Mighty 5 Utah From Salt Lake City

Day 1: Arrive in Salt Lake City & Prepare for the Mighty 5 Adventure

Welcome to Utah! Your ultimate Mighty 5 national parks adventure kicks off today in Salt Lake City (SLC)., the perfect urban gateway to the desert southwest. Arrive at the state-of-the-art Salt Lake City International Airport at your leisure today and transfer independently to your host hotel.

Depending on your arrival time, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy. Spend the afternoon exploring Salt Lake City’s vibrant downtown, checking out the historic Temple Square, or dining at one of the city's award-winning local restaurants. Alternatively, use this evening to relax at your hotel, unpack, and mentally prepare for the breathtaking scenery and world-class hiking awaiting you on Utah's ultimate Mighty 5 national parks tour.

Lodging: AC Hotel, Salt Lake City

Meals Covered: N/A

Day 3: Arches National Park Icons, Colorado River Petroglyphs & Group Dinner

Set your alarm for an early morning departure into Arches National Park, home to the densest concentration of natural sandstone arches on the planet. We beat the crowds and heat by heading straight to the trailhead for a hike to Delicate Arch. Standing 52 feet tall against the backdrop of the La Sal Mountains, seeing this world-famous geological masterpiece up close is a true bucket-list experience.

We then continue our exploration deeper into the park’s surreal, wind-carved landscapes. You will marvel at the gravity-defying span of Landscape Arch—one of the longest natural stone arches in the world—before journeying to the spectacular Windows Section. Here, you will stand beneath the massive openings of North Window, South Window, and the breathtaking Double Arch, marveling at the sheer scale of these ancient red rock formations.

After fueling up with a fresh boxed lunch inside the park, we escape the midday sun with a stunning scenic drive along the Colorado River corridor. Along the way, your guide will point out ancient Native American petroglyphs etched directly into the sheer red rock walls by the region's earliest inhabitants centuries ago.

In the afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore the vibrant shops, local cafes, and art galleries of downtown Moab. This evening, rejoin your fellow travelers for a fantastic group dinner at a popular local restaurant to toast to an unforgettable day in the red rocks.

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, Dinner

• Lodging: Homewood Suites by Hilton, Moab Utah

• Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous (The Delicate Arch hike is 3 miles round-trip with a steady incline on open slickrock; other park walks are light to moderate on sand and rock trails).

Day 5: Highway 12 Scenic Byway, Grand Staircase-Escalante & Bryce Canyon Stargazing

Begin your morning exploring more of Capitol Reef's hidden corners alongside your expert guide before we set out on one of the most breathtaking drives in the world: Scenic Byway Highway 12. As we traverse this legendary route, we will cross the rugged Canyons of Escalante within the vast Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, stopping to absorb the soaring vistas, deep drop-offs, and carved slickrock gorges along the way.

Our introduction to Bryce Canyon National Park begins at Mossy Cave, a unique canyon-side trail that follows a rushing perennial stream to a mossy grotto and a hidden desert waterfall. After this refreshing walk, we head up to the main amphitheater where you will have the unforgettable opportunity to meander along the Rim of Bryce Canyon. Gaze out over a dizzying maze of thousands of crimson-colored hoodoos, spires, and natural fins glowing in the afternoon light.

The adventure doesn't end when the sun goes down. This evening, you have the premier option to experience the area's legendary dark skies. On our exclusive Bryce Canyon Stargazing Tour, expert astronomy guides will lead you through the mysteries of the night sky, using high-powered telescopes to reveal brilliant star clusters, distant galaxies, and the glowing band of the Milky Way in near-total solitude.

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

• Lodging: BW Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel, Bryce Canyon City Utah

• Activity Level: Light to Moderate (Short walks along the canyon rim and a gentle 0.8-mile trail to Mossy Cave; dress warmly for evening stargazing at high altitude).

Day 7: Zion National Park Adventures & Return to Salt Lake City

Your final day in the red rocks offers the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure experience inside the breathtaking towering walls of Zion National Park. Spend your morning tackling one of the park’s world-renowned signature trails. For those seeking a thrilling challenge, you can ascend the steep switchbacks of Walter's Wiggles up to Scout Lookout for dizzying, panoramic viewpoints looking straight down into the main canyon.

If you prefer a lush desert oasis, traverse the scenic Emerald Pools Loop to discover a trio of tiered pools fed by weeping stone walls and cascading waterfalls. Alternatively, you can head into the deep canyon throat to wade into The Narrows of the Virgin River, hiking directly in the riverbed beneath sheer, thousand-foot-tall canyon walls that block out the sun.

After an unforgettable morning in the main canyon, we begin our return journey north. Along the way, we will make a spectacular short stop at the lesser-known, pristine Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park. Here, you will gaze upon towering finger canyons of bright crimson Navajo sandstone thrusting thousands of feet into the sky.

We will continue our drive north along the Interstate 15 corridor, arriving back at the host hotel or airport in Salt Lake City between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, concluding your premier Utah Mighty 5 national parks vacation.

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

• Lodging: AC Hotel, Salt Lake City Utah

• Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous (Depending entirely on your choice of trail; walking in the river at The Narrows requires immense balance, while Scout Lookout demands steep, uphill cardio endurance).