Utah Opens Doors To Travelers: What You Need To Know

Utah is a state in the western United States, known for its incredible natural diversity, abundant wildlife, and stunning camping and RVing spots. With five national parks, including Zion National Park and Arches National Park, and more than 40 state parks, Utah offers a plethora of outdoor activities for families and adventurers alike. The state's varied landscape ranges from high-desert plateaus to alpine meadows and snow-covered peaks to bird-filled wetlands. Utah is also home to several National Monuments, National Historic Trails, and other classifications of National Park Service areas. The state's easy access to world-renowned snow and ski resorts, as well as its convenient transportation options, make it a great choice for travellers looking for adventure and exploration.

Zion National Park

The park features mountains, canyons, buttes, mesas, monoliths, rivers, slot canyons, and natural arches. The lowest point is 3,666 ft (1,117 m) at Coalpits Wash, while the highest peak is 8,726 ft (2,660 m) at Horse Ranch Mountain. A prominent feature is the 15-mile-long (24 km) Zion Canyon, which is up to 2,640 ft (800 m) deep. The reddish and tan-coloured canyon walls are made of Navajo Sandstone, eroded by the North Fork of the Virgin River.

For accommodation, there are camping and lodging options within the park and in nearby towns like Springdale, East Zion, and St. George. Springdale, in particular, offers a range of options, from camping to luxurious hotels.

When planning a visit to Zion National Park, it is important to consider the weather conditions and the peak travel months. The park is busiest from March to October, and visitors can expect long lines and full parking lots during these months. The off-season, from November to February, offers a quieter experience with moderate temperatures and beautiful winter scenery.

Overall, Zion National Park is a stunning natural wonder that attracts millions of visitors each year with its majestic scenery and diverse outdoor activities.

Arches National Park

The unique landscape of Arches National Park is the result of geological processes that occurred over 300 million years ago, when a salt bed was deposited beneath the region. Over time, this salt bed was covered with sediments that eventually compressed into rock layers, primarily Entrada Sandstone. The arches themselves were formed through a process of erosion, as water seeped into the surface cracks, joints, and folds of the rock layers, and ice formed in the fissures, expanding and causing pieces of rock to break off.

The park offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, camping, backpacking, canyoneering, rock climbing, bicycling, and auto touring. Visitors can explore popular arches such as Delicate Arch, Double O Arch, Broken Arch, Landscape Arch, Windows Loop, and Tower Arch. Other notable features include Balanced Rock, Courthouse Towers, Dark Angel, Devils Garden, Double Arch, and Fiery Furnace.

From April 1 to October 31, visitors to Arches National Park are required to have a timed entry ticket. The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round, but the visitor centre typically operates on a seasonal schedule. The park is busiest from March through October, especially during holidays, weekends, and mid-morning. To avoid traffic, it is recommended to enter the park before 8 am or after 3 pm.

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is a popular destination for outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, and four-wheel-drive excursions. The park offers hundreds of miles of hiking trails, ranging from short walks to overnight expeditions. The Island in the Sky district is particularly popular, with 20 miles of paved roads and numerous pullouts offering magnificent views of the surrounding area. The Needles district provides access to over 70 miles of hiking trails.

The park is also a photographer's paradise, with constantly changing light and a varicolored landscape providing limitless photographic opportunities. The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day, although the visitor centers close for the winter.

Canyonlands is an International Dark Sky Park, making it an excellent place for stargazing. The park is known for its dark night skies, which are among the darkest in North America.

The closest lodging to the park is in the town of Moab, just 5 miles south of the entrance. Moab offers a variety of hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, resorts, and guest houses. Campgrounds are also available within the park and in the surrounding area.

Capitol Reef National Park

The park is named for its whitish Navajo Sandstone cliffs with dome formations that resemble the white domes often placed on capitol buildings. The park was established in 1971 to preserve 241,904 acres of desert landscape and is open all year, with May through September being the highest visitation months. The park is filled with over 840 species of plants, and over 40 of those species are classified as rare and endemic.

The park offers a variety of activities for tourists, including auto-touring, hiking, backpacking, camping, bicycling, horseback riding, canyoneering, and rock climbing. The park has one developed campground, two primitive campgrounds, and vast backcountry options for overnight stays.

The Fruita section of the park is the most accessible, with a paved scenic drive, campgrounds, and many hikes. The Waterpocket Fold is more remote and rugged, best navigated with a sturdy vehicle. The backpacking in this area is described as "out of this world".

Capitol Reef is an International Dark Sky Park, offering some of the darkest skies and most stars visitors might ever see.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon is not a single canyon but a series of natural amphitheaters carved into the edge of a high plateau. The most famous of these is the Bryce Amphitheater, filled with irregularly eroded spires of rocks called hoodoos. The four main viewpoints, all found within the first few miles of the park, are Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point. The park offers abundant hikes and scenic drives to observe the hoodoos up close or from above.

The best time to visit Bryce Canyon is during spring or fall, thanks to the mild weather, perfect for hiking. Visiting in March or November will help you avoid the crowds, but you'll need to bundle up as it will be chilly. If you're looking to hike, late spring or early fall is ideal to avoid the peak summer crowds. For those wanting to photograph snow-covered hoodoos or snowshoe along the rim, visit between December and February.

To get to Bryce Canyon National Park, the closest airports are in Las Vegas or Salt Lake City, both about 4 hours away. Having your own car is the easiest way to get around the park, but the park service offers an optional shuttle during peak season, from April to October. The park shuttle starts at 8 am between the town of Bryce and Bryce Point, with stops including the visitor centre, campgrounds, and the famous park lodge.

There are two in-park campgrounds in Bryce Canyon National Park: North Campground and Sunset Campground. North Campground is open all year and is first-come, first-served, while Sunset Campground accepts reservations 6 months in advance for May to October. Sunset Campground is closed during the winter months.

Some of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park include:

• Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop Combination Trail: A popular 2.9-mile hike that takes you down into Bryce Amphitheater for an up-close look at the hoodoos.
• Peek-a-boo Trail: A 5.5-mile loop that starts and ends at Bryce Point, covering 1,571 feet of elevation gain.
• Sunset-to-Sunrise Point: A flat, paved 0.5-mile path overlooking the expansive hoodoo-filled amphitheater.
• Mossy Cave Trail: A 0.8-mile trail off Highway 12 that leads to a moss-filled cave and waterfall.

In addition to hiking, Bryce Canyon offers a variety of non-hiking activities, such as astronomy and full moon hikes, scenic drives, and stunning viewpoints. As a certified dark sky park, it is an excellent place for stargazing.

Frequently asked questions