Zion National Park> Bryce Canyon National Park> Dome Reef National Park> Arches National Park> Canyonlands National Park, and five major Utah national parks!
This winding mountain road will lead to Zion National Park in Utah.
Photo by HENK MEIJER, Aramis Pictures
In the heart of the western United States, sits the National Park "Vitality Five", which are: Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Dome Reef National Park, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. Spring is just right, so why not put on your backpack, get away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd, and spend a few days to see different scenery! In each park, you can see the iconic landscapes of the Colorado Plateau, where ancient wastelands are turned to stone. Surreal arches, stone pillars, natural rock pillars and epic canyons are everywhere, and people can't help but feel that this is another planet!
Zion National Park
A woman is wading through a rocky riverbed in Springdale, Utah.
Photo by Rich Wheater, Getty Pictures
The Virgin River flows in the shadow of the world's tallest sandstone cliff. Zion National Park sits right on the river, creating a sanctuary with a hanging garden and emerald pools. There are a total of 8 stops here, and no matter where you come from, you'll be blown away by the vastness of the park. Too many tourists? Then go to Corob Canyon and the Corob Steps (only private cars can drive through).
Map of Zion National Park, Utah
Route: Las Vegas > I-15 N > UT 9 E (260 km)
Attractions along the way: After a long time by boat, it is better to take a self-guided walking tour of st. George's neat historic district. Church leader Brigham Young's Winter Home offers a free tour. If you're interested in the life of a Mormon pioneer, you can't miss the century-old Judd's Store, which features classic sodas and breadsticks.
Where to stay: Zion Lodge is the only hotel in the park and is often overcrowded, especially the 28 ancient cottages with gas log fireplaces (prices range from $205 to $270). Cliffrose Lodge, just outside the park, is cleaner, more modern, and a good choice.
What to eat: Enjoy the park from the open-air balcony of the Castle Dome Cafe, right next to the Zion Lodge. Or head to Springdale's Oscar's Cafe for a Murder Burger and freshly brewed microbrewery.
Hiking Trails: Stroll along the 1.8-kilometre Riverside Walk and you'll see the Vichy River meandering up in the moss-covered sky gardens of the valley. At the end of the riverside trail is the epic Narrows Trail. If you want to keep going, you'll need a cane, because the trail is the Vichy River itself.
Season Tip: Spring in Zion National Park is the most pleasant, with March and wind and April rain bringing may flowers. Although crowded, wildlife can still be seen: small black-tailed deer eating grass in the canyon, and bighorn sheep walking along the high-speed highway of Mount Zion-Carmel. But soon after, the temperature here will rise and fall within a few hours to reach more than ten degrees Celsius.
Bryce Canyon National Park
In Bryce Canyon National Park, Quake's Hammer pillars are bathed in sunlight.
摄影：JONATHAN IRISH，NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE
If you think that rocks have only one color, that's naïve! The world's largest natural monster rock pillar attraction will tell you that the rocks also have a variety of colors. Looking down from the lush vegetation plateau, it looks like The Terracotta Warriors of China, as if in the next instant, they will be resurrected. When walking in the middle of the strange rock pillars, you will definitely believe this!
Map of Bryce Canyon, Utah
Route: Zion National Park> UT 9 E > US 89 N > UT 12 E > UT 63 S (116 km)
Attractions along the way: This is the land of Maynard Dixon. If you want to visit the artist's former home and studio, you can get dropped off at Mount Carmel. For an early glimpse of bryce canyon's rock columns, take a 30-minute walk on the Pink Ledges Trail in Red Canyon.
Where to live: Lodge at Bryce Canyon (officially opened in 1925) near the rim of the canyon with skylights is a prototype of the National Park Service building. The cottages have coarse stone walls and fireplaces, rustic vertical sawmills, and wavy tiles on the roof end walls, which are in harmony with the surrounding nature. Rooms here start at $193. Ruby's Inn Best Western Plus is just outside the park and offers cheaper prices and more room types.
What to eat: Bryce Canyon Cottage offers a western-inspired menu with spicy stir-fried red deer, buffalo belly beef steak, and cactus ball cabbage salad. Or you can go to the grocery store at Sunrise Point and grab some food.
Walking Tour: If you want to get up close and personal with the strange rock pillars (and get away from the crowds of people watching the scenery), you can't do it for a stroll along the Rim Trail! The trail leads from sunrise point to Inspiration Point, with cliff swallows and diphtheria swifts along the way.
Season Tip: The daytime period in spring is great for hiking (temperatures are between 7 and 24 degrees Celsius), but at night the temperature drops sharply, often dropping below freezing in mid-May. So visitors who want to stargazing and hiking at night must wear a little more. In mid-to-late June, wildflowers roam the mountains, but in May, the purple-red Bryce Canyon brush flower is already in bloom, and this flower only grows on the edge of Bryce Canyon.
Dome Reef National Park
A tourist hikes in the Great Wash Canyon in The Dome Reef National Park.
Photo by PETER SCHICKERT, Aramis Pictures
Dome Reef National Park is the least known and remote of Utah's five national parks. There are hundreds of kilometers of Waterpocket Fold in the park, and the cracks like walls keep everyone out, and only the most daring warriors dare to walk over. Of course, there are also domes, natural bridges, spikes and slit canyons, which are like idyllic oases.
