Are you planning on embarking on a road trip to the national parks of Utah? If so, check out the following helpful guide to the best parks.
Be Prepared
Before we look at the best national parks that Utah has to offer, it’s worth mentioning that you should prepare for your trip ahead of time.
By working out a route that you can comfortably do over your allotted time, you can ensure you see all of the parks’ highlights.
Also, ensure you pack anything you need for a successful and safe road trip.
You might also want to look at getting additional auto insurance. Check out this site for Utah’s most competitive car insurance rates.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park was the very first national park to be established in Utah.
You might come across some of Zion National Park’s amazing wildlife, such as canyon tree frogs, plateau lizards, mule deer, rattlesnakes, and mountain lions.
In fact, the park is home to more than 78 species of mammals, 37 species of reptiles, and 291 species of birds.
There are lots of trails you could walk, where you’ll see amazing sites like huge pink and red sandstone cliffs.
For the best views, head to Angel’s Landing or Observation Point. Though, if you want a simple hike, visit the Canyon Overlook, which offers spectacular vistas, especially as the sun goes down.
Bryce Canyon National Park
With pink cliffs, red rocks, and endless vistas, not to mention the largest concentration of irregular columns of rock on earth, you’re sure to have an incredible time at Bryce Canyon National Park.
Furthermore, there’s perhaps nowhere else where you can experience natural darkness in quite the same way.
At night, due to a combination of pristine air and high elevation, the skies are darker than anywhere else in the U.S.
You could come across a wide variety of wildlife, including mountain elks and peregrine falcons, as well as over sixty species of butterflies.
As for plants, the park’s meadows, seeps, and springs are home to a broad range of plant life, including rabbitbrush and sagebrush.
You can hike or cycle around Bryce Canyon National Park, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, you can go horseback riding.
Capitol Reef National Park
Located in the south-central desert of Utah, Capitol Reef National Park surrounds the Waterpocket Fold, which contains canyons, layers of golden sandstone, and out-of-this-world rock formations.
You’re sure to want to check out the Hickman Bridge Arch, the Capitol Reef, which is well-known for its sandstone domes, and the spectacular Chimney Rock Pillar.
And the park is home to an incredible 230 species of birds, and a number of reptiles, fish, amphibians, and mammals.
You could come across mountain lions, ringtails, and white-tailed antelope squirrels, to name just a few.
There are plenty of activities to get involved with, too. Besides hiking, you could take a horseback ride or go rock climbing and canyoneering.
Canyonlands National Park
One Utah national park that should definitely be on your road trip itinerary is Canyonlands National Park.
The rivers of the area divide the park into four distinct districts: The Needles, The Maze, the Island in the Sky, and the rivers themselves.
If you only have time to explore one area, make sure it’s the Island in the Sky section.
You could drive along the whole of the Grand View Point Road and stop at all of the different lookouts along the way, such as Green River Overlook, Shafer Canyon Overlook, Buck Canyon Overlook, and Grand View Point.
There are plenty of things to do throughout Canyonlands, including biking, climbing, boating, stargazing, horseback riding, and hiking. You could even get married while suspended 400 feet above Utah Canyon!
And you could see wildlife like kangaroo rats, bobcats, coyotes, black-tailed jackrabbits, and a large variety of songbirds.