The 5 Utah National Parks Ranked: The Best Utah National Parks
Utah is home to five beautiful national parks known as the Mighty 5. Each Utah national park is unique in its own way and offers so many beautiful things to see and fun things to do.
If you have time, you can visit all five of the national parks in Utah in a week, but if you only have a few days, it can be tough to decide which ones to visit. But don't worry! This guide has the Utah National Parks ranked from best to worst to help you figure out the best Utah national parks to visit on your trip!
I will say that all of these national parks are stunning and have so much to offer, so even the “worst” is not at all a bad park to visit. I honestly loved each of the national parks in Utah, and I think everyone should experience each one at least once.
This guide is meant to help you prioritize which Utah national parks are best for you to help you plan an incredible trip! Let’s dive into figuring out the best Utah national parks for you!
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Utah National Parks Rank System
It took me a while to figure out the best Utah national park ranks system, but I am finally confident in what I have created! I want to remind you that these are just my opinions, so don’t take these as facts! This guide is meant to help you decide which are the best Utah national parks for you.
I ranked each Utah national park by looking at:
Scenic views: overall, how scenic is the park?
Easily accessible attractions: are there easily accessible attractions and viewpoints that require little to no hiking?
Hiking trails: are there fun trails for all levels?
Facilities: how many facilities are there in and around the park?
Crowds: how are the crowds? (the lower the score, the better because it means fewer crowds)
I will show you the score each park received in every category and its overall score. Then, I will get into the nitty-gritty stuff, including travel tips, the best times to visit, the time needed to explore, the best places to stay, and the best things to do, that will help you decide if you want to add the national park to your trip.
Utah National Parks Ranked: The Best Utah National Parks
**Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Zion National Park: 41/50 Overall Score
Scenic views: 10/10
Easily accessible attractions: 8/10
Hiking trails: 9/10
Facilities: 10/10
Crowds: 4/10
Zion National Park is at the top of the Utah national parks ranked list because it is iconic. There is a reason it is one of the most visited national parks in the US! Zion National Park is stunning, and the scenic views are endless. We were in awe of the views when we visited!
It also has plenty of attractions that require little to no hiking and plenty of hiking trails for all levels! It also has great facilities throughout the park and towns nearby that have everything you need for a trip.
Because it is one of the most-visited national parks in the US, it is always crowded. It has over five million visitors per year, many of whom visit in the spring and summer. When we visited, the shuttle parking lot filled up by 9 AM.
TRAVEL TIPS
Start your day early. Zion National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the US, so it experiences heavy crowds throughout the year. But don’t let that stop you from experiencing its beauty! I recommend arriving at the park as early as you can.
Start or end your day with hiking. If you want to hike some of the iconic trails in Zion National Park, I highly recommend hiking it as soon as you get into the park or later in the afternoon. The popular trails are always crowded and typically see the most hikers midday.
Pack food and water. Because getting a parking spot in the shuttle lot can be difficult, especially midday, you may not want to leave the park to get food. I recommend packing your meals, snacks, and water so you can have a picnic in the park. There are restrooms throughout Zion National Park that have water fountains, so you can fill up your water bottle as you travel through the park.
Use the Zion National Park shuttle. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private cars from March through November. There is a shuttle service that will take you to all of the sights on that road! The shuttle lot fills up very quickly, which is why I recommend arriving earlier than 8 AM.
Use Springdale’s shuttle service if the shuttle lot is full. Springdale is the town right outside of Zion National Park and offers a shuttle service around the area. It can take you to Zion Canyon Village, which is only a short walk from the park entrance, where you can get on the Zion National Park shuttle.
Bring a lot of sunscreen. Zion National Park has little to no shade, so it is crucial to pack and wear sunscreen for your trip!
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Honestly, Zion National Park is a stunning place to visit year-round! The most popular time to visit is in spring and summer when the weather is warm, and the hiking trails are open. We visited in the summer and loved our time in the park! It was busy, but the views made it worth it.
If you want to visit without the crowds, late fall and winter are the perfect times to visit! Winter is an underrated time to visit Zion National Park, and you can drive on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive since it’s open to cars in the off-season.
