Utah road trip: Bonneville Salt Flats to Bryce Canyon

Explore Utah's geological wonders across a 5,059 km route covering the state's most iconic landscapes. Visit the Bonneville Salt Flats, five national parks including Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion, plus Monument Valley, Lake Powell, and vibrant cities like Salt Lake City and Park City.

Distance
5059.0 km
Mode
route
Start
Welcome to Utah
End
Dead Horse Point State Park
Stops
26
Video author
travmap
Updated

Stops on this route

  1. Welcome to Utah — Gateway to the Beehive State, known for dramatic red rock landscapes and five stunning national parks attracting millions of outdoor enthusiasts annually.
  2. Bonneville Salt Flats — Among the most distinctive landscapes on Earth
  3. Arches National Park — Over 2,000 natural rock arches spanning 76,000 acres of the Colorado Plateau
  4. Canyonlands National Park — Vast wilderness of deeply eroded canyons and mesas carved by the Colorado River, offering breathtaking vistas and adventure opportunities for hikers and rafters.
  5. Bentonite Hills — Part of the West desert region offering diverse ecosystem
  6. Capitol Reef National Park — One of the most popular national parks in Utah with stunning scenery
  7. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument — Established in 1996, the last place in the continental United States to be mapped
  8. Bryce Canyon National Park — Renowned for breathtaking landscapes in southwestern Utah
  9. Zion National Park — Most visited national park in Utah, situated in the southwest corner with Zion Canyon—a 15-mile gorge
  10. Monument Valley — Situated on the Utah-Arizona border, part of the Colorado Plateau and within the Navajo Nation
  11. Lake Powell — Massive adventure playground on the Utah-Arizona border, created by damming the Colorado River at Glen Canyon Dam
  12. Antelope Island — Desert island in the Great Salt Lake home to native bison herds and abundant wildlife, connected by causeway with scenic trails and panoramic views.
  13. Park city — Former silver mining town transformed into premier ski resort and year-round destination, hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics and renowned art festivals.
  14. Salt lake city — Utah's capital nestled between mountains and the Great Salt Lake, blending historic religious heritage with vibrant urban culture and outdoor recreation access.
  15. Corona Arch — Stunning natural rock formation with scenic hiking trail just outside Moab
  16. Amethyst lake — Beautiful alpine lake in the heart of the Wasatch mountains
  17. Factory Butte
  18. Mount Timpanogos — Second-highest peak in Utah at 11,949 feet, attracting thousands of hikers annually to its snow-capped summit via scenic alpine trails.
  19. Mars Research Station — Analog habitat simulating Martian living conditions in remote red rock desert, where scientists and astronauts train for future space exploration missions.
  20. The Narrows — Stunning river gorge in Zion National Park with towering sandstone walls narrowing to feet wide, requiring wading through Virgin River waters.
  21. Kodachrome Basin State Park — Colorful landscape dotted with scenic rock formations and colorful sand pipes, named for vibrant natural colors once celebrated by Kodak photography.
  22. Mexican Hat Rock Formation — Iconic balanced rock formation resembling a sombrero, perched dramatically on hillside above San Juan River with distinctive silhouette visible for miles.
  23. Angels Landing — Iconic 5,790-foot red rock summit in Zion National Park offering thrilling hike with chain-assisted ascent and panoramic views of surrounding canyons.
  24. Potash ponds
  25. Gunlock Falls — Seasonal waterfall cascading into red rock canyon near small community, accessible via hiking trail through scenic southwestern Utah landscape.
  26. Dead Horse Point State Park — Dramatic peninsula jutting into Colorado River canyon offering 2,000-foot sheer cliff vistas, named after wild horse tragedy in territorial days.

Useful for your trip

Timing
Visit Bonneville Salt Flats during sunrise and sunset when light creates stunning reflections on the salt surface.
Tip
Bonneville Salt Flats are located 120 miles west of Salt Lake City and cover 30,000 acres with a solid white salt crust.
Tip
Arches National Park features over 2,000 natural rock arches along with rock spires and hills across 76,000 acres.
Tip
Arches National Park attracts more than a million visitors annually; many stay close to main roads and parking areas.
Timing
Visit Arches National Park during dramatic sunrises and sunsets for vibrant hues over rock formations.
Tip
Canyonlands National Park near Moab features canyons, buttes, mesas, and arches sculpted by the Colorado and Green Rivers.
Tip
Dead Horse Point State Park sits 2,000 feet above the Colorado River with visible dinosaur tracks from the Jurassic period.
Tip
Bentonite Hills in southwestern Utah feature vibrant shades of blue, green, and brown clay layers formed from volcanic ash.
Tip
Capitol Reef National Park stretches 100 miles with parallel ridges, enormous domes, and sheer cliffs; nearest traffic light is 78 miles away.
Tip
Capitol Reef National Park attracts nearly 750,000 visitors annually despite being remote and off the beaten track.
Tip
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument spans nearly 1.9 million acres with towering cliffs, deep canyons, and rich fossil beds.

Video on this route

Wonders of Utah | The Most Amazing Places in Utah | Travel Video 4K

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