Five Days in Arches, Lake Powell, Zion + Grand Canyon
I’ve shared that one of the reasons I wanted to start sharing travel guides here is that after a trip, I’d often come home and pour our itinerary into a word doc that we would then float around our friend circles following amazing trips.
In fall of 2020, as travel was slowly opening and we felt safe with the data and precautions Delta was taking, two of my friends and I flew out west to visit open, airy outdoor places - like National Parks. With the exception of driving and sleeping, we were confident we’d be outside for 95% of the trip. It was a broader trend that COVID catalyzed: trading international destinations or big cities for local spots or adventures in nature. We shared this itinerary with coworkers who were looking to go west last year, and saw it get the stamp of approval as it made its way across our departments.
The trip can be done in 5-6 days, given how much time you spend in each location. We flew into Salt Lake City and out of Las Vegas at the end. It covers Arches, Lake Powell/Glen Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, the Grand Canyon and finally Zion National Park.
Day 1: Arches National Park
Driving from Salt Lake to Arches (3.5 hrs): If you haven’t ever been to Arches National Park, it’s a must see stop north of Moab, Utah. We drove here after landing in Salt Lake City on the first flight of the day. Since we had a long trip ahead, we did the quick Double Arch “hike,” which is about 0.5 miles and can be done in 30 minutes. The Arches are nearly empty this year and felt like we had them to ourselves. We packed hiking clothes and sunscreen on the top of our carry-ons for an easy change out of flying wear once we got to the park.
Note: You’ll need to pay to access most parks. Would recommend a U.S. National Park Annual Pass for $80. It covers all the guests in your vehicle, will get you into every spot on the itinerary and is valid through the end of year. You can purchase one at any of the national parks, including Arches, Zion or Glen Canyon (Lake Powell).
Drive from Arches to Lake Powell (4 hrs): From Arches, we turned on a roadtrip playlist and drove until we reached Page, Arizona to spend the next few days around Lake Powell. Moab, about 20 minutes from Arches, has good food options and could make an easy overnight stop if you want to space out driving time. To get to Page, you drive through a food and gas desert. (Quote from the car: “Nothing could have prepared me for the lack of fast food we just experienced,”) so fill up whenever you can.
Glen Canyon, the area surrounding Lake Powell, has more stars than I’ve seen in years. We stayed at the Lake Powell Resort & Marina for the first three nights (see photos in ‘Day 3’). The rooms aren’t five star quality but the location is unbeatable. The two pools, balcony views, hot tubs, and fire pits at night make up for what you may miss in thread count.
Day 2: Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend
We started the day with breakfast at the Rainbow Room, located inside the resort, for stunning floor to ceiling views of the lake and morning boaters. Amazing blueberry French Toast!
Note: Antelope Canyon was closed for tours through 2020 but plans to re-open July 2021. Reservations in advance for fully guided tours are required. It wasn’t an option on our trip but would be worth going back for.
If Upper Antelope Canyon is open, this would be a necessity. If you go when it’s still closed to guests, there are great swimming options to spend a few hours on the lake near the Antelope area. You’ll see a number of public beaches on maps but a local recommended The Chains or Antelope Point to us for swimming, clear water, rocks and a more private view. We packed a picnic of rosé, charcuterie and dark chocolate for lunch.
Near sunset, we finished off the day by heading to Horseshoe Bend. It’s about a 1 mile walk from your car, so pick shoes accordingly. Between the sapphire water, layers of erosion and depth in the canyon, the horseshoe was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. It was a close tie with Zion as my favorite part of this trip.
Day 3: Boating on Lake Powell
Heads up: If you want to boat on Lake Powell, reserve the boat well in advance! The Lodge and Marina also has a lodge and rafting discounted package.
Most boats are rented for a daily fee rather than paying by the hour, so would save a whole day for boating through the canyons. Kayaks, paddleboards, and jet skis are also available to rent with reservations ahead of time. There were 25mph winds too strong for us to kayak, but we eyed this 2 hour trip to paddle 2 miles into the lake at sunset.
After a day in the sun on the water, head back to Page for a few dinner options, like Big John’s BBQ (cute music and string lights) or Fiesta Mexicana. They certainly lived up to their claim of the best margarita in Page after ordering the house made Fiesta – almost as big as my head.
Day 4: Grand Canyon + Zion
Drive from Page to the Grand Canyon (2.5 hrs): We left Page and headed south to the Nothern Rim of the Grand Canyon. As one of the seven wonders of the world, it was neat to mark off our bucket lists but wasn’t the most breathtaking part of the trip (from our POVs). The lodge near the canyon has drinks, hot pizza and other food to keep you going.
Drive from Grand Canyon to Zion in Springdale, UT (2 hrs): Two hours after the Grand Canyon, we got to Zion National Park. The scenery and mountains are astounding. There were about 20+ pull-offs for photos from the entry point down to the valley where we stayed.
Personally, I found Zion really underrated. It’s one of my favorite places in the States. Kind of like a red rock, American version of the Alps and Junfrau region near Switzerland. We stayed at the Cable Mountain Lodge and never wanted to leave. They gave us a complimentary upgrade into a gorgeous suite with high ceilings and view of the mountains from our room. The lodge is located outside of Springdale, in the center of the Zion. Not at all overpopulated or touristy. Antelope were casually walking around outside of check in.
It’s a short walk to a market and the Zion Brew Pub, where we had dinner after a sunset hike through The Watchmen trail. We found great outdoor seating + service, handcrafted beer, and an amazing Zion burger made with their Conviction stout glaze and garlic aioli. They offer each beer in a tasting/flight size. We loved the Mountain Brown malt and felt the Foray Pomegranate was one of the best sour beers we’ve ever had.
Day 5: Zion National Park
Started the morning with coffee and bagel sandwiches from Perks. The Lodge has an outdoor hot tub with views of the mountains, which is a nice way to start the day or end a night.
If you have a full day, hike the Narrows or Angels Landing: Would allocate as much time as you can for staying in Zion, even if it means spending two nights here and pushing the trip into 6 days. The Narrows hike is the most popular in Zion and one of the top canyon hikes around the world. People recommended renting canyoneering shoes, a hiking stick and neoprene socks, when rented together, are about $23 from Zion Adventure Company. The trail is about 16 miles long, but if you only have a few hours, we read the best way to go was from the bottom up. There is a paved 2-mile roundtrip path along the Narrows called Riverside Walk. Angels Landing is a 4.4mi trail.
If you’re cutting time short: We only had time for one night in Zion, as we flew home on day 5. If you don’t have time to hike the Narrows, there are dozens of other trails or shorter paths you can adapt. There are also helicopter tours available – if you’re into that kind of thing and want panoramic views of the park. If you don’t want to be limited to dining near the lodge, downtown Springdale is a quick 15 minute drive and has a lot more options.
Driving to Las Vegas to fly home (2 hrs): We packed bags for our flights, drove to Las Vegas, and grabbed a quick In-N-Out burger before one friend flew out that night. Vegas is not totally my cup of tea, but if you have more time, we loved loved loved a dinner slightly out of shot at La Strega. Their design, wallpaper, and globe chandeliers are impeccable and the entrees + drink list don’t miss. We ordered the Frito Misto (shrimp, calamari, and artichokes) with the truffle pesto pizza and stracci pasta, with braised beef cheeks, mushroom, pecorino and sage. If you stay overnight in Vegas The Delano at Mandalay Bay was a beautiful place to be (stunning sconces and headboard photos in the gallery below!).
We can’t recommend this itinerary enough, especially if you’re looking to stay socially distant and get outside. Have a great trip!
