Travel to The Mighty Five
Get off the beaten path and take a scenic road trip through the Grand Staircase of Southern Utah. From Zion to Moab, this route takes you to each of Utah's coveted Mighty Five national parks, where you will experience breathtaking views of the southwest. You will encounter small towns, minimal traffic and plentiful opportunities to stop and admire some of the United States’ most iconic landscapes.
Enjoy the winding roads of Scenic Byway 12, where you will find Grand Escalante National Monument offering a multitude of activities for any outdoor enthusiast. Make a stop in the small town of Escalante to grab a pizza from Escalante Outfitters before heading out to explore a few slot canyons. Re-caffeinate with a cup of coffee at the unique Kiva Koffeehouse, embedded deep into the cliffside.
Take a ride along the untamed roads of Scenic Byway 24. What it lacks in services and population centers, it fully makes up for with unique landscapes and recreational opportunities. The emptiness of the road makes it a remote, yet peaceful drive.
Spend a few days at the outdoor gateway of Moab, where you can rent an ATV or Jeep for an off-road adventure in nearby Canyonlands National Park. While you’re in town, enjoy a few hikes in the two national parks, or you can just hang out and enjoy a variety of restaurants and small-town shops. This is Utah at its finest.
Zion National Park
From the south, start in Springdale, where you can experience the iconic Zion National Park. Zion is one of the most heavily visited national parks and has so many offerings that you could easily spend a week here. The park is well-known for hikes like The Narrows and Angels Landing but has many others of varying difficulty levels. Take a day to do some rock climbing or take part in a ranger-led educational session -- you can take as much or as little time as you need.
If you are on a time crunch, I recommend taking the scenic drive from the southern entrance and through the eastern exit on your way to Bryce Canyon National Park. This will allow you to view the deep canyons and high mountains of Utah's most popular park.
Bryce Canyon National Park
The transition to Bryce Canyon from Zion will take your breath as you traverse Scenic Byway 12. It is well worth the hour's drive that brings you to the second of the Mighty Five -- Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon is less crowded than Zion, a welcoming change, and much higher in elevation at about 8,000 feet above sea level. With the change in elevation, you will also get a change in climate and environment. This park boasts the highest concentration of hoodoos, making it a unique and magnificent national park visit.
Bryce Canyon offers a number of hikes into, through, and above the canyon. Combine the Queen's Garden and Navajo Loop for the full Bryce Canyon experience in hiking form. The scenic drive from the visitor's center to Rainbow Point is another option to view the park, with scenic pullouts that allow you to view the canyon from above. If you have a full day, catch sunrise and sunset from the viewpoints named after the daily occurrences. Bryce also boasts a designation as a "Dark Sky Park", allowing you to view the Milky Way during the summer and early fall during the appropriate moon phases.
After exploring Bryce, you will want to supply up before heading to one of the most remote parks in the Mighty Five -- Capitol Reef.
Scenic Byway 12
To reach our next destination, we will want to navigate along the remainder of Scenic Byway 12, where you can fully appreciate the Utah experience. This drive will take you deeper into the Grand Staircase, where you will enter the national monument with the same name. You'll experience desert and mountain landscapes all within the same drive. If you are not in a rush, stop off in the small town of Escalante, where you can grab a bite to eat and possibly even engage in some more outdoor recreational activities.
Capitol Reef National Park
Next, we explore Capitol Reef National Park, where you will be met with incredible views of towering red cliffs. Capitol Reef is a gem of a park, offering a variety of high cliffs and lush vegetation. While the recreational opportunities at this park are as varied as some others, there are plenty of great hikes and unique scenic drives here. Speaking of hikes, you can find some great ones, such as Hickman Bridge, ending with a view of a towering arch. The Rim Overlook trail is another highlight, offering panoramic views of the town of Fruita.
The park does not offer much in terms of amenities, making it your best option to stop off in the town of Torrey before heading out on Scenic Byway 24 for our next stop -- Arches National Park.
Scenic Byway 24
Continuing along our journey, you will hop on Scenic Byway 24, for what will be one of the most remote streches on our trip. After the town of Hanksville, you won't find any services until reach the town of Green River on Interstate 70, so make sure to fill up before hitting the road. But the lack of services is made up for with gorgeous rock formations including Kathline Rock, Factory Butte and Goblin Valley State Park. So take your time and make plenty of stops to take in the magnificent Utah desert before reaching the town of Moab where you can access two national parks.
Arches National Park
Nestled right outside the legendary town of Moab is the home of the highest concentration of natural stone arches in the world -- Arches National Park. You could take your time with a scenic drive through the park, which is absolutely stunning but I highly recommend taking in the many wonderful hikes here. Whether you are hiking the Delicate Arch Trail, the associated viewpoint trails or through the Fiery Furnace, there are plenty of hikes ranging in difficulty.
This park offers hikes that feel more accessible for those who are looking for "Instagram Hiking" but don't want to get too far out in the weeds. Throw in the close proximity to Moab, an outdoor enthusiast gateway, and our next stop; it is the perfect combination.
Canyonlands National Park
The final stop on our epic journey is the closest to the previous stop (sort of), and that is Canyonlands National Park. Canyonlands is the most unique of the Mighty Five due to its size, variety, and three distinct districts. While we will only be stopping at the Island in the Sky district during this trip, note there are actually two others—the Maze and Needles districts. These are further away and more remote.
As for Island in the Sky, you can find scenic drives, viewpoints of the canyon floor, stunning rock formations, and a plethora of hikes ranging from easy to challenging. This district is remote enough you can camp out under the dark sky for Milky Way views but close enough for you to be able to grab a bite to eat in Moab. You are less likely to get a crowd due to it being the least-visited of the Mighty Five.
This route through the Mighty Five is a beautiful drive through Utah’s scenic landscape. From the towering cliffs of Zion to the rugged canyons of Canyonlands, every stop along the way offers unique experiences and breathtaking views. If you are looking for a longer trip, continue into Nothern Utah, Colorado, or reverse the route and continue down through the Grand Staircase into Arizona.
