Arches National Park – Itinerary

• Day 1: Delicate Arch
• Day 1: The Windows
• Day 2: Devils Garden
• Day 2: Balanced Rock
• Extras
  • Park Avenue
  • Ring Arch (has some Insider Information)
  • The Tunnel (Insiders only)
  • Magic Mystery Bridge (Insiders Only)

Day 1 : Delicate Arch Hike

The Delicate Arch Hike takes 2-3 hours to complete and is roughly 3 miles roundtrip.  The trail is well marked and extremely popular!  You will be seeing one of Utah’s most famous landmarks as you traverse over sandstone and eventually meet up to Delicate Arch.

Day 1: The Windows Hike

Next up is The Windows!  This short hike will lead you to Turret Arch, and then the North and South Windows!  The incredible windows and arch are worth the 0.80 mile roundtrip.

Take the rest of the night off since you will probably be tired from all that driving.  The city of Moab has plenty of great food and lodging options.  If you are looking for more to do in Moab, check out the Extras section below.

Day 2 – Arches National Park

Day 2: Devils Garden Hike

Devils Garden is one of my most favorite hikes in the Moab area.  It features many different arches including one of the longest arches in the world: Landscape Arch.  The entire hike is 4 miles roundtrip, but you will not be disappointed!   This fun adventure features minor rock scrambling and hiking under tall sandstone arches!

Day 2: Balanced Rock

After hiking Devils Garden, you should enjoy a very leisurely stroll around Balanced Rock.  This is a very easy and flat trail that won’t take more than 10 minutes and goes around another iconic Arches National Park landmark.

If you are up for more adventures today then you should consider visiting Ken’s Lake and Faux Falls or doing one of the other Extras!

Day 3 – Canyonlands National Park

Canyondlands National Park – Itinerary

• Day 3: Mesa Arch
• Day 3: Roadside Ruin
• Day 3: Grand View Point
• Day 3: Upheaval Dome

Day 3: Mesa Arch

Wake up early to get an incredible picture of Mesa Arch!  You will probably not be alone since this is a very famous spot to get sunrise pictures, but when the arch is lit up with the early morning sun, you will be happy you woke up to see this!  It’s only about 150 ft adventure to the arch and is one of the most photographed spots in all of Utah!

Day 3: Grand View Point, Upheaval Dome, and Roadside Ruin

You will then have lots of time to see Grand View Point, Upheaval Dome, and also the Roadside Ruin.  The Trek Planner has tons of off-roading adventures in Canyonlands so if you are interested in doing one of those instead, take a look at what we have to offer!

The Trek Planner Treks in Canyonlands

More Moab area things to do

• Moonflower Canyon
• Corona Arch
• Intestines Man Pictograph
• Ken’s Lake and Faux Falls
• Funnel Arch Hike
• Jeep Arch Trail
• Gemini Bridges (Off-Road Adventure)

Goblin Valley State Park Itinerary

• Day 4: Explore Goblin Valley

If you wanted to spend more time in Moab this morning, then use our Extra suggestions before heading out!  You will be driving through some remote areas of Utah, so make sure to fill up with fuel, food, and water before leaving town.

Day 4: Goblin Valley State Park

You could easily spend a half day or a whole day here exploring this amazing state park!  Goblin Valley is set up as an open wilderness, so you are free to go almost wherever you like!  This park features many strange and interesting goblins or “hoodoos”, that make exploring this valley all the more fun!

There is a campground at the state park complete with showers, so if you want to spend the night then you should plan to do it!    Check out the state park website to reserve a spot!

After Goblin Valley it’s time to drive to Capitol Reef for some afternoon adventures!

Capitol Reef National Park Itinerary

• Day 4: Fruita
• Day 5: Hickman Bridge
• Day 5: Pioneer Registrar and Tanks
• Free Camping Spot! (for Insider Members only!)
• Extras
  • Rim Trail Hike
  • Cassidy Arch

Day 4: Fruita

You will probably be a little tired after spending all day at Goblin Valley, so take it easy tonight and just explore Fruita! If you are visiting in the Autumn months, you may be able to pick the fruit on all the fruit trees!  If you are looking for a short adventure, you can always hike to the petroglyphs and just relax in the nearby town of Torrey.  The town of Torrey has all services including gas stations, restaurants, and hotels.

