The VarmintWife and I just returned from a wonderful and amazing 9 day venture to Utah's "Mighty Five" National Parks (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion!) along with two Utah State Parks ("Goblins" and "Dead Horse").
We chose to hire a tour/guide service that provided wonderful and comfortable Mercedes vans as well as a competent guide along with that company arranging our top flight motels (8 nights) and all breakfasts and lunches and 4 of our 8 dinners.
Everything they provided was first class!
We did 2 to 3 short to medium distance hikes in each park and the insights our guides provided were much appreciated and informative.
Our first stay (2 nights and 2 days) after being picked up in Salt Lake City was near Canyonlands National Park in the town of Moab, Utah. Unbeknownst to us the town of Moab was hosting a week long Jeep Fest/Safari and there were literally THOUSANDS of Jeeps (most heavily customized) in that area for their yearly meeting.
It was fun to see so many thousands of people having good clean fun out in the remote spaces of Utah camping and Jeeping.
Each park we visited/hiked in had stunning views and natural wonders and we were surprised so many children were seen along the trails and roads - apparently many kids were on spring break or being home schooled and taking a break. All the youngsters seemed to be having a great time and were most often seen NOT holding/looking at electronic devices!
My two Nikon cameras were clickin away to the point I was worried their "memory cards" would be filled.
Much wildlife was observed along our travels including Mule Deer, Elk, Prairie Dogs, Rock Chucks. Antelope galore and the highlights of our wildlife viewing being three different groups of Desert Bighorn Sheep and two California Condors!
The real highlights of the trips though were the natural wonders, arches, spires, formations, huge cliffs and geology of that whole vast area.
Our guide put just at 1,000 miles on escorting us about in their van, and again, the comfort of it was welcomed as we put on the miles.
Our guide service allowed us into three or four "routes/tours" that private vehicles are NOT allowed to use.
The weather for our whole trip was sunny and cool to warm with much unmelted snow adding contrast to the countless pictures we took.
Our guides constantly pointed out and took us to secret places including springs, viewpoints, petroglyphs and places to view death defying "rock climbers" in action - I thought their service and convenience was well worth the dollars spent on them.
I highly recommend this area (the "Mighty Five" National Parks of southern Utah) for a relaxing, educational, awe inspiring and beautiful family style vacation.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy