Introducing Utah's Mighty Five
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Utah?
If you’ve never been to the Beehive State, you may picture barren, desert land that stretches for miles, or perhaps you recall that it’s home to the Great Salt Lake. If you’re interested in history or religion, you may think of the Mormon Church and its strong presence there.
And while all of these topics and more undoubtedly play a role in shaping Utah’s identity, I would argue the Mighty Five, Utah’s impressive quintet of National Parks, sits atop the list of things that make Utah so unique.
Each of the Mighty Five parks- Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands- boasts their own distinguishable, extraordinary landscape, and together, they bring millions of visitors to Utah each year.
To give some quick perspective on just how remarkable Utah’s claim to five national parks is, consider that there are only 63 in the entire United States. Outdoor havens such as Oregon and Maine have just one a piece, while twenty states don’t lay claim to a single one.
Utah’s impressive collection ranks third in the nation behind California and Alaska, and if you factor in the state’s 13th-place ranking in terms of size, this feat feels even more impressive.
In addition to the incredible landscape that each park boasts, one of the Mighty Five’s greatest collective attributes is their proximity to one another. With less than eight hours of driving time required to reach all five parks, a week-long road trip is just enough time to see and experience the wonders of each one.
In fact, a few years ago, I did this exact trip. Not only was I left awestruck more times than I can count, but I never felt rushed along the way. Today, I still consider it one of my favorite trips I’ve ever done.
So where should you begin this legendary road trip?
Assuming you are not a Utah native, you’ll have two primary options for your launching point. You can start with Zion and work your way east, or begin at Arches and make your way west.
My recommendation is the latter option, which sets up Zion as the grand finale of your trip. For the sake of this itinerary, that’s the route we’ll be covering, but it can easily be done in reverse order.
Without further ado, let’s get this epic Mighty Five Road Trip started!
Stop 1: Arches National Park
(Days needed: 1-2)
First up on the epic Mighty Five road trip is Arches National Park.
Located just north of Utah’s adventure capital, Moab, and roughly 80 miles west of the Colorado border, Arches is no longer the hidden gem it once was. In 2021, it was the sixteenth most visited national park, landing it just outside the top 25%.
As you may have guessed, the park’s biggest draw is the array of magnificent arches that dot its landscape. While a dozen or so receive the most attention, the park is home to more than 2,000 of these sandstone beauties, which ranks as the densest concentration of them in the world.
Easily Accessible Features
Perhaps the most tourist-friendly aspect of the park is just how accessible many of the most-popular arches are.
Double Arches, a unique pair of arches that stands taller than any of their peers, is a perfect example. Visitors can observe this dynamic duo from the comfort of their car, or enjoy them up close by taking a five-minute stroll to their base.
The Windows Loop and Turret Arch trail, a relatively flat one-mile trail showcasing three distinct arches, is another bang-for-your-buck activity that launches from the same parking lot.
The easily-earned views of these two activities, combined with their location to one another, make them a perfect one-two punch and one of the best ways to spend an hour or two in the park.
In addition to the plethora of arches, the park contains plenty of other geological wonders that are easily accessible.
Park Avenue, a towering collection of rocks named for their Manhattan-like dominance of the sky, can be marveled at from a viewpoint just off the main road, or visitors can get right up against these enormous rocks by taking an easy, 1.8-mile out-and-back trail.
Its location, two miles beyond the Visitor Center, makes it an ideal first stop for newcomers ready to stretch their legs.
Just up the road are several more designated turnouts for other impressive geological focal points, many of which also offer opportunities for short, family-friendly hikes.
Courthouse Tower, a prominent set of stone columns, and Tower of Babel, a jagged rock that rises toward the heavens, are just two of the noteworthy features that deserve a stop.
As you continue along this stretch of turn-offs, you’ll notice a range of mountains lurking in the distance. Though you may start to wonder whether you’re experiencing one of those desert mirages you hear about, I can assure you what you see are indeed mountains!
The beautiful La Sal Mountains that serve as the background to the desert landscape and towering rock formations make for a remarkable contrast. Who knew 12,000-foot mountains existed in Utah?
Devil’s Garden
For a more challenging adventure, Devil’s Garden is the best long hike in the park.
This 7.2-mile trail, located at the end of the main road, provides park-goers with a taste of everything that makes Arches such an amazing place.
Throughout the hike, you’ll have several impressive arch viewings, many rock scrambling opportunities, and the most expansive views of the entire park.
Landscape Arch, the world’s fifth-longest arch spanning more than 290 feet, is also located on this trail and makes for an ideal turnaround point for those wanting to get a taste of the Garden.
