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Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bryce Canyon 3-Day Itinerary

One of our favorite places in Utah is Grand Staircase-Escalante. This national monument is full of surprises. The colors are amazing… blue, purple, and pink layers of rock, orange cliffs with hidden waterfalls, and some of the best slot canyons in the world. Combine two days in Grand Staircase with a day in Bryce Canyon and you’re sure to have an amazing adventure!

Our hometown is Salt Lake City. After work, we head down to Panguitch or the Ruby’s Inn area of Bryce Canyon to spend the night. Then we’re close to the action for an early start in the morning!

Day 1: Bryce Canyon

Hike Navajo Loop, Queen’s Garden and Peek-a-Boo Loop

Begin at Sunrise Point. Depending on the weather, mud, and the athleticism of your group, you can hike the Queen’s Garden or Navajo Loop. Our vote is for the Navajo Loop. It’s only 1.5 miles, but steep. It takes 1-2 hours based on the length of your legs and the depth of the mud (only a problem in the springtime). This is a really cool hike and the best way to see the canyon. You’ll see Thor’s Hammer, Two Bridges, the Hat Shop, and Wall Street. There are many other longer options for those who desire a more strenuous hike. The Navajo/Peekaboo Combination Loop is 5 miles. It’s just an extension of the first hike and you’ll get to see the Wall of Windows. If you have the time, do it!

Sometimes in the spring they will close the Navajo Loop because of slippery, muddy conditions. If this happens, slap a smile on your face and enjoy the Queen’s Garden. It’s the easiest trail in and out of the canyon. You’ll hike less than two miles, and you’ll see beautiful scenery all the way. Don’t turn around and go back up the switchbacks you just came down. Hike the canyon floor, see the Queen’s Garden, and go back up the easier way to Sunset Point. Then walk along the rim back to Sunrise.

Be sure to take food and water with you on your hike. There are not services once your leave the rim. In the summer, it can be extremely hot. Be careful to stay hydrated.

Spend some time in the afternoon checking out some of the amazing observation points from various places along the rim of the canyon. Then drive one hour to Escalante. We recommend the pizza at Escalante Outfitters Café for dinner and lodging at the Circle D Motel on Main Street.

Moms in the slot canyons — Moms in Peekaboo & Spooky slot canyon

Day 2: Slot Canyons

Peekaboo and Spooky Gulch

Get ready for another full day of adventure and a bumpy drive! Drive 26 miles on the Hole-in-the-Rock Road to Peek-a-Boo Gulch. Check out driving directions to the trailhead HERE.

Entrance to Peekaboo Gulch– You’ll need adults to help kids get up through the opening. Save your strongest person to go in last.

If you’ve never been in a slot canyon, you are in for a treat! You’ll love the challenge of getting through tight spots and shimmying down sand walls with your back and feet. It’s really cool!

This slot canyon has some very tight places, about 16” at its narrowest. This means you need to be less than 16” thick from front to back. You’ll turn sideways to get through these areas. It’s also physically challenging. We think you need to be at least 5 years old to do it. Some groups say 8 years old. It will depend on the fitness level and mental toughness of your child.

These slots can also be quite dark in places because of the narrow canyon walls. The entire Peek-a-Boo and Spooky loop is 3.5 miles. It’s really fun! You’ll need a sack lunch for the day or you can snare and roast a chipmunk.

Spooky Narrows — Peekaboo and Spooky Gulch

You can find a very detailed description of this hike with photos at Utah’s Adventure Family.

Devil’s Garden

On the way back to Escalante, stop to play hide-and-seek in Devil’s Garden. It’s a mini–Goblin Valley with tons of hoodoos and crazy rock formations. In the past, our friends have brought climbing gear to repel off some of the big boulders. It’s a fun place for kids to learn to repel. There are picnic tables at Devil’s Garden if you’re looking for a good lunch stop.

Drive back to Escalante for dinner and sleep.

Day 3 Waterfall

Lower Calf Creek Falls

Pack up and get ready for the grand finale! Take Hwy 12 to the Lower Calf Creek Falls trailhead. There’s a $5 permit fee. This hike is about 6 miles round trip. I know this sounds long but it’s very flat. The only hard part is that the trail is very sandy so your shoes get heavier as you walk. Consider your shoe choice before you begin. It takes about 3 hours round trip, plus the time you spend at the falls. We suggest starting early as the trail gets really busy starting at 10:00 AM. Assuming it’s not winter or early spring, you can swim in the pool below the falls. Get specific driving directions and information HERE.

Say goodbye to this beautiful place and start the long drive home. If you’re headed to Salt Lake City, it will take about five hours (311 miles).

