Utah is a photographer’s paradise located in the western United States. It is home to five US National Parks nicknamed the Mighty 5. Join us as we explore Utah with top travel bloggers.
We will take a virtual visit to the Might 5: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef. Utah’s winters boast the “Greatest Snow on Earth.”
The more we learn about Utah, the more we want to visit. It’s an ideal destination for nature enthusiasts, hikers, adventure seekers, winter sports lovers, and anyone who needs to rejuvenate.
Let’s explore Utah: The Might 5
- Zion National Park
- Bryce National Park
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Arches National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
Map to the help you explore Utah and the Mighty 5 parks
From Las Vegas, you can easily drive to Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands. It can be an adventure on its own or part of a larger road trip across the USA.
Zion National Park
Sometimes referred to as the promised land, Zion is the most visited National Park in Utah. Larger-than-life sandstone cliffs creating narrow canyon slots are intermixed with lush wilderness and beautiful waterfalls.
Zion National Park is a symphony of vibrant colors and diverse ecosystems. The park’s hallmark is the Zion Canyon, where towering sandstone walls rise dramatically, creating a breathtaking backdrop for exploration. The Zion Narrows, a hike through the Virgin River, leads you deep into the heart of the canyon, surrounded by towering walls that seem to touch the sky.
Angel’s Landing is a must-do hike for the intrepid adventurer. While challenging, the panoramic views from the top are a rewarding treat. For a more leisurely experience, take the scenic drive through the park, where each twist and turn reveals new perspectives of this natural masterpiece.
Photo by Noel Morata of Travel Photo Discovery.
Photo by Olivia Christine of O. Christine.
Bryce National Park
Bryce Canyon, situated in Southwest Utah, is not actually a canyon at all. It’s like a fantasyland of spires and hoodoos, where towering rock formations rise like an amphitheater filled with nature’s sculptures. The hues of red, orange, and pink paint an enchanting panorama that changes with the shifting light.
The Rim Trail offers stunning vistas, while the Queen’s Garden Trail takes you through a maze of hoodoos that resemble a royal court frozen in stone. For the ultimate experience, make sure to visit Sunrise Point early in the morning. As the sun’s rays kiss the landscape, the hoodoos come to life, casting eerie shadows and creating a magical ambiance.
Photo by Kevin Wagar of Wandering Wagars. See more at 12 Must-See Places in the American Southwest.
Photo by Maria Haase of Maria Abroad.
Capitol Reef National Park
With amazing colors in the rock formations, Capitol Reef is near the center of the Mighty 5. Interestingly, it was given its name by early pioneers who thought the white dome-shaped peaks reminded them of the US Capitol building.
This hidden gem unveils a geological marvel known as the Waterpocket Fold. This 100-mile-long warp in the Earth’s crust showcases a rainbow of rock layers and hidden canyons.
Scenic drives and short hikes are the perfect ways to explore the unique rock formations and discover ancient petroglyphs etched into the sandstone walls.
Photo by Juergen Klein of Dare 2 Go.
Arches National Park
Referred to as a “Gateway to Another World,” Arches National Park is a realm of surreal rock formations that seem straight out of a dream.
The park is renowned for its remarkable orange sandstone natural arches, with over 2,000 of these stunning structures dotting the landscape. The most iconic of them all is the Delicate Arch, a symbol of Utah and a breathtaking sight at sunset.
As you traverse the trails, you’ll encounter formations with whimsical names like Balanced Rock and Landscape Arch. The fiery hues of the rocks contrast against the piercing blue sky, creating a visual spectacle that’s hard to forget.
Photo by Antonette Spaan of We 12 Travel. See more at How to spend a day in Arches National Park.
Photo by Lyn Lindfield of The Travelling Linfields.
Canyonlands National Park
Filled with pinnacles, spires, buttes, and mesas, Canyonlands is Utah’s largest national park, divided into four districts by the Colorado and Green Rivers.
Island in the Sky, with its panoramic overlooks, provides a bird’s-eye view of the expansive canyons below. The Needles District beckons hikers with its numerous trails that wind through stunning rock formations.
