This Garfield County route strings together red-rock national parks, quiet state parks, and Highway 12 overlooks. Build in extra time for side trips, hikes, and local arts.
Day 1
Zion National Park
Sandstone towers, river walks, and the gateway towns of Springdale and Rockville.
Start in Zion Canyon, where the Virgin River cuts through Navajo sandstone. Ride the park shuttle in peak season, then walk the Riverside Walk toward the Narrows entrance or climb the gradual paved path to lower Emerald Pools.
If you have a second wind, drive the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway through the tunnel for Checkerboard Mesa views before lodging in Springdale or nearby Bryce Canyon Country towns.
- Zion Canyon Visitor Center
- Riverside Walk
- Emerald Pools
- Zion-Mount Carmel Highway
- Springdale
Day 2
Bryce Canyon National Park
Rim overlooks, amphitheater hoodoos, and cool high-elevation air.
Bryce sits thousands of feet higher than Zion, so mornings can feel crisp even in summer. Walk the Rim Trail between Sunrise and Sunset Points, or drop into the amphitheater on the Navajo Loop / Queens Garden combination for a close look at the hoodoos.
Stay for golden-hour light along the rim. Nearby Panguitch and Bryce Canyon City offer lodging, dining, and evening activities when you are ready to leave the park.
- Bryce Canyon Visitor Center
- Sunrise Point
- Sunset Point
- Navajo Loop / Queens Garden
- Panguitch
Day 3
Boulder Loop: Scenic Byway 12 & state parks
Anasazi State Park, Escalante Petrified Forest, and Kodachrome Basin along All-American Road 12.
Follow Scenic Byway 12 through the Boulder Loop, one of Utah's most celebrated drives. Stop at Anasazi State Park Museum in Boulder to see Ancestral Puebloan archaeology, then continue toward Escalante Petrified Forest State Park for colorful fossil wood along short interpretive trails.
Kodachrome Basin State Park rewards a slower afternoon with sand-pipe spires and desert quiet. Leave room in the schedule for overlooks on Highway 12 between Boulder and Escalante.
- Anasazi State Park Museum
- Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
- Kodachrome Basin State Park
- Scenic Byway 12
- Boulder & Escalante
Day 4
Capitol Reef, Arches & Canyonlands
Finish among Waterpocket Fold cliffs, delicate arches, and Island in the Sky vistas.
Drive toward Capitol Reef for the Waterpocket Fold, Fruita orchards, and scenic drives along Highway 24. If time allows, continue to Moab country for Arches National Park (Delicate Arch trail or Windows Section) and Canyonlands Island in the Sky overlooks.
This is a long day when you stack all three parks. Many travelers overnight near Torrey or Moab and save a full second day for Arches and Canyonlands.
- Capitol Reef Visitor Center
- Fruita Historic District
- Arches National Park
- Canyonlands Island in the Sky
- Torrey / Moab lodging
This tour features
- National Parks
- State Parks
- Monuments
- Museums
- Local arts & crafts
- Hiking
- Horseback rides
- Scenic flights
- Biking
- Rodeo
- Shopping
- Chuck wagon dinners
- Covered wagon rides
Plan & lodging
Contact Garfield County Travel for lodging, guides, and current seasonal details.