Bryce Canyon National Park & Kanab Utah 3-Day Itinerary

Kanab & Bryce Canyon

Southern Utah is famous for its red rock, slot canyons, and hoodoos. The national parks are great places to explore these wonders, but for the full experience, you’re going to want to explore beyond the parks. One example is little Kanab near the Arizona border. It’s a great home base for some serious adventure time. You can also take a day to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon as it’s only 80 miles from Kanab. Adjust your itinerary based on where you’re coming from. Kanab is 305 miles from Salt Lake City and 198 miles from Las Vegas. If you’re coming from Salt Lake, we suggest starting in Kanab and hitting Bryce Canyon on your way back to the Wasatch Front.

Day 1: Animals & Dunes

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

The sanctuary is a few miles outside of Kanab and home to nearly 1,600 homeless animals. It must be one of the largest no-kill animal shelters in the world. It really is incredible. Dogs, cats, bunnies, birds, horses, pigs, and other barnyard animals come here from all over the country to be cared for and prepared for adoption. They receive medical attention, behavior training, and anything else they need to make a successful transition to an adoptive home. It’s really cool!

Reserve tickets for as many tours as you can. It’s the only way to see the sanctuary up close (besides becoming a volunteer.) We really enjoyed our Grand Driving Tour and our visit to the pig and goat area. Some of our neighbors took the Wild Friends and Parrot Garden Tours. All were very interesting. The tours are free but you have to have tickets. Make reservations HERE. If you’re unable to reserve tickets, you can stop at the visitor center and get a map for a self-guided tour. Unfortunately, you won’t see very many animals. You will get to see the beautiful Angel’s Overlook memorial park and you may see some horses in the yard at Horse Haven. You can also take a small hike to Hidden Lake. It’s a lake inside a cave. It’s pretty neat and there are some petroglyphs nearby on the same trail.

Make sure you order a lunch from the Angel Village Café no later than 9:30 AM on the day of your visit. They make $5 vegan box lunches every day. It’s AMAZING whether you’re a vegan or not. Seriously. Locals drive up to the café regularly to take advantage of this amazing deal.

Optional Activity: On your way back to Kanab, you’ll pass Moqui Cave. It’s a quirky natural history museum inside a red rock cave two miles from the sanctuary. There are over 1000 arrowheads, lots of fossils, art, and Native history. ($5 for adults) We’ve never stopped there but our neighbors have little boys who love arrowheads so they made it a priority.

Sandboarding at Coral Sand Dunes near Kanab, UT

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

This state park is a great place for families to play. It’s 20 miles from Kanab and has an $8/vehicle entrance fee. There are two big sand dunes. You can rent a sand sled or board for $25 at the Visitor Center. We brought our own sleds from home but they didn’t work very well. Our group shared two rentals and they were far superior to the plastic and foam sleds from home. If it’s at all windy, you’ll appreciate having sunglasses or ski goggles to protect your eyes. You’ll probably want to throw a small towel in your backpack too so you can clean off sandy feet before you get back in your car at the end of the day. We spent over two hours sledding and surfing the sand. Our littlest adventurers played in the sand, using paper cups to build things and bury each other.

Stay the night in Kanab.

Day 2: Slot Canyons & Dragon Bellies

Buckskin Gulch via Wire Pass

Utah is famous for its slot canyons. If you’ve never been in one, you better put it on your bucket list. Buckskin Gulch is not the narrowest slot around, but it is the longest. We’re talking 21 continuous miles! If you don’t have little kids, you may want to consider backpacking through the whole thing. It would be super fun to sleep inside. We have not done it ourselves, but we have good friends who claim it’s a great adventure. As for now, here’s the easy way to see it.

First, purchase a permit online HERE. There’s a $6 fee per person. If you pay in advance you can avoid the temperamental machine in the parking lot.

Pack sack lunches to take with you. Drive one hour east of Kanab on US 89 to Wire Pass Trail. This is the easiest access to the famous Buckskin Gulch narrows. It lets you access the slot somewhere in the middle. Don’t confuse it with Buckskin Trailhead.

This is an easy hike. Walk from the parking lot through Wire Pass until you come to a T where you can enter the narrows. Turn right! You can hike as far as you want, then return the same way you came. You’ll hike through narrow slot canyons and then it will open up into spectacular amphitheaters where you’ll wish you could helicopter drop your favorite band for an epic concert. It’s spectacular!

Hiking through Buckskin Gulch near Kanab, UT

If there is any chance of rain, exchange this activity for a fair-weather day to avoid any chance of flash flooding.

Return to Kanab, then start your 90-minute drive to Bryce Canyon. On your way, stop to walk through the Belly of the Dragon. It’s a super quick stop, but really cool. It can’t be more than 1/4 mile. Don’t get digested!

