Moab Trip Overview
Explore all of Utah’s majestic beauty! From the towering canyons of Zion to the precarious arches of Arches — see everything the national parks have to offer, and more. Meander through Bryce’s mysterious hoodoos, marvel at the vastness of the Grand Staircase, and oogle the huge formations of Monument Valley. This combo tour contains the driving tours for Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Bryce, Grand Staircase – Escalante, and Zion all in one.
Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
Within 30 min, we’ll send you two things: a password and an app. Download the app, enter the password, & download the tour. When you arrive, go to the first stop to start the tour. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
NO EXPIRATION — THE TOUR IS AVAILABLE FROM THE MINUTE YOU BOOK UNTIL FOREVER!
THIS IS NOT AN ENTRANCE TICKET TO ATTRACTIONS ALONG THE ROUTE. CHECK PANDEMIC RULES AND OPENING HOURS BEFORE YOUR VISIT.
Additional Info
Duration: 3 days
Starts: Moab, United States
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Moab Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Moab, Utah, United States
Explore all of Utah’s majestic beauty! From the towering canyons of Zion to the precarious arches of Arches — see everything the national parks have to offer, and more. Meander through Bryce’s mysterious hoodoos, marvel at the vastness of the Grand Staircase, and oogle the huge formations of Monument Valley. This combo tour contains the driving tours for Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Bryce, Grand Staircase – Escalante, and Zion all in one.
Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
Within 30 min, we’ll send you two things: a password and an app. Download the app, enter the password, & download the tour. When you arrive, go to the first stop to start the tour. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
NO EXPIRATION — THE TOUR IS AVAILABLE FROM THE MINUTE YOU BOOK UNTIL FOREVER!
THIS IS NOT AN ENTRANCE TICKET TO ATTRACTIONS ALONG THE ROUTE. CHECK PANDEMIC RULES AND OPENING HOURS BEFORE YOUR VISIT.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Arches Visitor Center, Entrance Station, Park Headquarters, Arches National Park, UT 84532
Our adventure into the astounding Arches begins just before the park’s entrance and visitor center. We’re about to see stunning natural monuments, unlikely rock formations, and alien, ancient landscapes.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Three Penguins, Utah 84532, USA
As soon as we begin our scenic drive through Arches, we’ll see our first formation: the Three Penguins. The ancient Ute and Paiute peoples who once called these lands home didn’t see penguins though- they saw ancient spirits watching over the land. As we drive, we leave about the formations and their significance to the tribes.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: moab fault overlook, Arches National Park, Moab, UT 84532, USA
Moab’s Fault is a six million-year-old crack in the earth’s crust. As we continue driving, we’ll see this fault and learn about the geologic pressures that have formed the landscape of Arches.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: La Sal Mountains Viewpoint, Moab, UT 84532, USA
The La Sal Mountains are the second-highest mountain range in Utah. Their highest peak, which you can see toward the center of the range, is almost 13,000 feet tall. We’ll pause our drive through Arches to admire the mountains and learn about the Spanish settlers who pushed out the Ute and Paiute tribes.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Three Gossips, Utah 84532, USA
As we continue driving through Arches, we’ll pass the iconic Three Gossips formation.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Courthouse Towers Viewpoint, Arches Entrance Road, Moab, UT 84532, USA
This brings us to another vista point, where we’ll see the Organ, Courthouse, Sheep Rock, and more.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Petrified Dunes, Moab, UT 84532, USA
We’ll also pass the Petrified Dunes and Great Wall. As we drive, we’ll learn more about the Ute and Paiute mythologies of this harsh and alien landscape.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Garden of Eden, Utah 84532, USA
The “garden” is the expanse of small rocky structures visible to one side as we continue our drive. The tiny arches that dot the landscape almost look like they’re growing!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: The Windows Road, The Windows Rd, Utah 84532, USA
This brings us to another popular Arches spot: the Windows! These striking examples of erosion are a must-see while in Arches.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Cove of Caves, Utah 84532, USA
Look down the trail and you’ll see one of the park’s most striking sights. That collection of arches and almost-arches is the Cove of Caves.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Panorama Point, Utah 84532, USA
We’ll pass Panorama Point — keep this in mind if you plan to return at dark for stargazing. Since there’s very little light pollution obscuring the night sky here, you’ll see an astonishing number of stars once the sun sets. Depending on the time of year, you may even get to see the entire Milky Way! As we continue our drive, we’ll learn about how to stargaze like the Paiute.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Delicate Arch, Near Moab, Arches National Park, UT 84532
Now we’re at THE most famous spot in Arches: Delicate Arch. A quick hike brings us right up to this gorgeous – and improbable – formation.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Salt Valley, Utah 84532, USA
This is one of the park’s quieter attractions. Like Cache Valley, Salt Valley was formed by the collapse of many sandstone domes. The broken pieces of rock littering the ground are leftovers from that collapse.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Fiery Furnace, Near Moab, Arches National Park, UT 84532
