Exploring the Underrated natural Scenery of Utah
No matter how many road trips you experience in America, there’s always another one to surprise you. Utah is one of the most underrated states in the US and has some of the best national parks in the entire country. From the majestic red canyons to one of the world’s most dangerous hikes, Utah’s natural beauty looks like a desktop screensaver. Follow our 4-day itinerary to prepare yourself for one of the best road trips in the USA!
Preparing for Your Epic Journey Through Utah
There are a few options for starting your journey to Utah: either fly into Salt Lake City or into Las Vegas, Nevada. The Northern route of flying into Salt Lake City could include national parks like Arches, and Canyonlands while the southern route beginning from Las Vegas includes Zion, Bryce, and Antelope Canyon. We chose the Southern route so will be focusing on that itinerary below. Here’s a list of the best national parks in the region to consider visiting:
- 1. Zion National Park – One of the best national parks in the USA for adrenaline-fueled hiking trails and home to the most dangerous hike in the world, Angels landing and the Narrows
- 2. Bryce Canyon National Park – One of the best parks in Utah, home to the legendary hoodoo rock spires that can be easily accessed from multiple view points or immersive hikes
- 3. Arches National Park – Home to over 2,000 natural arches and some of the most iconic landscapes in Utah, about 4 hrs from Salt Lake City
- 4. Canyonlands National Park – A colossal maze of canyons, mesas, and desert that is also extremely close to Arches
- 5. Capitol Reef National Park – A hidden gem defined by its rippling waterpocket fold, orchards, pioneer history, and red-rock canyons
- 6. Dead Horse Point State Park – A state park with national-park-level vibes — offering sweeping overlooks of the Colorado River carved 2,000 feet below.
- 7. Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument – Wild, remote, and geologically wild, Escalante is a labyrinth of slot canyons, waterfalls, and desert expanses that feel truly untamed.
- 8. Horseshoe Bend (Arizona) – Technically not in Utah but still essential to any Southwest adventure. A simple park with incredible views of a 1,000ft canyon above a meandering river
- 9. Antelope Canyon (Arizona) – An ethereal slot canyon where you can squeeze between the narrow walls and spot the divine rays of sunlight beaming through.
- 10. Monument Valley (Utah/Arizona) -A cinematic desert plain guarded by towering sandstone buttes (lol)
How to get permits for Angels Landing?
Most of the parks on this list are easily accessible however, Angels Landing in Zion National Park requires a permit to enter. For example, the lottery for fall permits (hikes on September 1 – November 30) become available for purchase between July 1st and July 20th with your preferred time slot. The window to buy your ticket closes after these dates and winners of the lottery receive email notification on July 25th. Reservations can be made for multiple people in your group but keep in mind there will be a fee charged per person. We recommend everyone from your group create separate reservations with various time slots to increase the odds of being randomly selected. Two members of our group both got awarded the lottery so I suppose lady luck was on our side. Find more information on acquiring permits for an exact date on the Recreation.gov website.
After winning the permit, be sure to either screen shot or print out the email and present it to the Park Ranger along with a photo ID at Angels Landing at the selected start time. The entire trail is about 5 miles round trip, has a steep elevation gain of 1,500ft (450meters), and took about 4hours total. It is known as one of the most dangerous hikes in America and can be challenging, but is totally doable as long as you remain diligent. The final views are phenomenal and worth the strenuous endeavor.
When is the best time to visit Utah?
The best time to plan a hiking trip to Utah is either in the spring (April–May) and fall (September–October). These seasons offer the best temperatures (50s–80s°F) and clear skies. Avoid the summer due to it’s scorching heat and flash floods caused by monsoons. Many roads and trails become inaccessible in the winter due to icy conditions and the daylight hours are much shorter.
Utah Road Trip Itinerary:
Day 1: Fly into Las Vegas
We decided to fly into Las Vegas Nevada since it was much cheaper and only about a 2hr drive to Zion. After picking up the car and feasting at the One Piece Cafe, we began the voyage towards Zion National Park. As soon as you cross the Utah Border you can see magnificent landscapes along the horizon. We stayed the night at the Hampton Inn in the town of St. George about 30mins from Zion since we had early reservations to access the park. We stocked up on plenty of water and snacks and prepared for an early rise.
Day 2: Zion National Park
This day began around 6am, to be sure we arrived in time to do all the insane hikes at Zion National Park. As soon as we arrived, we took the shuttle straight to stop #9 the Grotto trail head to start the climb to Angels Landing. The first 2 miles to Scouts Landing was a steep inclined hike with switchbacks. It was challenging, but manageable. The next 0.5 miles was the notorious Angels Landing aka the spine which consists of a narrow ridge surrounded by sheer cliffs where you’ll need to use chains and balance to pass a few sections. Overall it was pretty difficult but the views were marvelous.
After that strenuous hike we headed to The Narrows, a refreshing hike through a slot canyon river. For this trail you’ll be wading through ankle to waist deep water for up to 8 miles (But we turned around at the 2mile mark)! Before initiating the trail, stop by the rental shop for water shoes and a hiking stick. Be sure to also bring swimming clothes, a dry bag, and a water case for your phone. The water is freezing cold so good luck! To Finish the day, we watched the sunset at the end of the 1mile Canyon Overlook Trail and headed back to the hotel.
Day 3: Bryce Canyon National Park
The drive was about 2 hours from Bryce Canyon, so we headed directly there after grabbing some breakfast. After arriving at the visitor’s center, we planned the most efficient route to see all the highlights and hit as many as possible. We drove about 40ins to Yovimpa Point and made our way back stopping at the easy access multiple view points along the way. Upon arriving to the Hoodoo Amphitheater at Bryce Point and Sunrise Point, we decided to descend into the canyon via the Navajo Loop & Queens Garden Trail. Both trails combined were about 3miles, but contained steep inclines at high elevation. Overall, expect to spend about 6 -8hrs at Bryce Canyon if you want to take in all the sights at a relaxing pace. Be sure to pack plenty of snacks too! After a full day of hiking, we drove 2.5hrs to the next hotel at Home2 Suites by Hilton in Page Lake Powell.
Day 4: Horse Shoe Bend & Antelope Canyon
Okay technically we are detouring from the Utah road trip but Page Arizona is close enough and has many monuments worth visiting. The hotel was about a 10min drive to the legendary Horse Shoe Bend, which is some serious competition for the Grand Canyon. After about a 15min walk you’ll arrive at the cliff over looking the river for some incredible views. After this park we headed to the Upper Antelope Canyon for an exclusive hike through a narrow canyon. This one is on Navajo territory so a guided tour is the only way to experience it. Tours to the Lower Antelope Canyon are also offered. If we had extra time (and knew of the permits beforehand) we would of made one final stop to The Wave at Coyote Buttes Wilderness Area but every journey must eventually come to its end. We drove back about 4.5hrs to Las Vegas to catch our night flight back home.
Overall I gotta say Utah is one of the most underrated states in America. There’s so many diverse landscapes and eccentric rock formations that will make your home state look embarrassingly flat. If we had to choose only one adventure from this trip, Angels Landing would have to be it. But the Queens Garden Trail in Bryce is a close second. Stay tuned for our next American road trip as we try to visit all 50 states! Thanks for reading and keep leveling up!
Join us as we hike the deadliest trail in America…Angels Landing! We’ll also share everything you need to know about acquiring permits and the entire experience.
Find out how well 3 out of shape men do while hiking the best trails in Zion National Park!
Check out our speed run of Bryce Canyon National Park here!
Join us as we explore this secret cavern in Page Arizona!
Here’s our entire 4 day Utah road trip itinerary vlog!
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