Travel Archives - Fun Family Next Door

Capitol Reef & Goblin Valley 3-Day Itinerary

Capitol Reef at Night from Fruita Campground

Capitol Reef is one of our favorite places. In fact, we’re hesitant to share it with the world. We feel like it’s a bit of a secret… and we like it that way. Our favorite time to visit is in the fall when the orchards are full of ripe fruit. We love camping in Fruita Campground, picking apples, and exploring the park. It’s a special place and we’ve visited many times over the years.

This 3-Day itinerary is a great vacation plan for families with young children. In addition to Capitol Reef, you’ll head over to Goblin Valley, which is a great place to let your imagination go wild. We took eight families from our neighborhood on this trip. Our little ones loved climbing in all the holes, caves, and cracks in the rocks at Capitol Reef. We let them stand up in the car with their heads popping out of the sunroof to bask in the glory of Capitol Gorge Road. They played hide and seek among the trolls and monsters of Goblin Valley and ran up and down the elephant skin mountains near Caineville. This is a magical place!

Capitol Reef & Goblin Valley 3-Day Itinerary

Find your way to Torrey, Utah. It’s a little town 206 miles south of Salt Lake City. We suggest rolling into town in the evening and grabbing some pizza at Red Cliff or burgers at Slackers. There are lots of lodging options in Torrey. For campers, we love Capitol Reef’s Fruita Campground.

Day 1: Capitol Reef

Capitol Gorge

Start your morning with an incredible drive down the Capitol Gorge Road to the Capitol Gorge trailhead. This drive is like a slot canyon for your car. We hope you have a sunroof. If not, stick your head out the window as far as you dare. It’s AMAZING!

At the end of the scenic drive, you’ll find yourself at the Capitol Gorge trailhead. Jump out and start walking. There are holes in the rocks everywhere. Little and big climbers rejoice!

You’ll see petroglyphs 0.2 miles in, followed by the pioneer registry at 0.6 miles. Early pioneers in the area carved or shot their names into the sandstone. The trail has eroded over time, so the names are high up on the walls. It’s pretty cool to think of early settlers and rotten outlaws coming through this trail hundreds of years ago. Go a little further and you’ll find some small pools of water known as the Tanks. Then, make your way back to the parking lot where there are covered picnic tables. Pull your cooler out of your car and bust out the sandwiches for lunch!

Hickman Bridge

After lunch, make your way back through the gorge and head to Hickman Bridge. This is an easy 2-mile hike to a large beautiful arch. You’ll find some shade below the arch and the kids will enjoy bouldering around the area. This is climbing kid paradise.

Head back to Torrey or your campsite for the evening.

Day 2: More Capitol Reef

Start your day with a 3.4 moderately difficult hike to Cassidy Arch. If you go in summer, start by 8AM and take lots of water. It’s uphill much of the way to the arch. Make sure you watch for cairn markers to find your way. The trail is hard to spot once you’re on the slickrock.

Cassidy Arch

Cassidy Arch is one of the few arches you can walk on. Mom almost had a heart attack watching the kids walk across it. The arch is very thick and the kids felt completely safe, but moms have a hard time with danger sometimes. Is your mom like that? Even so, this is an amazing hike through the Grand Wash and ending with an incredible arch. We found this post from Earth Trekkers helpful: Cassidy Arch

After your hike, stop by the Gifford House to buy some pie and eat your lunch at nearby picnic tables. When you’re rested and ready to go again, head out for Sulphur Creek.

Sulphur Creek

If you have two vehicles, shuttle one car to the visitor center and take your group in the second car to the Sulphur Creek trailhead 3.3 miles west of the visitor center. If you don’t have two vehicles, you can adapt your adventure accordingly. Make sure everyone has good shoes that can be immersed in water as they hike.

Sulphur Creek is an incredible hike with waterfalls, a 600-feet deep gorge, cool rocks, and lots of opportunities for wading and swimming. It’s a child-friendly hike that’s fun for everyone. The route is six miles long from the Chimney Rock area to the visitor center. This is a fun afternoon hike when the the weather is warm/hot.

Work your way down the streambed until you run into Sulphur Creek. Splash your way downstream all the way to the Visitor Center. If you don’t have a car at the Visitor Center, go as far as you want, then walk back. Water levels vary greatly based on the time of year and rain. Check with the park rangers before you go, especially if you have little kids. MORE INFO

Day 3: Goblins and Slots

Pack up and drive an hour to Goblin Valley State Park. Make sure you look around at the other-worldy landscape as you drive through. It really does look like you’re on another planet. The area around Caineville looks like the hills are covered in elephant skin!

Walking on Elephant Skin near Caineville Utah

Goblin Valley

There’s a $15 entrance fee at Goblin Valley. Spend a few hours playing hide-and-seek and exploring the valley. Take time to soak in the magic. Try naming as many hoodoos as you can. When you’re done exploring, find the pavilion with picnic tables and eat lunch.

Little Wild Horse Canyon

Next, head over to Little Wild Horse Canyon, six miles down the road. This is a family favorite. It’s a kid-friendly slot canyon that will add to the delightful experience you just had in Goblin Valley.

The slots are narrow, twisty and very colorful. There’s a little bit of bouldering in one section. Make sure to check the weather. Stay out of the slot canyon if there’s any chance of rain. We hope you’re there on a sunny day to enjoy this incredible canyon. It’s a perfect grand finale!

Explore more of our itineraries for Utah National Parks.

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.