challenging. The last few miles within Glen Canyon are best navigated on foot, by bicycle, or with a four-wheel drive vehicle and while numerous side roads branch off Hole-in-the-Rock, they are recommended only for those with local knowledge and four-wheel drive experience.

Burr Trail *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The Burr Trail Scenic Backway originally blazed as a cattle route by stockman John Atlantic Burr has become one of Utah’s most picturesque drives. Stretching roughly 70 miles from Boulder to Bullfrog Marina on Lake Powell the route winds through Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area with connections to Notom Road in the Waterpocket Fold backcountry of Capitol Reef.

The trail alternates between paved sections and graded gravel or dirt offering a mix of driving experiences ideal for RV travelers and slow explorers. Along the way, numerous stops invite family-friendly excursions, scenic viewpoints, and relaxed meandering through juniper-dotted desert landscapes, with the full journey from Boulder to either the S.R. 24 junction near Capitol Reef or Bullfrog taking more than three hours.

Hell’s Backbone Road is one of the most exhilarating off-pavement drives in the Grand Staircase–Escalante region taking travelers deep into the winding Pine Creek Drainage of Dixie National Forest between Boulder and Escalante. This 38-mile dirt road built by the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps as an alternate route between the towns is reasonably well maintained but it still offers that sense of adventure that makes crossing it off your life list so satisfying.

The road climbs to about 9,000 feet at its high point before dropping into twisting rock canyons shifting from forested highlands to stark desert landscapes over dozens of miles. Along the way, occasional drop-offs demand careful driving, and a historic wooden bridge spanning a deep chasm offers a dramatic reminder of the terrain’s scale.

What you’ll remember

Moments that stay with you

Traveling east from Panguitch, the first moments linger almost immediately as you pass beneath the twin red arches of Red Canyon, a natural gateway that sets the tone for what lies ahead. Just beyond Henrieville, the landscape opens into the unmistakable “steps” of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument where contrasting bands of sandstone rise in different hues to the north and south, each layer telling a deeper geologic story.

Between Escalante and Boulder, the byway reaches one of its most unforgettable stretches along the Hogback. Here, the road narrows and curves along a ridgeline with steep drop-offs falling away into canyons on both sides. It’s a place that demands your full attention and rewards it with sweeping views that feel almost unreal. The scenery shifts again as the route climbs onto Boulder Mountain where aspen groves, pine forests, and open meadows replace slickrock and desert tones. Eventually, the road descends once more easing back into red rock country as Capitol Reef comes into view.

For RV travelers and anyone moving at a slower pace, the experience is made easier by the abundance of pull-offs and scenic overlooks inviting you to stop, breathe, and take in the view without rushing. This is a road built for remembering. Scenic driving enthusiasts, motorcyclists, cyclists, and anyone who simply loves to look out a window and be amazed will find themselves captivated. It helps if your traveling companions don’t mind hearing “wow” repeated again and again over the course of its 122 miles.

What makes it great?

Why it rewards slowing down

The sheer diversity of landscapes along Scenic Byway 12 is remarkable even by Utah standards. In just over 120 miles, the road moves through red rock canyons, high desert plateaus, forested mountains, and alpine meadows offering a concentration of scenery found in few places in the United States. Along the way, the byway provides access to national parks, state parks, national monuments, and countless scenic overlooks balanced by small towns with welcoming cafés, local restaurants, and thoughtfully curated shops.

What makes the route especially appealing for RV travelers is its flexibility. You can let the highway shape your entire trip moving slowly from stop to stop and settling into places that invite longer stays. Or, if time is limited, you can drive the full length in a single day experiencing it as a continuous ribbon of beauty at highway speed. Either way, Scenic Byway 12 delivers a sense of variety, accessibility, and immersion that makes the journey as rewarding as any destination it connects.

GPS coordinates and driving conditions

Where you are and what to expect

Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 begins in Panguitch (37.749625, -112.376541) and runs northeast to Torrey (38.298762, -111.402073) . The route is equally rewarding in either direction and many travelers find themselves driving it more than once to catch different light, weather, and perspectives. The road is open year-round but winter conditions can affect travel. After major storms sections may be temporarily impassable until plowed and icy conditions can make certain stretches particularly over Boulder Mountain more demanding during colder months.

There is no fee to drive Scenic Byway 12 itself though several parks, monuments, and attractions accessed from the highway do charge entrance fees. Dogs are welcome along the route but most parks and trails require pets to be leashed. With a little seasonal awareness and flexibility the byway remains an accessible and rewarding drive for RV travelers throughout the year.

The journey that stays with you: Reflections on Scenic Byway 12

The journey over the miles

Traveling Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 is a lesson in patience, presence, and perspective. Over its 122 miles, the road takes you from high desert to alpine forests from the fiery red rocks of Kodachrome Basin to the quiet aspen groves of Boulder Mountain.

It is a journey defined less by distance and more by the moments along the way pausing at overlooks, wandering side trails, and simply letting the landscape unfold at its own pace. As William Arthur Ward once observed, “Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.”

Byway 12 invites that same curiosity encouraging travelers to slow down, look closely, and discover the stories written in stone, sky, and forest. In the end, it is not the destinations at either end that linger in memory but the journey itself, rich with color, texture, and the quiet satisfaction of being fully present on a road unlike any other.

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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in March 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.

Utah’s National Parks Held Steady in 2025—Except One

As Utah’s Mighty Five held firm, Glen Canyon’s visitation dropped sharply—a reminder that drought, shutdowns, and shifting conditions can quickly reshape where people travel

A little more than 11 million visits were recorded across Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion national parks last year, according to preliminary National Park Service (NPS) data. Taken together, the Mighty Five were remarkably stable with visitation slipping by less than 1 percent compared with the year before—essentially a flat year that suggests demand for Utah’s signature red-rock landscapes remains strong despite shifting travel patterns, higher costs, and crowd-management measures at some parks.

Zion National Park once again anchored Utah’s visitation drawing more than 4.9 million visitors—just about 15,000 shy of the 5-million mark, a threshold it has reached only once before in its history. The park retained its status as the most visited national park in the West and ranked second nationally trailing only Great Smoky Mountains National Park which recorded roughly 11.5 million visits.

For broader national context, Yes, These Are the Most Visited National Parks in 2024 details how Utah’s parks compare with top-performing destinations across the country and how visitation patterns shifted nationwide.

Zion and Arches both bucked the broader trend reporting modest visitation increases in 2025 suggesting continued strong demand for their most iconic landscapes. Meanwhile, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef each posted slight declines—changes that were relatively minor and consistent with the year-to-year fluctuations these parks have seen in recent seasons.

Beyond the Mighty Five, Utah’s network of national historical parks, monuments, and recreation areas managed by the Park Service logged close to another 4.9 million visits in 2025 though the tally remains incomplete because several months of data for Cedar Breaks National Monument were still unavailable at the time of reporting. Even once those figures are finalized, total visitation for this group of sites is expected to land well below 2024 levels largely because of a steep downturn at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area—home to Lake Powell—where visits fell by nearly 1 million from 2024 to 2025, according to Park Service data.

Zion National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Inside the trends

The factors behind Utah’s park numbers

The visitation figures themselves do not explain why travel patterns shifted in 2025 but several broader forces likely influenced how people moved through Utah’s parks last year. Across the industry, travel and tourism have been navigating “considerable challenges amid economic uncertainty,” alongside evolving consumer preferences and “global geopolitical friction,” said Natalie Randall, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism and Film.

Together, these pressures have shaped where, when, and how people choose to visit. For instance, Canadian travel—a major driver in Utah tourism—lagged across at least the first half of 2025 amid tariff disputes between the U.S. and Canada. Nationwide consumer sentiment also tumbled last year indicating many Americans had economic concerns.

Utah took decisive action during last year’s federal government shutdown to keep its national parks open to visitors stepping in where federal funding had paused. The state allocated money to maintain visitor centers, restrooms, and essential operations at key parks including Zion and Arches, ensuring that tourism—and the local economies that rely on it—could continue despite the shutdown. Combined with coordinated staffing and public communication efforts, these measures helped soften the blow of economic uncertainty and other challenges that might otherwise have driven visitation down.

Arches National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The forces behind the numbers

The drivers of visitation trends

Visitation at Utah’s five national parks remained relatively steady from 2024 to 2025 in part because the state’s intervention helped maintain operations. While parks in other states faced closures or incomplete visitor tracking during the federal shutdown, Utah ensured its parks stayed open and fully operational.

By contrast, Yosemite National Park in California saw a sharp drop in visitation beginning in October when the federal shutdown took effect, a factor that largely explains its 16 percent year-over-year decline. Unlike Utah where the state stepped in to fund visitor centers and maintain essential operations, Yosemite and many other parks across the country were forced to close facilities or operate without the ability to track visitors amplifying the impact of the shutdown on tourism and local economies.

The Beehive State was fortunate to avoid the natural disasters that disrupted neighboring parks. Visitation at the Grand Canyon in Arizona fell by roughly 10 percent, largely because the North Rim remained closed for months after a massive wildfire destroyed several iconic structures restricting access and discouraging visitors. In contrast, Utah’s parks faced no such setbacks allowing tourism to continue largely uninterrupted and contributing to their steady visitation numbers.

However, dramatically low water levels at Lake Powell appear to have driven much of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area’s decline in visitors as marinas, boat launches, and water-based activities—the park’s main attractions—were severely limited. With once-bustling waterways reduced to a fraction of their former size, the park’s signature recreation opportunities simply weren’t available, dampening visitation despite Utah’s otherwise strong year.

The park previously saw a surge in visitation in 2023 when Utah’s record snowpack raised Lake Powell and reopened more boat ramps. That year, Glen Canyon drew 5.2 million visitors surpassing Zion for the first time to become the state’s most-visited park—a striking contrast to the sharp decline it faced in 2025.

Since that record year, Glen Canyon’s visitation has plummeted alongside the falling waters of Lake Powell. Once a bustling hub for boating, fishing, and water recreation, Lake Powell has receded dramatically stranding marinas and ramps and putting the park’s signature activities out of reach. The drop in water levels has mirrored a steep decline in visitation, with total visits falling from 4.7 million in 2024 to just 3.7 million in 2025.

The dramatic transformation is evident when comparing the past and present as detailed in Lake Powell & Glen Canyon NRA Revisited: March 2011 and Now, November 2025. From the full, shimmering waters of March 2011 to the receded, exposed shorelines of November 2025, the change highlights not only the environmental challenges the region faces but also the direct impact on Glen Canyon’s recreation and visitation. The park’s fortunes remain tightly linked to the reservoir’s health—a reality made all too clear to visitors today.

Capitol Reef National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

2025 visitation snapshot: A year of contrasts

Where visitation held and where it fell

A closer look at the preliminary 2025 figures shows a year of contrasts with most Utah parks holding firm while one diverged sharply from the trend.

Mighty Five National Parks: Just over 11 million visits—virtually unchanged from 2024 showing remarkable stability amid nationwide challenges.
Zion National Park: 4.9+ million visitors, holding strong as the West’s most-visited park and second in the nation behind Great Smoky Mountains.
Arches: A modest uptick proving its timeless appeal.
Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef: Slight declines, reflecting typical year-to-year swings.
Other Utah Parks, Monuments & Recreation Areas: Nearly 4.9 million visits though Cedar Breaks’ full data is still pending.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: The outlier

2023: 5.2 million visits, surpassing Zion for the first time—Lake Powell brimming after record snowpack.
2024: 4.7 million visits, beginning the downward trend.
2025: 3.7 million visits, as receding waters stranded marinas and curtailed recreation.

Bryce Canyon National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Resilience amid challenges: Most Utah parks stayed steady despite:

Federal government shutdown (state stepped in to keep parks open)
Wildfires and closures in neighboring parks like the Grand Canyon
Drought and shrinking reservoirs impacting water-based recreation

The story of 2025 is one of contrasts: the Mighty Five remained magnets for visitors, while Glen Canyon’s fortunes sank with the waters of Lake Powell—a dramatic illustration of how nature and human activity intertwine in Utah’s parks.

Lake Powell and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

What’s expected in 2026?

Forecasting Utah’s park visitation

Glen Canyon could face another tough year. With Lake Powell hovering at just 27 percent of capacity, the reservoir remains perilously low, a stark reminder of the challenges the park has confronted in recent seasons. Federal hydrologists caution that levels are unlikely to recover much unless a late-season snowstorm boosts the Colorado River’s Upper Basin leaving the future of boating, marinas, and water-based recreation—and the park’s visitation—once again hanging in the balance.

The National Park Service raised entry fees for international visitors in 2026 adding another variable to an already unpredictable season. For Glen Canyon—and Utah’s other parks—the change comes on top of low water levels, shifting visitation patterns, and lingering economic uncertainty, leaving the year’s tourism prospects anything but certain.

