#Bryce canyon zion national park full#
#Bryce canyon zion national park free#

Dubbed an All-American Road, and A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway, the 122-mile stretch of pavement slices through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and heads straight to Bryce Canyon National Park.

#Bryce canyon zion national park free#

Go on a guided hike among sandstone cliffs ranging in color from cream to pink and rusty red, then enjoy ample free time to experience Zion as you wish. I set off from Arches for a drive through Capitol Reef National Park, en route to Utah Scenic Byway 12. Flanking the Staircase, we also visit Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks all located within the great state of Utah.

Zion National Park: Take a day and a half to discover the diverse landscapes of this wondrous park, from deserts and rivers valleys to buttes and natural arches.

Learn about Bryce Canyon’s unusual geology at the Visitor Center, then visit many of the scenic overlooks or hike down into the canyon during a day at leisure in the park.

Bryce Canyon National Park: Encounter thousands of delicate red, orange, and pink stone spires that have been dramatically sculpted by erosion.

Lake Powell and Upper Antelope Canyon: Explore the flooded canyons of Lake Powell by motorized raft and walk between the sinuous, red walls of Upper Antelope Canyon.

#Bryce canyon zion national park full#

Grand Canyon National Park: Spend a full day in this awe-inspiring park, learning about the canyon’s cultural and geological history on a guided hike/walk, and enjoying plenty of free time for hikes or walks on the South Rim.Take in panoramic views of rock towers, arches, and other geological curiosities, and visit the Honanki Heritage Site, a 700-year-old Sinagua cliff dwelling. Sedona: Venture off road on a thrilling jeep excursion, traveling winding dirt roads deep into the red-rock landscapes of Sedona.In the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion, learn about geology and cultural history, and enjoy opportunities in each park for leisurely walks or more serious hikes. Raft the winding waterways of Lake Powell, and admire the rock waves of Upper Antelope Canyon.

Then head into Sedona’s the red-rock landscapes on an off-roading adventure. Get an up-close look at the flora of the Southwest at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks are vastly different even thought they are just a short 1.5 hour drive from each other here in. You may also see many different birds, mule deer, elk, squirrels and other smaller species of Western wild life. Keep in mind: Since this is the highest region of the park, elevations can reach more than 9,100 feet, meaning you'll want to pack layers to deal with the variations in climate.Discover the natural splendors of three of America’s most beloved national parks on a popular journey to the canyon country of Arizona and Utah. These animals are a very rare sight outside of this park but a common sight while visiting Zion. Once at Rainbow Point, you'll have access to restrooms and several trails, including the mile-long Bristlecone Loop trail, which leads through a forest with bristlecone pines that are up to 1,800 years old. If you're planning to take the Scenic Drive, the park recommends you drive all the way to Rainbow Point to start your journey, which is less than 20 miles south of the visitor center. Visitors call the views 'spectacular' and well worth the drive to this part of the park. Just below are the Grey Cliffs, then in the distance are the White Cliffs, the Vermilion Cliffs and hidden from sight, the Chocolate Cliffs. The top (where visitors stand) is known as the Pink Cliffs. Each layer is a different color and named as such. Yovimpa Point, which is also located here, is where you can look at the Grand Staircase: a layered rock formation. Located at the southern end of the park, Rainbow Point offers expansive views of the entire park back to the north.

Full instructions for getting tickets are on the hike's webpage.) (Note: You must have a ticket to attend this hike and tickets are distributed via a lottery system. Hikes traverse up to 2 miles and there's usually an option for an easy or strenuous hike. You can also sign up for a Full Moon hike, which take place year-round during the full moon (one to two consecutive nights each month). These tours generally run Thursday through Saturday at 10, 10:30 and 11 p.m. During the summer season, rangers lead 20-minute constellation tours that point out constellations and discuss the field of astronomy. While you can easily go stargazing on your own, the park offers several ranger programs to take advantage of the nighttime scenery. On a clear night in Bryce Canyon, the National Park Service reports you can see all the way to the Andromeda Galaxy, which is 2.2 million light-years away.

It's a designation from the International Dark-Sky Association, which promotes and protects locations with great nighttime environments. In fact, the park is an official International Dark Sky Park. Bryce Canyon National Park's clear air, high elevation and lack of light pollution make it a prime stargazing spot.