National & State Parks
Amazing places and beautiful journeys
Southern Utah is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
Here are some of the National and State Parks and other scenic areas of note:
National Parks and Utah State Parks:
All of these are Fee Areas5.6 miles driving 5.7 miles bicycle/walking via Halfway Wash Trail and Snow Canyon Parkway Trail Snow Canyon is one of those places to see the effect of all the geological forces that created this region at work. And it's beautiful! And it's fun!See the Level 2 - Hiking Adventures page for much more detail.16 miles Gunlock Reservoir and Gunlock Falls are a nearby popular destination.Gunlock Falls is rugged but easy to drive up and view.In Spring during high flow, the falls are both spectacular and dangerous.18 miles (30 minutes) 800-322-3770Power boating, water skiing, paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing, swimming, fishing, off-road sand hills, rock climbing, camping with hookups, restrooms and showers, beach-side cottages, and primitive boat camping.19.3 miles 435-879-2378Power boating, water skiing, paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing, swimming, fishing, hiking and mountain bike trails, rock climbing, camping with hookups, restrooms and showers.
Personal Watercraft, paddleboard, and water carpet rentals available.No off-highway vehicles. Total number of boats on the water at one time is limited.47 miles One of the most visited National Parks in the entire system. Stunning and spectacular in scope, majesty and diversity. Zion Information Guide (Winter) Zion Shuttle System page with Map Zion National Park Official Brochure Zion Canyon Visitor Center to Temple of Sinawava (Zion Narrows) is 45 minutes shuttle time. When the Shuttle System is running, usage is mandatory, no visitor vehicles are allowed up in Zion Canyon (even in off-hours). Shuttle Season operating hours vary significantly: Check before going. No Shuttle Service from December to Spring (except Christmas to New Years). When *not* in 'Shuttle Season' visitor vehicles are allowed in Zion Canyon.
The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway tunnel is an amazing 1.1 mile tunnel carved right though a massive sandstone wall between 1920 and 1930.The tunnel connects to US Highway 89 at Mt. Carmel Junction, to access Bryce Canyon National Park, North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, Calf Creek Falls Recreation Area and more.Never stop or attempt to turn around in the tunnel.
Tunnel access is restricted - No bikes, pedestrians, and many large vehicles are restricted. The maximum vehicle size allowed to drive the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway is no more than:7’ 10” (2.39m) wide, 35’ 9” (10.9m) long and 11’ 4” (3.45m) tall and 50,000 pounds.Large vehicles are only allowed through tunnel from 8am to 4:30pm when rangers are available to control traffic from the opposite end, may require a permit and escort vehicle. Permits are good for two tunnel passages of the same vehicle within 7-days.Large vehicles cannot make it through the tunnel without crossing over the line in 18 different tunnel locations. Regular collisions and near-misses are the reason for this policy.Zion National Park - Kolob Canyons & Viewpoint 44 miles - Right off Interstate 15Picnic Area/Viewpoint mapIncredible views, Hikes and much easier to get into than the main Zion Canyon area.
Kolob Terrace Road is unpaved road leads to the interior of the park with unimproved camping, trail access, high canyon rim viewpoints, and access to Kolob Reservoir. The road go north into the park and is accessed in the town of Virgin.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
67 miles Sand Dunes Road, 22 miles west of Kanab, UT Entrance Fee $15 Sand Board/Sand Sled Rentals $25/dayMassive pink sand dunes to play and ride OHV's on.Camping Another place kids will love.Valley of Fire State Park - Nevada
Overton, Nevada (90 miles) Map/Brochure PhotosCedar Breaks National Monument
93 miles Amazing view similar to Bryce Canyon but an easy daytrip from Silver Creek.Cedar Canyon is a beautiful scenic drive ascending into aspen forest stand at the top of the plateau.Very high and chilly year-round.In Winter, between mid-October and late May, the road is closed due to snow, however access to the national monument possible by snowmobile, snowshoe, or cross-country ski access only.
Snowmobile rentals are available in the area at the town of Duck Creek.
Paria Township / Paria Townsite Picnic Area / Rainbow Mountains
125 miles Hwy 89, 19 miles east of, Kanab, UT 84741 You don't need to go to Peru to see Rainbow Mountains (admittedly even more stunning). We have our own Rainbow Mountains right here in Southern Utah, 20 minutes east of Kanab, 2 hours from Silver Creek. Another nice website to visit with nice photos.Vermillion Cliffs National Monument (125 miles) (near, but not including Coyote Buttes North - see bottom of page)
Vermillion Cliffs National Monument Map
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wayside
Includes:Paria Canyon Wilderness Area (including Buckskin Gulch &Wire Pass) Buckskin Gulch is one of the longest continuous slot canyons in the world. (16 miles) Only 20 people allowed per day - Permit is $5/person/day (see L4 - Wilderness Adventures page for more details)Paria Canyon FAQ White Pocket Coyote Buttes South Coyote Buttes North (and The Wave - see L4 - Wilderness Adventures page for more details) 136 milesNorth Rim of Grand Canyon National Park
152 miles 165 miles Kodachrome via Hwy 20 & Panguitch - no toll 150 miles Kodachrome via Hwy 9 & Zion NP with $20 entrance feeEscalante Petrified Forest State Park
184 miles 1 mile west of Escalate, UT At the adjacent Wide Hollow Reservoir, you can swim and rent a kayak or paddleboard.(435) 826-4466 Escalante Petrified Forest State Park brochure The Petrified Forest loop trail is 1-mile long - ModerateEscalante Area Day TripsCalf Creek Falls / Calf Creek Falls Recreation Area (BLM)
204 miles near Boulder, UTLower Calf Creek Falls with a 126 foot plunge and swimmable pool at bottom.(6.0 miles round-trip -- flat, but not easy because of the deep sand in places)A beautiful and varied hike and an iconic waterfall with a pool that stays cool at the bottom year round.The hike is hot in the summer and pool can be crowded, but kids that make it will love it. There is only ONE toilet and it is at the beginning of the trail.