TIME NEEDED TO EXPLORE
I recommend spending at least 2-3 days in Zion National Park, especially if you want to hike. Having a few days to explore the park also allows you to have the flexibility to move around your itinerary depending on the crowds. However, you can see many of the must-see attractions that are easy to get to in one day if you don’t have extra time.
BEST PLACES TO STAY
There are many towns near Zion National Park you can stay in when visiting, but the best, in my opinion, is Springdale. Springdale is the closest town to the park and has plenty of restaurants and shops.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN ZION NATIONAL PARK
Zion National Park is one of the best Utah national parks because it has many things to do! You can enjoy a scenic drive through the park and view the stunning views from its many overlooks. If you want to hike, Zion National Park has many fun trails for all levels! Here are some of the best things to do:
The Narrows
Riverside Walk
Canyon Overlook
Angels Landing
Observation Point
Emerald Pools
Pa’rus Trail
Arches National Park: 39/50 Overall Score
Scenic views: 10/10
Easily accessible attractions: 9/10
Hiking Trails: 7/10
Facilities: 8/10
Crowds: 5/10
Arches National Park is one of the best Utah national parks for all ages! This stunning park offers so much to do and see, including over 2,000 sandstone arches, endless scenic views, and hiking trails for all levels.
Arches National Park was one of our favorite Utah national parks! We felt small in the best way when we were driving and hiking through the park. It was incredible!
TRAVEL TIPS
Reserve your timed entry ticket. Arches National Park has almost two million visitors per year, so it is implementing a timed entry reservation system to help with the increasing crowds. The tickets are first-come, first-serve, so I recommend getting yours as early as you can during their release schedule.
Start or end your day with hiking. It is very hot in the summer months in Arches National Park, and the park has little to no shade. I recommend planning your hikes for the early morning or late afternoon, so you can avoid hiking in the midday heat.
Pack food and a lot of water. There aren’t any places to buy food or water in Arches National Park, so I recommend packing your snacks, meals, and water for the day. If you are driving, you can bring a cooler with everything you need! Bringing your food will also allow you to stay in the park rather than fighting the traffic to come back in. It is also crucial to pack a lot of water since the park gets very hot.
Bring a lot of sunscreen. Since Arches National Park has little to no shade, it is crucial to wear and pack sunscreen!
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Arches National Park is beautiful year-round, so you can’t go wrong with any season you decide to visit. Spring and summer tend to be the most crowded because the weather is warm, and the trails are open. Late fall and winter are underrated times to visit and have fewer visitors, and you can enjoy the must-see attractions with fewer people.
TIME NEEDED TO EXPLORE
You can honestly see almost everything in Arches National Park in one day, but it would be a pretty hectic day. We explored the entire park in one day because we started our day before sunrise and ended it after sunset. I recommend visiting for at least two days to give yourself plenty of time to see everything the park offers!
BEST PLACES TO STAY
Moab is within a half-hour drive from the entrance to Arches National Park, so it’s the perfect place to stay! It also has everything you need for your visit, including restaurants and shops.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
One of the best things about Arches National Park is you can choose to enjoy the scenic views from its many overlooks or hiking trails. And there are hiking trails for all levels! Here are some of the best things to do:
Park Avenue Trail
Delicate Arch
The Windows
Turret Arch
Double Arch
Sand Dune Arch
Devils Garden
Bryce Canyon National Park: 35/50 Overall Score
Scenic views: 8/10
Easily accessible attractions: 9/10
Hiking trails: 7/10
Facilities: 6/10
Crowds: 5/10
Bryce Canyon National Park is the land of the hoodoos, making it one of the most unique national parks in Utah! Everywhere you look, you can see the beautiful spires of rock.
Bryce Canyon National Park has many beautiful and easily accessible viewpoints and fun hiking trails that give you an up-close and personal experience with the hoodoos. We spent our day in Bryce Canyon National Park enjoying roadside overlooks and hiking its beautiful trails.
Because Bryce Canyon National Park is stunning, it has over two million visitors each year. During peak season, you won’t be alone when visiting many of its must-see attractions.
TRAVEL TIPS
Start your day early. Bryce Canyon National Park is very popular and can become very crowded. The parking lots in the park are also pretty small, so they fill up quickly. I recommend arriving at the park as early as you can. I found that arriving before 9:00 AM worked well.
