It’s an outdoor traveler’s dream. Southern Utah has one of the largest concentrations of amazing national parks in one compact region unlike anywhere else in the country, or maybe even the world.
It’s called Utah’s Mighty 5 and it attracts millions of tourists from all over the world each and every year. It’s also a great place for a road trip or a short flight to the Mountain West.
Let’s start about two and a half hours northeast of Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas at Zion National Park.
Zion National Park
An easy drive from the closest main airport in the region in Las Vegas will transport travelers to the Mountain Time Zone and an amazing destination full of colorful vistas, towering peaks, a meandering river and plenty of hiking spots.
Zion National Park is a great place for hiking in the river of a slot canyon at The Narrows, meandering along the river’s edge on an easy paved path or getting the thrill of adventure clinging to the edge of a cliff on Angel’s Landing.
Bryce Canyon National Park
About two hours northeast of Zion, travelers can be transported to the surreal hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park.
Along with the alpine forest landscape at 8,000 to 9,000 feet of elevation, travelers will have an adventure hiking among the hoodoos, red rock column pillars shaped by years of wind and rain.
A hiking trail transports visitors in a half-circle path walking among the strange formations while learning more about how they came to be.
Capitol Reef National Park
Continuing northeast from Bryce for two hours will lead tourists to Capitol Reef National Park.
While hiking and adventuring in the canyons is part of Capitol Reef, it’s the orchard I find most interesting.
Tourists can explore the pioneer register site at the national park and venture over to Fruita, an actual orchard where travelers can pick fresh fruit from the trees and enjoy a snack for a small fee.
Canyonlands National Park
Another two hours northeast and tourists can explore Canyonlands National Park.
Tourists find themselves perched on the edge of an amazing scenic cliff when visiting the visitors center in Canyonlands.
Due to its remoteness and large size, Canyonlands is better explored by jeep or even 4x4s. However, visitors can still be amazed by Mesa Arch, the most photographed part of the park, which is conveniently located near the visitor’s center.
Arches National Park
A quick 30 minutes northeast of Canyonlands, on the highway heading to Colorado and near the popular town of Moab, Utah is Arches National Park.
Here travelers can view, and even scramble along, some of the most dramatic naturally carved rock arches in the world. One is so famous, Delicate Arch, it has become the unofficial landmark of the State of Utah, even appearing on the state’s license plate for vehicles.
There are more than 2,000 arches for hikers to explore at Arches National Park.
What Travelers Need to Know
Visiting Utah’s Mighty 5 will take time. Not only the travel time, but also the time to explore the vast national parks. It can be accomplished in a week, barely, but more time is recommended.
Travelers can camp in the parks. However, some tourists may find it more convenient to stay in hotel accommodations. Hotels and resorts can be found in nearby St. George, Springdale, Cedar City and Moab, from south to north.
The closest major airport to the Mighty 5 is Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS), two and a half hours southwest of Zion National Park.
However, Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is only about three and a half hours northwest of Arches and Denver International Airport (DEN) is about five and a half hours east.
Visitors need to be prepared for all seasons and rapidly changing weather conditions when visiting the Mighty 5. Temperatures can range from well over 100 degrees in the summer to near freezing in the winter.