Billionaire Elon Musk was recently spotted touring Utah’s Arches National Park.

Well, kinda.

On Saturday, July 12, visitors to the park were greeted by a 12-foot tall sculpture of the tech kingpin鈥檚 head, his expression chiseled into a self-satisfied smirk. The massive effigy was towed around the park in a trailer behind a white pickup truck.

The sculpture was accompanied by a sign emblazoned with 鈥淢AKE AMERICA WAIT AGAIN鈥� and below that 鈥淣ow With Longer Lines Thanks To DOGE Cuts!鈥�

The stunt appears to be an act of protest against Musk鈥檚 work as the head of the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk has since left his role in the federal government, but under his tenure, DOGE was responsible for significant cuts to staff and budget, including the Department of the Interior (DOI) and its National Park Service (NPS), as well as other DOI agencies responsible for the management of public lands.

The federal government’s gutting of public land management has sparked widespread protest. According to the National Parks Conservation Association (NCPA), a nonprofit, the NPS has lost 24 percent of its staff since January as a result of the cuts. President Trump鈥檚 鈥淥ne Big, Beautiful Bill Act,鈥� which was signed into law on July 4, cuts an additional $267 million from the park service鈥檚 budget. This all comes as park visitation has risen year-on-year, to a record-setting 331.9 million in 2024.

So, who made the giant Musk head? The phrasing on the sign is similar to that used in a series of billboards placed outside many U.S. national parks earlier this summer by a labor advocacy group, More Perfect Union. More Perfect Union鈥檚 founder, Faiz Shakir, told 国产吃瓜黑料 that although the Elon Musk head was a 鈥渃reative鈥� idea, his organization had nothing to do with the project.

A Family Vacation Interrupted by Elon鈥檚 Head

Nancy Carmichael, a mother of two from Florida, was touring Arches National Park with her family when the trip was interrupted by the giant head. Carmichael told聽翱耻迟蝉颈诲别听she was “excited” by the sighting, and that she and her husband decided to follow the sculpture for a few minutes as it was towed by the truck.

“We saw the big Elon head driving around鈥攖hat’s something you don’t see everyday,” she said. “I personally think it was a creative way to protest, and to people to think about the things that are going on at a higher level and how they trickle down to the park.”

Carmichael toured Arches National Park over the weekend and said that, despite waiting in a line to enter the park, she did not encounter queues or interruptions in service.聽Carmichael said that onlookers seemed curious when the head drove by, and sight of it elicited questions and laughs.

“People seemed receptive to it,” she said. “It was a protest but not your typical protest.”

Frederick Dreier contributed to this report.聽

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Think our national park units are only good for hiking and scenic drives? Think again. The array of protected landscapes throughout the national park system house some of the most pristine, jaw-dropping gorgeous swimming holes in the entire country. Think waterfalls with deep plunge pools and ice-cold backcountry lakes.

I’d be remiss to not include a note about safety. Like all of the adventures we cover at 国产吃瓜黑料, swimming in the wild comes with some inherent risks. Currents can be swift, obstacles can be hidden under the surface of the water, and there could be parasites or in that inviting blue pool. Test the waters before you jump from any height by swimming through the landing zone first, feeling for rocks. Scout the eddies where you can safely swim to if there鈥檚 a current, and try to keep your mouth closed when plunging under water to keep any water-born creatures out. If you have an open wound, just hang out on the shore and enjoy the sun鈥攃uts are an invitation to infection.

This summer, consider packing your bathing suit on your next national park trip. Here are nine of the best swimming holes in our national park system.

1. Muir Rock, Kings Canyon National Park, California聽

The Park: Kings Canyon doesn鈥檛 have the recognition of other, more famous units in our park system, but it has the terrain to go toe-to-toe with any national park in the country. Think towering granite cliffs and peaks, massive old growth forests, and one of the deepest canyons in the U.S. Kings Canyon is more than 8,000 feet deep at one point, and rock walls typically rise 4,000 feet above the valley floor inside the park.

