NorahUtah is simply one of the most beautiful, underrated states I have ever had the privilege of visiting. The diversity of landscapes, the unique cities and little towns, and the sheer capacity for adventure make this state nearly perfect for outdoor adventure lovers. In this guide I will be ranking each of the “Mighty Five” Utah national parks.
Big disclaimer: This is my opinion based on my experiences at the parks. You might have a completely different experience based on the weather, who you go with, and what your interests are. Use my list as a light suggestion!
Small disclaimer: All of these national parks are genuinely amazing and should be high on your bucket list. Even if a park is “lower” on the list does not mean it is not incredible!
Ok, lets get into the ranking!
What are my ratings based on?
For this ranking, I am going to be basing my score off the overall experience I had at each park. This can include the hikes, the accessibility, the landscape and natural beauty, the unique features of the park, and the cultural/historical elements.
The other thing to note about these rankings is that I went to each of these parks in March, which is one of the best times of year to experience the Utah national parks. Southern Utah gets HOT in the summer, and heat definitely affects my experience of a place.
5th: Canyonlands National Park-7/10.
Canyonlands is conveniently located very close to Moab, and is sister parks with Arches. If you want an immersive, wild, remote adventure exploration, then Canyonlands is your girl. The park is divided into three sections-the Needles, the Island in the Sky, and the Maze. We spent most of our time driving the Island of the Sky route, but learned about some pretty wild backpacking adventures one can have in the Maze district of the park.
Canyonlands is the park for you if you want isolation and adventure. There were barely any people there when we went in early March.
4th: Capitol Reef National Park-8.5/10.
It physically pains me to put Capitol Reef so far down, because it is a phenomenal park. The park made my list of extremely underrated national parks, and for good reason. I cannot say enough amazing things about the historical significance of the park, the unique beauty, the beautiful landscape, and the variety of trails. If you want a quiet and relaxing park, Capitol Reef is the park for you.
While the park oftentimes gets overshadowed by some other parks in Utah, seeing the actual reef in the park is fascinating. I thought this park had the most interesting historical elements to it, and really recommend if you are a history/geology lover.
3rd: Bryce National Park-9/10.
Bryce is really that girl of national parks. The Bryce Canyon with its hoodoos is one of the most interesting geologic features I have ever seen, and I really enjoyed my time in the park.
The hoodoos themselves are very unique, and Bryce is a pretty small park. It felt very manageable to do everything we wanted to do in one day, but I would recommend spending more time there if you do not want to feel rushed.
2nd: Zion National Park-9.5/10.
Zion National Park is really one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Every single piece of hyper around the park is absolutely worth it, and I was in awe of the place the whole time. The adventure starts the second you drive into the park; the landscape immediately changes. Sharp cliff edges, winding roads, and plentiful wildlife (we saw mountain goats!) abound as you drive in, and the adventure only continues as you make your way to the valley.
I wrote a whole guide about Zion, but I would really recommend either Angel’s Landing or the Narrows. Both are really spectacular hikes, and are unique and interesting. If I had to recommend one, I would probably choose Angel’s Landing-just make sure you get a permit and prepare mentally before you go!
1st: Arches National Park-10/10.
In my opinion, Arches is the perfect park. Small enough to easily see everything, interesting enough to keep the interest of all, fun to explore with kids, and just enough options for the truly adventurous make this park an amazing sight to see. We had such a good time driving the scenic route, stopping whenever we wanted, and seeing all the amazing natural arches. It is insane to think about all of these naturally occurring in such a small area in the middle of Utah, but that is what makes it interesting!
We went to Arches several years ago, and since then the visitation rates have skyrocketed and the crowds have become much more of an issue than in the past. Because of this, and because Arches is a small park, the quality of the experience might be different than when I went in 2018.
However, Arches is number one on my list because it is really amazing. Despite the crowds, there are still ways to successfully have fun in the park.
Ways to Avoid the Crowds at National Parks:
- Go in the off season. Especially for these parks, going in the early spring or late fall can be such a better experience. There will be way less crowds (students will be in school) and there will also be much better weather. It will be easier to get around and you can make your way around with greater ease.
- Go in the early morning/evening. This is a tip for almost anywhere, but especially the Utah national parks. Going during an off time, like sunrise or sunset, is a lot easier because you will have way less crowds and better lighting for pictures.
- Go on longer trails. I have found that most crowds in national parks tend to stick to the main areas, and don’t branch out too much. In Arches, this looks like massive crowds on the Delicate Arch or Landscape Arch hike. However, other hikes tend to be pretty empty. If you are interested in exploring a more popular national park but are overwhelmed by the crowds, I really recommend going on less popular trails. They will still be amazing and will allow you an immersive experience in the park, but will be way less packed than some of the very popular hikes.
There you have it! Agree or disagree with my ratings for the Utah national parks? Let’s discuss in the comments!