Photo by Shara Johnson of SKJ Travel. See more at Canoeing the Green River
Photo by Shannon Colman of Sole Seeking. See more at Descent into the Deep: A Daring Four-Wheel Drive in Canyonlands National Park.
Don’t miss: National Parks in Western US: Our Top 21 Epic Picks
Explore Utah: State and regional parks
Utah is also home to many state and regional parks. Monument Valley and Hovenweep National Monument are two favorites of other travel bloggers who have been recently.
Monument Valley
Photo by Gemma of Two Scots Abroad.
Hovenweep National Monument
Photo by Steve Smith, Associate Editor, In the Know Traveler.
Explore Utah: Winter
Greatest Snow on Earth
And if that’s not enough, Utah boasts the “Greatest Snow on Earth,” an expression so descriptive the state has copyrighted it.
Utah is situated on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains and reports an annual snowfall of 13 meters. Skiers and snowboarders will tell you it is mostly light and dry. No wonder Salt Lake City, Utah, was chosen for the 2002 Winter Olympics. With 14 major ski resorts, there are plenty of opportunities to experience some of this powder magic.
Photo by Chris Pearson.
©Utah Office of Tourism. Used with Permission.
Practical information to help you explore Utah
- Learn more about each of these Utah parks from their US National Parks pages Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands.
- If you are planning to visit multiple US National Parks, you can pre-purchase a national annual pass that will most likely save you money, or you can pick one up at any of the Mighty 5.
- Salt Lake City is 2.5-hour drive from Las Vegas or a one-hour flight from either San Francisco or Los Angeles.
- The airport in Salt Lake City is also the closest major airport to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming or the Grand Canyon in Arizona (and if you are coming from here, don’t miss the red rock of Sedona).
- If you live outside of the USA, there are several international ski passes available that offer discounts to multiple parks.
Utah is calling to us, and maybe it will start calling to you too.
Save on your trip with these resources
These are our go-to companies when we travel. We believe this list to be the best in each category. You can’t go wrong using them on your trip too.
- Flights: we use Expedia for the best and cheapest flight options.
- Accommodations: we use Booking.com (hotels), VRBO (self-contained), or Hostelworld (budget).
- Cars (gas or electric): we use RentalCars to search for deals and dealer ratings.
- Motorcycles: we have heard good things about BikesBooking.
- Campervans or Motorhomes: we use Campstar where Albom Adventures readers get a 3% discount.
- Private guides: we often find the best option is to work with a private guide.
- Travel Insurance: while not required, we always opt for travel insurance and start at InsureMyTrip to compare coverage plans.
Check out our travel resources page for more companies that we use when you travel.
Have you been yet, or are you going to explore Utah?
More from the USA you might like, including our USA Adventure road trip.
Dinosaur River Expeditions
Utah is very gifted. Utah will not just feed your eyes with these beautiful sceneries, but will also test your skills on hiking and camping and many other outdoor activities. Thank you for this great post.
Dalene
Zion is just mindblowing … would love to go skiing there as well!
Rhonda Albom
All of the National Parks in Utah look amazing.
PAT
We will be visiting the National parks in Utah next year–I hope to see all 5 eventually. This summer we visited Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton NP in Canada. They were magnificent!
Rhonda Albom
Glacier National Park is another I would love to see. Sometimes I forget how much natural beauty is in the United States.
Merlinda Little (Glimmer of Hope)
Breathtaking! I am so speechless of the beauty! You have captured it well and thanks for sharing.
Rhonda Albom
I haven’t had the chance to capture Utah yet, these shots are are all taken by other travel bloggers.
Lisa
Utah, and the NPs there is on our short list of trips. Maybe next spring even. It is so busy there we are going to plan for early spring to hopefully miss most of the crowds. Great capture Rhonda, makes me want to go visit now.
Lisa @ LTTL
Rhonda Albom
It’s on my list for next time we visit the states.
Nancy Andres
Gorgeous! I explored all those Utah parks and am delighted to revisit through your amazing photos.
