It’s every 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 perhaps even the world.
It’s called Utah’s Mighty 5 and it attracts millions of tourists from all over the world every year. It’s also a great place for a road trip or quick escape 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
A short drive from the region’s nearest major airport in Las Vegas takes travelers to the Mountain Time Zone, an amazing destination full of colorful vistas, towering mountain peaks, a winding river and plenty of hiking spots.
Zion National Park is a great place to hike the river of a slot canyon at The Narrows, meander along the riverbank on an easy paved path or experience the thrill of adventure at the edge of a cliff at 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 7,000 to 7,000 feet, travelers will experience an adventurous hike among the hoodoos, red rock pillars formed by years of wind and rain.
A walking trail transports visitors in a semicircle between the strange formations as they learn about how they formed.
Capitol Reef National Park
Driving two hours further northeast from Bryce will lead tourists here Capitol Reef National Park.
Although hiking and canyon adventures are part of Capitol Reef, what I find most interesting is the orchard.
Tourists can explore the pioneer registration site in the national park and venture to Fruita, a real orchard where travelers can pick fresh fruit from the trees and enjoy a snack for a small fee.
Canyonlands National Park
Another two hours to the northeast and tourists can explore Canyonlands National Park.
Tourists find themselves on the edge of an amazing scenic cliff when they visit the Visitor Center at Canyonlands.
Due to its remoteness and large size, Canyonlands is better explored by jeep or even 4×4. However, visitors can still be amazed by Mesa Arch, the most photographed part of the park, which is conveniently located near the visitor center.
Arches National Park
Utah is located about half an hour northeast of Canyonlands, on the highway towards Colorado and near the popular city of Moab Arches National Park.
Here, travelers can view and even clamber along some of the most dramatic naturally carved rock arches in the world. One is so famous, Nice bowit has become the unofficial landmark of the state of Utah and is even on the state’s vehicle license plate.
There are more than 2,000 arches for hikers to explore in Arches National Park.
What travelers need to know
A visit to Utah’s Mighty 5 will take time. Not only the travel time, but also the time to explore the extensive national parks. It can be achieved in a week, barely, but more time is recommended.
Travelers can camp in the parks. However, some tourists 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 should be prepared for all seasons and rapidly changing weather conditions when visiting the Mighty 5. Temperatures can range from well above 100 degrees in the summer to nearly below freezing in the winter.