But there are reasons for optimism, too. Utah’s national parks could see a boost in 2026 thanks to the U.S.’s 250th birthday, a milestone that is shining a spotlight on the country’s natural and cultural treasures. The national parks system plays a central role in “America 250” celebrations, and the anniversary may inspire more travelers—both domestic and international—to explore these iconic landscapes, discover their history, and experience the great outdoors like never before.

Conclusion & reflections

Wrap up and takeaways

Utah’s national parks in 2025 tell a story of resilience, contrast, and enduring wonder. The Mighty Five remained magnets for visitors drawing millions to their iconic red-rock landscapes while Glen Canyon faced the stark reality of environmental change as Lake Powell receded. Yet even amid these challenges, the parks continue to inspire awe, invite exploration, and remind us why these places are treasured across generations.

As Jack Kerouac once wrote while crossing the Colorado-Utah border: “I saw God in the sky in the form of huge gold sunburning clouds above the desert that seemed to point a finger at me and say, ‘Pass here and go on, you’re on the road to heaven.’”

The vision of these landscapes has long captivated explorers and pioneers. John Wesley Powell reflected on the canyon that would bear his expedition’s name: “…a curious ensemble of wonderful features—carved walls, royal arches, glens, alcove gulches, mounds, and monuments…We decided to call it Glen Canyon.”

Together, these words remind us that visiting Utah’s parks is not just about numbers, visitation trends, or even recreational opportunities—it’s about encountering landscapes that challenge, inspire, and endure. As 2026 unfolds, from the Mighty Five to Glen Canyon’s shifting waters, the invitation remains: pack your curiosity, hit the trail, and witness the grandeur that has long defined the American West.

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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in February 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.

15 Best State and National Parks in Utah

From dense, snow-covered mountains to deserts with Mars-like rock formations, the best state and national parks in Utah have it all

One of the best things about Utah is that it’s home to some of the most astonishing—and varied—landscapes in the world. The state has expansive deserts, dense forests, and snow-covered mountains, some of which are preserved and protected in national and state parks.

Utah is probably best known for its national parks, dubbed the Mighty Five. You don’t need to stray far off the beaten path to see something otherworldly and awe-inspiring like the Navajo sandstone cliffs of Zion National Park or the 2,000 natural arches that arc over the desert in Arches National Park. In addition to the state’s five national parks, Utah has a whopping 44 state parks including the otherworldly Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park and the sandy beaches and bright blue waters of Bear Lake State Park.

Here are 15 of the best state and national parks in Utah.

1. Zion National Park

Massive sandstone cliffs, deep canyons, and diverse hiking trails

The hallmark of this blockbuster park in southern Utah is its vast cliffs made of sandstone and situated at the edge of the Colorado Plateau. Massive precipices like these can be found in other parks but none are quite as prominent as those found in Zion National Park. For a slightly more remote adventure try a wilderness hike in Kolob Canyons, the narrow slot canyons spread throughout the park.

For visitors to Zion National Park, Watchman Campground is an ideal place to stay. Located near the park’s south entrance, the campground is just a short walk from the main visitor center, the Zion Canyon Shuttle System, and the adjacent town of Springdale.

Plan your next trip to Zion with these resources:

Dead Horse Point State Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

2. Dead Horse Point State Park

Dramatic panoramic overlooks of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park

Dead Horse Point State Park has made a name for itself thanks to its stellar stargazing but the immense, high-desert park is worth a visit in the day, too. Hiking trails criss-cross the park which has deep canyons and wide-open deserts.

Nestled within a grove of junipers, the Kayenta Campground at Dead Horse Point State Park offers a peaceful, shaded respite from the surrounding desert. All 21 campsites offer lighted shade structures, picnic tables, fire rings, and tent pads. All sites are also equipped with RV electrical hookups (20/30/50 amp).

New in 2018, the Wingate Campground sits atop the mesa with far-reaching views of the area’s mountain ranges and deep canyons. This campground contains 31 campsites, 20 of which have electrical hookups that support RVs while 11 are hike-in tent-only sites. All sites have fire pits, picnic tables under shade shelters, and access to bathrooms with running water and dishwashing sinks. RV sites will accommodate vehicles up to 56 feet and there is a dump station at the entrance to the campground.

Check this out to learn more: Immense Cliffs and Stunning Overlooks: Dead Horse Point

3. Bryce Canyon National Park

World-famous for its hoodoos

About 80 miles from Zion is Bryce Canyon National Park home to famous hoodoos. These jagged, whittled rock pillars that shoot straight up and out of the ground were originally created by river sediment. A popular starting point for hikers is Sunset Point where among the many odd-shaped limestone deposits you’ll spot Thor’s Hammer—the most well-known hoodoo of them all.

Done hiking and looking to rest your weary head? You’ve got options. Besides camping, there’s a quaint, rustic lodge at the center of the park built in the 1920s featuring cozy cabins, suites, and motel rooms plus a dining room and gift shop. If you want to take things off-site, there are plenty of accommodation options in Bryce Canyon City (just outside the park) or in nearby Tropic or Cannonville.

Here are some helpful resources:

Sand Hollow State Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

4. Sand Hollow State Park

Unique blend of aquatic adventures, off-road excitement, and relaxing desert scenery

The crown jewel of Sand Hollow State Park is the gigantic 1,322-acre reservoir which beckons boaters of all stripes to explore its bright blue waters. The park also draws plenty of ATV traffic and campers who come to sleep under the stars on the reservoir’s sandy beaches.

Two campgrounds to choose from: Sandpit Campground (ATVs allowed to drive in) offers 19 dry camping sites, six power sites, and five group sites. All sites have a fire ring and picnic table. Westside campground has 50 sites with full hook-ups. Westside sites have covered picnic tables and fire rings. Both campgrounds have restrooms with showers which is included in your camping fee.

5. Arches National Park

Over 2,000 natural stone arches

For stunning night shots try driving through Arches National Park after dark. The elongated, weather-hollowed rock shapes (termed fins by geologists) look striking against a speckled canopy of stars. During the day, visit some of the park’s renowned arches of red rock (there are over 2,000 of them). Some of the most popular arches include Delicate Arch, Turret Arch, Landscape Arch, and Double Arch.

Devils Garden Campground is the only campground in Arches National Park, located 18 miles north of the park’s entrance and 23 miles from Moab, Utah. The campground is situated among natural sandstone arches and fins and is forested with mixed stands of Utah juniper and pinyon pine. The landscape is dotted with flowering prickly pear cacti, yucca, and other desert wildflowers, offering vivid color to the surrounding red rock desert. The campground offers 51 campsites, which can be reserved in advance through recreation.gov

If you need ideas, check out:

Utah Lake State Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

6. Utah Lake State Park

Utah’s largest freshwater lake

It’s all about the water at Utah Lake State Park, home to Utah’s largest freshwater lake. Boating and fishing are the park’s biggest draws but people also come just to go for a swim—the average water temperature hovers around 75 degrees (not too cold, not too hot).

The campground offers tent and RV sites. RV sites include pull-throughs and back-ins with water and power at each campsite; no full hook ups. RVs up to 47 feet can be accommodated.

7. Capitol Reef National Park

Cliffs, domes, arches, and canyons

Because Capitol Reef National Park tends to be less crowded than the other Utah national parks, you might feel as though you have the Waterpocket Fold all to yourself. Richly-colored sedimentary rock is exposed in the park’s famous formation—a 65-million-year-old, S-shaped ripple in the earth’s crust—allowing for huge cliffs and jagged skylines, similar to those found in Zion.

Capitol Reef National Park offers a variety of camping options including one developed campground, two primitive campgrounds, and backcountry camping. The Fruita Campground is the only fully developed campground in the park offering 71 sites for tents and RVs.

Here are some articles to help:

Natural Bridges National Monument *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

8. Natural Bridges National Monument

Three massive stream-carved natural bridges

Natural Bridges National Monument features three huge, stream-carved natural bridges as well as a concentration of Ancestral Puebloans ruins. The multi-colored bridges can be seen from overlooks along a nine-mile paved loop road through the monument. The bridges have Hopi Indian names: delicate Owachomo means rock mounds, Sipapu (the second largest natural bridge in the world) means the place of emergence, and massive Kachina means dancer.

Natural Bridges has one of the darkest skies in the U.S. with almost no light pollution. It is one of the great places to observe the night sky. That prompted the International Dark-Sky Association to designate Natural Bridges National Monument as the world’s first International Dark Sky Park.

Check this out to learn more:

Canyonlands National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

9. Canyonlands National Park

Rugged canyon country, towering mesas, sandstone buttes, and deep river-carved gorges

Not only is Canyonlands National Park the largest in Utah (a sweeping 337,598 acres) but it also features the best of all the other parks rolled into one: giant mesas, wild rock formations, and thousands of miles of hikeable canyons. Biking is also popular along the desert-like White Rim Road though visitors should consider the spiritual side of the park, too. From Island in the Sky, you can see up to 100 miles in any direction. Not a bad place to contemplate your next move.

Island in the Sky Campground (Willow Flat) has 12 sites, first-come, first-served. The campground is open year-round. The spectacular Green River Overlook is nearby.

The Needles Campground has 26 individual sites plus 3 group sites in different locations around The Needles district.

If you need ideas, check out:

Cedar Breaks National Monument *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

10. Cedar Breaks National Monument

Spectacular geological amphitheater

Situated at an elevation of 10,000 feet, Cedar Breaks is shaped like a giant coliseum dropping 2,000 feet to its floor.

Cedar Breaks resembles a miniature Bryce Canyon. Some visitors say its brilliant colors even surpass Bryce. The Native Americans called Cedar Breaks the Circle of Painted Cliffs. Millions of years of uplift and erosion have carved this huge amphitheater.

Deep inside the coliseum are stone spires, columns, arches, pinnacles, and intricate canyons in varying shades of red, yellow, and purple. The bristlecone pine, one of the world’s oldest trees grows in the area and can be found along the Spectra Point Trail. The Dixie National Forest surrounds Cedar Breaks providing lush alpine meadows clustered with ponderosa pines and quaking aspens. During the summer months, the wildflower display is spectacular.

Quail Creek State Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

11. Quail Creek State Park

600-acre reservoir surrounded by striking red rock desert

The reservoir at this St George-area state park boasts some of the warmest waters in the state plus a mild winter climate. Water sports are popular here during the long warm weather season and boaters and fishermen enjoy the reservoir year-round. Anglers fish for largemouth bass, rainbow trout, crappie, and other species.

This Park offers modern facilities for camping year-round. Back-in and pull-through sites are available for both tent camping and for RVs up to 35 feet. Full hook-up or showers are not available in this campground.

Check this out to learn more: Roam Free in Greater Zion: Quail Creek State Park

Hovenweep National Monument *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

12. Hovenweep National Monument

Preserves six prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan villages

Noted for its solitude and undeveloped, natural character, Hovenweep National Monument was once home to more than 2,500 people in 900 A.D. In 1923, Hovenweep was proclaimed by President Warren G. Harding a unit of the national park system. The name Hovenweep is Paiute/Ute word meaning deserted valley.

These ancient Pueblo ruins include towers that remind visitors of European castles. Straddling the Utah-Colorado border, the ruins were built about the same time as medieval fortresses.

The largest and most accessible of the six units of ruins is Square Tower, where several well-preserved structures are located. The area was home for several prehistoric farming villages. Throughout the ruins, visitors may find castles, towers, check dams (for irrigation), cliff dwellings, pueblos and houses. Petroglyphs (rock art) can also be found in the area.

Here are some helpful resources:

13. Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

Large deposits of colorful petrified wood

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is located at Wide Hollow Reservoir, a small reservoir that is popular for boating, canoeing, fishing and water sports. The park includes a developed campground with RV sites and a nice group area. There is also a pleasant picnic area. On the hill above the campground you can see large petrified logs. A marked hiking trail leads through the petrified forest.

At the Visitor Center you can view displays of plant and marine fossils, petrified wood and fossilized dinosaur bones over 100 million years old.

Snow Canyon State Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

14. Snow Canyon State Park

Red and white sandstone cliffs, ancient lava flows, and sand dunes

Snow Canyon State Park is a beautiful red rock park located just 10 miles north of St. George and often overlooked by visitors headed to Zion National Park. Snow Canyon features a beautiful canyon carved from red and white Navajo sandstone, an extinct volcano, interesting lava tubes, and gorgeous petrified sand dunes.

Some activities to enjoy in the park are hiking, biking, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Two beautiful and easy hiking trails are the Butterfly Trail and Jenny’s Canyon. Jenny’s Canyon is perfect short hike that also includes a small slot canyon. In the heart of the park is the Petrified Dunes trail which is a beautiful area to explore and take gorgeous photos.

A beautiful camping area is located among the red rocks in the park at Snow Canyon Campground.

