Hiking the Mighty 5!

 

In November 2024, I decided to travel solo to Utah to explore Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks — and it was the best decision I ever made!

The Mighty 5 is a collection of five national parks in southern Utah: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. Each of these parks offers a unique landscape and a distinct experience, all shaped by time, erosion, and rivers. Keep in mind that these parks are quite far from one another, but they’re all within driving distance. I began and ended my adventure in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The first park I stopped at was Zion National Park.  This park offers colorful cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and the Virgin River, which has carved one of the most famous slot canyons, called The Narrows, where you can walk upstream in the canyon.  Although I did not go to The Narrows, it is a popular hike that many people like to experience it. 

Another highlight of Zion National Park is Angels Landing — a steep and challenging hike that’s not recommended for beginners. A permit is required to hike this trail. Before reaching Angels Landing, you must first hike to Scout Lookout. I did hike this trail, and it was both strenuous and steep, with an elevation gain of about 1,100 to 1,200 feet. It took me roughly three hours to complete the 4-mile round trip from where I started. It was absolutely worth it, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. This was one of many highlights of my trip.

The next park I visited was Arches National Park, which is described as “a landscape of contrasting colors, land forms, and textures unlike any other. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balanced rocks. This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its formations, refresh you with its trails, and inspire you with its sunsets.” (National Park Service, Arches National Park)

I hiked the 3.2-mile round-trip trail to Delicate Arch, pictured above, which has an elevation change of 538 feet. Delicate Arch is a 52-foot-tall freestanding natural arch and one of Utah’s most iconic landmarks. I remember it being very windy and cold, but braving those conditions was absolutely worth it! This was a moment I’ll always feel proud of.

Another area I hiked in Arches was Double Arch, pictured above — two massive arches connected at one corner. The surrounding rock forms a natural amphitheater that amplifies every sound, creating a truly unique experience. It was simply beautiful. This hike was short and easy, mostly along a flat, paved trail.

The next day, I was off to Capitol Reef National Park, where you’ll find cliffs, canyons, domes, and natural bridges. The bright blue sky, warm sunshine, golden leaves on the trees, and stunning scenery made for a perfect day. I hiked to Hickman Bridge, pictured above, which is a 125-foot-tall natural bridge. The formation spans 133 feet, making it one of the largest rock spans in the park.

From there, I traveled through Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument on my way to Bryce Canyon.

Bryce Canyon quickly became one of my favorite parks. Bryce is famous for its hoodoos — irregular columns of rock shaped by erosion. While hoodoos can be found on every continent, Bryce Canyon has the largest concentration of them anywhere on Earth. Pictures can’t capture the park’s full beauty. The elevation at Bryce ranges from 8,000 to 9,000 feet. The picture above was taken at sunrise when the air temperature was 13°F, with a wind chill of 11°F. It was freezing, but absolutely worth braving the cold to witness the sunrise over the canyon.

Afterward, I traveled to Canyonlands National Park, where countless canyons and buttes have been carved by the Colorado River. The park is divided into four districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers themselves (National Park Service, Canyonlands National Park). This park is absolutely amazing, and I can’t wait to go back and explore more!

First, I hiked to Mesa Arch, pictured above, where the natural arch frames a view of the La Sal Mountains, Buck Canyon, Washer Woman Arch and Monster Tower.  This trail is about .5 mile and it was flat and very easy.

From there, I hiked the Grand View Point Overlook, which sits at an elevation of 6,080 feet. The trail is about two miles round trip and is considered an easy hike. It’s located at the southernmost end of the Island in the Sky scenic drive and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the canyons, the White Rim Road, and distant mountains. Words can’t describe the view, and no number of photos could ever capture the true beauty of this area.

In conclusion, there is so much natural beauty to explore in America. The 63 national parks in the United States are a true gift from Mother Nature, and I highly recommend visiting them. Exploring as many national parks as possible is on my bucket list, and I’m sure each one is just as stunning as the next.

A wise man once said, "work to live, don't live to work!"  Get out and explore — you won’t regret it!  

Work Cited 

“Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

“Canyonlands National Park (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/cany//index.htm. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

All pictures shown are the property of Kimberly Mattina.