Utah is an excellent place to visit for all seasons, but the best time to go is in the autumn, winter, or spring.

Just seeing the beautiful colours during these seasons is a treasure to behold. Imagine yellow cottonwoods and colourful spring wildflowers between pockets of desert solitude. The snow-covered red rocks are also a sight to see during the wintertime.

This type of geography serves as the perfect foundation for the national parks in this state. Utah has plenty to offer when it comes to national parks, and some of the best ones in the country are found here.

These are the six best national parks in Utah that you should visit:

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Best 6 National Parks in Utah You Should Visit

1. Zion National Park

Utah is a state that has more parks than major cities, and Zion National Park stands out as the very first and most visited in the state.

This means it can get quite crowded with people, especially during peak months, but free shuttles can help make your visit less chaotic.

If you’re like me and love exploring the rugged trails, then this park is perfect for you. There are more than 100 miles of trails that start from the valley and lead into the different areas of the park.

There are narrow river canyons in the north, while you can see the red Navajo sandstone to the east and west. Zion has rock formations that have formed over 150 million years of geologic history, making it an absolute paradise for rock climbers and canyoneers!

Visitors can make reservations and stay at Zion National Park Lodge or around St. George and Springdale. The park is also backpacker-friendly, with three developed campgrounds and backcountry camping permits.

Best tour to explore Zion National Park: Zion & Bryce Canyon National Park Tour
Park Hours: Open 24 hours
Entrance Fee: $20 per person, $30 per motorcycle, $35 per private vehicle

2. Arches National Park

If you want a more engaging experience, then Arches National Park is the location for you.

The park boasts scenery filled with tunnels, arches, sandy trails, and sandstone hallways reminiscent of a child’s playground. Pair that with the red rock vistas, and you’ll have an unforgettable experience. This is a great alternative after you have visited the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Several spots are a must-see while you’re at Arches:

Delicate Arch. This is the most famous spot in the entire park. It’s an excellent spot for picture-taking, but time your visit well! There are often more than a hundred visitors there at a time, especially during sunset. Try going to Delicate Arch in the morning and evening to avoid crowds and still get great photos. It’s also worth noting that the hike up to this arch is a bit of a challenge, but it is doable for most visitors.
Landscape Arch. Landscape Arch is the largest arch on earth, spanning about 306 feet across. The hike here is relatively easy and short, with a 1.5-mile round trip.

Double-O Arch. The Double-O Arch is the second largest arch within the Devils Garden area. The first arch spans 71 feet and is stacked on a smaller 21-foot arch. These magnificent structures are part of the same sandstone fin and are worth the 4.2-mile hike to see.

Like most popular parks, it’s best to visit Arches early in the morning to avoid crowds. I would also recommend avoiding peak seasons, which fall between July and August.

Best tour to explore Arches National Park: Arches National Park Back Country Adventure from Moab
Park Hours: Open 24 hours
Entrance Fee: $15 per person, $25 per motorcycle, $30 per private vehicle

Also Read: 8 Best Scenic National Parks on The East Coast

3. Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park By Self, CC BY 1.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9056127

The southwest desert is famous for its otherworldly landscapes but Canyonlands National Park is truly something else.

Here you’ll get places that resemble the moon or even Mars, with the countless mesas, buttes, and canyons carved into impressive topographies. For first-time visitors, it’s worth going to The Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze.

Since it is the largest park in Utah, it is nearly impossible to cover everything at Canyonlands. You could spend years exploring the land that the park covers and still not reach the end of its borders.

The best way to experience the park is through a guided tour. Most offer mountain biking, hiking, jeep rides, kayaking, rock climbing, canyoneering, and more. These Moab-based companies also have activities such as extreme rope swings and even skydiving!

No matter what adventures you decide to take on, I’d recommend staying at least overnight so that you can make the most out of your trip. Besides, it’s absolutely worth catching the sunset and watching the stars shine over the maze of red rocks.

Canyonlands National Park has two developed campgrounds that you can pitch your tent in. There is also free camping nearby. But if you prefer to stay at a hotel or hostel, there are several in Moab or Blanding.

