USA Road Trip: The Best of Southern Utah
Southern Utah Road Trip
Southern Utah is a treasure trove of mesmerizing landscapes, featuring iconic red rock formations, expansive national parks, and unique geological wonders. From the towering hoodoos of Bryce Canyon to the towering cliffs of Zion National Park, the region offers unparalleled outdoor adventures. Monument Valley, with its iconic mesas and buttes, provides a cinematic backdrop, and Capitol Reef National Park captivates with its Waterpocket Fold and scenic drives. Southern Utah is a haven for hikers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts seeking unparalleled beauty and geological marvels.
Top Things to Do In Southern Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its crimson-colored hoodoos and natural beauty. You can find many great trails, including the Navajo Loop trail, Sunset Point to Sunrise Point trail, and Fairyland Loop trail. This national park is only two hours from Zion National Park.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is a vast and gorgeous place to spend time hiking, climbing, and camping. Here in Zion, you can find the famous Angels Landing trail and the Narrows trail, but there are many other great trails to hike, including Emerald Pools trail, Canyon Overlook trail, Watchman trail, and East Rim trail. Zion National Park is less than three hours from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Valley of the Gods
Located an hour north of Monument Valley, this area has many buttes, mesas, and unique rock formations. You can drive the 17-mile loop around the valley, which takes around 1-2 hours to complete.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Considered to be a lesser-known national monument in southern Utah, but never the less a beautiful part of Utah to visit. This national monument is known for its unique slot canyons, plateaus, and colorful sandstone rock formations. The best trails to hike at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument are the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail, Bull Valley Gorge Slot Canyon trail, Coyote Gulch trail, and the Golden Cathedral.
Kolob Canyon
This part of southern Utah is the more isolated section of Zion National Park, located in the northwestern corner of the park. The hikes I recommend you do in this area include Timber Creek Overlook trail, Taylor Creek trail, and Kolob Arch trail.
Forrest Gump Running Scene
If you remember the famous running scene from the movie Forrest Gump, you can find where it was filmed in southern Utah 20 minutes north of Monument Valley, which is in northern Arizona.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
In an almost hour and a half drive from Page, Arizona, or an hour's drive from Zion National Park, the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is the perfect, sandy stop during your road trip.
Sand Hollow State Park
You can find yourself spending the day boating, fishing, or swimming in this beautiful reservoir, which is known for its red sand beaches and red rock formations. You can get to Sand Hollow State Park from Las Vegas, which takes a little over two hours, or is the perfect addition to your Zion National Park adventure, being it’s only 40 minutes from the base of the park.
Toadstool Hoodoos Trailhead
Probably not a stop you thought you needed to see on your road trip, but if you are like me and were traveling from Zion National Park to Page, Arizona, this is the perfect 30-minute or less hike to help break up the drive. It’s a relatively easy hike to get to the end of the trail, where you will find an odd-shaped rock formation.
Mystic Hot Springs
Located in Monroe, Utah, the Mystic Hot Springs is a relaxing oasis stop on your road trip. The hot mineral water is 168 °F when it exits the spring, flowing into two pools with temperatures around 92 - 102 °F.
Lake Powell
Lake Powell is a reservoir on the Colorado River in Utah and Arizona. You can enjoy boating, kayaking, or hiking in or around the lake. Page, Arizona, is one of the larger towns near Lake Powell, where you can find hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Dixie National Forest
A two-million-acre national forest is a great spot to add to your Utah bucket list. With its incredible rock formations, hiking trails, and lush forests, you can’t help but feel like you’ve been transported to another planet. A few recommended hikes for Dixie National Forest include Arches trail, Birdseye + Golden Wall Loop, Yant Flats trail, and Cascade Falls trail.
Springdale
If you’re headed to Zion National Park, you are likely to pass through Springdale, Utah. This is the last town before you enter the southern entrance to Zion National Park. It’s an incredibly charming town with plenty of good places to eat, drink and shop. It’s the perfect stop (or place to find a hotel) before you start your day of hiking and adventure in the park.