The Swimming Hole: is a large, granite boulder hanging over the Kings River in the belly of the park鈥檚 canyon. It鈥檚 a long-standing tradition to jump from the rock into the deep pool of emerald green water below. It鈥檚 only a 15-foot drop, so I鈥檇 put this in the family-friendly category of leaps. The water is cold, though, and the canyon walls are steep, so show up mid-day if you want the most sun. A bit of local lore: Famed conservationist John Muir would often hang out on this rock and give speeches about the importance of the landscape to passers by enjoying the scenery.

How to Get There: Muir Rock is super easy to get to, as it sits near the parking lot at the end of Highway 180 in the heart of Kings Canyon. Simply take the short side trail from your parking space and you鈥檒l be plunging in no time. But you should take the time to hike to before you go swimming. Starting from the same parking lot, hike the eight miles round trip to this tumultuous waterfall that slides over a basin of granite. Stand at the bottom and feel the mist after the water crashes into the rock at the base of the falls.

2. Bass Lake, Point Reyes National Seashore, California聽

The Park: Point Reyes is best known for its beaches, as it protects 80 miles of rugged Northern California coast, where steep bluffs drop directly to the Pacific Ocean. It鈥檚 the only National Seashore on the West Coast and protects some of the most pristine coastal ecosystems in the country, from the species-rich tide pools to the cliff-top grasslands where endemic elk roam.

The Swimming Hole: While the beach is the main draw for most visitors, Point Reyes also has a trio of backcountry lakes, including the 7-acre Bass Lake, which is tucked into an evergreen forest within the seashore鈥檚 Philip Burton Wilderness. It鈥檚 a picture-perfect scene, as the bowl of water is tucked into a depression formed 10,000 years ago by a rock slide, and it has several secluded coves where you can float. Keep an eye out for a rope swing, which can sometimes be found hanging from a thick pine on the shore.

How to Get There: Part of the appeal of Bass Lake is the hike. It鈥檚 a three-mile trek on the from the Palomarin Trailhead, starting on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, but then moving inland through grassland and forest. Bass Lake also sits at about the halfway point along the Coast Trail to Alamere Falls, a 40-foot waterfall that drops directly over a cliff onto the beach.

3. Ely Creek Falls, Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado and Utah聽

The Park: Yes, Dinosaur National Monument, which protects 200,000 acres straddling Colorado and Utah, has plenty of dinosaur fossils to check out (there are more than 1,500 bones inside the park), but it also has a surprising amount of water. The Monument encompasses several canyons, many of which have active streams, and a gorgeous slice of the Green River.

The Swimming Hole: Ely Creek Falls is a small waterfall in the Jones Hole Creek Area of the monument, where Ely Creek is funneled into a notch inside a small canyon before dropping 15 vertical feet over a sandstone cliff. It鈥檚 a pretty scene, with evergreens sprouting from the upper shelf of the falls, and an ideal place to cool off after a good hike through the desert (see below). The pool at the bottom of the falls is shallow though, so you won鈥檛 be doing the backstroke. Consider this more of a backcountry shower.

How to Get There: Hike the Jones Hole Trail as it follows the creek through a canyon for four miles on its way to join the Green River. Jones Hole Creek itself offers pristine backcountry trout fishing in crystal clear pools with a rocky bottom, known for its brown and rainbow trout (there鈥檚 a fish hatchery upstream). You鈥檒l also have the chance to see pictographs and petroglyphs created by the Fremont people more than 1,000 years ago. Two miles into your hike, you鈥檒l hit Ely Creek as it meets Jones Creek. Head upstream for .25 miles and you鈥檒l hit Ely Creek Falls. You can also follow the Jones Creek Trail for the entire four miles to its junction with the Green River, where there鈥檚 a rocky beach where you can watch rafters cruise by.

4. Firehole Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho聽

The Park: Yellowstone National Park is arguably the most iconic unit in the entire park system. It was the country鈥檚 first, established by Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, and helped serve as a model for wide-scale environmental preservation across the world. Today, Yellowstone is probably best known for its thermal pools, with bizarre geysers that erupt at regular intervals and backcountry ponds that reach triple digits and present all the colors of the rainbow.

