From Arches to Canyons, Utah’s Parks Have It All 🌄

Why the Mighty 5 Live Up to the Hype

Utah's 5 National Parks each have their own personality—Arches is sculptural and surreal, Zion is towering and dramatic, Bryce is all about color and curves, Canyonlands feels like another planet, and Capitol Reef? Totally underrated. Whether you're road-tripping through them all or visiting just one, you’re in for landscapes that look like they were designed by imagination itself.

Arches National Park

Nature’s most dramatic lesson in erosion.

Arches National Park is home to over 2,000 natural stone arches — the highest concentration of its kind anywhere in the world. These formations were shaped by millions of years of erosion, weathering, and shifting sandstone, creating a surreal landscape of balanced rocks, fins, and delicate spans.

Highlights include Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, and Double Arch, each showcasing the raw beauty of the desert. Go at sunrise or sunset for the kind of golden light that makes everything (and everyone) look legendary.

Insider tips: The Devils Garden loop is your ticket to some lesser-known arches with fewer crowds and big payoff views.

Canyonlands National Park

Carved by rivers. Built for wandering.

Canyonlands is the largest and least visited of the Mighty 5 — which is exactly why you should go. Split into four districts, it’s all about sweeping overlooks, epic mesas, and deep canyons carved by the Colorado River.

Trust us: Mesa Arch at sunrise is one of those “worth it” moments.

Hot take: If you love the Grand Canyon but want it with fewer tour buses, Canyonlands is your spot.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Not technically a canyon. Definitely worth the hype.


Bryce is a natural amphitheater filled with hoodoos — tall, twisty rock spires shaped by frost, water, and time. The landscape is like nothing else in Utah: jagged, colorful, and packed tightly into sweeping views that look almost sculpted by design.

Top hike: Pair Navajo Loop with Queen’s Garden for a close-up walk through the hoodoos—switchbacks, tunnels, and all.

Sunrise spot: Sunrise Point (fittingly named) offers a front-row seat to the light show as the canyon fills with morning light.

Fun fact: The air is crisp and clear here, thanks to the high elevation — which also makes it one of the best stargazing spots in the country.

Capitol Reef National Park

The sleeper hit of the bunch.

Capitol Reef flies under the radar, but those who make the trip are rewarded with big skies, bold colors, and a whole lot of variety. Think orchards, sandstone domes, narrow slot canyons, and ancient petroglyphs — it’s like multiple parks rolled into one, with a fraction of the crowds.

Must-do: The Scenic Drive, the Cassidy Arch hike, and don’t leave without grabbing a fresh pie from the historic Gifford Homestead. Yes, pie. In a national park. You’re welcome.

Zion National Park

The crown jewel. And the crowd magnet.


It’s hard not to feel small here — Zion’s walls soar above you, glowing with color and centuries of erosion. Whether you’re wading through The Narrows or clinging to chains as you hike to the top of Angels Landing, this park is pure adrenaline and awe.

Want low-key Zion? Try Canyon Overlook Trail or the scenic drive east of the tunnels. Fewer people, all the vibes.

Insider tip: Stay in nearby Springdale so you can be first on the shuttle and beat the masses.

Utah’s parks aren’t a maybe—they’re a must. Each one brings something totally different, from arches that look impossible to canyons that make you feel incredibly small. You’ll get dusty, tired, and probably a little sunburned, but you’ll be glad for all of it..