Our drive continues past the Fiery Furnace: a network of narrow canyons & passages amid towering red cliffs at Arches National Park.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Sand Dune Arch, Arches National Park, UT
As we drive, exploring more arches, we’ll learn more about the Paiute myths behind them, the Spanish and Mormon settlers who tried to survive in this land, and the people who were able to preserve this stunning landscape as a national park.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Devil’s Garden Trailhead, Arches National Park, Devils Garden Rd, Moab, UT 84532, USA
Our drive through Arches ends at the Devil’s Garden, where a final hiking trail leads to Landscape Arch and beyond. Our tour through the mythology and geology of this epic land is now over.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Bryce Canyon Visitor Center, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Embark on this epic adventure through Bryce Canyon National Park just before the Visitor Center. As we begin the drive, we’ll learn about how the canyon got its namesake and about the original Paiute people who called this land home.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Fairyland Point, Rim Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT 84764
Our first detour is at the breathtaking Fairyland Point. This overlook offers a great sneak peek at everything Bryce Canyon contains: sweeping vistas, sheer cliffs, and, of course, the world-famous hoodoos!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Our next stop is one of the most famous in the entire park: Sunrise Point. From this vantage point, we’ll see unique, picturesque rock formations spread out in front of us and a plethora of natural trails leading into the vast, alient landscape.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Bryce Amphitheater, Utah 84764, USA
Our self-guided driving tour continues around the famous Bryce Amphitheatre! The canyon curves around in the shape of a giant semicircle and dips far below our feet.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Our drive brings us to another striking vista point overlooking the Bryce Amphitheatre: Sunset Point. Here, as we gaze out over the implausible shapes below us, we’ll learn about the science behind their formations and understand what, exactly, makes a hoodoo. We’ll explore the impact of geology and erosion over a monumental time scale, hoping to understand how such an incredible landscape came into existence.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Inspiration Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
We continue our self-guided tour deeper into Bryce Canyon, towards Inspiration Point. As we drive, we learn about the Paiute people and their mythologies. They had their own explanation for the uniqueness of this landscape and the origins of Bryce’s famous hoodoos.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Bryce Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
This brings us to Bryce Point, which offers one of the most scenic vistas of the full amphitheater. Bryce Point is also famous for its extraordinary sunrises. From here you can watch the tops of hoodoos set alight as if by fire from the first rays of the rising sun. Like fire, the orange light quickly spreads driving shadows from all but the deepest recesses of the amphitheater. As we drive here, we’ll learn about the Mormon settlers who followed the Paiute and tried to eke out a living in this unforgiving climate.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Paria View, Bryce Point Road, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT 84764
Our self-guided tour continues to Paria View, where we see the effects of a centuries-old glacier. As the earth warmed about 12,000 years ago, the last ice age came to an end. As the enormous glaciers which covered the American continent melted, all that new water had to go somewhere. Answer: down the canyon!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Swamp Canyon Overlook, Bryce, UT 84764, USA
Now our drive takes us into the lesser-trafficked part of the park. As we drive to Swamp Canyon Overlook, we’ll learn about a famous local: Butch Cassidy! We’ll learn all about Butch, Sundance, and the difference between fact and fiction as we continue the self-guided tour.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Farview Point, Ut 63, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Our next stop is at Farview Point. It’s not just the elevation that allows for such incredible views here — the land here also offers something becoming increasingly rare in today’s world. Can you guess what it is? Clean air! That’s helped along by the abundance of bristlecone pines here, which are the Earth’s oldest trees.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Natural Bridge, Bryce Canyon National Park, Bryce, UT
The self-guided tour passes by Natural Bridge next, which features unusual arches and formations — in case we weren’t already amazed by the hoodoos of the amphitheater!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Agua Canyon, Bryce Canyon National Park Bryce Canyon, Bryce, UT
At Agua Canyon two prominent hoodoos command attention. On the left, is the taller of the two towers, “The Hunter.” To the right, the “Rabbit”. Neither looks anything like a hunter or rabbit though! As we drive on, we’ll learn about rabbits, deer, and other wildlife of Bryce. We’ll also understand what tricks they use to survive the scorching hot summers and deeply freezing winters.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Ponderosa Canyon, Route 63 Bryce Canyon National Park, Bryce, UT