Here are some helpful resources:

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

15. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Famed for the cobalt blue waters of Lake Powell

Glen Canyon is home to Lake Powell, the second largest human-made lake in the United States and heralded as a premier boating destination. Stretching from the beginning of the Grand Canyon at Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is an unparalleled location for water-based and backcountry recreation.

Glen Canyon encompasses scenic vistas, geologic wonders, and a panorama of human history.

The park offers opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, backcountry hiking, and four-wheel drive trips.

That’s why I wrote these articles:

Final thoughts

Utah’s parks offer an extraordinary blend of natural beauty and adventure spanning from the world-famous Mighty 5 national parks to stunning state parks like Snow Canyon and Dead Horse Point. Snow Canyon State Park enchants visitors with its dramatic Navajo sandstone cliffs, ancient lava flows, and more than 38 miles of trails ideal for hiking, biking, and horseback riding amid a vibrant desert landscape. Dead Horse Point State Park provides breathtaking panoramic views of the Colorado River and Canyonlands below embodying some of the most iconic vistas of the American Southwest.

Together with the majestic canyons, arches, and diverse ecosystems of Utah’s national parks, these state parks enhance the tapestry of outdoor experiences available. Whether seeking scenic overlooks, geological wonders, or immersive hikes, Utah’s parks cater to all adventurers looking to connect deeply with nature’s grandeur.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in October 2025. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.

Worth Pondering…

As we crossed the Colorado-Utah border I saw God in the sky in the form of huge gold sunburning clouds above the desert that seemed to point a finger at me and say, “Pass here and go on, you’re on the road to heaven.

—Jack Kerouac, On the Road

Hoodoos and Stars

Hoodoos and Stars takes advantage of the proximity of Zion, Bryce, and Capitol Reef national parks to slow down and discover some of the must-see southwestern Utah landscapes and experiences along the way—including America’s best dark skies

This Utah itinerary starts in Zion National Park which you can arrive at via Las Vegas (150 miles) or Salt Lake City (270 miles). The hikes at Zion include Angels Landing, a perennial top hike by any measure and 5.4 miles you’ll never forget. After a dip (or extended walk) in the Virgin River that carved The Narrows, stay overnight at a campground in or near Zion.

The next day, make way for Bryce Canyon via the historic Zion-Mt. Carmel Scenic Drive saving time for the Canyon Overlook Trail just past the tunnel. Even better? Get there early for sunrise. The day’s drive will take you to Bryce Canyon but not before a stop at nearby Red Canyon to follow in the footsteps of outlaw Butch Cassidy or break out the mountain bikes.

Once in Bryce, you’ll have very good reason to stay up for the pristine dark skies. During the day tackle the Queens Garden/Navajo trail easily one of the best three-mile hikes around.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Following Bryce, the All-American Highway Scenic Byway 12 fills your windshield views with a splashy desert palette while you drive towards Capitol Reef National Park. There is much to see and do along the way and a lot of that is in Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. The monument is mostly rugged and remote. For a taste of the landscape consider the spur road to Kodachrome Basin State Park before continuing along the byway. Then its time to eat at the Hell’s Backbone Grill in Boulder!

Once you arrive in Capitol Reef National Park, cruise the scenic byway behind the visitor center to spot ancient petroglyphs or grab a hike along State Route 24. There are shorter options for families and longer options for adventurers. Either way, save time to pick fruit in season and grab fresh-baked pies at Gifford Homestead for everyone. Capitol Reef is an accredited dark sky park so you’ll welcome a couple of nights in this majestic land.

After a couple of days in Capitol Reef return the long route to Las Vegas or consider a departure for Salt Lake City with time to explore all that this outdoorsy and welcoming city has to offer.

Day 1: Las Vegas to Zion National Park (165 miles)

Start early from Las Vegas to maximize your time in Zion

To reach Zion, you’ll follow the Zion Park Scenic Byway State Route 9 through the towns of Hurricane, LaVerkin, Virgin, Rockdale, and Springdale. Zion translates to The Promised Land and that means for you some of the most spectacular hiking of your lifetime and impossible landscapes you will never forget. Carved by water and time beyond the stretch of the imagination, Zion National Park is a canyon that invites you to participate in the very forces that created it.

Start with Emerald Pools (easy to moderate 3+ miles), iconic Angels Landing (strenuous 5.4 miles), and Riverside Walk (easy 2.2 miles). Time permitting, hike deeper into The Narrows of Zion National Park or better yet hire a guide to truly experience the park’s legendary slot canyons and canyoneering. Please note that anyone hiking Angels Landing requires a permit. You can request a permit through the National Park Service (NPS). And be sure to check with the Zion visitor center for day-of trail conditions.

Overnight

Make plans to camp overnight in Zion or at a full-service RV park or resort in Moab. Zion National Park has three campgrounds. Watchman Campground is open year-round. Make reservations up to six months ahead of your visit. South Campground is partially closed for a long-term rehabilitation project. Make reservations in the open part of the campground up to two weeks ahead of time.

Lava Point Campground is about a 1-hour drive from Zion Canyon on the Kolob Terrace Road (closed in winter).

Red Rock Canyon *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Day 2: Zion National Park to Red Canyon (65 miles)

A great transition from Zion’s dramatic canyons to the unique hoodoos and colors of Red Canyon and Bryce Canyon beyond

A morning exploration of the east side of Zion National Park’s orange and white formations like Canyon Overlook and Checkerboard Mesa gives way to a scenic two-hour drive in the direction of Bryce Canyon. There is plenty to see along the way but you’ll sense it’s really time to stop when you come across Red Canyon along Utah’s All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12.

Red Canyon is a collection of spectacular crimson-colored cliffs underneath majestic clusters of 60-million-year-old limestone pinnacles and spires known as hoodoos, the same rock formations for which the nearby Bryce Canyon National Park is famous. Old-growth ponderosas leave the area smelling of vanilla and manzanita and various types of conifers like bristlecone, pinyon, and longleaf pines make the landscape surprisingly lush.

Overnight

The Red Canyon Campground offers 38 shaded sites with toilets and hot showers and there’s also dispersed camping off of forest roads. Or continue to the Bryce Canyon area (14 miles) for the first of two nights of lodging or national park camping with advance reservations. (See note next day.) Depending on your arrival time this first night might be your best option for seeing Bryce Canyon’s dark skies.

Day 3: Bryce Canyon National Park

You have a wide range of iconic sights and activities to choose from

Bryce Canyon. Some call it Hoodoo Country. It sounds like voodoo for reasons you’ll have to see to believe. It all translates into a newfound respect for Mother Nature. Bryce Canyon’s view from 9,000 feet is unlike any else in the world. Bryce Canyon National Park is a series of natural amphitheaters sunk into pink cliffs and filled with delicate red rock hoodoos.

The most brilliant hues of the park come alive with the rising and setting of the sun. Summertime offers a myriad of walking/hiking trails including the must-hike Queens Garden/Navajo Loop (3.1 miles) and a 37-mile scenic drive overlooking incredible vistas.

Overnight

For closest access to the park’s incredible dark skies and the longest active astronomy program in the National Park Service, reserve a campsite or stay at Bryce Canyon Lodge, a National Historic Landmark open April through November. Look for additional lodging in nearby Bryce Canyon City or Tropic. (For RV or tent camping, Kodachrome Basin is also a great choice and the state park showcases pristine dark skies.)

Day 4: Bryce Canyon National Park to Capitol Reef National Park (116 miles)

This route is one of the most beautiful drives in Utah

Even if you stayed up late for the star show consider a sunrise stroll along Bryce’s Rim Trail or the 1-mile Bristlecone Loop at Yovimpa Point at the end of the scenic drive. Depending on when you leave Bryce Canyon the drive ahead offers multiple opportunities to stop and look around. The reason? You’re continuing down Utah’s All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12 much of which skirts the north end of the expansive Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument.

Kodachrome Basin State Park is probably among the most accessible and maybe the most scenic corner of the monument and it offers hikes for every ability. Another must-visit destination is actually one of the West’s best dining experiences: Hell’s Backbone Grill.

Chances are, you’ll arrive in Capitol Reef Country in the evening. During the longer hours of summer, you may have time for a short sunset hike in the park. Park at Panorama Point for the short hike to the perfectly named Sunset Point. The round-trip hike is just over a half-mile and will take around 30 minutes. Take a headlamp and stay for through last light.

Overnight

The Fruita Campground is often described as an oasis within the desert. Adjacent to the Fremont River and surrounded by historic orchards this developed campground has 71 sites. Each site has a picnic table and firepit and/or above ground grill, but no individual water, sewage, or electrical hookups. There is a RV dump and potable water fill station near the entrance to Loops A and B. Restrooms feature running water and flush toilets but no showers. Accessible sites (non-electric) are located adjacent to restrooms.

Day 5: Capitol Reef National Park

Top activities and experiences that showcase Capitol Reef’s unique beauty

Capitol Reef National Park splashes color for 100 miles from its northern to southern boundaries. The central geologic feature, the Waterpocket Fold is a bulging uplift of rainbow-hued sandstone reefs and canyons. Though Capitol Reef has some stunning backcountry, this quick trip stays closer to the main roads.

Explore petroglyphs in the midst of Capitol Reef’s red rocks that tell the story of the early indigenous people, the Fremont culture. Visit the large orchards of Fruita, an early pioneer settlement and now headquarters for the park where a variety of fruit may be picked for a small fee. See the old Fruita Schoolhouse and enjoy a fresh-baked pie at Historic Gifford Homestead, travel the excellent Capitol Reef Scenic Drive, or tackle the short hikes to Hickman Bridge or Cohab Canyon.

To give yourself more time in the park stay a second night and depart for Las Vegas or Salt Lake City in the morning.

Utah Scenic Byway 23 east of Capitol Reef National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Day 6: Welcome to Salt Lake City (225 Miles)

This route passes through charming small towns and varied landscapes

It’s a 3-hour drive from Capitol Reef to Salt Lake City (and 5 hours to Las Vegas). Below are a few stories and ideas to introduce you to Utah’s capital city and flesh out your itinerary.

First-time visitors might also include a trip to Temple Square. The spiritual center for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Temple Square offers free walking tours of the Temple grounds available in 40 languages. The area also provides access to one of the most extensive collections of genealogical records in the world and frequent performances by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Oh, and here’s a pro tip: As you’re navigating the city (walking, bike share, taxi, Uber, Lyft, public transit, or car), if you know that part of Temple Square is essentially (0,0) on the grid, each street heading north or south adds 100 and each street heading east or west adds 100. Thus, nine blocks south and nine blocks east you’ll be at 900 South and 900 East, locally known as 9th and 9th.

DIG DEEPER: Best things to see and do

Worth Pondering…

Landscape is what becomes us. If we see our natural heritage only as a quarry of building block instead of the bedrock of our integrity, we will indeed find ourselves not only homeless but rootless by the impoverishment of our own imagination. At a time when we hardly know what we can count on in a country of shifting values and priorities, Canyonlands is our bedrock, a geologic truth that we all share, the eyes of the future are looking back at us, praying that we may see beyond our own time.

—Terry Tempest Williams

Capitol Reef National Park: One Perfect Day Three Different Ways

If you only have one day in Capitol Reef National Park what should you do?

There are several different ways that you can spend one day in Capitol Reef. For some people one day might mean a very quick visit as you tour Capitol Reef while driving between two different locations in Utah. Or, you might have more time with one or two overnight stays in or near the park.

In this post, I cover both of those scenarios.

If you have plans to spend some time in Capitol Reef while driving through Utah (for example, on the drive between Moab and Bryce Canyon), I will let you know the best way to spend your time in the park. And if you have a full day in Capitol Reef, from sunrise to sunset, I have an itinerary for that, too.

Capitol Reef is one of the least visited national parks in Utah but don’t let its unpopularity fool you. There is a ton to do in this park and this one day visit may simply be an introduction to what a wonderful place this is. If you are like us, you’ll be dreaming of a trip back to Capitol Reef in the future.

A few facts about Capitol Reef National Park

The park protects the Waterpocket Fold, a nearly 100-mile long warp in the Earth’s crust

Capitol Reef is one of the five national parks that make up Utah’s Mighty 5. This is the fourth most visited park getting 1.2 million visitors per year. If you plan to visit Zion and Bryce Canyon on this road trip, Capitol Reef will feel delightfully uncrowded compared to those two national parks (Zion gets 4.5 million visitors per year!).

State Route 24 is the main road that cuts across the park. There are several great things to do along this road and you do not have to pay the park fee if you stick to the sights along this road. However, some of the best things to do in Capitol Reef are located along Capitol Reef Scenic Drive, a gorgeous drive that winds along part of the waterpocket fold.

