Trip Guide: Itinerary for Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon, and Kanab

I am now very excited to just share our Kanab, Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon itinerary and pictures! This is an itinerary any family, couple, or solo traveling individualist should have. This trip will be regarding our experience, and how it all went for us.

First Day of Trip: Start journey from Texas to New Mexico

So we took the road trip starting from North Texas to Utah. It is about a sixteen-hour drive for us, so we had to divide it over two days. The plan was to go on the first day to Farmington, New Mexico. That is twelve hours from us, so we got colossal work done on day one and finished the whole trip in just four more hours the next day.

Farmington is located in Four Corners and has a number of other nifty sights one can visit to explore this area. On previous road trips we stopped at the Aztec Ruins National Monument and to see Shiprock!

Second Day of Trip: Kanab Hoodoos

Day two, we continued driving, stopping first in Page, AZ. The reason we stopped here was just that we happened to pass the Big Lake Trading Post, and I wanted to make the short hike from the parking lot to see the sand cave! Super quick, really cool stop!

After that, we continued our drive to Kanab, UT, where we would be based for the entire week. On the way into Kanab, we decided to stop at Toadstool Hoodoos, and I am so glad we did! My boys both just loved this stop, and we had such a great time exploring this area. Plus, we were alone except for the time! Multiple times during our stop, we were the only people there!

Hoodoos are thin spires of rock that weather away and erode into unique formations. The different sizes of hoodoos along this trail really grabbed our attention and made it feel like we were on a different planet! Never before had we seen such a landscape with its aura of mystery.

After leaving Toadstools, we drove on to Kanab, where we exercised the option to check each other into the Comfort Suites, which we enjoyed. Our room had so much space and was centrally located! We were also treated to a free breakfast buffet, which is a bonus; however, the price was thoroughly unbeatable! We paid less than $450 for living there for six nights.

We were lucky enough to find a nice restaurant called Vermillion 45 right down the road from our hotel, and it was so, so good! This one may have been a little fancier than our usual dinners on the road, but it’s worth it! I had some shrimp risotto; the boys had a pizza and rigatoni; Jereme had chicken fricassee.

Third Day of Trip: Bryce Canyon National Park

With the predicted weather for the week opening up before us, we decided to spend day three exploring Bryce Canyon National Park. This day was predicted to be nice, but snow is forecast for the finish of the week. It takes just shy of one-and-a-half hours to drive from Kanab to Bryce Canyon!

Based on trails opened, and considering we were hiking with kids 13 and 9, we decided on Navajo Loop trail and Mossy Cave (which is outside of the Park). Do take time to check the weather before you go. If it has rained or snowed in the days preceding your trip, I recommend wearing your hiking boots and taking spikes for mud or ice!

It was a fabulous trip because the trail allows you to see the hoodoos at very close quarters! This was quite hard work as well because of the wet situation. Very muddy and such that you had to keep your eyes on your feet when walking downhill! However, stunning views, so it must never dissuade you from walking in the mud.

After finishing Navajo Loop Trail, it took us about nine minutes to drive to the Mossy Cave Trail. This is a short hike, with a small waterfall, rock formations with windows, and a cave at the end. The waterfall was more of a trickle when we visited, but nonetheless, we loved the trail!

For dinner in Kanab, we ate at Escobar’s Mexican Restaurant. It was, without a doubt, the BEST dinner we had on the whole trip! If you’re in the area, this is a must!

Fourth day of Trip: It’s in Kanab

We figured Day Four would be a rest day. My boys always seem to require a day to recover their senses after a long drive and intense activities. I slept late, visited the charming downtown, and took a look around the county just outside of Kanab!

The boys were tired of hiking and wanted a day of lazing around and watching TV, and playing video games. So Jereme and I had a little adventure date to the Kanab Sand Caves, also known as Moqui Caves. Fascinating really! I would highly recommend an expedition should you find yourself near Kanab. You really don’t need to engage too much time here, and the hike itself is pretty easy!

Such a unique place directly off the main highway from Kanab to Bryce or Zion. We parked off Highway 89 in a big, marked parking lot for the Sand Caves. You can’t miss it!

For dinner, we went to Iron Horse Restaurant for steaks; it was great, the boys loved this spot! I didn’t take any food pics, but we all had steak, mashed potatoes, and salad.

Day Five of Trip: Explored Zion National Park

Day five was reserved for seeing Zion National Park, and wow, we were blown away! The views while driving through were like nothing we had ever seen before. Full disclosure, it was very crowded during our spring break visit. Because of crowds, it was hard to find parking, and the shuttle lines were insane. We chose to hike two trails in East Zion that didn’t require a shuttle, and we highly recommend both! If you have only one day in the Park, don’t miss this easy hike. The overlook is incredible, and there are views all the way along the trail.

