Between easier, classic trails to more moderate challenges, I completed hikes at all five of Utah’s breathtakingly beautiful national parks earlier this summer. As a first-time hiker, here are my thoughts on each of the Mighty Five and travel recommendations on the order in which to visit these national parks.
Underrated: Canyonlands National Park
The Island in the Sky features several overlooks and the perfect family-friendly 30-minute hike along the Mesa Arch Trail (0.6 mi/1 km roundtrip). The bright-colored flowers along the way are stunning, and the cliff-edge arch is the perfect photo-op.
Must-See: Arches National Park
Arches National Park epitomizes hiking and should be on everyone’s bucket list. With over 2,000 natural stone arches in the park, the most popular is the Delicate Arch. Timed-entry reservations are required for this trail, which is 3 miles (4.8 km) roundtrip and climbs 480 feet (146m).
Favorite: Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef has a variety of fun attractions, including freshly baked fruit pies and flavored honey, horses, and ancient petroglyphs. The Hickman Natural Bridge Trailhead offers the best view of the white Navajo Sandstone dome known as the “Capitol Dome” for its resemblance to the U.S. Capitol. The easy-moderate 0.9-mile hike reaches an impressive 133-foot natural bridge.
Top Recommendation: Bryce Canyon National Park
For all the Swifties out there, the higher elevation and cooler weather at Bryce Canyon National Park give off major “evermore” vibes, as you are surrounded by pine trees and the world’s largest concentration of “hoodoos,” tall, thin spires of softer rock formed by erosion. My favorite trails were the easier Mossy Cave (0.8 mi./1.3 km), which features a stunning waterfall, as well as the moderate but iconic Navajo Loop (1.3 mi./2.1 km), which features “Thor’s Hammer.” The convenient shuttle service also transports you to the neighboring Old Bryce Town, a charming Western-style village of shops and diners.
Most Logistically Complicated: Zion National Park
Mentally prepare for the demanding park situation at Zion. Arrive as early as possible to beat the crowds at Utah’s first and busiest national park. The classic Watchman Trail is a moderate 3.3 mi/5.3 km hike that allows you to see the stunning steep red cliffs pierce the bright blue sky. Views of the Virgin River can be seen along the Kayenta Trail, which connects to the Upper Emerald Pool Trail (3.0 mi/4.8 km combined).
Overall, each national park has its own treasures and challenges. Before and at the start of this trip, I thought of hiking as cruel and unusual punishment, but I am proud that I pushed myself past my comfort zone and discovered the beauty of Utah’s Mighty 5.
While I thoroughly enjoy planning travel logistics, my friend perfectly coordinated these trip details, including the driving route to and from South Texas and hotel reservations for ten days at almost $1,000 each. I also contributed Chase Freedom Unlimited® travel reward points toward booking some hotels. The order in which we visited all the parks was:
- White Sands National Park in New Mexico
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park along the Utah/Arizona border
- Canyonlands National Park in Utah
- Arches National Park in Utah
- Goblin Valley State Park in Utah
- Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
- Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah
- Zion National Park in Utah
- Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona
- Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
I particularly appreciated how the order of our Mighty 5 hikes aligned with a gradual improvement in cell phone signal at each national park. It felt appropriately outdoorsy to lose phone signal at the outset of Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef. However, at the busier Bryce Canyon and Zion, having phone signal provided a sense of reassurance, which allowed us to confidently split up to complete hikes of varying difficulty levels.
If you’re planning a trip that includes visits to multiple national parks, purchasing an Annual Pass for $80 is more efficient than paying individual entry fees at each park. For all first-time hikers, I strongly recommend purchasing a Passport To Your National Parks® book at the visitor center of your first national park so that you can collect free souvenir stamps from all your adventures. Once you start your national park stamp collection, you’ll want to earn all 63 of them.
Bonus Tip: I wish we had spent more time at the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park along the Utah/Arizona border. Guided tours of the majestic mountains are available, and local artisans also sell beautiful hand-crafted jewelry. We arrived to Monument Valley shortly before sunset for some quick photos and then stopped at the famous Forrest Gump Point located on Highway 163 Scenic Drive.
A Song I Listened To While Writing: “Bucket List” by Mitchell Tenpenny because I was able to scratch hiking off my bucket list, and the music video features several places I visited on this trip.
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