Then jump back in your car and drive to Orderville for some really good pastries at Forsher’s German Bakery. Continue your drive to Bryce Canyon for dinner and lodging.

Belly of the Dragon between Kanab, UT and Bryce Canyon National Park

Day 3: spectacular Canyons

Bryce Canyon

Ah, Bryce Canyon! This place is famous for its amazing lookouts. Non-Hikers love driving along the rim and admiring it from every observation point. The only way to see the valley floor is to hike down into the canyon and then hike back out. If it’s hot, make sure you have plenty of water.

Begin at Sunrise Point. Depending on the weather, mud, and the athleticism of your group, you can hike the Queen’s Garden or Navajo Loop. Our vote is for the Navajo Loop. It’s only 1.5 miles, but steep. It takes 1-2 hours based on the length of your legs and the depth of the mud (only a problem in the springtime). This is a really cool hike and the best way to see the canyon. You’ll see Thor’s Hammer, Two Bridges and Wall Street. There are many other longer options for those who desire a more strenuous hike. The Navajo/Peekaboo Combination Loop is 5 miles. It’s just an extension of the first hike and you’ll get to see the Wall of Windows. If you have the time, do it!

Sometimes in the spring they will close the Navajo Loop because of slippery, muddy conditions. If this happens, slap a smile on your face and enjoy the Queen’s Garden. It’s the easiest trail in and out of the canyon. You’ll hike less than two miles and you’ll see beautiful scenery all the way. Don’t turn around and go back up the switchbacks you just came down. Hike the canyon floor, see the Queen’s Garden, and go back up the easier way to Sunset Point. Then walk along the rim back to Sunrise.

Bryce Canyon in Spring — Bryce Canyon National Park in Spring

Take time to stop at the Visitor Center and get Junior Ranger books for all the kiddies before you begin your day. When you return, the kids can earn their badges and you can get a free “I Hiked the Hoodoos” sticker to slap on your vehicle or water bottle.

Red Canyon

After your morning in Bryce Canyon, head north and get on Hwy 12. Stop at Red Canyon for one last cool hike. Park at the Visitor Center and take a 40 minute climb on the Pink Ledges Trail and the Hoodoo Loop. You’ll probably have the trail to yourself. How cool is that?! It’s worth the stop.

Jump on Hwy 89 to head back to civilization!

*Optional Grand Canyon Day

If you’re traveling in the summer (May 15^th– October 15^th), you may want to add a day to the middle of your trip. You can drive two hours from Kanab to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It’s far less visited than the South Rim. There are only three look-out points at the North Rim. There’s a 1.5 mile easy hike called Transept Trail. You can also hike some of the Bright Angel Point trail. It would be super hard to hike it all in a day, but good on you if you’re the group to do it. It’s hard to say no to the Grand Canyon when you’re only two hours away!

Bright Angel Viewpoint Grand Canyon North Rim

Want to see more great places in Utah? Check out more of our posts on Utah National Parks.

Zion National Park 3-Day Itinerary

Zion National Park is one of the most spectacular places on earth. Seriously, it’s jaw-dropping beautiful! It should definitely be on your family’s bucket list. As Utah residents, we’ve spent a lot of time exploring this incredible park. It’s one of our favorites!

Angels Landing View Zion National Park

when to go

Spring and Fall are the best time to visit Zion National Park. It’s just so hot in the summer. Our recommendation is the fall because you can hike through the Narrows. (The water is too high in the spring.) However, we love the springtime too. We’ve spent many spring breaks in Zion and, even with larger crowds, it’s a wonderful time to visit. If you’re stuck with a summer trip, don’t worry. Just prepare to bring lots of water and wear a wide-brimmed hat. You’ll have a wonderful time whenever you go!

lodging

THE BEST WAY TO SEE ZION NATIONAL PARK IS TO CAMP or stay in Zion Lodge inside the park. It is a huge advantage to wake up inside the park each day of your vacation. You’ll also get to take your car into the park which will make it much easier to go to the Canyon Overlook. Usually, you’ll ride the shuttle from place to place, but there will be a few times where having a vehicle is very helpful. You can reserve a camping site six months in advance at recreation.gov. You’ll want to make your reservation as early as possible. The sites go fast! Reservations at Zion Lodge must also be made many months in advance. If you can’t get a reservation, find lodging in Springdale and ride the shuttle into the park.

Food

While you can find many restaurants outside the park in Springdale, you’ll be limited to the grill and café at Zion Lodge inside the park. Bringing a sack lunch, snacks, and water in your backpack is a really good idea. (Water is a necessity!) This is another advantage to lodging inside the park. You can go back to your campground site for food!

Our Favorite 3-Day Itinerary for Zion National Park

Angel's Landing Trail — Angel’s Landing Trail

Day 1

AM Hikes: Angels Landing for the fit and unafraid; Junior Ranger and Emerald Pools for the rest.

