Utah Road Trip: Rainbow Bridge to Capitol Reef National Park
Explore Utah's most iconic destinations across 2,693.6 km, from the five national parks of Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef to the alpine resort town of Park City and Salt Lake City's cultural landmarks. Visit natural wonders like Delicate Arch, Lake Powell's Rainbow Bridge, and scenic routes including the Burr Trail Scenic Backway.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Rainbow Bridge
- End
- Deer Valley Resort
- Stops
- 17
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Rainbow Bridge — One of the largest natural bridges in the world, located in Lake Powell
- Antelope Island — State park situated in the southeastern part of the Great Salt Lake
- Canyonlands National Park
- Park City — Former mining town in northern Utah, now a popular tourist destination and hub for the Sundance Film Festival
- Salt Lake City — Largest city and capital of Utah, featuring attractions such as Temple Square and the Living Planet Aquarium
- Grand America Hotel — Luxury beaux-arts hotel in Salt Lake City featuring Italian marble, hand-painted ceilings, and world-class dining within walking distance of downtown attractions.
- Temple Square — Popular attraction in Salt Lake City
- Capitol Reef National Park — National park in south-central Utah, less crowded than other national parks, featuring the Burr Trail Scenic Backway
- Burr Trail Scenic Backway — Remote 60-mile dirt road through Capitol Reef region offering dramatic red-rock canyons, switchbacks, and access to pristine backcountry hiking trails.
- Canyonlands Districts
- Arches National Park — National park known for its inspiring natural arches, home to Delicate Arch
- Delicate Arch — One of Utah's most famous icons, located in Arches National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park — National park situated in southwestern Utah
- Zion National Park — National park situated near Springdale in southern Utah
- Lake Powell — Reservoir on the Colorado River border between Arizona and Utah, featuring Rainbow Bridge
- Moab — Popular town in eastern Utah, gateway to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks
- Deer Valley Resort — One of three major ski resorts near Park City
Useful for your trip
- Timing
- Utah is recognized for having the best snow on earth, making it ideal for winter sports visits.
- Tip
- Lake Powell attracts approximately 2 million visitors per year and features Rainbow Bridge, one of the largest natural bridges in the world.
- Tip
- Antelope Island State Park is home to one of the largest free-roaming herds of bison in the country, plus mule deer and bighorn sheep.
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- Moab serves as a base for mountain biking with numerous nearby trail networks, and offers whitewater rafting, canoeing, rock climbing, and 4x4 activities.
- Where to stay
- Park City has three major ski resorts: Deer Valley Resort, Canyons Resort, and Park City Mountain Resort, all providing skiing and snowboarding.
- Timing
- Park City is a major hub for the Sundance Film Festival, the largest independent film festival in the United States.
- Tip
- Capitol Reef National Park is less crowded than other Utah national parks but equally scenic, spanning 100 miles in length.
- Tip
- Canyonlands National Park is divided into four districts with distinctive characters: the Needles, the Maze, the Island in the Sky, and the rivers.
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- Arches National Park contains more than 2,000 natural arches, including Delicate Arch, formed from salt beds deposited 300 million years ago.
- Tip
- Zion National Park allows visitors to walk on the canyon floor and look up at rock formations, unlike many other American Southwest parks where visitors look down from the rim.
Video on this route
10 Best Places to Visit in Utah - Travel Video