The Swimming Hole: Swimming in Yellowstone鈥檚 thermal features is illegal (and really dumb as most of them are too hot), but swimmers are welcome to jump in the Firehole River at the Firehole Canyon Swimming Area. It鈥檚 a gorgeous setting, as the river spreads out into a broad, deep pool flanked by a grassy bank and steep, granite walls. There are a handful of low-hanging boulders to jump from, too. Look downstream and you can see the river carve through a broad valley thick with a green forest. It gets crowded on warm weekends, so show up early to get a parking spot. Keep an eye on the park鈥檚 website for access. The swimming area is usually closed until mid-summer to allow the spring runoffs to pass through.

How to Get There: Firehole Canyon is easy to access. Drive the two-mile Firehole Canyon Drive off of the Grand Loop, which cruises along the Firehole River to an overlook of Firehole Falls, before hitting the parking area for Firehole Canyon.

5. Sandbeach Lake, Rocky Mountains National Park

The Park: Rocky Mountain National Park is 287,000 acres of high alpine beauty, with a landscape that features more than a hundred 11,000 foot peaks, five glaciers, and a bevy of high alpine lakes. Even the scenic road through the park, Trail Ridge Road, crests at more than 12,000 feet above sea level. Swimming is not necessarily your first instinct when you鈥檙e exploring high alpine terrain, but Colorado summers can get warm. And cold plunges are good for you, right?

The Swimming Hole: Visitors are actually allowed to swim in most lakes inside the park (except Bear Lake) as it鈥檚 just not that popular of an activity because many lakes are glacier and snowmelt fed. But if you鈥檙e looking to take a dip, head to , a 16.5-acre lake that sits at 10,320 feet that boasts a rare feature in the Rocky Mountains: a sandy beach. From the beach, you can see the 13,000-foot Mount Copeland rising from a curtain of evergreens on the other side of the lake. One thing to consider: leeches are common in Rocky Mountain National Park鈥檚 lakes. It doesn鈥檛 stop people from taking a dip, and they actually help keep the lakes clean. If you get a leech, gently pull it off your skin and place it back in the water.

How To Get There: Part of the joy of Sandbeach is its location deep in the backcountry of the park鈥檚 Wild Basin area. Beginning at the Sandbeach Lake Trailhead, hike and gain 2,000 feet on the trail of the same name through a ponderosa pine and aspen forest to reach the edge of the pond. There are backcountry campsites along the trail and at the lake if you want to make an overnight out of it ($36 fee).

6. Doubtful Lake, North Cascades National Park, Washington聽

The Park: North Cascades National Park is only a few hours from Seattle, but somehow it manages to be one of the least visited national parks in the country year after year. But don鈥檛 mistake the lack of crowds for a lack of beauty; North Cascades is stunning, with more than 300 glaciers spread across the jagged peaks of Washington鈥檚 high alpine. The towering peaks and glaciers have made the park a destination for hardy mountaineers for decades. Lakes, evergreen forests, and meadows full of flowers and berries fill in the lower elevations throughout the park.

The Swimming Hole: You want a cold plunge? Take a dip in Doubtful Lake, a pristine basin that sits at the bottom of Sahale Glacier that鈥檚 constantly being fed by melting ice water. From the edge of the lake, you鈥檒l see the granite Sahale Mountain (and its glacier) as it rises 3,000 feet from the water. Look higher up Sahale Mountain and you could spot a waterfall of melting snow. A small island can be found on the far side of the lake closest to Sahale Mountain, which seems like a natural destination for hardy swimmers. But it鈥檚 also okay to just dip a toe in the lake and enjoy the scenery.

How to Get There: Combine the with a short side trail to reach the lake. All in, you鈥檙e looking at a 10-mile out and back day hike. The views along the trail make every step worth the effort, even if you don鈥檛 want to take the plunge, as you鈥檒l be treated with rotating views of some of the most impressive peaks in the Northwest, including long range shots of Mount Baker. You can also watch for adorable pikas while hiking through scree fields and blueberries in the high alpine meadows during summer.