Map of Utah's Dome Reef National Park
Route: Bryce Canyon > UT 63 N > UT 12 E > UT 24 E (186 km)
Attractions along the way: Experience a truly courageous journey at the Heritage Centre of Escalante! Along Boulder's road, the Anasatch State Park Museum showcases early cultural life.
Where to live: Red River Ranch will bring you the luxuries of Western high society, but it may seem a bit ostentatious. In contrast, Torrey's motels can get you into the park faster.
What to eat: Torrey's Rim Rock Restaurant features a treat made with local trout.
Hiking trail: The 3.5-kilometer Grand Wash Canyon is 245 meters high and very narrow, in some places only 5 meters wide, and the water bladder folds are worth visiting. Take the shuttle bus on Highway 24 or follow the same route back.
Season Tip: From March to mid-April, fruit trees bloom and temperatures range from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. As long as there are no spring storms, you can go hiking. Summers are a little hotter with occasional monsoons. From the second week of June until October, visitors can pick fruit in the orchard (call 435-425-3791 for the latest information before traveling).
Arches National Park
At the end of the long road, is Arches National Park.
Photo by PRISMA BILDAGENTUR AG/ALAMY
Covering an area of 310 square kilometers, Arches National Park has the highest density of stone arches in the world, with no less than 2,000 in number. Some stone arches are iconic, such as the Delicate Arch (the one printed on the Utah license plate). Other stone arches have also broken world records, including the pencil-like Landscape Arch, the world's longest freestanding stone arch. Many trails can also take you to the sandstone world of 300 million years ago.
Map of Arches National Park, Utah
Route: Dome Reef National Park > UT 24 E > I-70 E > US 191 S (236 km)
Attractions along the way: At the John Wesley Powell River History Museum on the Banks of the Green River, there was the first one-armed magical figure to measure the Colorado River. The family can then go to Ray's Tavern (founded in 1943) for lunch.
Where to stay: At Red Cliffs Lodge ($120 to $240), you can see the riverside and enjoy the sunset reflecting on the red flat-topped mountain. There are life-size dukes in the movie museum downstairs, and it's good to take a selfie.
What to eat: In Moab, locals generally eat breakfast at Love Muffin, choosing Milt's Stop and Moab Brewery to tackle lunch and dinner respectively. The freshly brewed beer on the street is also not to be missed. If you're in a hurry, head to the yellow food truck Quesadilla Mobilla for a taco!
Hiking route: Follow the crowd for 2.5 kilometers to reach the fragile landscape arch, spanning about 90 meters, as if supported by faith. This is also why it is different from the exquisite arch: no one is allowed to stand under the landscape arch.
Season Tip: Spring here is cloudy and sunny, with occasional storms when the weather is warm and pleasant (15 to 20 degrees Celsius). In April and May, the desert is dotted with wildflowers, and the real summer is late in June. In July and August, summer winds can come in, bringing sudden flooding and temporary waterfalls. In September and October, the wildflowers will make a comeback.
Canyonlands National Park
In Canyonlands National Park, sunlight shines through the arches of the Highlands in all directions.
Photo by TETRA IMAGES, Aramee Pictures
Canyonlands National Park is a true wilderness, the largest and least developed national park in Utah, and is so vast that it is divided into four major districts. The Colorado River, the Green River, and their tributaries make up District I; the remote Maze area is off the beaten track; and the Island of the Sky (I-SKY) rises high above, a vertiginous flattop. Head south from the Isle of the Sky and follow the road outside the park for 177 kilometres to needles, home to world-renowned trails. If time is limited, you must go to sky island; otherwise, the Tit-for-Tat zone is worth a visit.
Map of Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Route to Isle of the Sky: Arches National Park > US 191 N > US 313 W (42 km)
Directions to Titan: Arches National Park > US 191 S > UT 211 W (142 km)
Attractions along the way: When you go to sky island, check the progress of the Moab Giants. Located at the junction of U.S. Routes 313 and 191, the upcoming Dinosaur Footprint Museum will open soon. As for the Tit-for-Tat district, stop by Newspaper Rock (Utah Off Highway 211) to try deciphering the hundreds of petroglyph carvings on the stone.
Where to stay: Moab has plenty of downtown hotels and motels, and if you stay here, you'll be able to leave early in the morning for Titan or the Isle of the Sky. You can also stay in Monticello, the town closest to the Titans.
What to eat: In addition to burgers and beer restaurants, Moab also has restaurants that specialize in Thai, Japanese, Mexican and Italian cuisine, all of which are relatively close to each other. There are some that do not offer menus voluntarily. If you're in Monticello, don't forget to have a drink at the Peace Tree Juice Cafe.
Hiking trails: In the Tit-for-Tat district, the 965-meter Cave Springs Trail has it all: old cowboy camps, natural springs, ancient Pueblo paintings, hanging gardens, and wooden ladders leading to smooth rocks. Standing there, the scenery of the Tit-for-Tat district can be seen from the bottom of the eye.
Season Tip: The weather here is very extreme, with heavy rain in summer, cold winds whistling in winter, and heavy snow closing doors. Sky Island has a higher elevation (an average of 1860 meters), which can cool down the hot summer days, especially after the sun has set. Sometimes, winter is also warm. However, spring is very pleasant, wildflowers are in full bloom, and wildlife is full of life, so the climate is perfect for hiking!
Written by: Charles Kulander
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