Zion doesn't require a reservation as of 2024, but certain activities like the Angels Landing hike require a permit. A lot of the major attractions are along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, which for most of the year is only accessible via the free shuttle which will take you to most of the major destinations. Arrive early to beat the traffic, because the shuttle buses fill up fast and passing through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel can become a hassle.
Beware flash flood warnings here.
Taking the shuttle bus at the visitor center to stop 9, the Temple of Sinawava, will bring you to the trailhead for The Narrows. This is a hike upstream through the Virgin River along the narrowest part of Zion Canyon. Hiking poles are super helpful here because the the rocks in the water can be slippery, especially when the current picks up. Expect to be soaked because the water can reach waist height in some places. While it's an awesome hike, wading through water for miles quickly becomes strenuous, so make sure you're prepared if you plan on doing the full length.
The road below leads from the interior of the park through the tunnel.
This is a short and relatively flat one mile hike that starts just outside the east entrance of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel and snakes along Pine Creek Canyon, ending at an overlook above Zion Canyon. The trailhead parking lot is very small but there's another lot just down the road, as well as road parking. Traffic at the tunnel can become hectic later in the day so I recommend doing this one early on, especially if you're heading to the trail from the interior of the park (the west tunnel entrance).
This road connects Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks.
One of the most scenic and memorable drives I've ever been on was this stretch of road between Zion and Bryce Canyon. It starts just outside the east entrance of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel and lasts about 10 miles, leading away from the park. Make sure to hit the Canyon Overlook Trail on the way because it's also at the east entrance of the tunnel.
Just under 2 hours away from Zion National Park and accessible from the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway scenic drive is Bryce Canyon, a small national park centered around an amphitheater of hoodoos and an essential stop on any Utah roadtrip. A lot of the popular viewpoints are right at the rim so they're quickly and easily accessible. The hikes here are short so it's possible to see most of the park in a day or less.
The view from the Queen's Garden trailhead, located at Sunrise Point.
This viewpoint is the northernmost one of the major viewpoints around the rim of Bryce Canyon and is just a short walk from the parking lot. The Queen's Garden trailhead is also located here and descends down into the amphitheater for a closer look at the rock formations.
Less than a 30 minute drive from Arches National Park is Canyonlands, a park divided into four districts full of mesas, buttes and canyons. This is the least visited national park in Utah, with most of the traffic being in the Island in the Sky district because of its easy accessibility.
Mesa Arch.
Mesa Arch is a short walk from the parking area to a 27 foot long arch on the edge of the mesa and overlooking Buck Canyon below. It's one of the most visited spots in Canyonlands and is a very quick and easy stop.
The view of Buck Canyon at the trail.
It's possible to see this viewpoint just outside the parking lot, but anyone desiring a hike can take the 1.8 mile round trip walk on the rim of the mesa for an alternate viewpoint. It takes about 40 minutes to complete and is relatively flat.
The view from the overlook.
This is actually more of a drive than a hike since it's a gravel road, but there's also an overlook where the road begins at the Island in the Sky district. It's just outside the parking lot. With a high-clearance 4WD vehicle you can take a 2 hour scenic drive back to the town of Moab via this road and Potash.
Just a few miles outside the town of Moab, this park has the highest density of natural sandstone arches in the world. Reservations are required between April 1st and October 31st. You don't have to do a lot of walking to see some of the popular arches here, but there are longer hikes available as well.
The south arch is 112 feet tall.
This is the tallest arch in the park and an easy half mile walk. It's in the same area as The Windows and the Turret Arch so they can all quickly be seen at once.
The North Window (left) and South Window (right).
Across from Double Arch is The Windows, a set of two arches that can be seen from the parking lot. A trail connects these arches with Turret Arch before looping back to the parking lot. This is another half mile walk.
This arch is 65 feet tall.
This arch is part of The Windows trail, a 1.2 mile flat and easy loop, so it can be seen at the same time as The Windows. Just across from the trailhead parking lot you can also reach Double Arch.
The Tower of Babel in the foreground.
One of the first things you'll see after driving into Arches from the only available entrance is Park Avenue and the Courthouse Towers. While this can be seen from the road, you can also walk the 1.8 mile Park Avenue Trail to get a closer look at some of the rock formations.
The largest national forest in Utah, Dixie National Forest sits between Zion and Bryce Canyon. It's a diverse park containing forest, canyons, mountains and alpine lakes.
There's a bike path off to the right.
15 minutes outside Bryce Canyon there's this arch in the road, technically part of Dixie National Forest. There's a few nearby trails including the Cassidy Trail and the Red Canyon bicyle trail, but I opted to continue on to Bryce Canyon.