Utah's Mighty 5 Ranked Best to Worst

We’ve spent the last month exploring Southern Utah and the best part of it has been the time we’ve been able to spend in Utah’s phenomenal national parks. Utah’s 5 national parks are frequently called the “Utah Mighty 5” because of their grandeur and beauty. Each one of them is unique and amazing in its own way and I highly recommend that you visit each one. Although I understand that not everyone can visit them all at once, so we’ve put together this list of Utah’s Mighty 5 ranked best to worst so you can decided which ones are best for you.

The Ranking Criteria

When making this list, we didn’t just pick out our favorite parks and put them in order. There was a method to it. We ranked the 5 Utah National Parks using 4 different criteria: Accessibility, Crowds, Hiking Trails, and the “Wow” Factor. I’ve provided more details about each of these criteria below.

#1 – Accessibility

The first criteria that we used to rank these parks was their accessibility. Basically, how easy & convenient it is to access the main features of the park. Some factors that may effect this score are how remote the park is, how spread out the park is, shuttle availability, and road development.

#2 – Crowds

Secondly, we considered the crowdedness of the parks. If you’re visiting a national park to avoid the hustle & bustle and enjoy the peace & quiet of nature, it can be a bit jarring to show up and the park is busier than Disney World. How easy it is to secure a parking spot was also considered when discussing this criteria. The size of the crowds in a national park can really make or break your experience.

#3 – Hiking Trails

As an avid hiker, I’m always judging a national park by its hiking trails. Not only is it important for a national park to have ample hiking trails but also a variety of different lengths, difficulties, and scenic views.

#4 – “Wow” Factor

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, the “Wow” Factor – basically, did the park make our jaws drop? This criteria is probably the most subjective of the four factors and based primarily on how blown away we were by the parks beauty. Scenery, grandeur, colors, and wonder all played a role in determining the “Wow” Factor score for each park. Let’s be real, most of these parks received a high score in this area – they were all pretty spectacular.

#1 – Bryce Canyon National Park

Overall Score: 17/20

Accessibility: 5/5
Crowds: 3/5
“Wow” Factor: 5/5
Hiking Trails: 4/5

So coming in first on the list of Utah’s National Parks ranked best to worst is Bryce Canyon National Park! With perfect scores in accessibility & “Wow” Factor, this park only lost points in the the crowds and hiking trails categories.

Bryce Canyon was so stunning and completely blew our minds with the beautiful and colorful scenery. It was so easy to give this park a perfect 5 on the “Wow” Factor scale. Also, it is very easy to access the park and the main features of the park. Take the main road through Bryce Canyon and there are lots of places to stop and enjoy the incredible views or hit the trails that are easily accessible from the main road.

Being one of Utah’s most popular parks, the park did become crowded mid-morning and it became difficult to secure a parking spot near our desired trailhead. This is the reason for a lower “crowds” score. But don’t let this low “crowds” score stop you from visiting as there are plenty of ways to get away from the crowds, including the Fairyland Trail Loop. Bryce Canyon has amazing hiking trail options! Just keep in mind that most of them start with a steep descent that you must climb on your way back out.

If you’re planning a trip to Utah, definitely add Bryce Canyon to your itinerary as it’s arguably the best national park in the state!

#2 – Capitol Reef National Park

Overall Score: 15.5/20

Accessibility: 3/5
Crowds: 5/5
“Wow” Factor: 4/5
Hiking Trails: 3.5/5

Coming in second on our list, and one of our favorites, is Capitol Reef National Park. I had been to a few of the other national parks on this list before but this was my very first time at Capitol Reef National Park and it was such a pleasant surprise!

The views of the red rock cliffs in Capitol Reef National Park are absolutely stunning. And the historic Fruita area & orchards are a great respite from the hot and barren desert landscape. Stop at the Gifford Homestead for fresh pies & cinnamon rolls made daily. But go early, because they do sell out fast!

Although we visited on a holiday weekend, there were a lot fewer crowds at Capitol Reef than we experienced at other parks. We were still able to easily secure parking spots for each hike that we wanted to do and spent most of the time on the trail completely secluded from other hikers.

Let’s quickly discuss the accessibility and hiking trail scores. We scored Capitol Reef’s accessibility a bit lower, due to the fact that some of the park is only accessible via high clearance or 4×4 vehicle. Capitol Reef’s iconic Cathedral Valley is only accessible to those with high clearance vehicles (my husband says that is not us) so we were unable to see this part of the park like I had wished.

While the hiking trails in Capitol Reef are pretty great, there are other parks on this list with better hiking trail options, hence the lower score. But you’ll still be impressed with trails like Grand Wash, Cassidy Arch, and Hickmon Bridge.

Capitol Reef for awhile has been the most overlooked national park in Utah – many people haven’t even heard about it! But it’s a shame because it’s definitely one of the best that Utah has to offer.

Zion National Park Canyon Overlook — Zion National Park – Canyon Overlook Trail

#3 – Zion National Park

Overall Score: 15/20

Accessibility: 3/5
Crowds: 2/5
“Wow” Factor: 5/5
Hiking Trails: 5/5

You may be surprised the Zion only made the 3rd spot on our list of Utah’s national parks ranked. It’s actually our favorite park (well, actually it’s a lot of people’s favorite park). Zion is simply incredible, breathtaking, and wins the biggest 5 I could give it on the “Wow” Factor scale. The hiking trails here are also incredible and world renowned, for instance the iconic Angels Landing and The Narrows trails.

But there is one major downside: the crowds. This park has been recently known as the “Disney World of National Parks” because of the hoards of people that flock to Zion National Park every year. The traffic getting in and around the park can be painful at times. There are a few ways to combat this, like getting to the park early, or late, or visiting in the off-season to avoid the majority of crowds.

