Utah road trip: 32 places from Buckskin Gulch to Bryce

Explore Utah's geological wonders across 32 landmarks spanning 7,512 km, from the narrow slot canyons of Buckskin Gulch and Fisher Towers near Moab to the iconic red rock parks including Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Bryce Canyon. The route connects dramatic desert formations like Monument Valley, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, and Goblin Valley State Park with unique natural features such as the Bonneville Salt Flats and Flaming Gorge.

Distance
7512.3 km
Mode
route
Start
Welcome to Utah
End
Cane Creek Potash Mine
Stops
32
Video author
travmap
Updated

Stops on this route

  1. Welcome to Utah
  2. Buckskin Gulch — Slot canyon running over 16 miles through Navajo sandstone with petroglyphs at Wire Pass confluence; flash floods common.
  3. Fisher Towers — Cluster of sandstone spires outside Moab; the Titan rises 900 ft straight from canyon floor.
  4. Coral Pink Sand Dunes — Vast waves of salmon-colored sand dunes create a unique desert playground for hiking and exploring in southwestern Utah.
  5. Cedar Breaks National Monument — Named by Mormon pioneers in the 1850s.
  6. Dinosaur National Monument — Ancient fossil beds and dramatic canyon walls along the Green and Yampa Rivers reveal Utah's Mesozoic heritage and geological significance.
  7. Bear Lake — Straddles Utah-Idaho border; polished smooth by glaciation near Lake Blanch.
  8. Big Cottonwood Canyon — A scenic mountain canyon near Salt Lake City featuring alpine forests, cascading streams, and year-round recreation opportunities.
  9. Potash Ponds — Brilliantly colored evaporation ponds near Moab display striking turquoise and emerald hues created by mineral extraction processes.
  10. Flaming Gorge — A 91-mile-long reservoir surrounded by red rock cliffs offers scenic boating, fishing, and panoramic views of Wyoming and Utah.
  11. Mexican Hat Rock — An iconic balanced rock formation resembling a sombrero rises dramatically from the desert floor near the San Juan River.
  12. Gunlock State Park — Located 15 miles northwest of St. George in southwestern Utah.
  13. Monument Valley — Sits on Arizona-Utah border entirely within Navajo Nation.
  14. Bryce Canyon National Park — Natural amphitheater filled with thousands of crimson hoodoos creates otherworldly landscapes best viewed at sunrise or sunset.
  15. Arches National Park — Over 2,000 natural stone arches sculpted by erosion dot this red rock wonderland near Moab, including the iconic Delicate Arch.
  16. Canyonlands National Park — Vast maze of deep canyons, buttes, and plateaus carved by the Colorado River showcases Utah's most dramatic geological formations.
  17. Capitol Reef National Park — A 100-mile wrinkle of colorful cliffs and ridges contains scenic drives, historic settlements, and excellent hiking opportunities.
  18. Lake Powell — Massive reservoir spanning Utah and Arizona features turquoise waters, towering sandstone cliffs, and numerous water-based recreational activities.
  19. Bonneville Salt Flats — Brilliant white salt expanse stretching across the western desert creates a stark, otherworldly landscape perfect for photography and speed records.
  20. Goblin Valley State Park — Thousands of whimsical goblin-shaped rock formations dot a secluded desert valley offering unique hiking and geological exploration.
  21. Antelope Island — Utah's largest island in the Great Salt Lake features wildlife, bison herds, and scenic trails with panoramic valley views.
  22. Factory Butte — Distinctive cone-shaped peak rises 6,000 feet above the desert floor and serves as a prominent landmark near Caineville.
  23. Bentonite Hills — Colorful badlands of purple, red, and gold bentonite clay create striking striped formations in remote southeastern Utah.
  24. Escalante Canyon — Narrow slot canyon carved by the Escalante River offers challenging backpacking and stunning views of vertical red rock walls.
  25. Emigration Canyon — Historic canyon near Salt Lake City marks the route of Mormon pioneers and offers scenic drives with cultural and geological significance.
  26. Kodachrome Basin State Park — Colorful landscape of red cliffs, alkali flats, and stone chimneys showcases diverse geological formations in a photographer's paradise.
  27. American Fork — Alpine community in Utah County offering access to scenic canyons, hiking trails, and outdoor recreation in the Wasatch Mountain region.
  28. Great Salt Lake — North America's largest saltwater lake, surrounded by wetlands and mountains, supporting diverse bird populations and offering recreational opportunities.
  29. Bingham Canyon Mine — World's largest open-pit copper mine, creating a massive terraced excavation visible from space and representing significant industrial heritage.
  30. Mount Timpanogos — Utah's second-highest peak at 11,949 feet, dominating the Wasatch range with dramatic alpine scenery and popular hiking routes.
  31. Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple — Latter-day Saint temple built at high elevation in American Fork Canyon, reflecting religious significance and architectural prominence in the region.
  32. Cane Creek Potash Mine — Evaporation ponds 20 miles southwest of Moab along the Colorado River.

Useful for your trip

Timing
Cedar Breaks National Monument road closes from October through May due to snow. Visitors center only open June through October. Spring doesn't start until June at this 10,000 ft elevation.
Avoid
Buckskin Gulch has no exit for most of the route once inside. Flash floods hit 7-10 times per year with logs pinned 30-100 ft above canyon floor. Pools of standing water can require wading.
Timing
Overnight backpacking permits into Pariah Canyon system can sell out months in advance. Book early if interested.
Tip
Fisher Towers: The 4.2 mile trail to the base is the only way to see the Titan from the ground. Over 70 climbing routes exist, some of the hardest aid climbing in North America.
Tip
Coral Pink Sand Dunes: A tiger beetle lives only here in the world nowhere else. A section of the park is closed to protect this species and Welsh's milkweed, a federally threatened plant.
Timing
Coral Pink Sand Dunes at 6,000 ft elevation gets snow in winter that sits for a few days before wind moves everything again.
Tip
Cedar Breaks is designated an international dark sky site at 10,000 ft elevation with cold, dark nights suitable for stargazing.
Tip
Dinosaur National Monument features a 150 ft wall with over 1,500 dinosaur fossils still embedded in the rock. Visitors can touch some of the bones.

Video on this route

UTAH: The Wild Beauty of the American Southwest | 4K Travel Documentary

More routes nearby

Map