Fascinating red rock formations, utterly dramatic desert landscapes, unparalleled hiking trails, and vistas that look straight out of this world are just a few staples of a road trip through Utah.
If you’re currently in the planning stages of your Utah itinerary, chances are you’re feeling a tad bit overwhelmed with options. To help you out a little, we decided to craft a list of the absolute best destinations that need to be on your bucket list while road tripping around Utah’s desert magic!
The Ultimate Utah Road Trip for Some Serious Desert Magic
Zion National Park
Sandstone cliffs that come in all shades of color, congregations of desert wildlife you never even knew
The best part? Zion’s got a little something for everyone. Whether you’re keen to hit a few hiking trails, try your hand at rock climbing, or test out your mountain biking skills, there are plenty of ways to explore Zion’s alluring terrain.
A surefire way to see some of the best this stunning park has to offer is by hiking The Narrows. It’s a 16-mile trail that will have you walking, hiking, and wading your way through a narrow canyon of red rock walls. Another must-do hike in Zion is Angel’s Landing. Which is a little shorter than The Narrows and will have you finishing the adventure at one of Zion’s most iconic views.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon’s allure lies in the fact that it’s home to the largest collection of hoodoos in the world. Hoodoos
Thanks to its relatively small size, Bryce Canyon can easily be explored in a day or two. One of the best ways to see its highlights is by driving down the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive. Which cuts right across the park and provides viewpoints to some of the main attractions without having to break a sweat.
If you’re up for a challenge, though, put your hiking shoes on and brave the Queen’s Garden Trail. Which will have you making your way through tremendous views of hoodoos down below as well as staggering natural archways you can walk under. Another must-do hike for those who would rather avoid the crowds is the Fairy Land Trail. This will give you an epic overview of the entire canyon and killer views of hoodoos.
Monument Valley
Being one of America’s most iconic landmarks, Monument Valley is known for its stunning sandstone buttes
Tip: Monument Valley is a wonderful spot to try your hand at horse riding! Whether you love the experience or not, you’re guaranteed to feel as though you’re living inside an Old West film!
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef is often overshadowed by Utah’s more popular national parks. But we highly recommend
What makes Capitol Reef so special is the fact that it’s home to the Waterpocket Fold, a “wrinkle” on the ground’s surface that extends almost 100 miles into the desert. Which creates a dramatically beautiful landscape of canyons, bridges, arches, and rugged cliffs. As if that weren’t enough, the park is also home to ancient petroglyphs, native history like no other. And a vast array of wildlife you wouldn’t expect to see in the desert.
Related: The Most Scenic Drives in Arizona
Dead Horse Point State Park
Ever wondered what starring in a Western movie would feel like? Visiting Dead Horse Point will bring you
Although usually overlooked by travelers to Moab, Dead Horse Point is a collection of dramatic desert views and epic hiking trails. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also throw in a day spent exploring caves or an afternoon trying your hand at horse riding.
Moreover, this is a great spot to experience what sleeping in the desert is like. Especially if you’ve always dreamed of sleeping in an authentic yurt!
Arches National Park
Natural red rock arches and exceptionally beautiful desert vistas are the staples of Arches National Park.
Whether you’re feeling in the mood for hiking in the desert (make sure to do the Landscape and Double Arch trails!) or would much prefer to see the highlights from the comfort of your car, there’s no shortage of ways to explore Arches regardless of your travel style. If you’re feeling up for a serious adventure, make sure to snag a spot to hike Fiery Furnace, which is a maze of narrow passageways and towering sandstone walls that will leave you awe-struck.
Canyonlands National Park
Sweeping views of canyons, whacky-looking red rock formations lining the sky, and birds-eye views of the desert are just a few of the things that make Canyonlands National Park such a unique place to see.
Due to the fact that Canyonlands is absolutely humongous, you could actually focus your entire Utah trip just
The national park is divided into three sections: Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze. If you don’t have much time or aren’t very experienced with hiking under rough conditions, Island in the Sky is the best place for you to get an introduction to Canyonlands. Because the trails here are relatively short and easy to follow.
If you’re feeling up for a backcountry adventure, though, head to The Needles for some more challenging hikes that you’ll get pretty much all to yourself. If you’re the intrepid type, The Maze is the ultimate adventure for you. But do make sure you plan things to the T as it’s considered one of the most remote regions in the country!
In conclusion, it’s pretty much impossible to get bored while traveling in Utah. Even though the places mentioned in this post are just a few in the list of incredible spots this wonder state has to offer, these destinations are some of the most iconic and a pretty good way to get an introduction to the best it has to offer!
Have you ever visited any of these destinations in Utah? Which one was your favorite? Let me know all about it in the comments section below!
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