Utah's National Parks Visitor Tips

Eight Travel Tips for Visiting Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks

One of the most popular small group tours offered by Tours of Distinction is our trip to Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks. The Mighty Five include Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks. We have put together eight travel tips to make sure that you get the most out of your visit to the Mighty Five.

_{^{1) Bring A Refillable Water Bottle}} 

Desert air is so dry that your sweat evaporates quickly. You need to drink a lot of water on a hot Utah day regardless of your level of fitness or whether you are taking a day-long hike or a one-hour hike, so make sure you bring plenty of it. In addition to keeping hydrated on your hike, you should drink plenty of fluid before you set out. There are water bottle filling stations at Arches, Bryce, and Canyonlands National Parks, but there are no filling stations on the trails themselves. 

_{^{2) Understand the Landscape}} 

One of the best things to do to understand the geology, history, and culture of the Mighty Five is to stop in the Visitor Center of each park. Here you will find exhibits, interpretive displays, trail maps, and books that will enhance your understanding and appreciation of the parks. Rangers are on duty to answer your questions and restrooms and drinking water is available.

^{_{3) Plan Ahead}} 

From April through September 2022, the Arches is piloting a temporary timed-entry reservation system to help manage traffic and improve the visitor experience. To enter the Arches you will need a timed entry ticket, a photo ID, and a park entrance fee or park pass. Ticketed entry will run from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. At the time of this writing, people visiting public buildings, the visitor centers, and taking the park shuttles are required to wear face masks. 

^{_{4) Wear Sturdy Hiking Boots}}

To make the most out of your trip pack a pair of supportive, waterproof, and breathable hiking boots. These will allow you to navigate both wet and dry trails with ease. They will also protect your feet and ankles from cactus needles and rocks on the trails. If you want to pack a pair of hiking shoes that can go from the trails to the restaurant, check out Lowa Locarno Low hiking shoes. And, remember, when hiking always stay on designated trails and take out what you bring in.

^{_{5) Wear Sunscreen and…}}

The sun in Utah is strong and, in the desert, there isn’t much shade! Apply sunscreen to your exposed skin, wear a hat, and don’t forget to protect your eyes with sunglasses. Polarized lenses will cut the glare and help you see the views more clearly.

^{_{6) Layer - Layer - Layer}}

In the desert, the temperature can fluctuate 30 degrees in one day so be sure to pack light layers for daytime and heavier layers for the evening when the sun sets and cooler air moves in. This is especially important to keep in mind if you are visiting the Mighty Five in the spring or fall. You might want to throw in a rain poncho as there are seasonal short downpours from time to time.

^{_{7) Day Pack Kit Essentials}}

It is always a good idea to have a day pack kit handy, just in case. The most basic day-pack kits contain adhesive bandages, gauze, and medical tape, antiseptic towelettes, antibiotic ointment, sting relief wipes, antacid tablets, ibuprofen tablets, allergy-relief tablets, moleskin, bandage scissors, and tweezers. You can assemble one at home, or buy one from a sporting-goods store.

_{^{8) Download a Star App}}

You will find some of the darkest skies in Utah’s National Parks where you will be able to see up to 15,000 stars in the desert in comparison to 500 in an urban sky!  The Star Tracker app works on iOS and Android phones to show 88 constellations, over 8,000 and deep-sky objects, and the sun, moon, and planets in real-time. The app is free, but there is a pro version with no ads for $3, plus more deep sky objects to view. Star Walk2 is super easy to use and gives a very good immersive experience. Both apps are highly rated on Google.

Enjoying Utah’s great outdoors is an unforgettable experience. Seeing wildlife, learning about geology, and experiencing the culture are all part of the fun that is Utah’s Mighty Five.