The waterpocket fold is a 100-mile long wrinkle in the Earth’s crust. Basically, it’s a long line of mountains that are slowly being eroded revealing canyons, arches, and massive domes of rock. Capitol Reef preserves a portion of this waterpocket fold.

One day in Capitol Reef Nationsl Park: Best things to see and do

The best approach is to balance iconic hikes, scenic drives, historic sites, and stunning viewpoints

With one day in Capitol Reef, here are the best things to see and do:

Drive Highway 24 through the park
Take in the view from Panorama Point
Visit Sunset Point
See the petroglyphs
Drive Capitol Reef Scenic Drive
Hike to Hickman Bridge and/or Cassidy Arch
Stroll through the Grand Wash
Have pie at the Gifford Homestead

One day in Capitol Reef National Park itinerary

Start early to avoid heat and crowds, especially in summer

Here are three different ways to plan out your time in Capitol Reef National Park. The itinerary you choose depends on your starting and ending point for the day.

Driving Route #1: Moab to Bryce Canyon
Driving Route #2: Bryce Canyon to Moab
Driving Route #3: Start and End in Torrey

One day in Capitol Reef National Park: Moab to Bryce Canyon

Balancing driving and sightseeing

If you plan to visit Capitol Reef on the drive between Moab and Bryce Canyon (or Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument), this is how I recommend that you plan your time. The earlier you get started the more time you will have in the park.

Below is a sample itinerary. The times listed are guidelines for how long you will spend at each location. You could move faster or slower than that what I list here.

8 a.m.: Drive to Capitol Reef National Park
10:15 a.m.: Arrive in Capitol Reef National Park
10:30 a.m.: Hike to Hickman Bridge
12:30 p.m.: Petroglyphs
12:45 p.m.: Pie at the Gifford Homestead
1:30 p.m.: Cassidy Arch & Grand Wash
5:00 p.m.: Panorama and Sunset Points
5:45 p.m.: Dinner in Torrey
6:45 p.m.: Drive to Your Next Destination

As you can see this is a long, busy day. The faster you hike the earlier your day will end. For this itinerary I used the longer time estimates for both hikes. But if you move fast you could be driving to your next destination as early as 5:30 p.m.

If you want to shorten this itinerary hike Hickman Bridge OR Cassidy Arch. Eliminating one of these hikes saves you 2 to 3 hours.

Also, I highly recommend packing a picnic lunch. The only restaurant in the park is the Gifford House which just serves pie. Sure, you can have pie for lunch and you will be here midday so the timing works well but if you want sandwiches or something healthier than pie make sure you bring that with you.

The Gifford Homestead is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily with a 45 minute closure from noon to 12:45 from mid-March to late November. Hours can vary by season so get updates before you go on the National Park Service website.

Morning: Drive from Moab to Capitol Reef National Park

The drive is scenic with red rock landscapes, desert vistas, and geological formations

Driving distance and time: 140 miles, 2 hours and 15 minutes

It takes just over two hours to get to the east entrance of Capitol Reef National Park. Along the way you will pass Goblin Valley State Park and Little Wild Horse Canyon. You won’t have time for them today but I am mentioning them because they are great spots to visit on a future visit to Utah.

The east entrance of Capitol Reef National Park is marked with this sign. On Google, this spot is labeled as Orientation Pullout.

The drive along State Route 24 is beautiful. The road weaves between massive slabs of red and white sandstone rock following alongside the Fremont River. It’s a beautiful introduction to the park.

Mid-morning: Hike to Hickman Bridge

Showcases one of Capitol Reef’s signature natural features

The hike to Hickman Bridge is a classic hike if this is your first visit to Capitol Reef National Park. It is 1.8 miles round trip and takes 1 to 2 hours. Along the hike, you will have great views of Scenic Route 24. The hike ends at the back of a canyon where you get to see Hickman Bridge.

Note: On this itinerary you will also hike Cassidy Arch later in the day. If you only have the time and energy for one hike, I recommend Cassidy Arch. It’s a bit longer but it’s a very unique experience since you can have your photo taken on top of the arch.

The parking area for Hickman Bridge is located on SR 24, 7 miles west of the east entrance park sign. There are restrooms here.

Midday: Petroglyphs

Once you are finished the hike, hop back in your car and continue down Highway 24. It’s less than a mile to the next parking lot to see the petroglyph panel.

Midday: Pie at the Gifford Homestead

From Utah Route 24 turn onto Camp Ground Road. You are now in the historic Fruita district. The Gifford House is one of the last remaining historic buildings. Stop in for a slice of locally baked pie.

Early-afternoon: Cassidy Arch and Grand Wash

Both are located close to each other, making for efficient use of your afternoon

From Fruita drive south on Scenic Drive. Just south of Fruita there will be a fee station. Stop here to pay your park entrance fee ($20). If you have an America the Beautiful Pass you do not have to stop here.

Driving along Scenic Drive is one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park. This paved road is 8 miles long (one-way) and it is beautiful the entire way.

Turn onto Grand Wash Road (it will be your first left turn) and take this to the end. This puts you at the trailhead for Cassidy Arch and the Grand Wash.

Important note: If you have no plans to hike Cassidy Arch or Grand Wash, skip the drive down Grand Wash Road. Instead, continue to the end of Scenic Drive and turn onto Capitol Gorge Road, a gravel road that winds through a canyon. Then, return to Fruita.

Cassisy Arch

The hike to Cassidy Arch is one of the most thrilling in Capitol Reef. As you hike through Grand Wash and up into the sandstone hills you will have stunning views. The trail ends at Cassidy Arch one of the best photo spots in the park. This hike is 3.4 miles round trip moderately difficult and takes 2 to 3 hours.

Grand Wash

You can also add on the Grand Wash. You hike a small portion of the Grand Wash to get to the Cassidy Arch trail but if you go a bit further it is a very cool experience as the canyon walls close in around you. In some ways, it’s like hiking the Zion Narrows but it is a dry wash so you will not get wet.

Depending on how far you walk down the Grand Wash your total hiking distance with Cassidy Arch will range from 4 to 6 miles.

Late afternoon: Panorama and Sunset Points

This combination offers a memorable and visually stunning conclusion to your Capitol Reef visit

Drive back to Utah Highway 24 and turn left so you are heading towards Torrey.

Turn left at the sign marking Panorama Point and Sunset Point.

Panorama Point is a very quick visit…just pop out of your car and take in the view.

Continue to the end of the road and park. There are two trails that lead to two different viewpoints. To get to Sunset Point it is a 0.8 mile round trip walk to a stunning overlook. From the same parking lot, you can also walk the 0.2 mile round-trip trail to the Goosenecks Overlook.

Evening: Dinner in Torrey

Continue the drive west on SR 24. Get dinner in Torrey before driving south to your next destination. The Rim Rock Restaurant, Hunt & Gather, and the Rim Rock Patio, and Chak Balam Mexican get good reviews. The Pioneer Kitchen located in Capitol Reef Resort is another dinner option.

Once finished dinner, continue the drive to your next destination. If you are headed to Bryce Canyon National Park, it is a 2 hour drive.

One day in Capitol Reef National Park: Bryce Canyon to Moab

This itinerary balances hiking, scenic drives, cultural sites, and iconic viewpoints

If you plan to visit Capitol Reef on the drive between Bryce Canyon (or Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument) and Moab this is how I recommend that you plan your time. This itinerary is just the reverse of the one above (so refer to that one for full details about each stop along the way).

8 a.m.: Drive to Capitol Reef National Park
10:15 a.m.: Arrive in Capitol Reef National Park
10:45 a.m.: Cassidy Arch & Grand Wash
1:45 p.m.: Pie at the Gifford Homestead
2:30 p.m.: Petroglyphs
2:45 p.m.: Hike to Hickman Bridge
4:45 p.m.: Panorama and Sunset Points
5:30 p.m.: Dinner in Torrey
6:30 p.m.: Drive to Moab

Morning: Drive to Capitol Reef National Park

Driving distance and time: 111 miles, 2 hours and 15 minutes

From the town of Bryce which sits just outside of Bryce Canyon it takes 2 hours to drive to the west entrance of Capitol Reef National Park. Take a picture at the park sign and continue on Utah Route 24.

Mid-morning: Scenic Drive and Cassidy Arch

Make your way to Fruita and then continue south on Capitol Reef Scenic Drive. Hike to Cassidy Arch and if you want to go farther add on part of Grand Wash to your hike.

Early afternoon: Pie at the Gifford Homestead

Return to Fruita and have pie at the Gifford Homestead.

Mid-afternoon: Petroglyphs

See the petroglyph panel that is located on Highway 24.

Mid-afternoon: Hickman Bridge

Hike to Hickman Bridge. This hike is 1.8 miles round trip and takes 1 to 2 hours.

Late afternoon: Panorama and Sunset Points

Make the quick stop at Panorama and Sunset Points to for some of the best views of the day. Depending on the time of year that you are doing this your timing could be perfect for sunset.

Evening: Dinner

Torrey is the only place in the area where you can get dinner. So, you will have to backtrack a little bit to get food. There is nothing between Capitol Reef and Moab unless you want gas station food. You can either grab food to go in Torrey or sit down to dinner.

Then, drive to Moab. From Torrey, it is a 156 mile drive that takes just over 2 and one half hours.

One day in Capitol Reef National Park: Start and end in Torrey

This itinerary leverages your base in Torrey to fully experience Capitol Reef’s natural beauty

If you are staying in Torrey or in a location near Capitol Reef National Park you will save yourself a lot of driving (at least today). In the itineraries above there is roughly 5 hours of driving to get to and from Capitol Reef. By staying in Torrey you can use that extra time to either do more in the park or you can move at a more leisurely pace.

If you are a hiker, you have the time to hike one of the longer trails in the park. If you want big views over Capitol Reef, I recommend the Cohab Canyon Trail (3.4 miles round trip, strenuous) or Rim Overlook (4.6 miles, moderate). The hike to Navajo Knobs is a big day hike (9.5 miles, strenuous) and won’t leave you with much time or energy for anything else today but it makes a nice option for those who want to hike a trail with some of the best views in the park.

For a full list of hikes, read 16 Best Hikes in Capitol Reef National Parks

8 a.m.: Arrive in Capitol Reef National Park
8:30 a.m.: Go Hiking
12:30 p.m.: Scenic Drive
1:00 p.m.: Capitol Gorge Road & the Pioneer Register
2:30 p.m.: Pie at the Gifford Homestead
3:15 p.m.: Petroglyphs
3:30 p.m.: Hike to Hickman Bridge
5:30 p.m.: Panorama and Sunset Points
6:30 p.m.: Dinner in Torrey

Morning: Hike your favorite trail

Start off the day by hiking one of the trails in Capitol Reef. This can be Hickman Bridge or Cassidy Arch as mentioned on the above itineraries but if another hike on my hiking list caught your eye you can do that one instead. Just make sure it is a hike that is located along Utah Route 24 and Scenic Drive. There are fabulous hikes to do in the backcountry but with only one day in Capitol Reef I recommend saving the backcountry experiences for a longer visit.

Midday: Scenic Drive and Fruita

Spend the middle part of the day driving Scenic Drive. Take it to the end and then drive Capitol Gorge Road. This is a 2.3 mile gravel road that twists and turns through a canyon and you have great views the entire way. It is suitable for vehicles under 27 feet in length. This road ends at Capitol Gorge where you can walk 1.5 miles round trip to see the Pioneer Register.

When Mormon settlers passed through this area in the late 18th century and early 19th century they scrawled their names on the canyon walls. This collection of names is called the Pioneer Register. Basically, it is historic graffiti. In this same canyon you can also see American Indian petroglyphs.

Return to Fruita and have pie at the Gifford House.

Afternoon: Sights along State Route 24

Finish your day with the sights along Highway 24. See the petroglyph panel and if you still have energy hike to Hickman Bridge. End with sunset or late-afternoon views from Panorama and Sunset Points. Have dinner in Torrey.

Helpful tips for Capitol Reef

Carry at least one gallon of water per person per day

The only restaurant inside of Capitol Reef National Park is the Gifford House. They only serve pie and a few other treats so plan on packing a picnic lunch.

Toilets are located at the busiest trailheads: Hickman Bridge, Cassidy Arch, and Capitol Gorge. You can also use the bathroom at the visitor center which is located in Fruita.

Take note of sunset times before you do this itinerary. If you plan to visit Utah in the winter months the sun sets between 5 and 6 p.m. You will have to adjust what you do so that you finish in the daylight. Most likely, this means either starting earlier or only doing one of the hikes that I list in these itineraries. You can check sunrise and sunset times here.

While in Capitol Reef National Park, please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trails, pack out what you bring to the hiking trails, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.

More information about Capitol Reef National Park

Best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park

Spring and fall offer the most pleasant hiking weather

The spring and fall months are the best times to visit Capitol Reef National Park. Weather conditions are pleasant and you can avoid the larger crowds that arrive in the summer.

