Hoodoos and Stars

• Angels Landing
• Hikes in Zion

To reach Zion, you'll follow the Zion Park Scenic Byway state Route 9 through the towns of Hurricane, LaVerkin, Virgin, Rockdale and Springdale. Zion translates to "The Promised Land," and that means for you some of the most spectacular hiking of your lifetime and impossible landscapes you will never forget. Carved by water and time beyond the stretch of the imagination, Zion National Park is a canyon that invites you to participate in the very forces that created it. Start with Emerald Pools (easy to moderate 3+ miles), iconic Angels Landing (strenuous 5.4 miles) and Riverside Walk (easy 2.2 miles). Time permitting, hike deeper into The Narrows of Zion National Park or, better yet, hire a guide to truly experience the park's legendary slot canyons and canyoneering. Please note that anyone hiking Angels Landing will require a permit. You can request a permit through the National Park Service. And be sure to check with the Zion visitor center for day-of trail conditions.

Overnight
The campgrounds are popular so make reservations as early as possible or book a room in nearby Springdale.

• Zion-Mt. Carmel Drive and Hikes
• Scenic Byway 12
• Bryce Canyon National Park

A morning exploration of the east side of Zion National Park's orange and white formations like Canyon Overlook and Checkerboard Mesa gives way to a scenic two-hour drive in the direction of Bryce Canyon. There is plenty to see along the way, but you'll sense it's really time to stop when you come across Red Canyon along Utah's All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12. Red Canyon is a collection of spectacular crimson-colored cliffs underneath majestic clusters of 60-million-year-old limestone pinnacles and spires known as hoodoos, the same rock formations for which the nearby Bryce Canyon National Park is famous. Old-growth ponderosas leave the area smelling of vanilla, and manzanita and various types of conifers like bristlecone, pinyon and longleaf pines make the landscape surprisingly lush. There is a visitor center and hiking trails, but travelers hauling mountain bikes may want to make haste for Thunder Mountain.

Overnight
The Red Canyon Campground offers 38 shaded sites with toilets and hot showers, and there’s also dispersed camping off of forest roads. Or continue to the Bryce Canyon area for the first of two nights in lodging or park camping, with advance reservations. (See note next day.) Depending on your arrival time, this first night might be your best option for seeing Bryce Canyon's dark skies.

• Queens Garden to Navajo Trail
• Dark Skies of Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon. Some call it Hoodoo Country. It sounds like "voodoo" for reasons you'll have to see to believe. It all translates into a newfound respect for Mother Nature. Bryce Canyon's view from 9,000 feet (2,743 meters) is unlike any else in the world. Bryce Canyon National Park is a series of natural amphitheaters sunk into pink cliffs and filled with delicate red rock "hoodoos." The most brilliant hues of the park come alive with the rising and setting of the sun. Summertime offers a myriad of walking/hiking trails including the must-hike Queens Garden/Navajo Loop (3.1 miles) and a 37-mile scenic drive overlooking incredible vistas.

Overnight
For closest access to the park's incredible dark skies and the longest active astronomy program in the National Park Service, reserve a campsite or stay at Bryce Canyon Lodge, a National Historic Landmark, typically open April through November. Look for additional lodging in nearby Bryce Canyon City or Tropic. (For RV or tent camping, Kodachrome Basin is also a great choice and the state park showcases pristine dark skies.)

• Kodachrome Basin State Park
• Hell's Backbone Grill
• Camping in Capitol Reef

Even if you've stayed up late for the star show, consider a sunrise stroll along Bryce's Rim Trail or maybe the 1-mile Bristlecone Loop at Yovimpa Point, at the end of the scenic drive. Depending on when you leave Bryce Canyon, the drive ahead offers multiple opportunities to stop and look around. The reason? You're continuing down Utah's All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12, much of which skirts the north end of the expansive Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. Kodachrome Basin State Park is probably among the most accessible and maybe the most scenic corner of the monument, and it offers hikes for every ability. (A second top choice? The 6.2-mile-round-trip Calf Creek Falls trail.) Another must-visit destination is actually one of the West's best dining experiences: Hell's Backbone Grill. Chances are, you'll be arriving in Capitol Reef Country in the evening. During the longer hours of summer, you may have time for a short sunset hike in the park. Park at Panorama Point for the short hike to the perfectly named Sunset Point. The round-trip hike is just over a half-mile and will take around 30 minutes. Take a headlamp and stay for through last light.