Rhonda Albom
Glad you enjoyed these photos. I wish they were mine, but these are a collection from travel bloggers around the web who have allowed me to share them.
Jarek
Wow! Beautiful geological formation. Beautiful photos, too
Rhonda Albom
Nature is the most amazing architect.
Kathe W.
gotta go there!
Rhonda Albom
Me too.
Molly
What an amazingly beautiful landscape
Mollyxxx
Rhonda Albom
Almost overwhelming.
Dominique Goh
I haven’t been to UTAh before and the scenery looks really amazing .
Rhonda Albom
I hope we both get a chance to visit.
Ruth
Rhonda, what a fabulous post. These parks are amazing, some of the most beautiful in the US. I have only been to Zion and hope I can visit the rest soon.
Rhonda Albom
Can you believe how many stunning national parks are in one state?
bettyl - NZ
These are some amazing clicks!
Rhonda Albom
Agreed. Wish they were mine 🙂
Jeanna
Nice collaboration, Rhonda. Have never been but it sounds like most of the things I’d like to take in. I’d be all over canoeing the canyon.
Rhonda Albom
Canoeing does look like something to add to the list of things to do.
Amila Wickramarachchi
Beautiful photos from Utah.I’ve also read about Utah Ghost Town.
Rhonda Albom
Oh, tell me more. I would love to add a ghost town to my itinerary.
Alissa Apel
Oh my gosh I’ve been there. It is so pretty! I could so go back. I love all the red rock. That photo with the hot air balloon is so cool! It’s really a fun place to hike.
Rhonda Albom
That photo was the last one submitted to me and it is one of my favorites too.
Kate
I rave about Utah. I try to get up there a few times a year. I’ve barely scratched the surface – so much to see,
Rhonda Albom
I think I would like to spend about a month there in the springtime.
Emily
Gorgeous photos!! I love the desert landscape. We lived in Las Vegas for 12 years. I really miss having the red rock and mountains all around us.
Rhonda Albom
I lived in Northern Nevada for a while, in the Sierra’s but it is completely different.
Felicia
Utah is indeed a photographer’s paradise. I have been to each of these places and they are spectacular
Rhonda Albom
Glad to hear it.
Photo Cache
You have whetted my appetite to the max here. Exactly in my plans for the next 3 years or less. I have been to Zion, but I really wanted to take a road trip to hit all 5 of these. Love the photos, awesome!
Rhonda Albom
Wonderful news and I can’t wait to see your photos too. It looks like a photographers dream destination.
Juergen | dare2go
Thanks for the inclusion in this great collection. I could have contributed a number of photos from other State Parks in Utah, but I never heard back from you… Half way between Canyonlands N.P. and Capitol Reef is the Goblin Valley State Park, a small unique park full of – you might guess it – rock goblins.
Rhonda Albom
I tried to use only one photo per photographer. There were so many great ones to pick from. I love the one you sent, and I am glad you loved Utah.
Patrick Weseman
Those are some beautiful photos. I might be heading on that tour in the spring and I will use your pics as a guide. Thanks.
Rhonda Albom
Wonderful Patrick, and I added a map too. I hope you will share your photos.
Teresa Kindred
What glorious scenery! I would love to see that for myself too! Hope we both get to go!
Rhonda Albom
LOL – maybe we can go together 🙂
kelleyn rothaermel
Hope you get there! I thought you had been until I saw the comments. Utah has so much to see and do!
Rhonda Albom
I wish I had. I can’t wait.
Suze - Luxury Columnist
I haven’t yet had the pleasure of visiting Utah but I didn’t realize that there were so many national parks, and they all look unmissable! How many days would you advise if visiting them all?
Rhonda Albom
There are even more state and regional parks. It is an amazingly beautiful state.
Rhonda Albom
I agree. Utah is beautiful.
Carol
Your post makes me want to go there now! Beautiful
Rhonda Albom
LOL – writing it made me want to go there now too.
