In the heat of July, my family went on a Utah road trip vacation. We mixed in overnight camping, backpacking and staying in hotels. We flew out, rented a car, and explored the wild west!

It is a lot of driving, but incredibly scenic. With this schedule, we were able to see all of the MIGHTY FIVE on our Utah road trip itinerary!

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Day 1: PHOENIX, ARIZONA

• Fly into Phoenix: Dinner at Four Peaks Brewery–

• Drive 3.5 hours to town of Tusayan (Gateway to Grand Canyon National Park).

Lodging/Overnight: Grand Hotel Tusayan

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Day 2:  GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

• 5 minute drive from Tusayan to entrance of Grand Canyon National Park

• Hike “Bright Angel” trail halfway down, then hike back up.

  • Be sure to go early, it is VERY hot.
  • Be on the lookout for rattlesnakes!

• Hike the West Rim Trail and see Maricopa Point

  

  

  

  

Lodging/Overnight: Grand Hotel Tusayan

 

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Day 3: GRAND CANYON  ⇒ ZION NATIONAL PARK

• Breakfast at local treat, R.P.’s Stage Shop

• Stop at many of the scenic overlooks near the park

  

  

  Springdale

  

  

• Drive 5 hours to town of Springdale, Utah: Swim in hotel pool, explore town

Lodging/Overnight: La Quinta Inn: Springdale

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Day 4: ZION NATIONAL PARK

• Go in to town, get rental items for hiking the watery trail of “The Narrows”

• Drive five minutes to entrance of Zion National Park (PS- see my post on nearby Kanab, Utah!)

• Begin to hike “The Narrows”– a famous and stunning hike through a slot canyon

  • A thunderstorm began halfway through our hike, so we ladies turned back. My Dad and husband kept going, and we were anxiously waiting and worrying. The park closed the trail due to a flash flood hazard, but they made it back safe. Don’t be like them!!
  • The trail is, of course, very slippery. Make sure you are wearing sturdy walking sandals. I recommend a hiking stick for balance too.

Lodging/Overnight: Public Campsite: The Watchman Campground

 

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Day 5: ZION NATIONAL PARK

• Bright and early, hike the strenuous but beautiful ANGEL’S LANDING trail (5 miles).

  • It is steep, and narrow- some parts have a chain railing to help you keep balance. Start early in the day, bring lots of water, and don’t do it if you’re scared of heights! Don’t forget you now need to enter a lottery to be able to enjoy this hike!

• My Mom and I took the convenient shuttle to sites around the park, including:

  • The Watchman Trail
  • Zion Visitor Centre
  • Court of the Patriarchs

• Next, we took a scenic drive to stop at various overlooks. We climbed the abstract rock formations all around the park area, including Checkerboard Mesa. We also saw several bighorn sheep!

  

  

  

  

Lodging/Overnight: Public Campsite: The Watchman Campground

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Day 6: ZION ⇒ PANGUITCH, UTAH

• Pack up campsite. Stop at several scenic overlooks and short trails on the drive out.

• Drive 2.5 hours to town of Panguitch, Utah.

• Head to visitor center at Bryce Canyon, register for backcountry camp permit

• Drive to nearby overlooks. Do some hiking to see Hoodoo Rock Formations

Lodging/Overnight: Marianna Inn

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Day 7: BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

• Explore the “old western” vibe of main street in small town Panguitch

• Head to Bryce Canyon National Park, 30 minute drive away

• Backpack the “Under the Rim” trail towards Iron Springs Campsite: (4 miles: mostly downhill)

  • Overnight backpacking trail, camping in the woods. Great view of the stars!
  • Be wary of bears! Also be sure to register and get a permit for back-country camping

Lodging/Overnight: Iron Springs Campsite

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Day 8: BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

• Hike 4 miles uphill to get back to our car from Iron Springs (fun!)

• Stop at various overlooks of the hoodoos, including Sunset Point

Lodging/Overnight: Campsite at the Park: North Camp

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Day 9: BRYCE CANYON ⇒ CAPITOL REEF

• Hike “Queens Garden” Trail: The Navajo Loop

  • Hike among the stunning rock formations for 3 miles round-trip

• Drive 2 hours to Torrey, Utah: Home of Capitol Reef National Park

• Explore town, drive around the park, and get stuck in a bad storm!

  • Road floods due to flash flooding! See several “pop-up waterfalls”

Lodging/Overnight: Rim Rock Inn

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Day 10: CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK: TORREY, UTAH

• Hike the “Grand Wash” trail

  • Another storm begins, so we head back (washes are prone to flash flooding)

• Dinner at Red Cliff Restaurant in town of Torrey

  • Dessert at shake joint, Slackers

Lodging/Overnight: Rim Rock Inn

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Day 11: CAPITOL REEF ⇒ MOAB, UTAH

• Hike the “Sulphur Creek” trail  (5.5 mile, 1 way hike)

  • The hike has several deep water areas, which we weren’t expecting. It also has a few steep waterfall drops, with no other way down than to jump them. I hate heights, so this was scary for me!!
  • During our hike, it began to thunderstorm, and I was terrified there’d be a flash flood in the narrow canyon.

• Visit the Gifford Homestead

  • Eat pie at the historic cabin, and see lots of deer and turkey near the barn!

• Scenic Drive around the Park:

  • See the Cathedral Valley rock formations
  • Visit the Fremont Petroglyphs, carved by the natives in 600 AD

• Drive 3 hours to the town of Moab, Utah

Lodging/Overnight: VRBO House Rental: Rim Village Condo

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Day 12: ARCHES NATIONAL PARK: MOAB, UTAH

• Drive 10 minutes from Moab to the entry of Arches National Park

• Hike several small trails and see landmarks including:

  • Park Avenue Trail (awesome!)
  • Landscape Arch (beautiful)
  • Balanced Rock Trail
  • Windows Rock

• Late evening hike uphill to see Delicate Arch at sunset (3 mile trail going up 480 feet)

  • Hiking back down in the dark was a bit scary, so bring a flashlight!

• Have dinner in town at the Moab Brewery

Lodging/Overnight: VRBO House Rental: Rim Village Condo

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Day 13: ARCHES ⇒ CANYONLANDS, UTAH

• Stop at the Canyon Voyages Office Moab to rent kayaks for the day

• Kayak down the Colorado River (13 miles)

  • We experienced some whitewater, but nothing major, and no crowds at all
  • At the end, when you have to bring your boats to shore, the current pulled our kayak downriver. It was a big fiasco trying to chase it down!

• Drive 35 minutes to the entrance of Canyonlands National Park

  • Do the Crater View Trail to Upheaval Dome
  • Hike the Mesa Arch Loop Trail
  • Green River Overlook at Sunset
• We wish we would have camped in Canyonlands, it is incredibly scenic!

Lodging/Overnight: VRBO House Rental: Rim Village Condo

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Day 14: MOAB, UTAH ⇒ SALT LAKE CITY

• Explore and shop the hip town of Moab

• Drive 4 hours to Salt Lake City, Utah.

  • Walk area around the Mormon Temple and gardens

• Fly home out of Salt Lake Airport – Hope you enjoy your UTAH ROAD TRIP!!

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