7. Little Falls, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Alabama

The Park: The Little River Canyon was made for swimming in the wild. The 11,000-acre preserve is home to a series of waterfalls and pools along the Little River, all of which are tucked into a deep, forested canyon through the center of Lookout Mountain, a broad plateau that occupies a corner of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. There鈥檚 sandstone rock everywhere, in the form of boulders and bluffs, and there are hiking trails scattered throughout the preserve, but it鈥檚 the cold pools of water that attract most visitors, especially on hot, Southern summer afternoons.

The Swimming Hole: The 45-foot Little River Falls is the main attraction within the preserve, as the waterfall puts on quite a show as it drops over a sheer, vertical cliff into a pool below. I鈥檝e jumped from the top of this falls before, although it is highly discouraged by the national park service for obvious reasons. Instead, take a quick trail to the bottom of the falls to swim in one of the pools downstream. Little Falls (dubbed Hippie Hole by locals) is the most popular swimming hole. Here, the river drops over a much smaller sandstone shelf, the entire length of the river. The swimming hole is at the base of the shelf, encompassed by a sandstone alcove.

How to Get There: From the Canyon Mouth Day Use Parking Area lot at Little River Falls, take the Little Falls Trail for .75 miles down into the bottom of the gorge. The trail finishes with 137 stone steps (but who鈥檚 counting) to the edge of the water.

8. Steel Creek Campground, Buffalo National River, Arkansas聽

The Park: Our first National River, the Buffalo flows free for more than 130 miles through the Ozark Mountains, carving a canyon of limestone cliffs and steep, forested walls in its wake. The Buffalo is renowned for its multi-day, wilderness canoe opportunities.

The Swimming Hole: The Buffalo River offers a number of swimming opportunities during its 135-mile journey through the mountains, although as a free flowing river, the water levels are dependent on rain. The most scenic pool might be at the base of Roark Bluff, a 200-foot-tall gray, limestone cliff that rises directly from the river鈥檚 edge. If the water level is right, you can wade across the river to a gravel sandbar that forms, where you can lounge and sun yourself at the base of the cliff. If you want more time on the river, consider from Steel Creek to Kyle鈥檚 Landing, an eight-mile stretch that is arguably the most scenic of the whole Buffalo thanks to the prevalence of cliffs.

How to Get There: Park at the campground or the canoe launch at Steel Creek and look for paths through the woods to the Buffalo River. Head to a bend in the river where the tall, gray Roark Bluff rises from the edge of the river. If you want to spend more than one day here, Steel Creek is a 40-site campground ( up to six months in advance; $20 per site). The sites aren鈥檛 terribly scenic鈥攖hey鈥檙e in a grassy field backing up to a hardwood forest鈥攂ut you can鈥檛 beat the location.

9. Midnight Hole, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee聽

The Park: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is moist. The 500,000-acre swath of the Southern Appalachians is borderline sub-tropical in its climate, with a high annual rainfall and hundreds of miles of streams and rivers. The mountainous park is hot and humid during the summer, and it鈥檚 packed with potential swimming holes, from rope swings on the edges of lakes to deep pools at the bottom of waterfalls.

The Swimming Hole: Midnight Hole is a favorite for my family because it鈥檚 relatively easy to get to (see the hike below) and delivers an ideal balance of scenery and adventure. Here, Big Creek tumbles over a ledge in the bedrock, dropping six feet into a deep hole. Local legend has it that the hole is so deep, nobody has ever touched the bottom. That鈥檚 not for a lack of trying; the waterfall is surrounded by tall, round boulders offering a variety of launching pads for leaping. The stream is crystal clear; bring goggles and you can see fish downstream of the popular pool.

How to Get There: The waterfall is located on the northern edge of the park, on the North Carolina side of the border. From the Big Creek Trailhead, follow the along the river for three miles until you see the falls on your left. It鈥檚 an easy hike on an old road grade.

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. He loves a good swimming hole. He recently wrote a guide to visiting overcrowded and underfunded national parks this summer.聽

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Dreams of exploring Utah鈥檚 spectacular red rock country quickly turn dystopic if you do it wrong. The tourist traps which you can easily fall into are as myriad as arches in Utah鈥檚 second most popular national park.

