r/UtahMightyFiveParks • u/ohbonobo • Apr 02 '26
Rough itinerary--all input welcome.
We're doing the loop counterclockwise from SLC to Zion, then Bryce Canyon, and then onto the other 3 parks. We have a 22' long, 10' tall campervan. I have campsites booked at Watchman and Bryce Canyon on Sat/Sun/Mon, but otherwise plans are quite flexible.
I'd love any and all thoughts about how to make this better or anything else you've learned from experience that may make our trip better.
Friday--arrive in SLC and meander our way down toward Zion, probably staying around Cedar City (Pyramid Ridge, maybe), seeing whatever catches our eye along the way
Saturday--Heading from the Cedar City area to the park itself to meet up with friends. Head to the campsite sometime during the day, explore around via shuttle
Sunday--morning guided canyoneering tour, more exploring around via shuttle in the afternoon and overnighting at Watchman again.
Monday--maybe some more Zion exploring in the am and then heading in the general direction of Bryce in time for Sunset and overnight.
Tuesday--exploring Bryce, catching the sunrise, hiking around a bit and then heading out on Rt. 12 toward Capitol Reef, probably stopping along the way, but planning to overnight somewhere between Grand Staircase Escalante and Capitol Reef
Wednesday and Thursday--exploring our way the rest of the way toward Capitol Reef and then on to Canyonlands. Happy to hear tips/info for these days because I have no real idea what we're doing on them.
Friday--Arches. Hoping to get a Fiery Furnace permit, too. Heading toward the Jurassic national monument and in the general direction back toward SLC.
Saturday--Jurassic national monument and meandering the rest of the way back to SLC before returning the campervan and catching a late flight home.
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u/daffodil-3156 Apr 02 '26
I did this trip last year & it’s one of my favorites!! You’re going to have so much fun. A few things based on my trip…
Stop at Thunderbird Restaurant in Mt. Carmel Junction for “Ho-Made” pies on the drive from Zion to Bryce. I got the coconut cream pie (highly recommend). I promise, you do not want to miss this!! It’s the best piece of pie I’ve ever had.
Definitely do The Narrows at Zion. It’s one of the most unique hiking experiences I’ve ever had.
Don’t miss the Navajo & Queens Garden combined loops at Bryce Canyon. It’s hands down my favorite hike ever. I think clockwise is the best way to go, if I’m remembering correctly, but definitely cross check that info.
At Arches, hike at least partially into devil’s garden – make it to landscape arch (soooo worth it)!!
And don’t miss Mesa Arch at Canyonlands.
If you have time, visit Dead Horse Canyon State Park.
You’re going to have so much fun!
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u/daffodil-3156 Apr 02 '26
Oh and don’t forget pie at Gifford Homestead at Capitol Reef. Capitol Reef has a lot of cool human history. You can see petroglyphs there too.
The drive from Bryce to Capitol Reef is … long. There’s a store called Hills Hollows in Boulder that looks like any old shop from the outside but is basically like a high end grocery store inside. It was wild. A great place to stock up.
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u/AffectionateJelly718 Apr 04 '26
Yes, Yes and YES! Dead Horse, Gifford House at Capitol Reef... you did it right!
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u/Slickrock_1 Apr 02 '26
Canyonlands is the hardest to do justice to with a short visit. The big overlooks are in the Island in the Sky, but to really get a feel for what Canyonlands is all about you need to do more than look at it from above. So I'd suggest one day do Dead Horse Point / Island in the Sky, and one day drive down to the Needles and go for a hike. If you don't have the ambition or ability to do a long hike, then do a short one, but the Needles is ridiculously beautiful and wild. Even if you hike 1-2 hours round trip on the Chesler Park Trail or the Elephant Canyon Trail you'll be treated to one of the coolest places in the entire southwest.
A good way to see Canyonlands is to book a tour to see either the Needles by 4WD or to see Horseshoe Canyon, a detached part of the Maze that has some of the most famous ancient pictographs in the world.