I swear, it wasn't on purpose that I left Bryce Canyon to last among the Mighty 5 to visit; on my first trip to one of Utah's national parks – Zion in 2019 with my friend Marissa – the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel was closed. This tunnel, which began construction in the late 1920s, helped connect Zion and Bryce Canyon and aided the latter in its effort to become a national park. Today, it's common to visit both parks on a single trip – when the tunnel is closed, that's hard to do...| Valerie & Valise
I was surprised to learn that I am not alone in preferring Capitol Reef above Utah's other Mighty 5 parks; it is less visited than all but Canyonlands, and doesn't ever feel crowded even on busy summer days – at least not the same way you might feel crowded in Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion! Don't be surprised if Capitol Reef's combination of fewer crowds, jaw-dropping scenery, fascinating geology, dynamic hiking, and delicious fruit pies win you over after you visit, too...| Valerie & Valise
Ask anyone who's been, and they have a favorite among the five National Parks in Utah (that would be Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Zion, just to remind you). Even I do – now that I've visited them all, that is! I finally ticked off the fifth of Utah's Mighty 5 with a visit in April 2025; my friend Marissa and I made it our destination for that year's annual national parks trip...| Valerie & Valise