Start or end your day with hiking. Some of the most popular attractions in Bryce Canyon National Park are hikes, so the trails become crowded quickly. Navajo Loop is one of the most beautiful and popular hikes in the park, so I recommend starting or ending your day hiking it to avoid most crowds.
Pack food and water. There aren’t any places to buy food in the park, so I recommend packing your lunch, snacks, and water. Doing so will also help you avoid traffic coming back into the Bryce Canyon National Park. If you drive your car through the park, you can pack a cooler with everything you need! There are a few restrooms throughout Bryce Canyon National Park that have water fountains, so you can fill up your water bottle as you explore the park.
Pack layers. As you drive through Bryce Canyon National Park, you gain elevation, and the endpoint is over 9,000 feet high, which means the weather can vary throughout the park. I recommend packing a few layers to accommodate the change in temperature and weather!
Use the Bryce Canyon National Park shuttle if the park is busy. Because Bryce Canyon National Park experiences heavy crowds, it can be difficult to find parking spots in the small parking lots. Luckily, the park offers a free shuttle that brings you to many of the must-see sights.
Bring a lot of sunscreen. Bryce Canyon National Park has little to no shade, so it is crucial to pack and wear sunscreen for your trip!
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Bryce Canyon National Park is the perfect national park to visit year-round! Spring and summer are the best seasons to visit because the weather is warm, and the trails are open. But that is the peak season for the park and when it sees the most visitors.
Winter is an underrated season to visit, and the hoodoos covered in snow are stunning! Some of the trails may close in the winter, but there are still plenty of things to do!
TIME NEEDED TO EXPLORE
Realistically, you can see everything in Bryce Canyon National Park in one day, especially if you only want to hike the Navajo Loop. We explored the entire park and enjoyed a few hikes while spending one day in the park.
If you want to take your time exploring everything the park offers and hike more trails, I recommend visiting for at least two days.
BEST PLACES TO STAY
Bryce is the town closest to Bryce Canyon National Park and has accommodations and food for your visit. It’s not a large town, but it covers the basics of what you need. If you don’t mind staying further out, there are plenty of cities and towns near Bryce Canyon National Park that you can choose from!
BEST THINGS TO DO IN BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Bryce Canyon National Park has an endless amount of viewpoints, so if you don’t want to hike, you can still enjoy the stunning views. There are also fun trails if hiking is your thing! Here are some of the best things to do:
Sunrise Point and Sunset Point
Bryce Point
Inspiration Point
Navajo Loop
Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point
Fairyland Loop
Canyonlands National Park: 32/50 Overall Score
Scenic views: 7/10
Easily accessible attractions: 6/10
Hiking trails: 6/10
Facilities: 6/10
Crowds: 7/10
Canyonlands National Park is the largest national park in Utah but is the least visited (under one million visitors each year). Canyonlands National Park has four districts that span over 257,000 acres in Southern Utah!
The most visited district is the Island in the Sky because it is the easiest to access. The Island in the Skye is the district I based these rankings. The Island of the Sky has beautiful overlooks and fun hiking trails that offer expansive views!
TRAVEL TIPS
Canyonlands National Park has four districts. The four districts of Canyonlands National Park are Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers.
Start your day early. Canyonlands National Park experiences heavy crowds in the warmer months because of its proximity to Arches National Park, so I recommend arriving early. I found that arriving between 8:00 and 9:00 AM worked well. Canyonlands National Park also has small parking lots, so if you arrive early, you’ll be able to see the must-see sights before the crowds enter.
Pack food and water. Canyonlands National Park does not have places to buy food or water, so I recommend packing everything you need for the day. If you are driving, you can bring a cooler with the food and water you’ll need, so you don’t have to fight the traffic to come back into the park.
Bring a lot of sunscreen. Canyonlands National Park has little to no shade, so it is crucial to pack and wear sunscreen for your trip!
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Canyonlands National Park is perfect to visit year-round! The spring and summer are the most-visited seasons because the weather is warm. Winter is an underrated season because the crowds are fewer, and the views are just as beautiful with snow. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any season you decide to visit Canyonlands National Park!
