Super Six One Week Itinerary

Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Goblin Valley, San Rafael Swell, Swasey’s Beach

Goblin Valley State Park

Stay in Green River

So you’ve picked Utah as your family vacation destination. Well done. Utah is sort of like Disneyland because it’s a whole ton of amazing non-stop adventure concentrated into one area. But mostly Utah wins because Mars-like landscapes are for real here, and kids can run jump get muddy get sandy rockhound learn geology without even realizing it because holy sandstone layers and holy night skies filled with wondrous constellations you ain’t never gonna see in the suburbs let alone the big city.

The only problem with Utah: there’s too friggin’ much to do.

Solution: Green River.

This town is adventure central for families where you can access the Super Six: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Goblin Valley State Park, the San Rafael Swell, and Swasey’s Beach. Here’s how you can do it all in seven days.

Travel Time Details

Salt Lake City → Green River - 3 hours

Green River →

Arches National Park - 45 minutes

Canyonlands National Park - 1 hour

Capitol Reef National Park - 1 hour, 40 minutes

Goblin Valley State Park - 1 hour, 5 minutes

San Rafael Swell - 20 minutes

Swasey’s Beach - 20 minutes from Main Street

DAY ONE: Travel

MORNING

From Salt Lake City you’ll be in the car for approximately 3 hours. Maybe 3.5 hours with pit stops. Favorite pit stops:

If you want to take a slightly longer route, Rowley’s Red Barn, Santaquin, 59 minutes from SLC (apple cider doughnuts, homemade fudge, locally made ice cream, fresh fruit and other produce, pies, and all the yummy things)

Beef Jerky shacks - Highway 6 (local dudes selling their homemade jerky--look for signs as soon as you enter Spanish Fork Canyon)

Wellington -- good ol’ Chevron with a Subway. Fuel up the car and the littles. Because you haven’t had enough food yet, right?

La Pasadita Taco Truck | Green River, Utah

We recommend getting an early start because you’ll want to be in Green River for lunch...

Lunch at the taco truck, La Pasadita, on Main Street. Order anything and everything you can. You’ll probably do at least one meal a day here. It’s homemade Mexican goodness. Favorites: tamales and chile rellenos.

AFTERNOON

Check in to hotel / find camping spot, unpack & organize, run to the store for supplies. Find lodging options here.

EVENING

Ray's Tavern | Green River, Utah

Dinner at Ray's Tavern - a classic river rafters' favorite with burgers and fries (you can order them extra crispy upon request).

DAY TWO: San Rafael Swell & Goblin Valley

MORNING

Breakfast

You can eat out at GR Coffee, Tamarisk, West Winds and then pick up lunch at Melon Vine grocery store.

Packing List:

• Lunch & dinner (you’ll be out in the boonies all day and into the night)
• Water
• Sweatshirt & jacket (evenings can get cool)
• Maps (Don't have one? We recommend browsing through these ones)
• Headlamps
• Field Journal (for sketching and notes)
• Sunscreen & sunhat
• Star maps

Little Wild Horse Canyon | San Rafael Swell

Drive to Little Wild Horse Canyon trailhead - 1 hour, 23 minutes

Little Wild Horse Canyon: a fun introduction to slot canyons. It's an 8-mile round trip canyon, but you can just do part of it depending on what your littles are up for. Be ready for scrambling over boulders here and there and squeezing through some tight spots. This hike will keep everyone interested. Not boring.

Lunch!

AFTERNOON

The Milky Way seen in the Dark Skies in Goblin Valley State Park

Back in the car for a short 23-minute drive to Goblin Valley State Park.

After the tunnel-like slot canyon morning, this playground is wide open and ready for kids to run amok. They will be running every which direction before you know it. Try to grab them first thing and set a meeting spot and time, just in case. But, for the most part, you'll be able to see them and have a good idea of their location as they jump, run, crawl and meander through alien-like rock sculptures. Once the littles have run their guts out, they'll probably start up some hide-and-seek shenanigans. This could go on for hours. And you’ll be gathering the most wonderful memories that you can tuck away in that big ol' parent heart of yours.

EVENING - NIGHT

Stick around and watch the sun set and the stars appear. Is this Tatooine? Jakku? It might as well be. And you might as well be Princess Leia contemplating how to save this gorgeous universe. This is where you'll really want to have read up on your star charts. But first, just soak it up. How can you not take a deep breath and sigh out every stress you can't even remember any more because...the universe! Hang around as long as you like. Find constellations with the kids and make up your own. When you've identified your heart's deepest desires, load the fam up in the car and listen to James Taylor sing about sweet baby something as the kids are lulled to sleep.

