A Classic Road Trip from Utah to Arizona

Hit six classic national parks in a ten-day, 862-mile epic through the best canyons in the Southwest.

Packing List: Light hikers, mountain bike, extra camera memory cards 

Highlights: At the Grand Canyon, skip the crowded South Rim and drive to the 8,000-foot North Rim. Give yourself two nights and a full day to explore; be sure to hike seven miles down the North Kaibab Trail to Ribbon Falls.

Once you cross into Utah, be on the lookout for the Thunder Mountain Trail, part of a 15-mile technical singletrack route with steep drops, tight switchbacks, and a 1,200-foot climb. At Mount Carmel Junction, head 24 miles west to Zion National Park, where the best way to escape ever present crowds is a three-day basic-canyoneering course ($550).

Head 80 miles to Bryce Canyon National Park and pitch a tent at 99-site North Campground ($15), which has a full-moon view of the eerie hoodoos. Fuel up with Pumpkin Jenchiladas at Hell’s Backbone Grill in Boulder, then hit the town of Torrey for the Saturday-morning Mesa farmers’ market for fresh peaches and apples before driving through Capitol Reef National Park’s canyons, domes, and arches. 

Backcountry-camp in the Maze, the least accessible district of Canyonlands National Park ($30 permit), before driving on to Moab and its ever expanding network of mountain-biking trails—like Captain Ahab, a 4.3-mile rock-benched wonder accessible from the Amasa Back Trail. Hike to the Dead Horse Point State Park overlook to scout 5,819-foot Washer Woman Tower, a 5.10-plus traditional climb on the northern tip of Canyonlands. To explore Arches National Park, crash at Moab Under Canvas, a safari-style luxury camp complete with hot showers and made-to-order breakfast, ten miles north of town (from $89).