This brings us to Ponderosa Point, from which you can see the park’s iconic junipers sprawling out into the distance. We’re now driving into the deepest recesses of Bryce Canyon National Park.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Black Birch Canyon, Utah 84741, USA
Our self-guided drive continues towards Black Birch Canyon Overlook. As we drive, we’ll learn all about the night sky and opportunities for amateur astronomy while you’re here. The stargazing at Bryce is unparalleled.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Rainbow Point, Southern End of Highway 63, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Finally, we reach the farthest overlooks inside Bryce Canyon: Rainbow and Yovimpa. From here, you can see nearly everything in Bryce Canyon — the quintessential hoodoos, the verdant basin, the sheer cliffs. You can even see that you’re on the top step of the incredibly massive “Grand Staircase” — a geologic structure “stepping down” all the way to the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Red Canyon Visitor Center, 5375 Ut-12, Panguitch, UT 84759
This unique Visitor Center is perched high upon the rocky cliffs of Flaming Gorge and offers visitors a commanding view of the vast Red Canyon, carved by the Green River many eons ago. It is open daily from mid-May through mid-September. One can gain a good sense of the area’s frontier history and watchable wildlife through exhibits in the Center.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Red Canyon Arch, UT-12, Panguitch, UT 84759, USA
These arches consist of a combination of sandstone and volcanic rock. These both contain really high levels of iron, which gives the arches their distinctive color.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Bryce Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park, a sprawling reserve in southern Utah, is known for crimson-colored hoodoos, which are spire-shaped rock formations. The park’s main road leads past the expansive Bryce Amphitheater, a hoodoo-filled depression lying below the Rim Trail hiking path. It has overlooks at Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. Prime viewing times are around sunup and sundown.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Powell Point Vista, Utah, USA
One such explorer was John Powell, from whom this point gets its name. Even as Americans spread across the entire country, one blank spot remained on the map: the Colorado Plateau. In 1869, Powell put together an expedition to venture down the Colorado River, into the unknown.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, 710 N. Reservoir Road, Escalante, UT 84726
The Escalante Petrified Forest is another geological time machine. The trees have long since turned to stone, and their ancient, multi-colored bark offers clues to the landscape’s distant past.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Escalante Interagency Visitor Center, 755 West Main Street, Escalante, UT 84726
The Escalante Interagency Visitor Center Focuses on the ecology of the 1.9-million-acre Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The center provides information for enjoying and exploring the Monument, Dixie National Forest, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It was opened to the public in 2005 and is one of the Department of Interior’s first Gold LEED-rated facilities.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Spooky Gulch, Hole in the Rock Road, Escalante, UT
Spooky Gulch is particularly narrow and winding, and if you’re able to make the squeeze, hiking through the gulch can be quite the experience. You won’t need any special hiking gear or experience– just an extra hour to drive there and another hour or two to explore.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Kiva Koffeehouse, 7144 UT-12, Escalante, UT 84726, USA
Open April-October, this unique seasonal cafe & espresso bar offers Southwest fare & scenic views.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Lower Calf Creek Falls, Escalante, UT
Calf Creek Falls is a perennial waterfall in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah that totals 214 feet. The lower tier is a 126-foot cascade and is very popular because it can be reached by an easy hike on a 5½ mile roundtrip trail.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: The Hogback, Route 12, Boulder, UT
This winding stretch of road is famous for its sharp curves, steep drops, and spectacular views on either side. The 600-foot drops on either side of the road create the feeling of driving on a raised spine… which is how the road gets its name!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Upper Calf Creek Falls, Boulder, UT
Upper Calf Creek Falls was a little known 88ft waterfall that was further upstream from the wildly popular Lower Calf Creek Falls.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Boulder, Boulder, Utah
Boulder is a town in Garfield County, Utah, United States, 27 miles northeast of Escalante on Utah Scenic Byway 12 at its intersection with the Burr Trail. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 226, a modest increase over the 2000 figure of 180.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Burr Trail Road, Burr Trail Rd, Boulder, UT 84716, USA
Burr was destined to be a trailblazer. He was literally born at sea — in 1846, his mother gave birth to him on a ship traveling from Brooklyn to San Francisco. When he came of age, he journeyed to the still-undeveloped wilderness of Utah to make a life for himself as a rancher.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Dixie National Forest, Utah 84773, USA
Dixie National Forest is a United States National Forest in Utah with headquarters in Cedar City. It occupies almost two million acres and stretches for about 170 miles across southern Utah. The largest national forest in Utah, it straddles the divide between the Great Basin and the Colorado River.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Heritage Overlook, Boulder, UT 84716, USA
