Must See National Parks in Utah | Ultimate List

Utah is one of the most beautiful states in America, but it’s also home to some of the country’s best national parks. From arches and canyons to caves and rivers, these places are perfect for a weekend trip from Salt Lake City or Las Vegas—and they’re all within driving distance from each other. These parks make for the perfect road trip.

Below are my picks for must-see National Parks in Utah.

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is a must-see national park in Utah for anyone interested in seeing some of the most spectacular natural formations on Earth. The park was established in 1971 and covers over 46,000 acres of land that encompasses over 2,000 arches and other rock formations.

Arches National Park is located just outside Moab, Utah–about an hour away from Zion National Park and Salt Lake City. It’s also less than 45 minutes from another popular destination: Canyonlands National Park (which we’ll talk about later).

There are many things you can do at Arches National Park including hiking trails or easy walks; exploring the park by car via scenic drives; visiting Delicate Arch at sunrise or sunset for stunning views or biking along different trails throughout the park. Take advantage of ranger-led activities like star parties during summer months when days are longer. Head back home feeling enlightened after having seen such beautiful star filled skies.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southwestern Utah, and it’s a great place to see hoodoos. Hoodoos are tall columns of rock that form when wind, water and ice erode sandstone over thousands of years.

The park is home to the famous Bryce Amphitheater, which has some of the most dramatic hoodoos in the world. It feels like you are on another planet! If you’re lucky enough to visit during a full moon or during sunrise or sunset (when there’s no light pollution), you’ll be able to see incredible views from this area. An incredible national park in Utah you cannot miss!

Canyonlands National Park

Located in southeastern Utah, Canyonlands National Park is divided into four districts: Island in the Sky, Needles, Maze and The Rivers. Its name comes from its colorful canyons that stretch for miles.

The park has a wide range of wildlife including bighorn sheep, elk and mule deer as well as snakes. Be careful of rattlesnakes and coral snakes. You’ll also find many birds like sandpipers along with other animals such as bats.

Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park is located in south-central Utah, and was named for the reef of Triassic sandstone that crosses the park. This National Park features a large number of natural arches, including Landscape Arch, Double Arch and Tower Arch.

The park’s topography includes cliffs up to 2,000 feet high that were formed by erosion along the Waterpocket Fold – an upheaval in earth’s crust that occurred during the Laramide orogeny some 65 million years ago. Crazy, right?!

Zion National Park

Zion National Park is a United States National Park located in the state of Utah. It was established in 1919, and covers an area of 217 square miles (557 km2). The park contains numerous natural arches, buttes and slot canyons as well as being home to many species of wildlife.

Zion Canyon has a narrow gorge cut through the rock by the North Fork Virgin River over millions of years. It’s named for its towering cliffs which rise 1,500 feet above the canyon floor. You can see these impressive cliffs from many points along the park’s scenic drive – including Angels Landing where you will find some great hiking trails!

Here is a more specific travel guide for Zion National Park, a must visit (and very popular) national park in Utah. You can easily spend a week at the national park, but you can still see lots even if you have one day to explore Zion.

Utah’s National Recognized Areas worth visiting

Dinosaur National Monument

Where is Dinosaur National Monument?

Dinosaur national monument is located in the northwest corner of Colorado, along the Utah border. Most of the park is in Colorado, but it does pour into the state bounds of Utah as well. Although this is not one of the country’s national parks, it is a national monument that is worth visiting.

The monument contains a fossilized dinosaur quarry, as well as an extensive collection of petrified wood. It’s also home to one of the best places to see fossilized dinosaur footprints – there are over 3,000 different prints in all shapes and sizes!

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area

The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is located in east-central Utah, near the town of Green River. The recreation area is part of the National Park System and also encompasses portions of three other systems:

• National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (Wilderness Study Area)
• National Trails System (Long Canyon Trail)
• National Wilderness Preservation System (Uinta Mountain Range)

The recreation area was established on March 2nd, 1964 by an act signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. It was designated as a national recreation area because it contains “outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation.”

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a beautiful area located on the Colorado River in southern Utah. This Recreation Area is what surrounds the famous Lake Powell. It’s home to many natural wonders and has been called one of the most scenic areas in America. The area was formed by millions of years of erosion, which carved out canyons, towers and arches that are still visible today.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was established in 1996 by President Bill Clinton and is inside the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It protects 1.9 million acres of southern Utah, making it the largest national monument in the United States. Visitors can enjoy hiking trails and scenic overlooks, as well as visiting some of the area’s ancient Anasazi ruins or dinosaur fossils.

If you’re looking for an adventure outdoors with your family, this is a great place to visit!

Hovenweep National Monument

Hovenweep National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located in southeastern Utah, United States. It consists of seven prehistoric Pueblo villages spread out over 45 square miles of land. The monument is named for the Hovenweep (also spelled “Hovenweep”), a group of towers built by the Ancient Pueblo Peoples who inhabited the area from AD 1250 to 1300.

Other features include petroglyphs and pictographs carved by Native Americans on rock faces throughout the region. Accessible only by foot and horseback, this remote location offers visitors an opportunity to experience solitude while exploring its history and natural beauty

Natural Bridges National Monument

Natural Bridges National Monument is located in San Juan County, Utah. It was established as a national monument in 1908. The bridges are named Kachina, Owachomo, Sipapu and Tokopah. These sandstone arches have been carved by rain and wind over millions of years.

Can you walk on Natural Bridges National Monument?

No you cannot walk on the Natural Bridges. However, you can walk through Natural Bridges National Monument.

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Timpanogos Cave National Monument is located in American Fork Canyon, about 40 miles from Salt Lake City. It’s worth the drive if you’re looking for a unique experience that can’t be found anywhere else in Utah.

The monument has two caves–Cave of the Winds and Timpanogos Cave–and both are stunningly beautiful. The first cave is open year-round with guided tours every hour on the hour (no reservations needed), while Timpanogos Cave requires advance reservations due to its popularity and limited capacity of 50 people per tour group (you can make them online).

If you want the full experience, consider spending two nights at one of their campgrounds!

You’ll get access to all three caves plus hiking trails that overlook Provo Canyon; just remember that winter weather will limit how much time you can spend outside so plan accordingly!

How many national parks are in Utah?

There are 5 National Parks in Utah. Zion, Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef.

There are many nationally recognized parks in Utah, but these are the ones that we think you should see first. They’re all unique and beautiful in their own way, but they also share some similarities like hiking trails and scenic views of canyons. Some of them have great camping spots too! Don’t forget your camera when visiting National Parks in Utah, you’ll want every moment captured forever!

More Resources:

Ultimate Guide to Zion National Park

Best Things to do in Acadia National Park

What to pack for a short hike

Utah or Colorado? Which one should you visit?

Zion vs Moab

Bryce Canyon to Zion National Park