3 Life-Changing Days Visiting Utah National Parks Post

Want to know how visiting Utah National Parks in 3 days can be life-changing? This guide will help you navigate 3 of the “mighty 5” national parks in Utah.

Planning a trip to Utah is super exciting! If you’re anything like me, you’re here because you love to research and plan your trip ahead of time. As someone who loves to travel, I am giving you a 3 day guide to visiting 3 of Utah’s Iconic National Parks.

You are going to learn about visiting Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef National Parks. After learning about these parks and what to see and do, you are going to be ready for your next National Park travel adventure!

This post is all about 3 life-changing days visiting Utah National Parks.

I want to preface this guide by noting that visiting any of Utah’s “mighty 5” National Parks involves a lot of driving. Be prepared by having extra water and snacks in your car and fill up with gasoline when you’re in a larger city or town. You can easily get around with a sedan and 2 way drive car, however, you may be more comfortable in a mid to full-size SUV with 4 wheel drive.

I recommend starting your trip by flying into Salt Lake City. From there, it is just under a 4 hour drive to Moab. If you have more time, consider taking an extra day to travel from Salt Lake City to Provo which is less than an hour drive, and staying in Provo for a night before driving to Moab. This allows you a little bit more time the following day to drive to Moab and then the surrounding National Parks.

Day One: Canyonlands National Park

From Moab, Canyonlands National Park is about an hour drive. Canyonlands National Park is split up into 4 sections: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and The Rivers. Most people will visit Island in the Sky and The Needles. To stick with the 3 day itinerary, I recommend visiting Island in the Sky as it is the closest to Moab. Within the Island in the Sky section, you will find Island in the Sky, Mesa Arch, Grand View Point, and Green River Overlook.

Mesa Arch

Wake up early to see the sunrise over Mesa Arch! It can get very busy so plan ahead and get there early. Alternatively, consider visiting Mesa Arch in the evening as it is much less crowded and then you can stay for stargazing once the sun goes down. Canyonlands is one of the best National Parks for stargazing!

Grand View Point

Another iconic part of Canyonlands is Grand View Point. It is located in the southernmost part of Island in the Sky. There is an overlook and trail. The overlook showcases incredible canyon views, the white rim, and distant mountains.

As I mentioned above, Canyonlands has other parts of the parks, but are farther away from Moab and involve a longer drive. If you have more than 3 days, I highly recommend visiting The Needles and The Maze portions of Canyonlands.

Day Two: Arches National Park

For your second day visiting Utah National Parks, I recommend going to Arches National Park. You can easily spend an entire day here (or more). There are over 2,000 natural stone arches within this incredible park!

Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch is one of the most iconic natural arches in the world! Getting to this natural wonder involves a moderate 3 mile hike roundtrip. Part of the hike involves being in direct sunlight and walking along a narrow cliff, and the last section of the hike includes the most elevation. I highly recommend doing this hike very early in the morning to avoid crowds and see the sunrise.

If you plan to do this hike, be sure to drive to the Wolfe Ranch trailhead and not the Delicate Arch overlook. We arrived at the trailhead around 7:30am and made it to the arch at about 8:15am. We stuck to a moderate pace and did not stop for the Wolfe Ranch or petroglyphs, but saved those for the hike back.

Sand Dune and Broken Arches

Sand Dune Arch and Broken Arch can be found by going along one trail. This trail is easy with no incline! Sand Dune Arch is located on a path to the right of the trail, and gets its name for being in a sandy part of the park. Broken Arch is located at the end of the main trail and gets its name for being “broken” in the center of the arch. The hike to both takes between 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much time you take to admire the scenery. It’s an easy, casual, relaxing hike and I personally loved the beauty of Sand Dune Arch. It was one of my favorites!

Double Arches

Another iconic structure within Arches National Park are the Double Arches! A very short 0.6 mile roundtrip hike, this is a fun and easy trail. You’ll see the Double Arches from the parking lot, but as you walk closer you will really soak in their beauty. They are much larger up close! I really enjoyed these arches too!

Balanced Rock

Lastly, I recommend viewing Balanced Rock to complete your full day in Arches National Park. There is a short path that goes around the entire structure, giving you a 360 view of the rock formation. I really enjoyed seeing it from all points of view.

There is so much to see and do in this national park. If you have more time, consider Garden of Eden and for a challenging hike, Devil’s Garden.

Day Three: Capitol Reef National Park

On your third day of visiting Utah National Parks, drive from Moab to Capitol Reef National Park. This park is about a 2.5 hour drive from Moab. It’s a great park to visit if you don’t have a lot of time because much of the park can be viewed from your vehicle during the scenic drive.

Scenic Drive

The scenic drive through Capitol Reef takes about an hour roundtrip. It’s a great way to see many of the iconic landmarks. Stop at the Gifford House, Petroglyphs, and drive down the Grand Wash road. You can easily drive this route with a typical vehicle, no need for all terrain. However, if you plan to go off the main road, then you will want a more durable all terrain vehicle.

Gifford House

When you stop at the Gifford House, be sure to go inside for the most delicious, homemade pie! The house is open from March to November. They sell several different flavors including apple, strawberry-rhubarb, and peach. I love that the pies are individual size so they are easy to pick up and enjoy while enjoying the view from one of the outdoor picnic tables.

Petroglyphs

Along the scenic drive, stop at the sign for petroglyphs. From the parking lot, there is a boardwalk that leads you to the petroglyphs, making them easily accessible. These petroglyphs were drawn by the Fremont People in the years 300-1300 CE. They are definitely worth stopping for!

Goosenecks Overlook

At the end of the scenic drive, stop at the Goosenecks Overlook. This short trail leads you to a beautiful overlook of the canyon and Colorado River.

Hickman Bridge

One of the popular trials in Capitol Reef National Park leads to Hickman Bridge. This is a moderate hike that takes about an hour. I highly recommend going on this hike in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler.

Conclusion

At each of these beautiful national parks, be sure to stop at the visitor center! You will find helpful information and some of the visitor centers offer short films to learn more about the park. I highly recommend the National Parks passport book and cancellation stamps to make your experience memorable.

With only 3 days visiting Utah National Parks, it makes the most sense to visit Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef as they are all relatively in the same area. If you have more time, add on Bryce and Zion National Parks!

3 Life-Changing Days Visiting Utah National Parks

3 Life-Changing Days Visiting Utah National Parks