During the summer months expect soaring temperatures and large crowds (although Capitol Reef does not get the legendary crowds like Bryce Canyon, Arches, and Zion).

During the winter months the park is less crowded but temperatures get below freezing and snow is likely. Snow can close the roads and make hiking more difficult.

Where to camp

This variety of camping options lets you choose between convenience, rustic solitude, or full-service RV comfort

Inside Capitol Reef National Park, Fruita Campground offers 65 reservable sites. Full hookups, or any utilities for that matter, are unavailable. Should you want to stay there, reservations are a must—the earlier the better, as it fills quickly. A closure of the campground is scheduled for June 3 through 14, 2024. During this time period, the campground will be repaved and no reservations are available.

If you are up to it, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Forests provide other places to camp. Just remember that these are mostly primitive sites.

Torrey offers several RV parks for visitors exploring the area particularly those visiting Capitol Reef National Park. Here are some of the top RV parks in Torrey:

Sandcreek RV Park: Located 5 miles west of Capitol Reef National Park, this family-owned park offers full hookup RV sites, tent camping, and cabins. They provide free WiFi and are pet-friendly.
Wonderland RV Park: Situated just 3 miles from Capitol Reef, this park offers spacious RV sites with full hookups, tent sites, and log cabins. They provide amenities such as 30/50 amp service, free WiFi, shade trees, and clean restrooms.
Thousand Lakes RV Park: Located 6 miles from Capitol Reef, this park offers stunning views of red rock mountains and sagebrush-covered plateaus. They provide amenities like a pool, playground, laundry facilities, and a gift shop.

These RV parks generally offer similar amenities including full hookups, WiFi, and proximity to Capitol Reef National Park. Many are pet-friendly and provide additional facilities like showers, laundry, and picnic areas. Prices and specific amenities may vary so it’s best to check with each park directly for the most up-to-date information and to make reservations especially during peak travel seasons.

For more information on RVing to Capitol Reef National Park take a look at my article, Capitol Reef National Park: A Guide for RVers.

Practical information about Capitol Reef National Park

Park hours: Capitol Reef is open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.
Park fee: $20 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. You will pay this fee to enter Scenic Drive. You do not need to pay this fee if you only visit the sights along Highway 24 or if you drive the Cathedral Valley loop or Loop the Fold.

Worth Pondering…

…of what value are objects of a past people if we don’t allow ourselves to be touched by them. They are alive. They have a voice. They remind us what it means to be human; that it is our nature to survive, to be resourceful, to be attentive to the world we live in.

—Terry Tempest Williams, Exploring the Fremont

Scenic Drives That Lead to America’s Most Breathtaking National Parks

Scenic drives lead to some of America’s most breathtaking national parks offering spectacular views and wildlife experiences

There’s nothing like the open road especially when that road leads to volcanic landscapes, geysers, glaciers, and red-rock canyons.

In a country as vast as the US, every mile brings something unexpected and America’s national parks are no exception. From golden sand dunes to hardwood forests, from historic sites and iconic monuments to the winding trails that crisscross the United States, the National Park Service (NPS) has ensured that America’s most cherished places are protected.

They’re not just scenic stops for photo ops. They’re full-blown adventures waiting to happen.

The US landscape is as varied as the cars and RVs that cruise through it from gator-filled swamps and glacier-carved peaks to Martian desertscapes and moss-draped rainforests. That’s why I created this list around 10 epic road trips that link the most iconic (and underrated) national parks by region—routes that are as much about the journey as the destination.

Whether you’re chasing golden hour through the mountains, carving corners on alpine passes, or pulling over to stare at something so beautiful it doesn’t look real, these road trips are for drivers, dreamers, and anyone with a full tank and zero plans to fly.

Grand Canyon National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

How I picked these national park road trips

I didn’t just throw darts at a map. Each road trip on this list was chosen for its scenic driving routes, diverse landscapes, and access to multiple standout national parks—all within a realistic road trip radius. I focused on routes offering variety without needing a full sabbatical.

I considered:

Park proximity: Clusters of parks can be visited on a single trip without insane detours
Driving experience: Roads that are fun to drive from twisty mountain passes to wide-open desert highways
Landscape diversity: Routes that deliver contrast—think giant trees one day, red rocks the next
Seasonal timing: I chose road trips that can be realistically completed in one season with notes on the best times to go.

Sources included official National Park Service resources, travel advisories, weather data, regional visitor guides, and firsthand trip reports. And yes—I leaned on personal experience and a healthy obsession with planning the perfect national park road trip.

1. Southwest canyons circuit

A rich tapestry of natural beauty and adventure

States covered: Arizona, Utah
National parks included: Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands

Consider this the Holy Grail of national park road trips. Start your road trip in Las Vegas or Phoenix and from there loop your way through the red-rock royalty of the Southwest. Each park you visit will feel like a different planet.

One of the most iconic parks, the Grand Canyon will amaze you with its sweeping scale while Zion’s tight slot canyons will transport you to a completely different world.

From here, head to Bryce Canyon for a surreal sunrise. See the Sinking Ship with wide views and the hoodoos light up like Christmas trees making cool shadows on the canyon walls.

Capitol Reef is a quiet stunner with fewer crowds while Canyonlands delivers Martian vibes and backcountry soul. It is divided into four distinct districts—Islands in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the rivers themselves—each offering unique landscapes of mesas, arches, canyons, and other geologic formations.

The Arches are a completely different universe with their unique rock formations.

Each of these destinations provides a unique glimpse into the rugged and beautiful landscapes of the Southwest.

This road trip guarantees a fulfilling national park experience as it is overflowing with scenic beauty and equally stunning stops. Spring and fall are the best times to enjoy this road trip if you want to avoid intense heat and crowds.

Additional NPS sites along the Southwest canyons circuit:

Natural Bridges National Monument
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Bears Ears National Monument
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Joshua Tree National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

2. California’s crown Jewels

California’s most notable and cherished locations

States covered: California
National parks included: Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Death Valley, Joshua Tree

California has everything from waterfalls, deserts, to granite cliffs and ancient forests. For a California-specific national park road trip start in San Francisco or Los Angeles and create your own triangle through the wild heart of the state.

Known for its majestic granite domes, waterfalls, and diverse wildlife, Yosemite is non-negotiable. Drive through Tioga Pass, gaze up at El Capitan, and hike to Glacier Point.

Next, head south to Sequoia and Kings Canyon. It’s amazing to see trees that are as tall as skyscrapers here and rivers roaring through glacial-carved canyons.

For a completely different scenic view, drop into Death Valley, the hottest, lowest, driest place in the country. Finally, end this epic California national park road trip adventure with some stargazing in Joshua Tree.

Additional NPS sites amid California’s crown jewels:

Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lava Beds National Monument
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Pinnacles National Park
Redwoods National Park

Mount St. Helens National Monument *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

3. The Pacific Northwest wonderland

Stunning natural beauty including tall mountains, steep cliffs, lush forests, towering trees, and rushing waterfalls

States covered: Washington, Oregon
National parks included: Olympic, North Cascades National Park, Mount Rainier, Crater Lake

The Pacific Northwest Wonderland route is perfect if moody coastlines, moss-draped forests, and snow-capped volcanoes are your thing.

Leaving Seattle start your road trip by driving west to Olympic National Park. This park is unique because it allows you to walk from a rainforest to a beach and then to alpine meadows in a single day.

Home to grizzly bears, grey wolves, lynx, and wolverines, North Cascades National Park offers a true wilderness experience despite being only a three hour drive from Seattle.

Next, head to Mount Rainier. It’s a beast. Hike the Skyline Trail for views that’ll break your brain.

Then, continue south into Oregon and witness Crater Lake—renowned for its deep blue lake which is the deepest in the United States formed by the collapse of Mount Mazama approximately 7,700 years ago.

Go on this road trip in summer when the roads are open and the fog lifts long enough for epic views.

Additional NPS sites in the Pacific Northwest wonderland:

Mount St. Helens National Monument
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
Ross Lake National Recreation Area
Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

Mesa Verde National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

4. Rocky Mountain High Country Traverse

Unique and immersive wilderness experience

States covered: Colorado, Utah
National parks included: Rocky Mountain, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, Arches

For the Rocky Mountain High Country Route, start in Denver. Then, drive west into the heart of the Rockies.

Rocky Mountain National Park is an excellent national park for hiking to alpine lakes and seeing exciting wildlife. You can also drive along Trail Ridge Road, one of the highest paved roads in North America.

From the Rocky Mountains, make your way to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. This leg is steep, dark, and dramatically underrated.

Next, head to Mesa Verde, a park unlike any other filled with ancient cliff dwellings and ancestral Puebloan history.

You’ll end your road trip in Arches, Utah. The place is excellent for hiking through sandstone arches amidst a red desert landscape.

This route is best done in late summer or early fall when the leaves are golden and the mountain passes are clear.

Additional NPS sites along the Rocky Mountain High Country Traverse:

Colorado National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Hovenweep National Monument

5. Wild North: Glacier to Yellowstone

A journey through some of the most stunning landscapes in the United States

States covered: Montana, Wyoming
National parks included: Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton

This national park road trip is for the wild hearts. Start in Glacier National Park near the Canadian border. You will be blown away by the sight of turquoise lakes and snowy peaks in front of you. The landscape makes every photo look edited.

Then take the Going-to-the-Sun Road, arguably the most scenic drive in America. It offers breathtaking views of mountains, lakes, and glaciers. It’s a must-do for anyone visiting Glacier.

From there, drive down into Yellowstone for geysers, bison, hot springs, and one big supervolcano. Watch Old Faithful erupt then lose your mind over the colors of Grand Prismatic Spring. It erupts approximately every hour and a half, making it a reliable attraction.

Grand Teton is next on this road trip, Yellowstone’s elegant next-door neighbor. The Tetons’ ascent from the valley floor is a revelation in person. The beauty of the jagged peaks hits you with a force that no photograph can quite capture.

Additional NPS sites near the Glacier to Yellowstone corridor:

Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area
Fossil Butte National Monument

White Sands National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

6. Desert Dream Trail

Mountain, desert, and river landscapes

States covered: Texas, New Mexico
National parks included: Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands

This road trip may seem weird but it is vast, engaging, and wildly underrated. Start your road journey in Texas with Big Bend. The park boasts 150 miles of hiking trails through mountainous desert terrain and along rivers. Take time to admire the impressive canyons that the Rio Grande River has carved through the desert mountains. When night falls, the dark sky areas provide a memorable stargazing experience.

From there, head to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Explore deserts and dunes, canyons and mountains, diverse flora and fauna, and much more. Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a must-visit destination for hikers with more than 80 miles of trails winding from woodland canyons to lush springs. Plus, the park is also home to the highest peak in Texas.

As you pass through the Chihuahuan Desert and Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas and into southeastern New Mexico, filled with prickly pear, chollas, sotols, and agaves, you might never guess there are more than 300 known caves beneath the surface. Carlsbad Caverns contains 113 of these caves formed when sulfuric acid dissolved the surrounding limestone.

Finish strong with White Sands to see the gypsum dunes glow white as snow. White Sands National Park preserves not only major portion of this unique dune field but also the plants and animals that have successfully adapted to this constantly changing environment.

This trip is best in late winter or early spring before the intense heat kicks in.

Additional NPS sites along the Desert Dream Trail:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

7. East Coast Scenic Circle

Scenic driving experiences of coastal and mountain beauty

States covered: North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, West Virginia
National parks included: Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains, Congaree, New River Gorge

Think the East Coast can’t hang with the West when it comes to national parks? Think again. Start with Shenandoah and the legendary Skyline Drive for the East Coast Scenic Route. It’s particularly suitable for a beautiful fall-season drive.

Then head south to the Smokies to watch the magic of the mist, the mountain music, the elk sightings, and the firefly displays. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is renowned for its diverse plant and animal life, ancient mountain beauty, and preserved Southern Appalachian mountain culture.

Walk among the largest remnant of old-growth floodplain forest remaining on the continent and see national and state champion trees towering to record size amidst an astonishing array of plants and animals when you visit Congaree National Park.

From there, loop up to West Virginia’s New River Gorge, the newest national park and a whitewater mecca perfect for rafting. Or you can take on the trails perfectly suited for mountain biking.

Additional NPS sites along the East Coast Scenic Loop:

Blue Ridge Parkway
Appomattox Court House
Colonial National Historic Park
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
Cowpens National Battlefield

8. Alaska’s Road-Accessible Parks

Each park offers unique experiences and is a must-visit for those exploring Alaska’s natural beauty

States covered: Alaska
National parks included: Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias, Kenai Fjords

You’ll need to head to Alaska for the ultimate wild road trip. You’ll need to time your visit for summer but the reward is next-level.