Beyond Landscape Arch, you’ll encounter several other stunning, well-known features, including Navajo Arch, Partition Arch, and Double O’ Arch. The crowds tend to thin out quickly at this point of the hike, so you may be lucky enough to get one of these beauties all to yourself!
As spectacular as this hike is, I should acknowledge my mistake here so my experience doesn’t become your own.
When my wife, Priscilla, and I completed this trail a few years ago, we were determined to complete the entire thing despite the scalding hot temperatures ( I believe it was 108 degrees!). What we failed to anticipate was how difficult re-tracing our path would be once we started making our way back.
We spent a solid hour taking various routes, each leading to a dead-end, as our water quickly dwindled. We never wanted to see another human so badly!
Thank goodness we eventually found our way back, and the experience is something we can laugh about now.
To avoid our nearly fatal (alright, maybe a slight exaggeration) error, I’d highly suggest downloading the trail map via AllTrails before setting out on this trail or any other adventure by foot. Hiking is much more enjoyable when you’re positive you’re on the right path, especially when scorching temperatures come into play.
Delicate Arch
If there is one feature of the park that should be considered an absolute must-see, it’s Delicate Arch. This natural beauty, the largest freestanding arch in the park, has reached such famed heights that it’s the current tourism symbol of Utah.
The best views and photo-ops of the arch require a 3-mile round-trip hike up and back down a steady grade of slippery rock. While the route is moderately challenging, it’s still doable for families of all ages and is well worth the journey.
One of my favorite parts of this hike is how Delicate Arch quickly comes into view after you traverse a rock ledge near the top of the trail. The experience is nothing short of breathtaking, and once you get there, you’ll fully understand the hype.
If you’re looking to wrap up your day with a hallmark desert sunset, there’s no better time to take Delicate Arch in. The sky’s ever-changing colors, paired with the photogenic arch and La Sal Mountains, create a real-life painting you won’t soon forget.
Just be prepared for the crowds you may endure, especially if you go during the summer months. During my sunset experience here, it felt like everyone in the park was heading up the trail together.
Although it was busier than I would have preferred, the shared sense of wonder amongst onlookers was a unique experience I still vividly remember.
If heavy crowds are something you prefer to avoid, consider hiking Delicate Arch at sunrise instead. I can assure you the combination of beauty and serenity you encounter will more than make up for the early wake-up call.
If you choose this option and need an alternate sunset spot, consider the Windows Loop Trail. Its location, which sits at a higher elevation than any other point in the park, will provide you with sweeping views as you soak in the day’s final moments of light.
No matter what location you choose, a sunset is a perfect culmination to a day at Arches.
The Perfect Launching Pad for Your Roadtrip
Unlike more sprawling National Parks, Arches’ compact layout allows for a straight-to-the-point experience in which many of the park’s highlights can be knocked out in a single day.
With that said, the dry, desert heat can be draining, so I’d suggest prioritizing activities that are most important to you, then adding to the day’s itinerary as time allows.
Arches is a one-of-a-kind park and the perfect launching pad for the rest of your Mighty Five Road Trip. As long as you come prepared for the elements, you’re sure to leave feeling charged up and inspired as you move on to stop number two: Canyonlands National Park.
Sample Mighty Five Itinerary: Day 1
Arrive at Arches and stop inside the visitor center located just past the entrance.
Head further into the park on National Park Road and stop at various viewpoints including Park Avenue, Courthouse Tower, and Tower of Babel.
Turn onto Windows Road and follow it to the end where the Windows and Double Arch trailheads are located. Complete the 1.2 mile Windows Loop then take the half-mile out-and-back path to Double Arch.
Break for lunch.
Head back to National Park Road and complete the remainder of the drive that dead-ends at the Devil’s Garden Trailhead. Complete the trail’s first portion (2 miles RT) to see Landscape Arch.
Take National Park Road back toward the entrance and turn onto Delicate Arch Road. Drive down to the Delicate Arch trailhead and make the 3.2-mile round-trip hike for sunset.
Exit the park and head to Moab. Wrap up the day with dinner at one of Moab’s delicious eateries.
Where to Eat:
Jailhouse Cafe (omelettes, pancakes, waffles)
Moab Canyon Pizza Co. (pizza, wings, and salads)
Moab Brewery (local brews and pub fare)
The Blu Pig (barbecue and live blues music!)
El Tapatio (classic Mexican fare)
The Trailhead Public House and Eatery (burgers, sandwiches, and salads)
Moab Garage Co. (coffee, breakfast burritos, sandwiches)
Moab Food Truck Park (tacos, street dogs, gelato, and more!)
2 Comments