This road trip takes you from the capital of Salt Lake City to the red rock country near Moab, where Arches and Canyonlands national parks display some of the most stunning rock formations and incredible whitewater in the West. Continuing south into Arizona, drive through the Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation to learn more about whose homelands you’re recreating on. Visit the Grand Canyon’s less-crowded North Rim before heading back into Utah to explore stunning views in Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks, and natural beauty in Cedar Breaks National Monument. Finally, head north towards Torrey, Utah, to check Capitol Reef, the final of the state’s national parks, off your bucket list.

Start your Utah adventure in Canyonlands National Park. It's the lesser-visited of the two national parks just outside of Moab, but with its vast network of canyons, stunning vistas and amazing trails, it’s one of the state's best kept secrets.

Canyonlands is divided into three districts. Island in the Sky sits perched atop a mesa and provides stunning views to the Colorado River below. It’s 40 minutes west of Moab along Highway 313. The Needles District is an hour and a half southwest of Moab and is a great spot to wander among towering rock spires and other interesting rock formations. The last district is the Maze, the remote and hard-to-access western portion of the park that isn’t recommended for first-time visitors.

Next up: Arches, Moab's other national park. With the entrance located just a few minutes from town, this is an easy spot to spend the day exploring trails, scenic drives and stunning night skies. Don't forget to make a timed-entry reservation, April through October.

This is one of our country's most popular national parks for good reason. Home to a gorgeous canyon carved by the Virgin River, heart-pounding adventures and intriguing wildlife, you'll want to dedicate a couple of days to exploring this park in southeastern Utah.

There's nowhere in the world quite like Bryce Canyon National Park, just north of Zion. Its natural amphitheater—filled with pink, orange and white hoodoos—is a sight to behold. Take in the views from the rim before heading below for a stunning hike.

Take Scenic Byway 12 from Bryce Canyon to explore the final Utah national park on your list: Capitol Reef. Filled with pioneer history, remote scenic drives and fabulous rock formations, we may have saved the best for last.