Best tour to explore Canyonlands National Park: Canyonlands National Park Backcountry 4x4 Adventure from Moab OR Canyonlands National Park Airplane Tour
Park Hours: Open 24 hours
Entrance Fee: $15 per person, $25 per motorcycle, $30 per private vehicle

4. Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park By Bob Palin - picture taken by Bob Palin with a Canon S40., CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=327514

Capitol Reef National Park is a unique place that is over 100 miles long, although it is quite narrow at less than 20 miles wide.

It protects the Waterpocket Fold, an s-shaped warp in the Earth’s crust created millions of years ago. This fold is the longest-exposed monocline in the world, and it makes for some impressive views.

This park is characterized by its domes and cliffs, which have eroded into the white Navajo sandstone.

The resulting shape resembles the US Capitol building in Washington DC. The reef part of the name is actually something that pays homage to the time of the settlers, who were forced to detour around Waterpocket Fold, which is still impassable today.

There are several ways to enjoy Capitol Reef National Park. One is on a four-wheel-drive since roads run well into the park.

However, I suggest seeing this place on foot to really enjoy its beauty. You can start at the visitor center and go south to the Waterpocket Fold area or north to Cathedral Valley.

There are camping grounds for those who want to pitch a tent, but if you prefer to stay in rooms, they can be found in nearby Torrey and along Highway 12, near Boulder.

Best tour to explore Capitol Reef National Park: Cathedral Valley, Capitol Reef, Private 4X4 Trip
Park Hours: Open 24 hours
Entrance Fee: $10 per person, $15 per motorcycle, $20 per private vehicle

5. Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southwestern Utah and is famous for its collection of giant natural amphitheaters along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau.

You’ll instantly recognise Bryce because of the geological structures called hoodoos, which are tall, thin spires of rock that were formed by frost weathering and stream erosion.

Be sure to visit the Wall Street trail in this park, where you’re sure to see spectacular sunsets.

You’ll also see red, orange, and white rock formations that are absolutely stunning, along with The Queens Garden and Navajo Trails, which boast gorgeous scenery.

It’s almost like you’re on an Indiana Jones movie set! These are two separate trails, but it’s possible to walk a combination of both along with the Wall Street trail on one 2.9-mile hike.

I recommend starting at Sunrise Point and taking the Queens Garden trail to the Navajo trail. You will then end at Sunset Point and finish the hike at the glorious Wall Street end.

However, it’s important to note that the scenery doesn’t change much after these main viewing areas. You should absolutely also consider a Bryce Canyon National Park road trip.

You can make one last stop at Inspiration Point so you can view the vast landscape that makes up this part of Utah. You’ll see all the hoodoos, mesas, striped hills, and ponderosa pines as far as the eye can see.

Best tour to explore Bryce Canyon National Park: 3-Day National Parks Tour: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon OR Scenic Tour of Bryce Canyon
Park Hours: Open 24 hours
Entrance Fee: $25 per person, $30 per motorcycle, $35 per private vehicle

6. Natural Bridges National Monument

The Natural Bridges National Monument features Utah’s most spectacular natural bridges.

The main difference between a bridge and an arch is that the latter is carved by wind and ice. Natural bridges, on the other hand, are created by waterways.

Three majestic bridges span the White and Anderson canyons in this national park, named Kachina, Owachomo, and Sipapu.

Sipapu is one of the longest natural bridges in the world and is named after a Hopi Tribe tradition, which involves the portal through which the First People emerged into the present world.

There are trails leading down to each bridge if you want to take a closer look. The trail to Owachomo is best at a half-mile round trip for those who are more comfortable with short hikes.

While Sipapu is more impressive to look at, getting there is also considerably steeper with stairs and ladders.

Visitors can camp inside the park if they want to.

Park Hours: Open 24 hours
Entrance Fee: $10 per person, $15 per motorcycle, $20 per private vehicle

Also Read: 9 Best National Park Scratch Off Maps That Are Epic in 2023

Which Utah Park Is The Best?

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a casual park-goer, there are many options for anybody in Utah looking for majestic views and breathtaking natural beauty.

It’ll be really cool to explore these parks on a Utah National Parks road trip.

You don’t have to go very far on the east or the west coast for the best national parks; many of them are in the state of Utah and are well worth a visit at least once!

If you have visited any of these parks, drop a comment below to tell me which one is your best?

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