Blame our state鈥檚 overwhelmingly successful 鈥淢ighty Five鈥� campaign, launched in 2013, which aimed to bring more visitors to Utah鈥檚 five national parks: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches (from west to east). These days, the so-called Mighty Five are among the nation鈥檚 most visited. They are so visited that during peak season (generally April through October), Arches imposes a . Zion requires everyone to ride the shuttle through its main canyon. And park campsite and lodging reservations fill up faster than a slot canyon in a downpour.

That said, the last thing that I鈥檇 recommend鈥攁s a Utahn of nine years and 鈥攊s to not realize your dreams of beholding Delicate Arch, hiking the Narrows, or wandering amid Bryce鈥檚 anthropomorphic sandstone spires known as hoodoos. The sights are so worth the hype, which is why I鈥檝e put together some strategies for dodging crowds at these attractions. But for every iconic formation or hike, there are also hundreds more to explore across Utah鈥檚 22.8 million acres of public lands, often in spots off the average tourist鈥檚 radar.

Avoiding scenic drive traffic jams, crowded trails, and Disneyland-esque vibes does require some work. You鈥檒l usually need to plan in advance, put in extra effort, and exert yourself more than the average national park-goer. But I promise you it will be worth it.

A note for our current times: While this advice is designed to help you escape the crowds, keep in mind that crowding may be even more challenging this season鈥攁nd in the next few seasons that follow鈥攁s national parks experience staffing shortages However you visit our national parks, please do your part to follow the rules, be respectful toward staff and other tourists, and help keep the environment intact by following Leave No Trace guidelines.

1. Hop on a Bike

Environmental essayist Edward Abbey posited some prescient thoughts about the fate of Arches, where he was a ranger in the mid-50s, when it was still but a fledgling national monument. 鈥淣o more cars in national parks. Let the people walk,鈥� he wrote in Desert Solitaire.聽

Indeed, visit Arches鈥攐r any national park鈥攊n peak season and prepare to join a snake of slow-moving vehicles, inching from viewpoint to viewpoint. A car is usually the worst way to take in these sublime lands. The secret is to enter on two wheels, not four.

The best place to apply this tip is Zion, Utah鈥檚 most popular national park. Park your car in Springdale and rent a bike or e-bike at a gear shop in town (starting at $50/day; try or ). You can also bring your own bike if you鈥檙e road-tripping. From Springdale, it鈥檚 a five-minute ride to the park鈥檚 main south entrance. Private vehicles aren鈥檛 allowed to drive through Zion Canyon during peak season (riding the shuttle is required), so riders get free reign. The only other road users you鈥檒l have to contend with are the shuttle buses, which will wait for you to pull over to the shoulder so they can pass. Bring a bike lock to secure your bike at trailheads and viewpoints. The road is relatively flat, so the nine miles each way go by quickly, especially as you enjoy the wind in your hair through the canyon鈥檚 stoic walls in peace.

In Bryce, the move is to rent an e-bike from (starting at $40 for two hours), located at the Bryce Canyon City Airport, four miles from the park entrance. Then whiz along the gently undulating paved that leads straight into the park. The path terminates at Inspiration Point, and while you could theoretically continue along Bryce鈥檚 scenic drive, I don鈥檛 recommend it due to heavy traffic and a narrow shoulder. You could also experience hoodoo country by mountain biking (8.1 miles one-way; usually ridden as a downhill shuttle) in nearby Red Canyon鈥攐ne of my favorite rides anywhere in Utah.

2. Take a Back Entrance Into the Park

Did you know that some of Utah鈥檚 national parks have a back door? The best example is Bryce, where a little-known trail leads into the park鈥檚 amphitheater from the town of Tropic. You鈥檒l wonder if you鈥檝e made a mistake as you park your car in a random cul-de-sac and start up the sandy doubletrack of (3.4 miles roundtrip). But soon Bryce鈥檚 legendary hoodoos鈥攕edimentary spires formed by erosion鈥攚ill come into view. In Bryce Amphitheater, Tropic Trail intersects with Navajo Loop Trail (1.3 miles round-trip), which you can take up to the rim. While you鈥檒l contend with crowds as soon as you get off Tropic Trail, you won鈥檛 have to deal with lines at the park entrance or full parking lots up top. There鈥檚 also something magical about approaching the hoodoos from the solitude of this quiet trail.