Overnight
Book an overnight (or two — see tomorrow's note) in Torrey or other welcoming communities along S.R. 24. Camping in Capitol Reef is also an option if you reserve early.

• Gifford Homestead
• Hickman Bridge + Navajo Knobs
• Capitol Reef Dark Skies
• Dining in Torrey

Capitol Reef National Park splashes color for 100 miles from its northern to southern boundaries. The central geologic feature, the Waterpocket Fold, is a bulging uplift of rainbow-hued sandstone "reefs" and canyons. Though Capitol Reef has some stunning backcountry, this quick trip stays closer to the main roads. Explore petroglyphs in the midst of Capitol Reef's red rocks that tell the story of the early indigenous people, the Fremont culture. Visit the large orchards of Fruita, an early pioneer settlement, and now headquarters for the park, where a variety of fruit may be picked for a small fee. See the old Fruita Schoolhouse and enjoy a fresh-baked pie at Historic Gifford Homestead (Read: Utah’s Pie-Ala-Road: A Sweeter Way to Explore the State), travel the excellent Capitol Reef Scenic Drive or tackle the short hikes to Hickman Bridge or Cohab Canyon. If you have the time and the ability, the view from Navajo Knobs is spectacular — but this is an expert and strenuous hike.

Overnight
To give yourself the most time in the park, stay a second night and depart for Las Vegas or Salt Lake City in the morning.

• Shaping Temple Square
• An Afternoon at the Natural History Museum
• Digging Salt Lake City for 48 Hours

It's a 3-hour drive from Capitol Reef to Salt Lake City (and 5 hours to Las Vegas). Below are a few stories and ideas to introduce you to Utah's capital city and flesh out your itinerary. We're particularly partial to the video The Salt of Sound in the Musical Tour of SLC, which visits some of the city's best music venues.

First-time visitors might also include a trip to Temple Square. The spiritual center for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Temple Square offers free walking tours of the Temple grounds available in 40 languages. The area also provides access to one of the most extensive collections of genealogical records in the world and frequent performances by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Oh, and here's a pro tip: As you're navigating the city (walking, bike share, taxi, Uber, Lyft, public transit or car), if you know that part of Temple Square is essentially (0,0) on the grid, each street heading north or south adds 100 and each street heading east or west adds 100. Thus, nine blocks south and nine blocks east you'll be at 900 South and 900 East, locally known as 9th and 9th. Read about more Salt Lake City neighborhoods and more things to do. And if you haven't had your fill of stargazing, there are plenty of dark sky places near to the city as well.

• Distilleries
• The Caffeinators of Salt Lake

So you've chosen to add some time in Salt Lake City to your trip! You'll love the extra time in Utah and the chance to get to know this vibrant destination city.

While these experiences aren't intended to occupy an itinerary day, visitors to Salt Lake could certainly spend a day exploring the best in craft coffee, cuisine and cocktails alongside a chocolate and cheese tasting or a trip to one of multiple local breweries or brewpubs.

Start your day getting to know the city's caffeinated brew scene in More Than Coffee then take a fantasy journey through a day's worth of indulgence with some of the best restaurants in Salt Lake City.

Finish things up with a distillery tour for a behind-the-scenes look at craft distillation in Utah or drop into one of downtown Salt Lake's popular cocktail bars to see these libations put to work. If you're looking for an evening outing, perhaps a sports game, ballet or symphony?