Utah Stargazing Tour: From Hoodoos to the Milky Way

Embark on a celestial adventure through Utah, where towering hoodoos meet the sparkling expanse of the Milky Way in an unforgettable stargazing tour!

Embark on a breathtaking road trip through the national parks of Southern Utah, where you'll witness majestic scenery revealing itself. From breathtaking hoodoos and vibrant canyons to the expansive rock formations, forming natural bridges while extending across the rugged sandstone. And when daytime fades, the vistas transform into unforgettable starlit nights. The adventure starts with a flight into McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, followed by a scenic 2½-hour drive to Zion National Park, then onward to other stunning Utah stargazing tours

Start your adventure in the southwest of Utah at Zion National Park, known for its striking landscapes of hidden canyons, rust-colored rock formations, and majestic cliffs. Make yourself at home at the Zion National Park Lodge, blending rustic charm with elegant comforts, offering a perfect base to explore the park’s natural beauty. You can enjoy a peaceful 3.5-km Riverside Walk alongside the Virgin River, then hike the Emerald Pools trail, passing through exquisite grottos and elegant crossings. If you consider all of this too simple then, head to the Watchman Trail or rent a road or electric bike to ride down Zion Canyon Road and the town near Springdale. As the sun sets, cooler temperatures pave the way for extraordinary stargazing opportunities under the night sky. Install an app to help you guide through the night skies and catch breathtaking views of the Milky Way from prime spots like the Human History Museum patio, Kolob Canyons Viewpoint, and Checkerboard Mesa which are also perfect destinations to admire the vistas of Utah.

For Highway explorers, the journey to Bryce Canyon National Park via the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway offers stunning canyon views, with multiple pull-offs for photos of Stone formations and sweeping landscapes. Once you arrive, take on the Queens Garden Trail, a hike of 3 km that offers beautiful views of the park’s iconic Rock Towers, including the semi-circle of thin spires in hues of orange, pink, and yellow. For a more challenging but equally breathtaking trek, join the Navajo Loop Trail, a 2.2-kilometer route that descends into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, immersing you in the towering hoodoos and bristlecone pines. Settle at the Bryce Canyon Lodge, a Historic site, and don’t miss the park's legendary stargazing events. As an International Dark Sky Park, Bryce Canyon boasts over 7,000 visible stars, and in the summer, rangers host special stargazing events. For seasoned stargazers, the Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival in late June is a must-see, where you can observe the Milky Way and planets like Jupiter and Venus in an unparalleled dark-sky setting. 

The drive from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef National Park takes about 2.5 to 3 hours mostly on the interstate, but the final 12 kilometers will lead you onto the Scenic Drive, offering breathtaking views of the park’s white and red stone ridges. Once you arrive, begin with the Hickman Bridge Trail, a moderate 2 km trail leading to a natural bridge tucked between towering white sandstone domes. Along the way, you’ll also find little caves to explore. For another memorable experience, take the Goosenecks Trail, a short but stunning hike that will take you to the Goosenecks Overlook, offering a remarkable view of one of the best Utah tourist attractions named Sulfur Creek Canyon, where the creek twists like a goose's neck. When night falls, Capitol Reef reveals its true magic as one of the nation’s certified International Dark Sky Parks. The pitch-black skies offer unparalleled stargazing opportunities with the Milky Way visible to the naked eye. Venture to the end of Sunset Point Trail for sweeping sights of a sky filled with endless glittering stars, or register for an expert-guided stargazing event.

Salt Lake City provides the perfect finale for your road trip, located between the majestic Wasatch Mountains and the shimmering Great Salt Lake. Spend your days exploring the vibrant downtown area of Utah, hopping on a GREENBike to discover stylish cafes, stores, and dining spots. If your visit is scheduled for winter, then consider opting for world-class skiing near Park City, known for the Sundance Film Festival, which celebrates the best of independent cinema. A short drive from the city, visit the Great Salt Lake, where you can stroll along its white sandy beaches, or you can even take a dip in the salty waters of the Dead Sea. You can also join a star party at the University of Utah’s South Physics Observatory on a Wednesday night, letting you observe the stars, and locate planets, constellations, and the moon.

Wrapping up, the Stargazing Tours are among the must things to do in Utah as they offer a mesmerizing journey through Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Capitol Reef, where magnificent landscapes meet the serene night skies for a memorable adventure of the stars (and for the gallery to be filled with lots of pictures!).