BLM Utah - Lower Calf Creek Falls trail map WhereWeWentNext.com - Lower Calf Creek Falls Calf Creek Falls is a lovely campground right on the road and next to the trailhead.Reservations required most of the year.
Upper Calf Creek Falls is shorter and accessed from Upper Calf Creek Falls Trailhead, an entirely different trailhead 4.4 miles from the lower falls trailhead and is an entirely different kind of hike. Both can easily be done in the same day for the ambitious. Nevada Hwy 488, five miles west of Baker, NV
Lehman Caves National Monument (inside Great Basin NP)
Nevada Hwy 188, Baker, NV Lehman Caves National Monument (Google Images)Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive (inside Great Basin NP)
17 miles - Starting in the high desert of Baker at 5,300 feet, continuing higher to Lehman Cave area at 7,000 feet in sagebrush country, then into Pinyon pines and Junipers at 8,000 feet, upward through mixed conifer groves of white fir, Douglas fir, and ponderosa pine starting around 8,500 feet, then finally ascending to 10,000 feet into the sub-alpine region dominated by aspen groves.222 miles Visitor Center / Fruita Township A huge area and only a tiny fraction is viewable from the UT-24 highway passing across it.The paved Scenic Drive south from Fruita is under 'rehabilitation' and expect to reopen in Summer 2025.Many scenic areas accessible only via unimproved (or worse) roads. Capital Reef National Park brochure Summer 2024 Fruita Area Map & Guide Bentonite Hills 38.4126417692694, -110.78361130109153Mars Desert Reseach Station (not public - no tours) 38.406489026685584, -110.7918017729854Boulder Mountain Loop UT-12 Scenic Hwy - Escalante to Torrey, UT
Stunningly beautiful aspen forest covering the mountain and huge vista overlooks viewing eastward. Spring (Late-May) / Summer / Fall UT-12 between Boulder and Torrey is high elevation (6,700ft in Boulder to 9,600ft at the pass) (road closes in winter) Fall is one of those glorious drives always referenced when referring to Utah and Fall Colors. Includes The Hogback ridge from Escalante/Calf Creek before descending into Boulder, UT. UT-12 ends at Torrey / Capital Reef. (This is the longer, but more beautiful route there.) Too far away? Visit the entire route by dashcam: Torrey to The Hogback -and- Boulder to US-89 junction -or- (a short video snip of the fall)290 miles
via UT-24 is more scenic than the I-15 & I-70 freeways and only ½ hour longer
You've seen this place in the movies - see it in real-life.
Goblin Valley State Park brochure & map
Jared Dillingham has a nice write-up of what to see and expect.
38°34′00″N 110°42′36″W / 38.56667°N 110.71000°W
352 miles UT-313, Moab, UT 84532 Dead Horse Point State Park brochure One of Utah's most amazing viewpoints.Very close to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.340 milesMoab, UT 84532 (435) 719-2299 Visitor GuideArches National Park map 367 miles Moab, UT 84532 (435) 719-2313 Canyonlands National Park Visitor Guide (2022)Lake Powell - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Houseboating MarinasAmerica the Beautiful — National Parks & Federal Recreational Area Pass
America the Beautiful Passes current info:
- Annual Pass - $80/year - Everyone eligible
- Senior Annual Pass - $20/year - 62+ years old
- Senior Lifetime Pass - $80/lifetime - 62+ years old
- Military Annual Pass - FREE - Current Military and dependents
- Military Lifetime Pass - FREE - Military Lifetime Pass - Gold Star Veterans & Family
- Access Pass - FREE - Requires documentation and In-Person application.
Utah State Parks Pass - Information
Utah State Park Annual Pass (Utah Residents Only):
$165 Utah State Parks Annual Day-Use Pass$65 Seniors aged 65 and over 12 Month Pass includes:All Utah State Parks Up to 7 guests in same private vehicleUp to 3 walk-ins, bicyclists, or motorcyclists (except This is the Place/Jordan River OHV/Antelope Island Causeway) A good deal for Seniors and Families who visit State Parks regularly.Break-even is 16 visits for families and 13 visits for Seniors. Snow Canyon State Park is so close, so beautiful, so varied. Great for quick family/friends' outings that take 15 minutes to get to. Easy quick drive/hike/bike ride or challenging if you want too. A year-round park, beautiful and varied in every season.Normal Day Use Entrance Fee: $10 per vehicle (up to 8 people) $5 per vehicle UT Seniors $15 Non-Residents As of 2020, in Snow Canyon dogs are only allowed on-leash around the campground, on Whiptail Trail and the West Canyon Trail.