The inside scoop on Utah’s “Mighty National Parks
How do you organize a trip to one or many?
Utah The state of Utah is home to some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes on the planet, no exaggeration. It could be an entirely different planet from the whimsical “hoodoos” (naturally formed, high, thin spires of rock) to awe-inspiring arches.
For us, we live right here on Earth. More importantly the ,majority of these unique geological characteristics in wilderness and natural areas have been declared public regions of Utah. However, choosing which of Utah’s national parks you should visit can be challenging, especially for those new to the site. Here’s our information on Utah’s “Mighty 5,” which refers to Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef national parks, each located within this Western state.
The name is enough to describe it. National Park in Moab preserves over 2,000 stone arches, the most extensive collection around the globe. Some are wide and squat, like the huge 290-foot Landscape Arch, while others are taller and more slender, like the 52-foot-wide delicate arch.
The park is small, and you’ll have to be more strategic in planning your visit. If you plan to go between April 1 and October 31, then you’ll have to obtain a ticket for entry time on the Internet (in addition to the park’s entrance pass). If you’d like to camp under the stars in the park, your sole choice would be Devils Garden Campground, which is highly well-loved, especially during the summer. To secure a prime camping spot, you must set an appointment on your calendar for six months before your travel date to ensure that reservations are open.
Arches are also relatively easy to get to. Moab has a tiny regional airport named Canyonlands Field, but flights are costly, and you’ll need to connect via the airport, either Denver or Salt Lake, to reach it. It is best to take an outing of it and drive to Salt Lake City (which is about 4 hours) and Denver (six-hour drive).
Tips: If you love slow travel (and have plenty of time for vacation), you should consider choosing the California Zephyr Amtrak route to Arches. You can travel to Chicago (28 minutes) and San Francisco (22 hours) and, for a more leisurely, less-long trip of nine hours, take it to Denver. The station closest to Arches is located in Green River, which is 45 miles from the park’s opening, so once you’ve arrived, you’ll need to plan your last-mile transportation (or take advantage of Amtrak’s holiday packages, which include hotel and transfer).
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef is under the radar compared to Utah’s other attractive national parks. The park is located in the southern part of Utah, on the Highway 12 Scenic Byway. It’s worth visiting, particularly if you’re planning to go close to Bryce Canyon.
The park’s main claim to fame is its 100-mile-long “Waterpocket Fold,” which is a wrinkle in the surface of the Earth. This unique geological phenomenon produces numerous interesting slot canyons, bridges arches and other rock formations for tourists to take in on scenic drives, hikes and horseback riding.
Outside of outdoor recreation, Capitol Reef also has intriguing background. Within its borders there are orchards of fruit which date in the 1880s. Over 140 years back, the first the first pioneers planted apple, apricot and cherry, as well as plum, peach and a variety of other fruit trees close to the Fremont River. The park’s staff maintain around 1,900 of them until today. If you plan your visit according to the harvest time (like the end of July through early September for peaches, or the mid-August-to-mid-October timeframe for apples) You can also take a bite of the fruits you pick yourself.