Arches also has a back entrance, but it will take a 4WD high-clearance vehicle, navigation skills, and more time to find it. As you鈥檙e heading into Moab on Highway 191, take Klondike Bluffs Road to the Copper Ridge Safari Route and the Klondike Road Trail, which eventually leads to Tower Arch. In Zion, the back entrance is via canyoneering: a top-down adventure (permit required) through the Narrows.

Note that taking a back entrance to Bryce or Arches means you won鈥檛 be assessed the entrance fee, but I鈥檇 encourage you to make a donation to the park if you can鈥攐ur national parks could use it right now.

3. Camp or Book a Room Inside the Park

Camping or lodging inside a national park strategically positions you for uncrowded dawn, dusk, or even nighttime views and hikes. This does require advance planning, since reservations fill up fast. One of my favorite places to sleep (in a national park, or anywhere) is in Arches, where scenic campsites back up to slickrock and you can hike right from your tent. Book up to six months in advance on ($25 per night) or roll up to a first-come, first-served site in the off-season (November through February). By camping at Devils Garden, I鈥檝e had the chance to hike the quiet trail to Broken Arch at sunset, scramble over slickrock under a full moon, and wake up early enough to hike to Delicate Arch for the sunrise in the company of only a dozen or so other humans.

In Zion, I recommend a room or cabin at the (starting at $188) over the campground, which feels a bit like camping in a municipal park, landscape-wise. The lodge has an onsite restaurant, trails just steps away, and over 120 rooms, including some suites and cabins. In Bryce, camp among towering pines at North Campground or Sunset Campground ($30 per night; book at ). Or stay in the campy (starting at $254) within spitting distance of Sunrise and Sunset Points. In Canyonlands, you can camp at Island in the Sky Campground ($15 per night; first come, first served) or the Needles Campground ($20 per night; reserve at ).

Another strategy is to stay very close to the park. Check out some Hipcamp options nearby:

4. Pick a Less Popular Trail

Didn鈥檛 snag that Zion Angels Landing permit? Sad about the bumper-to-bumper hiker situation on Queens Garden Trail in Bryce? There are plenty of trails in Utah鈥檚 national parks that weed out the tourists from the adventurers. And don鈥檛 let a crowded trailhead fool you鈥攈ike for more than 15 minutes and trail traffic usually thins if not disappears.

A few lesser-known trails I鈥檇 recommend:

Arches

Starting from the Devils Garden Campground, Broken Arch Trail (1-mile roundtrip) leads to an arch that isn鈥檛 quite broken yet, but probably will be soon. It鈥檚 a very scenic spot to watch the sunset. Or try Tower Arch Trail (3.4 miles roundtrip), which takes you to a stout, wide arch near a tower.

Bryce

Actually a 23-mile one-way backpacking trail that requires a permit for overnight stays, Under-the-Rim Trail is also great for shorter out-and-back day trips (no permit required). Hike as far as you like across the varied terrain and over fun features.

Canyonlands

Syncline Loop Trail (8 mile loop) circumvents Upheaval Dome, a mysterious crater the origins of which continue to puzzle scientists. If you want to duck into the crater itself, you鈥檒l add an extra three miles total.

Capitol Reef

Catch incredible views of the Hickman Natural Bridge, the cliffs of Capitol Reef, and the Henry Mountains as you wander up sandstone hills past volcanic rock on Rim Overlook Trail (4.6 round-trip), off Highway 24. The Rim Overlook Trail is not mapped on Trailforks, but I’ve included a map of the Hickman Bridge Trail, which starts from the same trailhead and splits off after less than a mile.

Zion

Located in the Kolob Canyons section of Zion, Taylor Creek Trail (5 miles round-trip) ends at an awe-inducing rock alcove with two arches. You鈥檒l pass historic cabins and wildflowers aplenty along the way. Below is a partial map of the trail that follows the South Fork of Taylor Creek.