Also, Zion National Park closes the Zion Canyon Scenic Road to private vehicles during peak season (March – October) and requires that all visitors use the Zion Canyon Shuttle. If you want more information on things to do that DO NOT require a ride on the crowded shuttle, check out this post.

While Zion is definitely our favorite park in Utah, it loses some very important points in the accessibility & crowds categories. But don’t let that scare you away, just be prepared and you’ll enjoy your trip to Zion!

How to Secure Zion Shuttle Tickets and What to Do When You Can’t

A Guide to Hiking Angels Landing in the Winter

Arches National Park Courthouse Towers — Arches National Park – Courthouse Towers

#4 – Arches National Park

Overall Score: 14/20

Accessibility: 4/5
Crowds: 1/5
“Wow” Factor: 5/5
Hiking Trails: 4/5

As soon as I realized that Arches National Park was taking the 4th position on this list, I tensed up a little bit. I didn’t feel like it was doing Arches National Park justice. But ranking these parks is very hard – they’re all incredibly wonderful and how do you choose which one is best? That’s why we relied heavily on our rating scale.

I loved Arches National Park. The geological features of this park are so mesmerizing and the vibrant red & orange rock is so beautiful. The park has some incredible hiking trails to different arches in the park, like Delicate Arch, Double Arch, The Windows. The views of the Courthouse Towers were so grand.

The park lost the majority of its points in the crowds category. Finding a parking spot during peak hours (9am-2pm) was simply atrocious. The hiking trails, as beautiful as they were, were also crowded and it was difficult to find a secluded spot that wasn’t shared with someone else. The park even becomes so crowded during the day that they shut down the front gate and turn away visitors (I believe they do this between the hours of 11-2 on crowded days). Get there early or late to avoid being turned away at the front gate.

#5 – Canyonlands National Park

Overall Score: 12/20

Accessibility: 3/5
Crowds: 4/5
“Wow” Factor: 3/5
Hiking Trails: 2/5

In last place, but still a wonderful park, we have Canyonlands National Park. Canyonlands although a fantastic park, didn’t “wow” us quite as much as the other Utah parks.

There didn’t seem to be as many great hiking trails either. Maybe we missed something? We did hike a couple short terrific trails. When you go, check out the Mesa Arch Trail and Grand View Point Trail. These two short trails were spectacular and gave amazing views of the canyon.

Canyonlands is a great option if you’re looking to explore some dirt roads in your 4×4. There are lots of remote dirt road options that take you deeper into the park. I’d love to come back and rent a jeep to go on a camping trip down into the canyon. I really think this would be the best way to see Canyonlands. But not everyone is able to take the 4×4 dirt roads that Canyonlands has to offer, giving it a lower accessibility score.

On the plus side, Canyonlands was a lot less busy than the nearby Arches National Park. If you’re looking to escape the crowds of Moab & Arches then head to Canyonlands.

I do want to say that even though this park scored the lowest out of Utah’s Mighty 5, it is still a fantastic park and 100% worth a visit. But if you don’t have time for all 5 parks, this is the one that I’d cut out.

Pack These for a Utah National Park Road Trip

1. Good Hiking Shoes

Utah is the land of beautiful red rocks. But it also makes for some pretty rocky trails.

When hiking around Utah, it’s super important to wear sturdy hiking shoes or sandals on the trails. I wear brands like Merrell Moab 2 Mid Ventilator, Teva Universal Trail (trail sandal), and Timberland Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof. My husband, who is very prone to ankle injuries, wears Salomon X Ultra Low GTX and swears by them.

I love being able to switch between a solid hiking boot and a trail sandal with excellent traction on the easier hike. I’m very prone to blisters and having different shoes to change into makes a world of difference.

2. Water Bottle & Hydration pack

Most of Utah is a desert, so it’s important to stay hydrated on hiking trails. Especially if you’re traveling during the hot summer season!

To keep your drink extra cold, go with a Hydroflask, which is vacuum-sealed and keeps your liquids cold for up to 24 hours. If you’re looking for something a bit more lightweight, go with the traditional Nalgene.

On longer hikes, fill up your Ospry Hydraulics Reservoir to keep your water easily accessible & hands free. My favorite day pack that accommodates a hydration bladder is the Osprey Mira 22 Hydration Pack.

3. Trail Snacks

A lot of the popular National Park trails in Utah are day-long hikes, so make sure you bring enough energy-boosting food to get you through the day.

Some of our favorite trail snacks are the traditional PB&J, grapes, trail mixes, Go Macro Bars, and RX Bars.

4. Sunscreen and Sun Protection

The sun in Utah is INTENSE. Protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen. This Sun Bum sunscreen is so light and easy to fit in your pack. Also, it’s super protective against the sun. It’s also reef friendly, so save it for your next trip to the beach!

In addition to sunscreen, make sure you protect your face with a sun hat. I really enjoy wearing this Vintage Style Cap from Amazon. It has tons of colors to choose from, I’ve been loving the yellow.

Sunglasses are never a bad idea, either.

5. Lightweight & Moisture-Wicking Clothes

Make sure to choose moisture-wicking clothing (aka NOT cotton), to pull the sweat away from your body and stay cool and dry while hiking.

These Icebreaker T-Shirts have been a favorite of mine recently, they’re excellent at keeping you dry. And the best part is that they don’t stink even after a long sweaty day on the trail!

6. Lots of Layers

Depending on when you visit Utah, you may encounter cooler than expected temperatures. Especially during an early morning or late evening hike. Don’t forget to pack a jacket for your trip to Utah.

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Utah’s Mighty 5 Ranked Best to Worst