Day 5 – Capitol Reef National Park

Day 5: Hickman Bridge Hike

It’s time to explore Capitol Reef!  I would suggest hiking Hickman Bridge first!  Hickman Bridge Trail is very well maintained all the way to the bridge itself.  You won’t gain too much in elevation and the whole thing could easily be done in less than an hour.  It’s 2 miles roundtrip!

Day 5: Pioneer Registrar and Tanks Hike

Another fun hike in is the Pioneer Registrar and Tanks Hike!  This hike is also about 2 miles roundtrip and you will see many historical settler names and even petroglyphs along the walls of the canyon.  There is lots of shade on this hike as you journey through a tall sandstone canyon!

Unwind the rest of the night and relax in Fruita or in the town of Torrey again!  The next day we will drive to Grand Staircase-Escalante to see Lower Calf Creek Falls.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Itinerary

• Day 6: Lower Calf Creek Falls
• Day 6: 100 Hands Panel and Warrior Panel
• Extras
  • Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

The town of Escalante has all the hotels, restaurants, camping, and gas stations you will need for this portion.   The town is small, but you can still find anything for your trip.  When I visit Escalante, I usually camp at the Escalante Cabins and RV Park.  There are tent options, RV options, and of course the cabins option!  The camping is usually around $25 a night and the showers and bathrooms are always clean!

Day 6: Lower Calf Creek Falls

Time to hike one of Utah’s best hikes! Lower Calf Creek Falls is one of Utah’s best adventures.  It features many historical points of interest such as granaries and petroglyphs, and then it ends at a refreshing pool at the base of Lower Calf Creek Falls.   The entire hike is 6 miles roundtrip, but doesn’t gain much in elevation.  This is also a very popular trail!

Day 6: 100 Hands and Warrior Rock Art Panel

When you are finished with Lower Calf Creek Falls, eat some lunch and then head on out to see these incredible petroglyphs and pictographs!  The hike to the 100 Hands Panel and Warrior Panel won’t take more than an hour, but this is worth the effort! (you need to be a Trek Planner Insider Member to view the GPS coordinates to the rock art).  If you aren’t an Insider member, you can simply go to the Petrified Forest in Escalante.

Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary

• Day 7: Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Hike
• Day 7: Sunset Point
• Extras
  • Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive

Day 7: Queens Garden

Bryce Canyon is similar in some ways to Goblin Valley, but on a more grand scale!  There are many incredible overlooks and some amazing hikes that are worth doing during your visit.  One of the most famous trails is the Queens Garden/Navajo Loop Trail. It’s just over 3 miles and you will be hiking under many hoodoos and awesome scenery and sandstone features.

Day 7: Sunset Point

Visiting Sunset Point is pretty easy!  You just park and walk the hundred feet to the overlook.  It won’t take more than 10 minutes, and you will be glad you did.  Visit at sunset to get some amazing pictures!

If you have more time, take the scenic drive through the national park!  The Bryce Canyon area also has many options for lodging, fuel, and food.

Zion National Park Itinerary

• Day 8: Zion Canyon Overlook
• Day 8: Angels Landing
• Day 9: Emerald Pools
• Day 9: The Narrows
• Extras
  • Weeping Rock
  • Grafton Ghost Town

Day 8: Canyon Overlook Trail

On your drive from Bryce to Zion, you will go through the Zion Park Tunnel.   But, right before the tunnel there is a very small parking area for the Canyon Overlook Trail.  This trail is about 1.2 miles roundrip and gains only about 160 ft to the overlook.  You will get an amazing view of Zion Canyon before you even officially get inside of it!

Day 8: Angels Landing

Once you get through the tunnel, you will need to park at the Visitor Center or the Museum so you can take the shuttle into the park to Angels Landing among other places.