Denali is six million acres of wild land bisected by one ribbon of road. Travelers along it see the relatively low-elevation taiga forest give way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains culminating in North America’s tallest peak, 20,310-foot Mount McKinley. Wild animals large and small roam un-fenced lands living as they have for ages. Solitude, tranquility, and wilderness await.

You should then head over to Wrangell-St. Elias which is the largest national park in the US spanning 13.2 million acres. Unlike many of Alaska’s parks, it is accessible by road though most of the park is only accessible via the McCarthy Road, a 60-mile dirt road known for being rough and challenging for vehicles.

Finish with Kenai Fjords. Located near Seward, it is known for its glaciers, rugged mountains, and beautiful waters. The park itself spans 669,984 acres and is home to wildlife such as whales, seals, moose, and bears. Exit Glacier and the Harding Icefield Trail are accessible by road while most of the park can be explored via boat tours. It is a 12-mile drive from Seward and a 132-mile drive from Anchorage.

Additional NPS sites along Alaska’s Road-Accessible Parks:

Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park
Sitka National Historic Park

9. Florida’s Tropical Trio

Florida has 3 national parks among its 11 NPS sites

States covered: Florida
National parks included: Everglades, Biscayne, Dry Tortugas

Think national parks are all forests and mountains? Not in Florida. Start in Miami and explore Everglades National Park to get an excellent mix of alligators, airboat rides, and birdlife galore. It is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States and the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi River.

Then, head to Biscayne, a mostly underwater park perfect for snorkeling and kayaking. Explore over 600 species of native fish along one of the world’s largest coral reefs.

For a more remote experience, explore Dry Tortugas, a 19th century fort and snorkel picturesque blue waters with coral reefs and marine life. This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. Almost seventy miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is accessible only by boat or seaplane. Known the world over as the home of Fort Jefferson, a 19th century coastal fortress comprised of over 16 million bricks, the park also protects natural wonders above and below its pristine water’s surface.

This trip is best done in winter to avoid hurricane season and the brutal heat and humidity.

Additional NPS sites that compliment Florida’s Tropical Trio:

Big Cypress National Preserve
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Fort Matanzas National Monument
Gulf Islands National Seashore

10. The Great Lakes Explorer Route

A scenic road trip itinerary that covers destinations along Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Ontario, and Erie

States covered: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan
National parks included: Voyageurs, Isle Royale, Sleeping Bear Dunes

This underrated route has fresh air, fresh water, and fewer crowds.

Start in northern Minnesota’s Voyageurs. While it is best accessed by boat, you can cover it on a road trip by visiting nearby visitor centers and lakeside campsites. It’s a place of transition between upland and aquatic ecosystems, southern boreal and northern hardwoods forest types, and both wild and developed areas.

Then, take a ferry from Michigan to Isle Royale for its moose and remote, roadless appeal. Isle Royale has 165 miles of scenic hiking trails and 36 campgrounds for backpackers, paddlers, and recreational boaters. There is excellent fishing, historic lighthouses, and shipwrecks, ancient copper mining sites, and plenty of spots to observe wildlife. Isle Royale is accessible only by boat or float plane.

Finish with Sleeping Bear Dunes along Lake Michigan’s coast. The park has numerous quiet beaches, forest trails, and dunes with unlimited beauty to provide a sensory reset. Plus, the park often provides a less intensely crowded national park experience than some major Western parks.

This route shines in late summer when the weather is warm and the crowds are gone.

Additional NPS sites along the Great Lakes Explorer Route:

Grand Portage National Monument
Pictured Rocks National Lakeside
Apostle Islands National Lakeside

Fill the tank and hit the road

America’s national parks aren’t just places to visit—they’re landscapes to experience, drive through, and get lost in. Each road trip on this list is a chance to turn the wheel toward something unforgettable from glacier-lined highways to sun-baked desert trails.

Whether you’ve got a weekend or a whole season, these routes offer more than just park checklists—they’re built for detours, surprises, and stories you’ll tell for years. So pack the cooler, cue the playlist, and leave room for whatever memories you collect along the way.

Because the best part of any road trip is not just where you go—it’s how you get there.

Worth Pondering…

When I was about fifteen, I went to work at Yosemite National Park. It changed me forever. Nature had carved its own sculpture and I was part of it, not the other way around.

—Robert Redford

Utah National Park Road Trips with Scenic Stops

These road trips provide a variety of experiences and are designed to showcase the best of Utah’s natural beauty and outdoor activities

Utah is one of the top destinations in the US for outdoor adventurers, home to many of America’s bucket list hiking trails. With five national parks and 11 other National Park Service (NPS) sites (including national monuments, recreation areas, and conservation areas), it’s no surprise some of the most bucket-list-worthy national park road trips take place in Utah.

Utah’s national park sites protect some of the most unusual formations in the world. Hoodoos, natural bridges, mineral caves, and sheer canyon walls are just some of the dramatic structures road trippers can expect to find on a trip around Utah. From weekend loops to treks across the state, these Utah national park road trip routes are excellent ways to explore the national park sites in the Beehive State.

Tip: For those worried about the price tag of a national park road trip, consider investing in an America the Beautiful Parks pass, one of the best ways to visit national parks for cheap all year long. At $80, the pass grants free entry for the pass holder and their passengers to all NPS, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and USDA Forest Service sites for one year which can save a lot for those who recreate in these areas often.

1. Mighty 5 Utah Road Trip

NPS sites visited: 5

The five national parks in Utah are perfectly spaced for one of the best national park road trips in the US with scenic stops and it is arguably the most popular road trip route in Utah.

Starting in Salt Lake City, travelers can point their loop toward either Zion National Park or Arches National Park. For those starting in Zion National Park, road trippers will slowly move east across Southern Utah before moving north, ending at Arches National Park and returning to Salt Lake City.

One of the great advantages of the Mighty Five road trip is the ability to add plenty of additional stops including Snow Canyon State Park near Zion and Goblin Valley State Park near Moab and Arches.

Road trip route: Salt Lake City → Zion National Park → Bryce Canyon National Park → Capitol Reef National Park → Canyonlands National Park → Arches National Park → Salt Lake City

Recommended time: 5–8 days

Note: There are a variety of ways to enjoy the Mighty 5 Utah road trip. For a more linear route, travelers can start in Salt Lake and go towards Arches National Park moving westward and ending in Zion National Park. This opens the possibility of heading to Las Vegas, Nevada (and nearby Valley of Fire State Park) instead of simply returning to Salt Lake at the end of the trip.

Scenic NPS stops

Zion National Park

Entrance fee: $35/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Angel’s Landing Hike (permit required), The Narrows Slot Canyon, Camping

Bryce Canyon National Park

Entrance fee: $35/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, Thor’s Hammer, Inspiration Point, hiking trails, Scenic Southern Bryce Canyon Park Loop

Capitol Reef National Park

Entrance fee: $20/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: Cassidy Arch, Goosenecks Overlook, hiking trails, stargazing

Canyonlands National Park

Entrance fee: $30/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: Mesa Arch, Green River Overlook, The Maze District

Arches National Park

Entrance fee: $35/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted (timed entry required)
Top things to see and do: The Delicate Arch, Windows Section Scenic Drive, hiking trails

2. Southeastern Utah Road Trip

NPS sites visited: 3

There are countless scenic Utah road trips ranging from just a few miles to all-day drives across the state. If even exploring half of the state isn’t quite possible one of the shorter Utah national park road trip itineraries through a small region may be the perfect solution. The Southeastern portion of Utah is rich in national and state park sites, ideal for a smaller-scale road trip.

Moab makes an excellent home base for this road trip sitting just outside Arches National Park and just an hour from Goblin Valley State Park one of the many Utah state park alternatives to Zion National Park and the perfect substitute for making the drive to the other side of the state.

At just 370 miles to drive, this loop is far more manageable for those looking for a long weekend-length road trip through Utah’s national parks.

Road trip route: Moab → Arches National Park → Canyonlands National Park → Goblin Valley State Park → Natural Bridges National Monument → Moab

Recommended time: 3–4 days

Scenic NPS stops

Arches National Park

Entrance fee: $35/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted (timed entry required)
Top things to see and do: The Delicate Arch, Windows Section Scenic Drive, hiking trails

Canyonlands National Park

Entrance fee: $30/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: Mesa Arch, Green River Overlook, The Maze District

Goblin Valley State Park

Entrance fee: $20/vehicle
Top things to see and do: scenic drive, wander through the Goblins, mountain biking, stargazing

Natural Bridges National Monument

Entrance fee: $20/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted

Top things to see and do: Owachomo Bridge Viewpoint, stargazing, birdwatching, hiking

3. The Alpine Loop

NPS sites visited: 2

The Alpine Loop is a favorite for local Utahns looking for an afternoon drive but with the right stops this drive can easily become an exceptional national park road trip in Utah.

The entirety of the Alpine Loop is, in fact, in Uinta National Forest. Camping opportunities along the Loop which stretches from American Fork Canyon to Provo Canyon are plentiful as are scenic hiking trails through the Aspen trees. The steep canyon walls also lend themselves to dramatic waterfalls like the scenic Stewart Falls Trail.

As a Utah national park road trip, however, there is one more can’t-miss stop on this weekend getaway. Timpanogos Caves National Monument in American Fork Canyon is one of Utah’s most unique national park sites requiring a moderate hike up switchbacks before reaching the caves themselves. Timpanogos Cave can only be explored as part of a tour but the stalactites and stalagmites in the damp mountain caves are well worth the effort.

Road trip route: Alpine Loop Byway (American Fork Canyon to Provo Canyon)

Recommended Time: 1–2 days

Scenic NPS stops

Uinta National Forest

Entrance fee: $6/vehicle (3-day pass)
Top things to see and do: scenic drive, hiking trails, camping, picnicking, Stewart Falls Trail

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Entrance fee: $12-$22/person/tour (reservations required)
Top things to see and do: scenic hike, guided cave tours

Natural Bridges National Monumen *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

4. Utah National Monuments Road Trip

NPS sites visited: 8

Utah has eight dedicated national monuments in addition to the famous national parks. Seven of these national monuments work nicely to create one of the most unique and varied national park road trips in Utah from Salt Lake City.

Following I-15 from Salt Lake to American Fork, road trippers will first detour to the Alpine loop to explore Timpanogos Cave National Monument in Uinta National Forest. A challenging hike to a mountain cave, Timpanogos Cave is the perfect first stop before heading to the rocky terrain of the rest of the trip.

The other four national monuments are in the southern portion of the state. From the ancient structures of Hovenweep National Monument to the red rocks of Cedar Breaks National Monument, this expansive road trip is a chance to explore the hidden gems of Utah with fewer crowds but plenty of scenic national park views.

Road trip route: Salt Lake City → Timpanogos Cave National Monument → Bears Ears National Monument → Hovenweep National Monument → Natural Bridges National Monument → Rainbow Bridge National Monument/Glen Canyon National Recreation Area → Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument → Cedar Breaks National Monument → Cedar City

Recommended time: 7–10 days

Scenic NPS stops

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Entrance fee: $12-$22/person/tour (reservations required)
Top things to see and do: scenic hike, guided cave tours

Bears Ears National Monument

Entrance fee: There is no entrance fee; however, some areas have daily user fees and may require a permit
Top things to see and do: Cedar Mesa, San Juan River, Valley of the Gods, kayaking, hiking, rafting, camping, stargazing

Hovenweep National Monument

Entrance fee: $20/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: hiking trails, Square Tower Group, Cutthroat Castle, Visitor Center

Natural Bridges National Monument

Entrance fee: $20/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: Owachomo Bridge Viewpoint, stargazing, birdwatching, hiking, Horse Collar Ruin Overlook

Rainbow Bridge National Monument

Entrance fee: No admission fee
Top things to see and do: Lake Powell boat ride, hiking trails

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Entrance fee: $30/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: hiking trails, swimming, boating, scenic drives

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Entrance fee: No admission fee
Top things to see and do: hiking, rock climbing, camping, stargazing, Grand Staircase-Escalante Visitors Center

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Entrance fee: $25/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, Cedar Breaks Visitors Center, stargazing

5. Zion National Park & Dixie National Forest Road Trip

NPS sites visited: 3

Zion National Park is the most-visited national park in Utah and was one of the most visited national parks in the US in 2023. Many travelers recommend spending two or even three days exploring this spectacular park including taking several scenic drives (or hopping on the eco-friendly shuttle) through the park.

Given the time spent in Zion National Park itself, limiting additional road trip stops might be necessary. By starting in Saint George in southwestern Utah, adventurers on a Utah national park road trip itinerary with scenic stops can stop in Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and Snow Canyon State Park on their way to Zion. After spending the desired time in Zion and potentially even taking on one of America’s most dangerous hikes (Angel’s Landing) the road heads north to Dixie National Forest.