5. Explore a National Park鈥檚 Backcountry on a Rugged Drive

The main sections of each of Utah鈥檚 national parks get all the hype. But most parks have a backcountry that can be explored with a four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle, a good map, and some grit. A great case in point: Capitol Reef鈥檚 鈥淟oop the Fold鈥� drive, which crosses the Waterpocket Fold, the park鈥檚 defining feature. This literal wrinkle in geologic time stretches nearly 100 miles across southern Utah, past incredible hikes and alluring slot canyons.

To take the 鈥淟oop the Fold鈥� drive (a 125-mile one-way, 4-6-hour adventure), head east on Highway 24 from the Capitol Reef Visitor Center for nine miles. Turn right on Notom-Bullfrog Road and continue for 33 miles. Turn right on Burr Trail Road, which will take you up steep switchbacks that crest the Waterpocket Fold. After 36 miles on Burr Trail, you鈥檒l end up in the town of Boulder. You could stay here and explore Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, or return to Capitol Reef via Highway 12.

Meanwhile, to the north in Canyonlands, the park鈥檚 Maze District entices explorers at heart to get a little lost鈥攂ut bring a map, compass, and satellite radio so you don鈥檛 actually get lost. The intrepid can try the Maze鈥檚 Flint Trail, a 4WD-road that accesses hiking to mind-bending rock formations and dispersed camping.

And in Zion, take a drive on Kolob Terrace Road, where you can access good hiking, the panoramic views of Lava Point, and canyoneering up Orderville Canyon and via the iconic Subway route.

6. Check Out a Lesser-Known Section of the Park

The most famous sights and features of any given national park constitute only a small fraction of the territory鈥攑articularly in the cases of Zion, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands.

In Zion, skip the crowded main canyon and east entrance to check out Kolob Canyons, or the hiking and canyoneering off Kolob Terrace Road. In Capitol Reef, instead of limiting yourself to Grand Wash or Capitol Gorge off the main scenic drive, check out the trails off Notom-Bullfrog Road, off Highway 24, or in Cathedral Valley. And in Canyonlands, skip Island in the Sky, and plan a hike in the Needles District, the Maze, or the non-contiguous Horseshoe Canyon Unit with its magnificent rock art.

In Arches, you can snag a 聽for the Fiery Furnace ($10 per person). If you get lost easily, there are also through this labyrinthine area (which also must be booked in advance). You can easily dedicate a few hours or a whole day wandering through this red rock maze.

7. Be a Night Owl

Utah鈥檚 national parks are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You don鈥檛 need to go on a weekend in July between the hours of 8am and 5pm. This is, as you might expect, the absolute worst time to go.

So get yourself a good headlamp (and extra batteries) and venture into the park well before the sun rises, after it sets, or at night. The best national park experience I鈥檝e ever had was stargazing in Arches at 1am. Instead of thousands of tourists around, there were thousands of stars and the Milky Way above. If you鈥檙e not comfortable hiking at night, you can simply drive up to a viewpoint, set out some chairs and stargaze or catch a meteor shower (the Perseids peak mid-August every summer).

In Bryce, book a night sky tour ($50) with the , which runs star parties year-round (times vary depending on season; reservations required).

Of course, finding the motivation to hang out inside a national park by dark will be much easier if you鈥檙e staying within the park, so this advice pairs well with tip number three above).

8. Embrace Desert in Winter

A (literally) hot take: Utah鈥檚 national parks are better in winter than in summer. And this is coming from me, a self-proclaimed lizard who will take all the sun she can get. This really shouldn鈥檛 be a hot take, because if you鈥檝e ever been on a sweltering shuttle bus in Zion or a shadeless trail in Capitol Reef in July, then you know full well that a summer desert trip is generally a no-go (river trips are the exception).

While spring and fall hold the most comfortable temperatures in Utah鈥檚 desert landscapes, they also draw large crowds (these are the tourists who understand that summer in the desert is a bad idea). So is winter the best time to venture to Utah鈥檚 Mighty Five? It just might be.

Worst case scenario: Snow falls in southern Utah and you find yourself on snowy roads and snow-packed trails. Even still, as long as you and your vehicle come prepared, you鈥檒l have the place to yourself. Plus, the red rock is stunning in the snow. Of all the parks, Bryce notoriously shines in winter鈥攖here is perhaps no sight more bewitching than the park鈥檚 amphitheater of lifelike hoodoos cloaked in fresh powder. Bryce even offers a as well as cross-country ski trails.