DAY THREE: Capitol Reef National Park

MORNING

Breakfast

Packing List:

• Lunch & snacks
• Sweatshirt & jacket
• Headlamp
• Maps
• Field Journal
• Water

Drive 1 hour, 40 minutes

Capitol Reef National Park Petroglyphs

Stop at the visitor center at the entrance to get your bearings and watch a short film about the geology and natural history of the park.

A short 5-10 minute drive will take you to Fremont petroglyph panels where you can see depictions of the area's ancient culture.

Lunch break: either at the petroglyphs or move on to the Hickman Bridge trailhead.

AFTERNOON

Hike Hickman Bridge. Jaws will drop. Natural bridges are each so very unique and never get monotonous.

Hickman Bridge at Capitol Reef National Park

Reward yourself (and the kids, too, if you're into feeding your kids all things delicious) with homemade pie at the pioneer Gifford House (near the visitor center). Apple pie is kind of the best.

On your way out of the park, stop at one of our favorite lookout spots near the Goosenecks overlook. If there's a full moon, you're in for a special treat. Because full moon over the desert is practically magic.

EVENING

Dinner at Slacker's in Torrey. Best burgers in the state. And sweet potato fries. And milkshakes. And soft-serve ice cream. And playground.

Back to home base in Green River. Long day. Good day.

Park Avenue | Arches National Park

DAY FOUR: Arches National Park

MORNING

Breakfast

Packing List:

• Lunch & snacks
• Sweatshirt & jacket
• Headlamp
• Maps
• Field Journal
• Water

Drive 45 minutes to Arches National Park

Devils Garden | Arches National Park

Head straight for Devils Garden and the Primitive Loop trail. You'll have time for driving the main scenic road later. Just get there. The loop trail is a total of 6.8 miles, but you can tailor the distance for your crew. You'll for sure want to see Landscape Arch (longest arch in the world) and Double O Arch--backtrack on the trail if that's about as much as you can handle. If you've got an older and more adventurous troupe, keep on keepin' on. You'll get a little taste of slickrock trails as well--look for the cairns (don't build any false cairns, ya hear?!).

Lunch! (on the trail)

AFTERNOON

Fiery Furnace | Arches National Park

Once you've had your fill of the Primitive Loop trail, get back in the car and relax...while you drive around the park and see the most incredible rock formations you've ever seen from natural arches, to balanced rocks, to avenues that look nothing like your home town.

*BONUS: if you think you can squeeze it in, try to get a permit to explore the Fiery Furnace. If it's your first time, you can arrange to go with a guide.

EVENING

Dinner! In the Moab. Our favorites: Zax Pizza, the Moab Brewery, Milt's Shake Shack, Peace Tree Cafe (if you're sick of burgers and pizza).

Dessert: get some ice cream at Moab Ice Cream on Main Street and start a little window shopping. You've got your rock shops, jewelry shops, swag shops, wood artisan shops, art shops, and cool shops.

Delicate Arch at night under the stars | Arches National Park

*BONUS: night hike to Delicate Arch. Milky Way all the way.

Swasey's Beach | Green River

DAY FIVE: Swasey's Beach - 20 minutes from downtown Green River

You'll love this lazy day after days of adventure. Recharge for one more day in a national park and your travel day home.

MORNING

Breakfast

Packing List:

• Lunch, snacks, and campsite dinners
• Picnic blanket
• Towels
• Swimsuits, life vests, duckies, paddle boards, tubes--whatever floats your boat
• Sweatshirt & jacket (maybe that velour running suit that was so cool in the early 2000's)
• Sunhats & sunscreen
• Headlamp
• Field Journal (and your watercolor kit you swore you'd actually use this year)
• Water
• Beach reading material & favorite family card games
• Pick up any rental gear you'll be needing (paddle boards, kayaks, duckies, etc) on your way to the beach

The campsites around Swasey's Beach are first-come, first-serve. So you know what that means? Get up early. Take a nap on the beach later. You're welcome. Enjoy your lazy day on the beach.

Canyonlands National Park

DAY SIX: Canyonlands National Park

MORNING

Breakfast

Packing List:

• Lunch & snacks (maybe dinner if you think you want to watch sunset at Mesa Arch)
• Sweatshirt & jacket
• Headlamp
• Maps
• Field Journal
• Water

Head for the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands.

Start with a hike to Upheaval Dome (1.6 miles round trip to an amazing geological oddity). Lunch on the hike.

AFTERNOON

On the drive back, stop at Whale Rock and False Kiva.

The Night Sky as seen over the Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park

EVENING

Decision-making time:

1. Everyone's tired and you want a nice sit-down dinner back in Green River at the Tamarisk or
2. Watch sunset at Mesa Arch and eat dinner together in the park.

DAY SEVEN: Go home. #utahsuper6

You know what to do: Instagram overload as soon as you get some wi-fi access. #sorrynotsorry