One of the numerous hidden gem destinations in Utah, Dixie National Forest is full of unique attractions of its own including an arch that travelers can drive through and Red Canyon, one of the most underrated and worthwhile places to visit in Southern Utah.

Road trip route: Saint George → Snow Canyon State Park → Red Cliffs National Conservation Area → Zion National Park → Dixie National Forest

Recommended time: 4–6 days

Tip: Got more time? By ending in Dixie National Forest, Utah national park road trip travelers are well-positioned to add Capitol Reef and even Canyonlands National Park to the road trip itinerary.

Snow Canyon State Park

Entrance fee: $10/vehicle (Utah resident); $15/vehicle (non-Utah resident)
Top things to see and do: hiking trails, mountain biking, scenic drives, camping

Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

Entrance fee: $5/person, interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: hiking trails, mountain biking, slot canyons, petroglyphs, dinosaur footprints, horseback riding

Zion National Park

Entrance fee: $35/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Angel’s Landing Hike (permit required), The Narrows Slot Canyon, camping

Dixie National Forest

Entrance fee: Free
Top things to see and do: hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, birdwatching

6. Route 89 Road Trip: The Utah Stretch

NPS sites visited: 2

Route 89 is often considered America’s most scenic road trip and for good reason. In its entirety, Route 89 visits seven national parks and 14 national park sites between Montana and Arizona. The Utah stretch of this picturesque drive takes travelers from Kanab in Southern Utah all the way to Bear Lake on the Utah-Idaho border.

The main national parks along this road are Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, both of which have their own scenic drives and hiking trails. For those interested in going further north, views of national forests as well as opportunities to detour to major cities like Provo and Salt Lake City help balance the attractions along this one-of-a-kind Utah national park road trip route.

Road trip route: Kanab → Zion National Park → Bryce Canyon National Park → Provo → Salt Lake City → Logan → Garden City/Bear Lake

Recommended time: 4–6 days

Scenic NPS stops

Zion National Park

Entrance fee: $35/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Angel’s Landing Hike (permit required), The Narrows Slot Canyon, camping

Bryce Canyon National Park

Entrance fee: $35/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, Thor’s Hammer, Inspiration Point, Hiking Trails, Scenic Southern Bryce Canyon Park Loop

7. Arches and bridges of Utah

NPS sites visited: 4

Arches National Park may host the highest concentration of natural arches and bridges in the world but there are actually three national park sites in Utah dedicated to these natural formations. Natural Bridges National Monument and Rainbow Bridge National Monument also protect one-of-a-kind arch formations and they combine nicely with Arches National Park for a themed Utah national park road trip itinerary.

Starting in Moab with Arches National Park, Utah road trippers can drive south towards Natural Bridges National Monument. This is where the road trip takes a bit of a turn. Rainbow Bridge National Monument is part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area meaning that guests can enjoy two national park sites at once.

However, while this may be a road trip getting to the Rainbow Arch itself won’t be that easy. The only way to see one Rainbow Bridge National Monument, one of the world’s largest natural bridges, is to take a boat ride from Lake Powell or take the multi-day 14-mile (each way) hike through the Navajo Nation. As the last stop of this national park road trip route in Utah, these exhausting excursions may be the perfect escape from the car for a grand road trip finale.

Road trip route: Moab → Arches National Park → Natural Bridges National Monument → Glen Canyon National Recreation Area/Rainbow Bridge National Monument

Recommended time: 3–4 days

Scenic NPS stops

Arches National Park

Entrance fee: $35/vehicle. valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted (timed entry required)
Top things to see and do: The Delicate Arch, Windows Section Scenic Drive, hiking trails

Natural Bridges National Monument

Entrance fee: $20/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: Owachomo Bridge Viewpoint, stargazing, hiking, birdwatching, Horse Collar Ruin Overlook

Rainbow Bridge National Monument

Entrance fee: No admission fee
Top things to see and do: Lake Powell boat ride, hiking trails

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Entrance fee: $30/vehicle, valid for 7 days; interagency passes accepted
Top things to see and do: hiking trails, swimming, boating, scenic drives

Warning: Arches National Park is one of several US national parks that require timed entry reservations in 2025. Be sure to visit the National Park Service website to get a timed entry reservation made ahead of time.

Worth Pondering…

Utah’s landscapes are a symphony of stone sculpted by wind and water.

Stargazing From Your RV: Best Locations for Summer Night Skies

Lose reception, connect to the Galaxy. Where are the best night skies for stargazing?

RVing is a popular way to explore the country and connect with nature. It provides the opportunity for you to travel anywhere you want and stay in a new place every night. Observing the night skies can be one of the most memorable and beautiful parts of this lifestyle.

Your RV might even have a skylight so you can sleep under the stars in the comfort of your own bed. But unfortunately, light pollution sometimes makes it difficult to see the stars at night. They may be dim in comparison to all the light reflecting off the atmosphere.

Fortunately, the U. S. is littered with designated Dark Sky Places where light usage is limited. In these locations, you can see gorgeous constellations and a night sky that looks like it’s straight out of a movie. In general, the less populated an area is the better the night skies will shine.

National parks are some of the best places in the country to see dark skies and many are working to protect this endangered resource. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of dark skies while in the park—on any clear night, look skyward to see views that rival the daytime scenery that Zion is known for.

There’s nothing like camping under the dark night sky and admiring all of the bright stars and constellations. Some of the best stargazing in the world can be seen in the certified Dark Sky Parks designated by the International Dark Sky Park Association. They aren’t only naturally darker and far from light pollution but they’ve made specific efforts to help protect the night sky for years to come.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab a telescope (or a pair of astronomy binoculars) and make a trip out to these parks with the darkest night skies for a stellar night this summer.

Astronomy binoculars have large apertures (the openings of the lenses) for low light conditions and stargazing. They also come with integrated tripod adapters. Sometimes called giant binoculars, astronomy binoculars can magnify objects by up to ten time at large distances.

Giant binoculars tend to have apertures of greater than 70 mm. Many night sky viewers use binoculars made by Nikon, Celestron, Orion, or Barska. Prices can range from $50 up to over a few hundred dollars.

Tips for RV stargazing

Timing: Plan around the new moon for the darkest skies. Summer (July/August) is ideal for Milky Way viewing in the Northern Hemisphere.
Gear: Bring binoculars or a small telescope for enhanced viewing, a red-light headlamp to preserve night vision, and a star map app like SkyView or Night Sky.
Light pollution: Use a light pollution map (e.g., DarkSiteFinder) to confirm dark skies. Turn off all exterior RV lights and use low-luminance red lights.
Comfort: Pack blankets, chairs, or a sleeping pad for extended viewing. Summer nights can still be cool in high-altitude locations
Weather: Check clear sky forecasts to avoid cloudy nights.

These locations combine accessibility, minimal light pollution, and RV-friendly camping making them perfect for summer stargazing. Always reserve campsites in advance especially during peak summer months and verify RV size restrictions. For more Dark Sky Places, check the International Dark Sky Association’s website.

Big Bend National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

1. Big Bend National Park, Texas

Tucked away in western Texas, Big Bend is one of the largest and most remote national parks in the country. It’s well-known for its wide open dark night sky where you can see everything from the Milky Way to the Big Dipper.

Located far from any urban areas, Big Bend actually has the least amount of light pollution out of all the national parks in the lower 48 states. On any given clear and moonless night, you can see up to 2,000 stars in the sky here. In contrast, you can barely see a hundred stars from most cities.

Where to camp

There are three campgrounds throughout the park with well-defined sites.

The Rio Grande Village Campground has 25 full hookup sites for RVs. There are 100 other spaces with no hookups but they do usually have a BBQ grill.

Or grab a tent and stay in one of the 63 campsites surrounded by rocky cliffs at Chicos Basin Campground. The Cottonwood Campground has 31 quiet sites available as well.

Additionally, there are 116 back-country zone campsites and roadside campsites off the primitive roads where you can stay. They require a special permit which you can pick up for free at the Panther Junction Visitor Center.

Here are some articles to help:

2. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Capitol Reef is an incredible place to camp under the stars in the heart of southern Utah’s red rock country. The wide open skies, millions of stars, and sandstone formations make it one of the best places in the entire U.S. for night photography.

They also have summer evening programs, night sky tours, and full moon hikes with the park rangers and guest astronomers. Check out more details on their website.

Where to camp

Fruita Campground is the only well-developed option in the park. They have 64 RV/tent sites as well as 7 walk-in tent-only sites available for camping.

There are two additional primitive campgrounds: Cedar Mesa and Cathedral Valley. Both are open year-round for no fee although they’re in more remote areas of the park with pit toilets and picnic tables (but no water).

Both are relatively small: Cathedral Valley Campground has six sites that are all first come, first serve while Cedar Mesa only has five sites available.

Check this out to learn more:

3. Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico

In the desert of northwestern New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Park has been long considered to be one of the best places for stargazing by night enthusiasts. The ancient landscape and dark skies have been protected for years and 99 percent of the park remains designated as a natural darkness zone in which no permanent outdoor lighting can be seen anywhere.

They offer a public Night Sky Program with an observatory in which visitors can learn more about astronomy, look through telescopes, learn how to minimize light pollution, and help protect the dark sky for years to come. They also hold bi-annual Star Parties during the darker times of the year, around May and October.

Where to camp

Gallo Campground is about a mile east of the Visitor Center with 49 sites open year-round for tent and RV campers. The sites nestled behind large boulders and cliffs are located right next to old petroglyphs and inscriptions.

Sites 36-49 are for tent camping but all of the others are for RVs (35 feet in length and smaller), tents, or car camping. There aren’t any hookups but the campground does have a dump station. The sites each have a picnic table and fire grill and are available by reservation only.

4. Joshua Tree National Park, California

Joshua Tree National Park is known as the ultimate playground for stargazers. It offers the best opportunity for Southern Californians to find the darkest skies with clear nights nearly every day of the year due to the low desert humidity and absence of light pollution.

Visitors are often astounded when getting a glimpse of the night sky in such an unpolluted state. That’s something that’s been recognized by the National Park Service for many years with frequent stargazing get-togethers hosted throughout the year. Check the park’s event schedule for upcoming “My Night Sky” events that help visitors understand what they observe.

Telescope manufacturer, Celestron occasionally sends some of their professionals out to the events to help “demystify the technology” behind the instruments and to help users get familiar with using them on their own. A variety of telescopes, including powerful computerized models as well as more basic tools for stargazing are used.

If you want to get out and enjoy it on your own, just bring a pair of binoculars. To help identify all of those objects you’ll find, a star chart is also essential as it will reveal the location of many celestial objects so that you’ll know what you’re looking at.

Where to camp

With 8 different campgrounds offering about 500 developed campsites, Joshua Tree offers a variety of options for RVers. There are no hookups for RVs at any campground in Joshua Tree. Black Rock (99 sites) and Cottonwood (62 sites) have RV-accessible potable water and dump stations. At Hidden Valley (44 sites) and White Tank (15 sites) RVs may not exceed a combined maximum length of 25 feet. Additional campgrounds include Belle (18 sites), Indian Cove (101 sites), Jumbo Rocks (124 sites), and Ryan (31 sites).

Here are some helpful resources:

5. Death Valley National Park, California

As the third darkest (and largest) International Dark Park in the US, Death Valley has an open desert landscape that’s meant for gazing at the Milky Way watching a meteor shower or following a lunar eclipse. During the winter and spring, park rangers provide night sky programs and hold all kinds of stargazing events with astronomers.

Where to stay:

Death Valley is huge, so fortunately there’s a good range of options when it comes to places to park and set up camp.

Most of the campgrounds (Furnace Creek, Mesquite Spring, Emigrant, and Wildrose) are open year-round. Thorndike and Mahogany Flat Campgrounds are both open only from March-November. All are pet-friendly with a maximum of four per site.

Furnace Creek Campground has 18 RV sites with full hookups. There are full hookup sites also available over at the privately owned Stovepipe Wells RV Park and Panamint Springs Resort.

6. Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah

About fifty miles northwest of the Four Corners, Natural Bridges Monument is a great location for photographers day and night. In the evenings, the clear skies become dark and filled with thousands of bright, shining stars. It’s the perfect place to lay back and watch the Milky Way rise over (the pictured) Owachomo Bridge.

Where to camp

Natural Bridges National Monument has one 13-site campground that’s open year-round for RVs, tents, and cars. The spaces are all first come, first serve and can accommodate up to eight people and one vehicle each (up to 26-feet long).

The sites all have a fire grill, picnic table, and tent pad but no running water, electricity, or hookups. There are two vault toilets at the campground but if you prefer regular flush ones it’s only about a quarter-of-a-mile walk to ones at the visitor’s center (available 24-hours a day). Guests can also pick up free water at the visitor’s station (up to 5 gallons a person).