Chains on Angels' Landing trail — There are chains for support along the trail where it is particularly sketchy.

Angels Landing is a strenuous 5.4 miles, 1500 ft. elevation gain, plan on 4 hours, not for young children, long drop-offs. Our rule is 8-years old and must stay with adult the whole hike. There are places where you can hold onto a chain for support. Be careful of loose sand on the trail. This is a very popular hike so get up early and get started. It’s a beauty– and a bit terrifying!

Emerald Pools is 1.2-2.5 miles depending on if you go to just lower, or both lower and upper pools. This one is considered easy. If you have time and energy, definitely go all the way to the upper pools. The kids will enjoy bouldering and wading in the water. Make sure you alert your children to the sharp drop-offs and the slipperiness of the wet rocks at the lower pools. We want everyone to be safe. After (or before) your hike, stop by the Visitor Center and get a Jr. Ranger Manual. Our kids enjoy learning about the park as they work on their badges.

Lunch

PM Hike: Canyon Overlook and Checkerboard Mesa (This includes driving through the tunnel!)

I love this photo of the Canyon Overlook Trail from InspireTravelEat.com.

You’ll need a private vehicle to drive to the trailhead. You’ll be able to see the overlook from the switchbacks on Route 9. After going through the tunnel, the trailhead parking area is on your right. If the lot is full, drive down the road a little further for overflow lots. Canyon Overlook trail is one mile, with long drop-offs, but is fenced in many places. It’s labeled as moderate but it’s not very difficult. Even toddlers can do it with a helping hand. You might see mountain goats. You are going to love this view! It’s absolutely amazing. The tunnel is also super cool. You’ll never go through another one quite like it.

Driving through tunnel to Canyon Overlook Trail — Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel

Day 2

AM Hikes: Hidden Canyon / Weeping Rock

Hidden Canyon is 2.5 miles, 850 ft. elevation, labeled as strenuous but not nearly as difficult as Angels’ Landing. We love this one but it is a challenging hike. You do have to keep a close eye on your kids in some places. There are chains along the way for support. There are great kid-climbing areas, tiny slots and caves, and extraordinary views. It really is a hidden gem.

Weeping Rock is just a short .4 mile paved path at the beginning of the Hidden Canyon trail. Stop there on your way up the canyon.

Update: Check the park website to make sure Hidden Canyon and Weeping Rock are open. They’ve been closed because of rock slides and flooding. We’ll cross our fingers for a reopening soon!

Lunch

PM Hikes: Watchman Trail

Watchman Trail Zion National Park — Watchman Trail

Watchman Trail is a 3.3 mile moderate hike up above the campground for great views of the park. It’s a nice length and a beautiful adventure.

Day 3

Camp Clean-Up and Pack-Up

If you are in Zion in the summer or fall, hike the Narrows. Take the Riverside walk to the opening of the Narrows.

The water is too high in the spring to hike through the Narrows but it’s amazing in the summer and fall. You can rent full waterproof gear and hiking sticks from many outfitters in Springdale. However, we would only recommend that after mid-October. We just wear shorts in the summer and early fall and turn back when we’ve had our fun. You do want good shoes that can be totally immersed in the water. We hit areas where the water was about 30-inches deep. Check out the pictures for a better idea of how it looks. Notice the level of the water by the change in color of the fabric on our shorts. You can check with the rangers for water depth and temperature information.

Narrows in the fall at Zion National Park — Hiking through the Narrows of Zion National Park.

Little Boy Hiking Zion Narrows — This little boy was wet up to his neck!

If you are in Zion in the Spring, you can choose to play in the water and stroll down the River Walk, explore another shuttle stop, check out the Grotto or see the Court of the Patriarchs. Another fun option is to ride bikes on the Pa’rus Bike Trail (but that means you’d have to bring or rent bicycles.)

On your way out of the park, be sure to stop and hike the Kolob Canyon Overlook Trail (1 mile- easy hike, beautiful view). It’s really worth your time and it won’t take you long. You’ll be able to see a local favorite that most people miss!

Bonus Insights:

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints often refer to the term Zion. Yes, it’s a heavenly city, put it’s also any place where people are united and live in harmony. It was the ideal the early settlers were seeking as they established communities in the Utah territory. After years of persecution and fear, they came to this beautiful place. It must have felt like they had reached heaven. The name Kolob is used for the star closest to heaven, nearest to where God dwells. So, when you visit Zion and Kolob Canyon, breathe in deeply and feel the power of your Creator and His incredible love for His children. All of this was created just for you!

Check out our fun games to play at the campground during your vacation.

Find more great itineraries for other Utah National Parks.