6 Best Spots for Awesome Photographs in Utah’s National Parks
The alarm goes off in our hotel room at the un-natural time of 4:30 a.m. It’s our first full day in Utah, and we're heading to Zion National Park, the first of five national parks we'll be hiking over six days. Sound impossible? Well, we made it happen, and so can you. Utah's national parks — Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands and Arches — make up “The Mighty Five” and stretch across the southern half of the state.
Throughout our whirlwind road trip, we were constantly in awe of the natural beauty carved into this ancient landscape. While we snapped so many, many more pics, here are six photos that will make you want to leave right now to hike in Utah's national parks.
1. Observation Trail Viewpoint
The view that inspired our entire adventure. This pic was taken from the final viewpoint of the Observation Trail in Zion National Park. Higher in elevation than the famed Angels Landing trail (you can see it near the center of the photo), Observation Point is a strenuous 8-mile roundtrip hike but absolutely worth it for this view.
2. Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail
Bryce Canyon's trails lead you up, around, and through magnificent vistas that will surprise you at every turn. We dubbed this park a "Photographer's Dream." This image was captured on the Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail.
3. Cassidy Arch at Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef National Park is the least-visited of Utah's national parks. However, it packs just as much of a scenic punch. Cassidy Arch, above, is one of few arches visitors are allowed to walk on and is accessed by a short, but rocky 1.5 mile trail.
4. Delicate Arch at Sunrise
Everyone recognizes this beauty from Arches National Park. What made our visit to Delicate Arch so special was the view at sunrise after a 1.5-mile hike in the dark with only our flashlights to guide us.
5. The Narrows at Zion National Park
This was taken near Big Springs on The Narrows trail in Zion National Park. We almost turned back several times before reaching this serene spot. We're glad we pushed on!
6. Grand View Point at Canyonlands
The breathtaking view at the end of the Grand View Point trail in Canyonlands National Park. Sit down and take it all in, but be warned — the chipmunks will find you and demand to share your snacks.
Editor’s Note
Kelly McDaniel and her husband Ryan are the adventurous couple behind Watch Us Wander, a YouTube channel that offers fun and informative recaps of their travels around the world. They have been on cruises to the Caribbean and on the Mekong to Vietnam and Cambodia; and explored unique and adventurous destinations throughout the U.S. And they're just getting started. Please head over to the channel and consider subscribing!
I saw the photos they were able to capture on their Utah hiking trip on the Watch Us Wander Facebook page and Instagram feeds, and I had to ask Kelly to write this post to tell all about this incredible and ambitious trip. Many thanks to Kelly for agreeing to share a slice of their experience.
As always, thanks for reading,
JR