On Heritage Overlook, keen-eyed observers might be able to catch a glimpse of Glen Canyon, far to the southeast.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Homestead Overlook, Point Lookout Rd, Boulder, UT 84716, USA
Homestead Overlook, on the other hand, affords a panoramic view of the whole landscape of Dixie Forest and the Grand Staircase stretching out beneath you.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Larb Hollow Overlook, Fishlake National Forest, Teasdale, UT 84773, USA
This is the last overlook on our tour, so be sure to make it count!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Capitol Reef National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Capitol Reef National Park is in Utah’s south-central desert. It surrounds a long wrinkle in the earth known as the Waterpocket Fold, with layers of golden sandstone, canyons and striking rock formations. Among the park’s sights are the Chimney Rock pillar, the Hickman Bridge arch, and Capitol Reef, known for its white sandstone domes. In the north are the towering monoliths of Cathedral Valley.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Forrest Gump Point, Highway US 163, Mexican Hat, UT 84531
Our tour of Monument Valley actually begins a little outside the valley: Forest Gump Point. The crest of this hill offers a fantastic panorama of Monument Valley… made famous by the movie!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Welcome Center, Utah 84536, USA
As we begin driving along this trail through the Navajo Nation, we’ll learn about the Navajo, the first tribe of Monument Valley, and how this desert formed out of a vast sea.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Wildcat Trail, Off UT-163 Monument Valley National Park, Monument Valley, UT 84536
We’ll hit our first detour at Wildcat Trail, where you can hop out walk into the valley itself.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: West Mitten Butte, Arizona 84536, USA
Our tour continues past the three striking formations of the iconic “Monument Valley” panorama. These are the East and West Mittens and Merrick Butte. Why mittens? Why Merrick? We’ll learn all about these structures and their histories as we get closer.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: John Ford’s Point, Monument Valley, UT
As we follow the trail deeper into Monument Valley, we’ll learn more about the Navajo, the mythical buried silver, and their struggle to defend their land against the ever-encroaching colonists. We’ll learn about the Long March of the Navajo, the Navajo Code Talkers of WWII, and the Navajo families on the reservation land today. We’ll also explore the depiction of the Navajo in Western movies — specifically in John Ford’s Hollywood.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Artist’s Point, Monument Valley, UT
As we learn, we’re also driving. The tour brings us next to Artist’s Point. This overlook, unsurprisingly, is famously popular among painters and illustrators. Countless artists have set up canvasses here and recreated this stunning landscape with paint and brush.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: North Window Overlook, Monument Valley, UT
Our drive continues towards the North Window Overlook, a picture-perfect spot for the sunrise. Those morning rays illuminating the buttes and spires of Monument Valley aren’t something you’ll soon forget! Even if you’re here after sunrise, the vistas are unparalleled.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Camel Butte, Monument Valley, UT
Finally, we’re at the last incredible vista of the tour: Camel Butte and Elephant Butte. Camel Butte might not look especially like a camel, but when you’re naming rocks you have to get creative! Camel Butte almost hits 1,000 feet but pales in comparison to its sibling, Elephant Butte, stretching over 1,000 feet high. Now that might be impressive on its own, but remember that you’re on a plateau right now which is already raised around 5,000 feet. That means the peak of Elephant Butte is more than 6,000 feet above sea level!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Navajo National Monument Visitor Center, Kayenta, AZ 86033, USA
Our roundtrip self-guided driving tour through the Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley ends near the Visitor Center.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Springdale Visitor Center, 1101 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767-7762
Welcome to Zion National Park! This raw landscape has it all: staggering mountain peaks, stunning natural pools, and gorgeous vistas. We’ll explore it all today.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Zion Canyon Visitor Center, 118 Lion Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767-7724
Continue straight. Just before the bridge, you’ll see a path on the left. That’s the start of the Pa’rus Trail. And just after the bridge is another path — the Watchman Trail. Both are popular hikes with great views at the end.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Zion Human History Museum, 1 Zion Park Blvd Zion National Park, Springdale, UT 84767-9402
While we don’t know too much about those Ice Age hunters, newer residents left their stories behind. Around 300 BCE, people started settling down here and farming. They grew squash and corn and gradually learned how to better cultivate the land and survive the unforgiving climate. One group, the Fremont, cultivated a drought- and cold-resistant species of corn that could thrive even at high altitudes.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Canyon Junction Bridge, Zion – Mount Carmel Hwy Hurricane, Hurricane, UT 84737, USA
“We’re almost at Canyon Junction Bridge. There’s a lot going on there:
First, it’s a great sunset spot. Be sure to come back here later.