TIME NEEDED TO EXPLORE
If you are only visiting the Island in the Sky district, you can easily spend one day exploring Canyonlands National Park. We spent our day driving and hiking through Canyonlands National Park in one day and were able to see most of the must-see attractions on our itinerary.
If you want to hike many of the trails in the Island in the Sky district, I recommend visiting for at least two days. And if you want to explore the other districts, you could spend a week or more exploring everything Canyonlands National Park offers.
BEST PLACES TO STAY
Moab is within an hour of the entrance to Canyonlands National Park, making it the perfect place to stay. It has plenty of accommodations, restaurants, and shops for your visit.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Canyonlands National Park has plenty of things to see and do in the Island in the Sky district. You can spend your days viewing the expansive views from overlooks or hiking around on its many trails. Here are some of the best things to do:
Mesa Arch
Shafer Canyon Overlook
Upheaval Dome
Green River Overlook
Whale Rock
Grand View Point
Capitol Reef National Park: 30/50 Overall Score
Scenic views: 7/10
Easily accessible attractions: 5/10
Hiking trails: 7/10
Facilities: 4/10
Crowds: 7/10
Although Capitol Reef National Park falls last on the Utah national parks ranked list, it is still a gorgeous park! Capitol Reef National Park, in my opinion, is an underrated national park because it has beautiful views and fun hiking trails.
Although it has a scenic drive that offers expansive views, many of the best things to see involve hiking. There are only a few must-see attractions that require little to no hiking. There is also a large section of Capitol Reef National Park that is not visited often because it requires a 4x4 vehicle, but it’s stunning and should be on every bucket list.
Even though I consider Capitol Reef National Park an underrated national park in Utah, it sees almost 1.5 million visitors each year. The main section of Capitol Reef National Park which does not require a 4x4 vehicle can become crowded, especially at the must-see attractions and hikes.
TRAVEL TIPS
Start your day early. Although Capitol Reef National Park does not see as many visitors as the other national parks in Utah, you should still start your day as early as you can, especially if you want to hike.
Be prepared to hike. Many of the must-see sights in Capitol Reef National Park require hiking. Many of the trails are short and easy, while others are strenuous. If you don't want to hike at all, you can enjoy the scenic drive and take in the views from the road! If you want to experience the beauty of the park, I recommend packing hiking gear and preparing to hike!
Pack food and water. The only option to get food in Capitol Reef National Park is in the small town of Fruita at the Gifford Homestead, but it does not have much other than pastries. Although the pies and cinnamon rolls are delicious, they aren’t great foods to eat for hiking. I recommend packing food and water in a cooler in your car, so you don’t have to leave the park to get anything.
Bring a lot of sunscreen. Capitol Reef National Park has little to no shade, so it is crucial to pack and wear sunscreen for your trip!
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Similar to the other national parks in Utah, Capitol Reef National Park is great to visit year-round! Summer is the most-visited season because the weather is warm.
The Capitol Reef Scenic Drive is prone to flash flooding, so it is best to avoid the rainy season. If you want to avoid most crowds, winter is a fantastic season to visit. Capitol Reef National Park is beautiful when covered in snow, too!
TIME NEEDED TO EXPLORE
If you don’t plan on hiking, you can easily visit Capitol Reef National Park in one day. If you want to hike (which I highly recommend), you will need to visit for at least two days. If you want to visit Cathedral Valley Road, which requires a 4x4 vehicle, you will need a few days at least, depending on how far you want to travel on that road.
BEST PLACES TO STAY
Capitol Reef National Park feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere, and that’s because it sort of is! There aren’t many towns near the park, so Torrey is the best place to stay. It has a few accommodations, restaurants, and shops.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK
Although Capitol Reef National Park is last on this Utah national parks ranked list, it doesn’t lack things to do, especially if you want to hike. Here are some of the best things to do:
Hickman Natural Bridge
Capitol Reef Scenic Drive
Grand Wash
Cassidy Arch
Goosenecks Overlook
Sunset Point
Cathedral Valley Road
If you want to figure out the best Utah national parks for your trip, this guide is the perfect place to start! I visited all 5 of the national parks and Utah and ranked them to help you plan the best trip. This guide has the Utah national parks ranked and includes everything you need to know about each national park.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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