Make sure to bring your own food and snacks—the nearest food service isn’t for about forty miles.

Check this out to learn more:

DIG DEEPER: More on stargazing

You should check those out, too.

Worth Pondering…

The dark sky beckoned the stars so dim and small like speckles of frost.

―Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

This Utah Trail between Zion and Bryce Canyon Is One of the World’s Best Bike Routes

Riding gravel and singletrack trails while enjoying the comfort of hut life and house-cooked meals

Utah’s Mighty Five national parks are some of the most accessible in the US. The state boasts scenic byways, interconnected highways, and gorgeous gateway small towns for convenient excursions.

But Utah also has plenty of rugged trails for adventurists like the Aquarius Trail Hut System which connects Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.

Inspired by the beauty of Utah’s Aquarius Plateau (see photo below), the founder of the Aquarius Trail Hut System came up with this bike route billed as “one of the greatest places in the world to ride your bike” not only in terms of scenery but also convenience. It’s a bit pricey but this backcountry trail lets you see the lesser-known landscapes of southern Utah without the typical camping hassles.

The Aquarius Trail runs between Zion and Bryce Canyon and took 20 years to piece together—blending fire roads, existing trails, and some creative negotiations to become a reality. What makes this trip unique is its “hut-to-hut” system allowing groups of up to 12 to take on the ride of a lifetime. While “hut-to-hut” travel is well known for skiing in the Italian Alps or hiking across Europe, this type of trail adventure remains rare in the United States with just a few places in the country offering it.

The planned trail trip offers the thrill of an epic journey with the luxury of stocked huts at each stop. The traditional way of doing a trip like this is called “bikepacking” which usually means riders carry all their gear and camp along the way. Why take so much time and planning when someone else can do it for you?

Aquarius Plateau

The highest-timbered plateau in North America

The Aquarius Plateau is the highest timbered plateau in North America peaking at 11,328 feet at Bluebell Knoll on Boulder Mountain. Running for about 100 miles along the northern edge of the Grand Staircase, the Aquarius Plateau was formed around 20 million years ago by tectonic plate uplift on the Colorado Plateau. It encompasses more than 900 square miles and is the largest and highest plateau in Bryce Canyon Country with more than 50,000 rolling acres above 11,000 feet.

Dense aspen, spruce, and fir forests, subalpine grasslands, and meadows make up the landscape at the highest elevations. Ponderosa pine forests are found at the middle elevations and pinyon and juniper pine forests thrive at the Aquarius Plateau’s lowest elevations around 5,000 to 6,000 feet. Protected federal lands in the plateau include Dixie National Forest and Bryce Canyon National Park. Much of the Aquarius Plateau is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

The Aquarius Plateau towers above Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and the east slope overlooks the rugged landscape of Capitol Reef National Park with stunning long-range views. Popular recreation areas on the plateau include Box Death Hollow Wilderness Area, Powell Point, and Boulder Mountain.

Trails on Boulder Mountain include the hike to Bluebell Knoll for breathtaking panoramas and the Great Western trail which crosses the mountain on its run from Canada to Mexico.

Several mountain roads including Scenic Byway 12 provide access to much of Boulder Mountain’s incredible scenery and dozens of crystal clear lakes that offer world-class trout fishing. Campgrounds and lodging can be found in nearby Escalante and Boulder.

Grand Staircase-Escalane National Monument *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The Aquarius Trail is located between Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks

Bikepacking hut system sandwiched between Bryce and Zion national parks

While Utah’s Aquarius Trail Hut System doesn’t directly pass through Bryce Canyon, mountain bikers ride near the area including the small gateway town of Panguitch and Tropic Reservoir.

Ride the Aquarius Trail and enjoy the marvels and scenery from the peak of Brian Head through Panguitch, Hatch, and Bryce down to the beautiful town of Escalante.

From the seat of your bike you will experience, Brian Head Peak at a towering 11,306 feet down Proctor Canyon into the quaint little town of Hatch. Meander past the Tropic Reservoir and ride on into Red Canyon, home of the infamous Thunder Mountain Trail and the Red Canyon Bike Path. Keep exploring all the Dixie National Forest has to offer; like a big climb up to the scenic Powell Point where John Wesley Powell surveyed Southern Utah.

Length: 170 miles
Elevation range: 6,000-10,000 feet
Tour offered: July, August, September, October
Duration: 6 days
Lodging: Backcountry huts
Fitness level: 3-5
Technical level: 3-5

Brian Head *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Aquarius Trail Hut System Route

Day 1: Brian Head to Hatch: 36 miles (stay at Hatch Hut)
Day 2: Hatch to Red Canyon: 28.3 miles (stay at Butch Cassidy Hut)
Day 3: Red Canyon to Pine Lake: 42.7 miles (stay at Pine Lake Hut)
Day 4: Pine Lake to Clayton Springs: 27.5 miles (stay at Aquarius Hut)
Day 5: Clayton Springs to Hell’s Backbone: 29.8 miles (stay at Hell’s Backbone Hut)
Day 6: Hell’s Backbone to Escalante: 35.7 miles

Day one starts with descending from the breathtaking Brian Head Peak (11,307 feet) leading to high alpine forests towards Hatch Hut.

The following day, views morph into canyons and lakes as riders head to the Red Canyon—the best spot on the trail to watch the sunset.

After spending the night in the Butch Cassidy Hut, the trail introduces a quieter Bryce alternative with similar red rock hoodoos and tunnels. The day ends in Pine Lake, a cool contrast to Utah’s arid environment.

The fourth-day itinerary challenges riders with rugged cliffs as they climb the trail’s namesake, Aquarius Plateau (a 2,200-foot ascent). It then goes to the high altitudes of Clayton Springs where Aquarius Hut is.

On the fifth day, bikers take on the desert slickrocks of Hell’s Backbone where the last overnight hut is located.

The 190-mile journey wraps with a final climb to Calf Creek before entering the city of Escalante—home to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Panguith Lake *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The huts in the Aquarius Trail Hut System are equipped with cabin-like amenities

Each hut provides a luxury backcountry bikepacking experience

The Aquarius Trail Hut System has five cabin-like huts fully equipped with a kitchen, bathrooms with proper toilets and showers, real beds, and a water system. They’re made of repurposed shipping containers cut apart into 20-foot sections that provide solid shelter unlike typical camping shelters.

The huts’ locations add to this luxurious bikepacking experience. They guarantee sweeping views of southern Utah’s verdant vistas, vast open valleys, alpine lakes, amazing rock formations, and clear night skies.

Each hut is stocked with a refrigerator and fresh, healthy food. Solar power is also available to charge electronic devices. Outdoor facilities include fire pits, foot pump rinse stations, a generator for e-bike charging, and bicycle repair tools and stands.

The greatest bicycle adventure in the American West

A backcountry mountain biking experience like no other

Day 1 itinerary & trails

Hut: Hatch Hut (7,072 feet)
Distance: 36 miles
Elevation gain: 1,683 feet

Your adventure begins at Brian Head Peak (11,307 feet) where you descend the exciting Bunker Creek Singletrack. Mountain Bike Action Magazine rated this Singletrack as one of the top ten best trails in America! It descends 2,885 feet over 12 miles to Panguitch Lake where you’ll catch an exciting and fun 15-mile route through ponderosa and juniper forests—dappled with ancient lava beds and rolling meadows—to the Hatch Hut in Hatch, Utah.

Day 2 itinerary & trails

Hut: Butch Cassidy Hut (8,034 feet)
Distance: 27 miles
Elevation gain: 2,904 feet

Energize with a hearty breakfast for this morning’s invigorating eight-mile, 2,500-foot climb through Proctor Canyon to the top of Sunset Cliffs. Sunset Cliffs is the mountain border for the Bryce Canyon Valley. After viewing the stunning scenery, you descend eight miles to Tropic Reservoir and take a plunge in the crisp (yet refreshing) waters. Cruise a 19-mile section of the Great Western Trail to Red Canyon.

Once you get to the hut take a little time for hiking or opt for the Cassidy Loop in Red Canyon. Enjoy sunset over beautiful Red Canyon.

Day 3 itinerary & trails

Hut: Pine Lake Hut (8,385 feet)
Distance: 25 miles
Elevation gain: 1,457 feet

Get ready for some of the best single-track in Utah—Red Canyon. From the hut, ride down Thunder Mountain Trail through the beautiful hoodoos of Red Canyon. From here cross Highway 12 and ride up to the Casto Canyon trailhead passing many amazing views of Slate Mountain and Powell Point. Casto Canyon crosses a small creek bed up to 44 times before eventually meeting up with jeep roads that cross the high planes of Bryce Canyon country to Pine Lake Hut. Pine Lake is a nice relaxing lake where you can fish or swim and cool off for the evening.

Aquarius Plateau *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Day 4 itinerary & trails

Hut: Aquarius Hut (10,023 feet)
Distance: 37 miles
Elevation gain: 4,915 feet

Today you will climb to the top of the Aquarius Trails namesake—the Aquarius Plateau. Get ready for the BIG climb—2,200 feet over 10 miles to the top of Barney Top 10,577 feet. On your way to the top, don’t forget to ride out to Powell Point (an optional 8-mile out and back ride to a vista overlooking southern Utah). Once back on route, continue onto Barney Top and across spectacular high meadows to the Aquarius Hut at Clayton Springs.

If you are still thriving for another ride, opt to ride down to Barker Reservoir and back. The ride drops 500 feet to the reservoir so don’t forget you have a climb back to the hut.

Day 5 itinerary & trails

Hut: Aquarius Hut (10,023 feet)
Distance: 37 miles
Elevation gain: 4,915 feet

There are two different ride options from the Aquarius Hut to the midpoint at Posey Lake. Take the non-technical ride on Hell’s Backbone Road or choose the backcountry singletrack ride on the Great Western Trail. Each is very different. The dirt road option is across big open meadows with antelope roaming freely while riding along the mountain singletrack, you will be challenged to technical riding and more climbing (climb 2,500 feet and descend 3,300 feet over the first 15 miles).

Choose to stop at Posy Lake where, time permitting, you might have the opportunity to do some hiking around the lake. (If you are on a 5 day 4 night hut adventure, this is where you leave the Aquarius Trail and drop down the short route back to Escalante). From here choose dirt road or then ride cowpuncher 5 mile singletrack to Cowpuncher Guard Station and Blue Spruce Campground. From here both options collide into the ride up to Hell’s Backbone Bridge and across Box Death Hollow Wilderness and then finally descending to Hell’s Backbone Hut at Sand Creek.

Day 6 itinerary & trails

Distance: 36 miles
Elevation gain: 2,169 feet

Passing through various vegetation zones, today’s ride borders the Box Death Hollow Wilderness. Continue riding along Hell’s Backbone Road until you reach Scenic Highway 12. From here it is a beautiful ride along the Hogback back to Escalante. Along the way, stop at Calf Creek and cool off in the crystal clear waters. Optional 3 mile hike to Calf Creek Falls is a great side trip as well. This 128 foot waterfall is nothing shy of amazing. One big climb on the road after Calf Creek is followed by a gradual descent to Escalante to conclude your 190 mile adventure!

The cost of bikepacking the Aquarius Trail Hut System

Book online or phone 702-596-2953

The Aquarius Trail Hut System is undeniably a premium bikepacking experience. The full six days and five nights cost $1,049 per person with much lower rates for groups. A private sleeping hut that sleeps up to six people costs $5,988 ($499/person) while two sleeping huts that accommodate a dozen bikers cost $9,997 ($832/person).

Other riding options allow riders to cut trips down to two nights:

5 days/4 nights: $990 per person; $5,490 for one private hut for six ($915/person); $9,610 for two sleeping huts for 12 ($801/person)
4 days/3 nights: $859 per person; $4,995 for one private hut for six ($833/person); $8,993 for two sleeping huts for 12 ($749/person)
3 days/2 nights: $779 per person; $4,395 for one private hut for six ($733/person); $8,393 for two sleeping huts for 12 ($699/person)

Note: The Aquarius Trail Hut System also offers bike rentals. Read their Ride Guide for more information.

Tips for riding the Aquarius Trail System

Do your homework and know what you’re getting yourself into. If you plan on riding the entire trail, train and get used to long days in the saddle.
Take your time. You have all day to complete each section. You might as well enjoy rest stops, lunch breaks, and wide-open spaces.

Choose partners that you vibe with both on the trail and at the huts. You will be spending five to six days together so you don’t want to get sick of each other at the beginning of the trip.

Utah’s Aquarius Trail Hut System may be a splurge but it spoils bikers with bucket list challenges and the state’s hidden gems which you can’t reach any other way. It’s one of the most underrated alternatives to Zion National Park and a great way to bask in the expanse of Bryce Canyon’s unique ecosystem.

Worth Pondering…

A bicycle ride around the world begins with a single pedal stroke.

—Scott Stoll