The second trail we did haphazardly, as a spot opened up in the parking lot as we were driving by. So glad we stopped, as we ended up with the whole trail to ourselves! And the best part, it ended at a gorgeous waterfall!

And everybody will love the rock scramble to get to the waterfall! For your kids, they will delight in the adventure that this trail puts forth!

Sixth Day of Trip: Thrilling Slot Canyon Tour – Ride and Rappel Adventure

Today was absolutely the best day! We went with Roam Outdoor for the only 2.5 hour ride hike and rappel adventure!This is superb for boys ages 9 and 13.I would highly recommend this option to families with younger children or anyone who has never done rappelling before. We got to do four rappels which were about 10 feet to 45 feet, all weaving through the gorgeous Ladder Canyon near Orderville, Utah.

We curiously showed up at Roam Outdoor by 10:00 am, and all of us were fitted in our rappelling gear. Then we were taken out on an ATV to Ladder Canyon by our wonderful guide, Bryson. It was a short climb around into the slot canyon, which began with a rappel down into it! We all felt well geared for the first rappel where it started relatively small at only 10 feet. Then we gradually stepped it up a notch on distance each time we went up, ending with a 45-foot drop.

I was also really impressed with how great Bryson was about getting family photos to commemorate this special time! Family favorite, such a memorable time!

We finished our day’s rappelling with a wonderful late lunch at Wild Thyme Café back in Kanab!The corn chowder soup and chicken pasta alfredo were amazing!

The Final, Day Seven: The sandy land – Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon

The last day of the trip turned out to be quite an enjoyable one! After an incredible day of basking in the glory of the tour, we resolved to find yet another slot canyon to hike. I had spotted the markings leading to Peek-a-boo Slot Canyon, so I started looking for information about it. Four-wheel drive, high clearance is an absolute “must.” I drive a 4D Expedition, which would not have made the drive to the canyon. Fortunately, we had adopted my mom’s Jeep for this trip and had no problems off-roading the 3.2 miles to the slot canyon. The trail is simple and fun, just super deep sand!

To find Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon, drive north on Highway 89 from Kanab for around 9 miles. There is a sign for Peek-A-Boo and a dirt parking area on the right side of the road. Go into the dirt lot and immediately take the left. This leads you onto BLM Route 102. Follow this to the dry wash and then turn left. Follow this wash, which will now be on BLM Route 106H, and it will take you directly to the slot canyon.

As a hopeful Utah visitor, I hope the complete itinerary idea for Kanab, Bryce National Park to Zion National Park will assist you. Please feel free to ask any questions, and be sure to follow all Leave No Trace Principals! This way we can continue to enjoy this wonderful country of ours!

Principles of Leave No Trace: A Guide to Responsible Outdoor Recreation

Leave No Trace principles are guidelines to minimize the environmental impact of outdoor activities. They are supposed to sensitize people in respect of responsible outdoor recreation and one’s stewardship of areas in the environment. The seven Leave No Trace principles are as follows:

Plan ahead and prepare: Planning will help in minimizing the potential damage from these activities. The area you are visiting should have been researched; know the regulations area, and special concerns; and be a good enough preparer, with appropriate gear and skills.

Travel and camp on durable surfaces: Follow roads and established trails, campsites, and designated recreation areas as much as you can minimize damage to vegetation and factors influencing soil stability. Walk on durable surfaces such as rocks, gravel, or dry grass in order to avoid trampling on fragile ecosystems.

Dispose of waste properly: Remove all trash and waste and leftover food. Leave natural areas cleaner than you found them if you dispose of waste properly and pack out all items, including biodegradable materials such as fruit peels and food scraps.

Leave what you find: Belittle your effect on nature compositions by leaving rocks, plants, and other natural objects where you found them. Never disturb wildlife or remove cultural or historical artifacts.

Minimize campfire impacts: If fires are allowed, and it’s very much required for warmth or cooking, use existing fire rings or designated fire pits whenever possible. Build small fires, use only local firewood, and put out campfires completely before leaving. In sensitive areas, consider using a portable stove instead of building campfires.

Respect wildlife: Observe wildlife from a distance and avoid approaching or feeding them. Keep pets under control to prevent them from harassing wildlife or damaging vegetation. Food must be safely stored so that wildlife will not get into it.

Be considerate of other visitors: Respect other visitors’ experiences by minimizing noise, yielding the right-of-way to others when on the trail, and respecting privacy in campsites. Abide by the rules and regulations following proper etiquette to make sure everyone can enjoy the outdoors responsibly.

Principles protect natural environments from outdoor enthusiasts but also ensure that the outdoor recreation opportunities are not lost for many coming generations.