Second, there are great views of the Watchman and other mountains. If you find parking, take it and listen to the Learn More stories about the peaks.
Third, this is where the road splits:
Turn left if you want to drive along the Scenic Road and visit the Narrows, Angel’s Landing, or the Emerald Pools.”
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Court of the Patriarchs, Zion Canyon Scenic Dr., Zion National Park, UT 84767
“Whew, what a view! Those three mountains are the iconic Court of the Patriarchs. And who are these patriarchs?
Well, a local Christian minister named them after three figures from the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from left to right. “
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Zion National Park Lodge, 1 Zion lodge, Springdale, UT 84767, USA
The park service works hard to keep this place as natural and untouched as possible… while simultaneously handling over 4 million visitors each year. But that wasn’t the case in the early 1900s. No one knew about this place and that meant no revenue… and that meant… development.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Emerald Pools, Zion National Park, UT
“First, bring lots of water! You may think you’ve got enough… but you probably don’t. This might seem obvious, but Utah’s heat is unforgiving, and heat-stroke or sun-stroke can easily ruin a fun vacation.
Second, make sure you don’t overtax yourself! Hiking around here is going to be more difficult than you might be used to, thanks to the elevation. Be sure you don’t embark on journeys you’re not certain you’ll be able to finish.”
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Angel’s Landing, West Rim Trail, Zion National Park, UT
This park has a ton of great trails, but Angel’s Landing stands in a league of its own. Those who complete the hike describe it as a breathtaking experience like no other, offering impossible views and a major adrenaline rush.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: The Grotto Picnic Area, Springdale, UT 84767, USA
This spot offers picnic tables, restrooms, and fire grates. But the surrounding trails are the main attraction!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Weeping Rock, Utah 84767, USA
A continuous stream of water trickles down its face from a stream far above.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Big Bend, Utah 84532, USA
As we round the Big Bend of the Virgin River, we’ll approach the last viewpoint on this drive. Stop there for magnificent views of the Great White Throne and the towering peak of Angel’s Landing.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Temple of Sinawava, Utah 84767, USA
To see the Narrows, you’ll want to follow the paved Riverwalk all the way to the end. It’s a flat, easy walk, full of beautiful greenery and towering natural skyscrapers. But before you set off, let’s talk about the Temple of Sinawava.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: East Temple, Zion National Park, UT
That towering summit ahead is the East Temple, standing at 1,700 feet. Notice how the cliff isn’t all one color? You’ve probably seen this on the other rock faces as well. That’s because these cliffs are actually made of rock from a bunch of different eras in the earth’s history.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Zion scenic drive viewpoint 2, Apple Valley, UT 84737, USA
At the next hairpin turn, you’ll see a pull off. If there’s room, stop there for some incredible views. While stopped, click on Learn More to hear why the Mormons called this place Zion.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, Zion – Mount Carmel Hwy, Hurricane, UT 84737, USA
Make sure to turn on those headlights — because the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is just ahead! Once inside, you might be tempted to stop and take photos, but you’ll have to resist the urge: stopping is strictly prohibited.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Canyon Overlook Trail, Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel East Entrance, Zion National Park, UT
The Canyon Overlook Trail is one of East Zion’s finest — even though it’s short and easy. Why? Simple — the spectacular views from the top.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Altar of Sacrifice, Utah 84737, USA
If you look closely at the Altar of Sacrifice, you’ll notice that it’s got streaks of rusty red running down the sides. Early Mormon pioneers saw this and thought it looked like blood spilling from a sacrificial altar. Of course, there’s a much less gruesome explanation.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Checkerboard Mesa, Zion-Mount Carmel Hwy. 1 mi west of the East Entrance, Zion National Park, UT