Brooke Neal
My ancestor, Issac Behunin, was one of the first to settle Zion and he is credited for naming it such. Utah is a fantastic place to visit if you are a nature photographer, hiker, outdoor adventurer! Last year we spent about a week in the Moab area and just loved it. Even my kids who are keen hikers appreciated the cool rock features. I hope you get there.
Elizabeth Stewart
There’s just so much amazing beauty in these photos!
Rhonda Albom
Yes, there is so much amazing beauty in the Mighty 5.
Andrea
We can just contemplate on the incredible age of these iconic nature monuments, nature being the greatest architect. And your photos are indeed always awesome. Thanks for the tour.
Lady Fi
Gorgeous scenery – love those golden rocks!
Rhonda Albom
I love the range of rock colors.
Joyful
Wow! Spectacular scenery and photos.
Jim, Sydney, Australia
Beautiful scenery
Rhonda Albom
Agreed.
stevebethere
These photos are absolutely stunning I thoroughly enjoyed the post Rhonda 🙂
Have a stuninglytastic day 🙂
Rhonda Albom
I agree. There are some amazing photographers touring in the USA.
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
Stunning photos. Utah is by far my favourite U.S state. I love the stark beauty of it.
Rhonda Albom
I can’t believe we haven’t been there as adults. My dad lives in Arizona, a bordering state.
Rhonda Albom
The US is filled with so many surprises.
Bill Kasman
Wonderful pictures! Wonderful scenery! I do wish I could visit one day.
Rhonda Albom
The US has so many amazing states and places to go. I never understood why people tend to just go to the big cities.
Kim Miller
I grew up in Utah and live close to it still….I live in the Four Corners area. I love your pictures.
I have been out on Delicate Arch actually…it is scary there.
Rhonda Albom
I have been up near the four corners but for some reason chose a different path than Utah. What a stunning place to live.
L. Diane Wolfe
I’ve driven through Utah but we didn’t see any of those sights. My father hiked a lot through Utah and I have some stunning B&W photos I printed from his trek through Bryce Canyon.
Rhonda Albom
Next time you drive through, take the road I highlighted above and add a few days.
Comedy Plus
Hubby and I have been to two of those parks, but would like to see all of them. Need to put this on our bucket list. We enjoyed Utah.
Have a fabulous day Rhonda. ☺
Rhonda Albom
There are so many amazing states parks there too. You two like to drive, you should plan a visit. 🙂
Andria Perry
Now that I have seen all your photos I would like to see Utah. Thanks.
Rhonda Albom
LOL – they are the photos of other travel bloggers, and now that I have seen them I want to visit Utah too.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
I’m amazed with these photos. They are fantastic, amazing, beautiful, thoughtful and peaceful. I loved them all.
Enjoy Sunday Rhonda and have a wonderful day. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
I am pretty amazed with these photos too. There are so many wonderful photographers out there. I cannot wait to get my own photos of these places.
Olivia Christine
Thanks for the feature! I love Utah’s parks. They’re breathtaking.
Rhonda Albom
I can’t wait to see them for myself.
Sue Jackson
Oh, I just love Utah! Zion is wonderful, but my favorite park is Bryce – easy win! It’s just so unique and beautiful – lots of fun to hike down among the hoodoos. We are way overdue to take a trip back there – it’s probably been about 15 years now. Thanks for sharing these gorgeous photos!
Sue
Rhonda Albom
Looking at these photos, I am not sure which will be my favorite. However after charting it on a map, I am sure we will visit the Mighty 5 when we get there.
Shannon - SoleSeeking
Thanks for the feature, Rhonda! It’s a state of incredible natural wonders and I can’t wait to go back. Really love Oregon too!
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Beautiful state. I’ve been to two of the five parks.
Rhonda Albom
Which two?
Gemma
So much more of Utah to see, I wasn’t aware of the winter aspect. Maybe make it my third time skiing! Thanks for featuring us!
Rhonda Albom
To be honest, I was more aware of the winter aspect as both my girls had excelled in competitive snow sports for a while.
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Hi Rhonda – fantastic photos … and what glorious places to visit – one day I’ll get there I hope! Gorgeous shots … cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
One day I hope to get there too.