Discover Utah’s Natural History at Each of the Mighty 5

By Olivia Barney 

Cabin fever got you down? Don’t let the chilly weather stop you from getting outside and exploring Utah’s wondrous landscape! Even in the latter part of the year, there’s so much to do and see around the state. And when it comes to visiting Utah’s national parks, the fall and winter months are actually the ideal seasons to visit — they’re less crowded than during the summertime, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see those stunning red rocks frosted in fresh snow. 

But Utah’s iconic red rock canyons and forested mountains are more than just scenic stops to make along your journey. They’re also fascinating hot spots for scientific research, helping us learn about the prehistoric animals that once roamed the land, the first peoples who settled here, and the natural forces that cause such unique landforms to develop. As you’re planning your next trip to one Utah’s Mighty 5, consider taking a deeper dive into some of the natural history and science lessons the area has to offer. 

Arches National Park

Perhaps the most visually unique of Utah’s National Parks, Arches is a geological wonder. In addition to being one of the iconic filming locations for “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” the park is also a hotspot for geologic research. The famous arch rock formations are examples of perfect engineering, and the process by which they’re formed is a unique, natural process that researchers are actively studying. 

Sunrise over Delicate Arch

But perhaps what makes this park so special is that we exist at the same time as these breathtaking formations. Jeff Moore, a professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah, said this of Delicate Arch, “[It] is such an improbable thing. It's not long for this world. When you become more comfortable thinking in long periods of time, in geological time, it's one of these features where you just have to think how lucky we are to overlap with this really beautiful landform.” 

We interviewed Moore, along with Riley Finnigan, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Geology and Geophysics, about what makes Arches National Park so unique on NHMU’s new podcast, Utah Unearthed. You can listen for free on Spotify. 

Bryce Canyon National Park

Hoodoos at Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon is actually an alpine forest that is home to dozens of animal species, including mule deer, which you can often see grazing at dusk. It’s also a forest unlike any other, and known more for its famous geology than trees. Formed through intense winds and the cycle of water freezing and thawing, it’s home to distinctive red rock pillars, called hoodoos. In the summertime, the area is filled with hikers, campers, and landscape photographers, but in the winter, it’s a quiet and idyllic location for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. 

In the region directly bordering Bryce Canyon to the east, there’s another special location for dinosaur enthusiasts to check out: Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. This remote area of the backcountry is one of the best places for paleontologists to study dinosaurs! The exposed rock correlates to various geologic time periods, like the Triassic, Jurassic, or Cretaceous, providing researchers with the chance to study different periods of prehistoric time in one area. Many fascinating dinosaur discoveries have been made in Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, including Kosmoceratops richardsoni. 

Canyonlands National Park

Formed by both the Green and Colorado rivers, Canyonlands is a massive 527-square-mile landscape with endless exploration opportunities. As Utah’s largest National Park, it offers visitors a wide variety of activities, from backpacking and river rafting in the summer to climbing, off-roading, and stargazing in the winter, this park offers it all.

Sunrise at Canyonlands National Park

Throughout Canyonlands, Moab, and the surrounding desert, you’ll likely pass signs that read, “Don’t Bust the Crust!” These signs refer to biocrust, tiny communities that literally hold the desert together. You can learn all about these unsung heroes in our Utah Unearthed episode with Kristina Young, an ecosystem ecologist who has spent 15 years studying the crust beneath our feet in the Moab area. 

Capitol Reef National Park

Panorama Point in Capitol Reef National Park

If you’re looking for a destination that encourages you to slow down and take your time, Capitol Reef is the place for you. The park is less crowded than some of the other, more famous national parks in Utah, but it offers a unique experience. Visiting Capitol Reef is like stepping into another world, where nothing exists but land and sky. This open landscape makes it an ideal location for stargazing, and Capitol Reef is an International Dark Sky Park, guaranteeing you have the best view of the cosmic light show above. 

Capitol Reef is also a fantastic place to learn about the first peoples who lived in the area. Towering sandstone cliffs feature petroglyph art from the Fremont and Ancestral Puebloan people, telling their stories and teaching us about their hunting patterns. You can explore more about these early groups by visiting NHMU's First Peoples exhibition, a great starting point for any Utah road trip! 

Zion National Park

Stars over Zion National Park

Arguably the most famous of Utah’s national parks, Zion is the cure for your cabin fever and winter blues. The area experiences more than 300 days of sunshine each year, so if you’re missing the light and warmth of summer, consider taking a trip down south for a few days. While you’re there, you can stargaze under clear winter skies, try out canyoneering (weather permitting) or horseback riding, hike dramatic trails below and up its towering cliffs, and check out some of the filming locations for “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” 

Zion is also a fantastic place to learn about rock patterns and what they can tell us about the history of a place. Geologists love to visit Southern Utah for this very reason — layers of rock can be read like pages in a book, teaching us about how and when different landforms developed. The layers of sedimentary rock in Zion are between 110-270 million years old, and each layer holds evidence of ecosystems past. In the past, the Zion region used to be near sea level but has since been uplifted to reveal these older layers. Check out NHMU’s Land exhibition to learn more about what rocks can tell us about the land beneath us, then you visit Zion, you can practice looking for some of these clues.

Discover the Science of Utah

Whether you’re looking for a scenic drive to get you out of the house or hoping for a canyoneering adventure in the desert, Utah’s Mighty 5 can give you exactly what you’re looking for. But in your quest for adventure, don’t overlook the fascinating, and often subtle, scientific lessons that the landscape has to teach you. After all, you don’t need to work as a scientist to appreciate the complexity of the natural world.

Ready to take a trip to Southern Utah? Prepare for your journey through Utah's majestic landscape at the Natural History Museum of Utah, where our exhibits will offer you a deeper understanding and greater appreciation of this special place.