Look at that mesa rising into the sky. Notice anything peculiar? As you get closer, you should be able to make out a strange grid of criss-crossed lines all over it. It looks a bit like a checkerboard, which is how it gets the name Checkerboard Mesa!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Monitor and Merriamac Rock Formations, Canyonlands National Park, UT 84532
Look to the right. All you can see at the moment are tall rock walls. That’s because we’re near the floor of Sevenmile Canyon. As we continue to drive, we’ll emerge from the canyon and be able to see two very distinct features in the distance to the right — the Merrimac and the Monitor.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: The Neck, Utah 84532, USA
The area we’re traveling over is known as the Neck. Why? Well, remember that this Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands is a huge mesa surrounded by lowlands. Well, there’s a strip of land that connects this mesa to other mesas — just like a natural bridge!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Big Mesa Viewpoint, Utah, USA
Coming up on your right is Big Mesa Viewpoint. Pause for a quick look at some stunning scenery. The enormous mesa looks like it was plonked down here by accident, and then forgotten.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Plateau Viewpoint, Utah, USA
Coming up on your left is a turn out for Plateau Viewpoint. Pullover if you want photos of some spectacular views! There’s also a handicap accessible toilet and an information panel on anthropological work in the area.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: White Rim, Utah 84532, USA
In such a beautiful landscape, you can’t escape the lure of exploring off the beaten path. But watch out! If you do go off the path, you might be trampling on soil that’s alive. You might think I’m joking, but throughout Canyonlands, Arches, and Moab is something called a biological soil crust.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Basin Overlook Parking, Horse State Park, Moab, UT 84532, USA
Despite being relatively small, there’s a lot to do here. First, what might catch your eye is the overlook itself, which has a view of the Colorado River. There’s also a cafe to reenergize.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Dead Horse Point State Park, Sr 313, Moab, UT 84532
Dead Horse Point — it’s a creepy name, isn’t it? According to local legend, wild mustangs used to be corralled here to be broken in the early 1800s. Once all the desirable horses had been broken and claimed by the cowboys, the undesirables were left to go free.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Island In The Sky Visitor Center, Canyonlands National Park, UT
Stop by the Visitor Center coming up ahead. It’s a great place to grab supplies, use the bathroom, and fill up your water bottles. As you’ve already seen, this park doesn’t have much infrastructure, and being dehydrated out here is no joke.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Shafer Canyon Overlook, Canyonlands National Park, UT
This overlook offers views from three sides. It may be a bit daunting if you’re afraid of heights since there’s nothing between you and the Canyon. However, the incredible view is worth it.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Grand View Point Overlook, Canyonlands National Park, UT
We’re now at the end of the Canyonlands National Park tour. I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey! If you enjoyed the tour, check out our other tours of nearby Arches, Bryce, Zion, and more!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Lathrop Canyon, Canyonlands National Park, UT
A lot of natural landmarks and trails in Canyonlands are named by or after cowboys and ranchers. In fact, Ned Chaffin’s father and one of his brothers had a spring named after them.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, UT
Ahead, pull over for Mesa Arch. This is a must-do at Canyonlands.
Once you’ve parked, walk along the short trail to the arch.
As you walk, notice the juniper and pinyon trees around you. These are popular in Canyonlands so keep an eye out for them elsewhere too.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Green River Overlook, Canyonlands National Park, UT 84532
The Green River Overlook offers some of the most unique views of Canyonland’s Island in the Sky District. You’re able to see the Green River continuing its work on the canyon walls. The river is the largest stream in Utah at 730 miles. The name probably comes from the green soapstone that can be found along its banks.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Aztec Butte Trail, Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, UT
What makes this trail special? Simple: the granaries left here by Native peoples. They’re visible from the base o
