Visit Five Best National Parks in Southern Utah
Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Parks
Mar 4, 2009
Southern Utah's national parks are among the top destinations in the Southwest. Enjoy stunning desert and mountain views along scenic drives, or stop off for outdoor activities from wilderness hiking and mountain biking to river rafting.
Arches National Park
The fiery red sandstone arches are a quintessential image of the Southwest. The park contains more than 2,000 natural arches, the greatest grouping in the world, including single and double arches, windows and precariously balanced boulders.
Located 5 miles from Moab, this is one of the most accessible national parks. Many impressive formations lie alongside the 18-mile road which runs through the park, so visitors can see them without even getting out of their cars.
Those with more time and energy can hike on relatively easy trails to such landmarks as Landscape Arch, at 306 feet the longest natural sandstone arch in the world. The more strenuous hike to Delicate Arch is popular for great sunset photos. Or take a guided ranger hike through the Fiery Furnace.
Canyonlands National Park
Backcountry wilderness makes up much of Canyonlands, which at 527 square miles is Utah's largest park. In between its three separate sections is a rugged terrain of deep canyons, high mesas, buttes, and colorful pinnacles, carved over centuries by the Colorado and Green rivers which meander through the landscape.
The northern Island in the Sky district, 32 miles from Moab, has the easiest access. A 12-mile scenic road runs along the rim with stunning vistas from the overlooks down to the canyon floors. Highlights include the view from Mesa Arch and the side road to Upheaval Dome.
The Needles District, 80 miles from Moab, takes its name from the red and white sandstone spires that soar along the horizon. See them from the 10-mile scenic drive, or follow jeep and hiking trails to ancient ruins, rock art and a fabulous view over the confluence of the rivers. The remote Maze District is accessible only by foot or four-wheel-drive.
Bicycling and hiking are highly popular here. A variety of river trips from canoeing to white-water rafting offer exciting ways to see the park.
Capitol Reef National Park
Another geological wonder, the 100-mile-long Waterpocket Fold, is the centerpiece of this long, narrow park. Its colorful ridges, cliffs, and rock formations can be seen on a 9-mile scenic drive from Fruita, a historic pioneer village surrounded by orchards at the park's center. Look for the white domes of sandstone, reminiscent of capitol buildings, that give the park its name.
Bryce Canyon National Park
The most striking feature of this park is the army of colorful, striated limestone spires, called "hoodoos," which fill its enormous natural amphitheater. Ebenezer Bryce, an early homesteader for which the park was named, called it "a hell of a place to lose a cow."
An 18-mile scenic drive runs through the park along the Pink Cliffs, with 15 overlooks to take in the magnificent scenery. Beat the traffic during the summer months by using the park's free shuttle bus. Numerous hiking trails let you walk among these impressive rock formations, and several outfitters offer horseback riding trips.
Zion National Park
Utah's busiest national park features stunning canyons, massive sandstone cliffs rising 2,000 feet high and striking peaks and monoliths named for Biblical figures. The scenic drive along Zion Canyon is accessible only by shuttle bus during the summer high season. The Kolob Canyons road in the north sector of the park is also spectacularly beautiful.
Zion is known for fantastic hiking trails, particularly the vertigo-inducing Angels Landing Trail and the Narrows Trail through the riverbed.
Visit the National Park Service website for further details.
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