Next up, you will be hiking the infamous Angels Landing.  This is the most popular trail in Zion National Park and it’s also a difficult one. If you are afraid of heights, you may want to consider doing another hike due to the many exposed areas near the top.  Angels Landing is 5 miles roundtrip and you will gain about 1700 ft!  Make sure you have plenty of water and some snacks!  If you have extra time for Zion today, spend some time at Zion Lodge or walk along the Virgin River.  There is also a campground inside Zion, but it’s usually almost always pretty full.  Just make reservations beforehand.

The nearby town of Springdale has food, lodging, and food options too!  It’s more expensive to stay in Springdale since you are right at the gates of Zion, but if you want more affordable options, check out the city of Hurricane or even St. George.

Day 9 – Zion National Park

Day 9: Emerald Pools

Today we will be spending another day at Zion National Park!  We suggest hiking to Emerald Pools which is about 2 miles roundtrip.  You will see some waterfalls and also the Emerald Pools themselves.  This is also a popular hike because it isn’t difficult and it rewards you fast.

Day 9: Temple of Sinawava and The Narrows

Another fun adventure is the hike to The Narrows!  The first part of the hike is on cement to the Virgin River and the start of The Narrows.  From here, you will be hiking under 1000 ft tall cliffs through the river – bring shoes you can get wet and a walking stick!  This is a great way to cool down.

If you are looking for more things to do, make a stop at Grafton Ghost Town in Rockville!

St. George Itinerary

• Day 9: Pioneer Park
• Snow Canyon State Park
  • Day 10: Jenny’s Canyon
  • Day 10: Lava Tubes

Day 9: Pioneer Park

St. George is a fun place to visit and there are lots of things to do.  This large city has a rich history of Mormon settlers and Native Americans.  So, in order to get a good feel for St. George, take a visit to Pioneer Park to see Dixie Rock and hike through the Little Narrows. The Little Narrows is a great and easy hike, though bigger chested people may find it difficult to go through the mini slot canyon.   You can still enjoy Dixie Rock and also the rock “cabin” at Pioneer Park!  There are some very short trails, but overall, this is just a fun place to hang out that overlooks St. George.

You should enjoy the city of St. George tonight!  Take it easy and go to a nice restaurant and get some ice cream.

Day 10 – St. George

St. George is a large city full of stores, restaurants, and hotels.  I used to live in St. George going to college, so it holds a special place in my heart!

Day 10: Snow Canyon State Park- Jenny Canyon

Let’s take the short trip to Snow Canyon State Park!  You will be hiking through a very short slot canyon called Jenny’s Canyon.  This hike could be done in about 15 minutes, but is a great opener for Snow Canyon.

Day 10: Snow Canyon State Park – Lava Tubes

Next, let’s go visit the lava tubes!  There are four lava tubes on this adventure, but the best one is the first one.  Bring a flashlight and good sturdy shoes!  You will be doing some rock scrambling to get into the lava tubes, so if you aren’t comfortable with that, then simply switch out this adventure for a different one!  If you have more time, feel free to visit the Sand Dunes, or the Pioneer Names too!

If you are looking for extra things to do, then check out Fort Pearce!  Fort Pearce was created by Mormon Settlers to protect settlements from Indian raids.  You can still see the small fort and many petroglyphs!  There is also the amazing Anasazi Ridge Trail too!

Meadow Itinerary

• Day 11: Meadow Hot Springs

Day 11: Meadow Hot Springs

On your way back to Salt Lake City, take the short detour and relax in some natural hot springs along I-15 in Meadow Utah.  This can be a popular area, and always remember to pick up some trash while you’re visiting as there are typically some uneducated people who visit sometimes.  These hot springs are a hidden gem and will help you relax from all the hiking and driving you did!

What a way to end your trip!

So what do you think of The Trek Planner’s itinerary for all five national parks in the state?  You can always modify this itinerary to suit your needs, but at least this will give you some ideas for planning your next trip to Utah! 

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!