Best case scenario (the likelihood of which increases year over year as our planet unfortunately warms): You鈥檒l get a winter鈥檚 day in the 60s with a strong sun. The perfect temps, and an empty park.

9. Find a Utah National Park Dupe Destination

The concept of dupe travel is to avoid the fuss of the world鈥檚 most sought-after destinations (e.g., Paris, Jackson Hole, Zion), while reaping all the benefits of what that destination offers by choosing a very similar, less-hyped place to visit. There are many opportunities to do this when it comes to Utah鈥檚 national parks by seeking out national monuments, state parks, and other public lands that offer similar scenery and adventures. Do you really think they would put all of Utah鈥檚 arches within a 119-square-mile radius?

Here are some dupe destination recommendations for Utah鈥檚 parks:

• Arches: National Bridges National Monument, in Southeastern Utah within Bears Ears National Monument. These are bridges, not arches, but I swear you鈥檒l never know the difference. You can hike from bridge to bridge on a 12-mile loop trail in solitude. There鈥檚 also great camping here.
• Bryce: Cedar Breaks National Monument (closed in winter) is filled with hoodoos at altitude. Red Canyon, which you鈥檒l most likely drive through to reach Bryce, is also hoodoo country. Mountain bike, hike, or take a horseback ride on Thunder Mountain Trail.
• Canyonlands: You don鈥檛 really need a dupe destination for Canyonlands, since the park is so massive you can easily explore its myriad canyons without crowds. But nearby Deadhorse Point State Park offers similarly magnificent views and great mountain biking.
• Capitol Reef: Similar to Canyonlands, it鈥檚 easy to escape the crowds in Capitol Reef. But you鈥檒l find similar terrain and canyons across neighboring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.聽
• Zion: Snow Canyon State Park near St. George has comparable canyon country, with great hiking and rock climbing.

10. Book a Guided Experience

Even if you鈥檙e guide-averse, booking a guide often unlocks great access or novel experiences. Plus, if you lack the gear or necessary know-how, a guide allows you to go on a more technical adventure than you otherwise might on your own. A few ideas:

• While Zion limits the areas where guides can operate within the main canyon, you can book a up the Narrows (from $150/person) or through one of the canyons outside Zion Canyon.
• Take a horseback ride through Bryce Canyon (book through ; starting at $90 per person, per 1.5-hour ride)
• Set your alarm for a midnight photography tour at Arches through (starting at $99 per person).
• Book a bikepacking trip through Canyonlands on White Rim Road (starting at $985 per person; many outfitters like offer shuttles or fully guided bikepacking trips).
• Go on a (or find a friend with a boat and a permit) on the Green or Colorado Rivers that flow through Canyonlands (starting at $999 per person per two-day trip).

11. Become a Connoisseur of Odd Hours

Many of the tips above help you avoid crowds by avoiding the most crowded areas of Utah鈥檚 national parks. But I acknowledge that sometimes, these areas are crowded for a reason. So if you have your heart set on standing beneath Delicate Arch, watching the hoodoos glow from Sunset Point, or taking in the harrowing 360-degree views of Angels Landing, the important thing is to get your timing right.

As I stated earlier, average tourist behavior does not reflect the fact that these parks are open 100% of the time. So whether you go in the off season (aka winter, tip number eight), explore by night (see tip number seven), or go on a weekday, do what you can to visit when most people won鈥檛. And whatever you do, don鈥檛 hit the main circuits of any of Utah鈥檚 national parks on a holiday weekend.

颁濒颈尘产颈苍驳鈥檚 Editor-in-Chief has lived in Utah for nearly a decade. She鈥檚 been exploring its national parks since she first waded through Zion鈥檚 Narrows at age 10. Since then, Utah鈥檚 national parks have become a lot more popular, which is why she鈥檚 focused her four Moon travel guides on how to avoid the crowds. This summer, she鈥檒l be exploring the San Rafael Swell and Utahraptor State Park鈥擴tah鈥檚 newest state park鈥攚ith her two kiddos.聽

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