Zion & Bryce Self-Guided Driving Tours Bundle

What your day looks like

Your tour of Zion begins at the Springdale Visitor Center. As you drive, you’ll hear the history of the park, and how it got its unusual name, then stop by a vista from which the impressive Altar of Sacrifice, Sundial, and West Temple are all clearly visible. After that, you’ll drive past the towering Sentinel and hear how a tremendous earthquake totally transformed this mountain. At the next viewpoint, you’ll see the Patriarchs, a trio of mountains so gorgeous that people used to think pictures of them just had to be fake. Continuing on, you’ll swing by sparkling waterfalls with emerald pools at their base. Then you’ll see Angel’s Landing, a precarious, death-defying hike famous both for its staggering views and for the danger involved in getting to them. Up next is Weeping Rock, a cliff face that constantly “weeps” and gives life to a little oasis at its base. Then it’s on to The Narrows, a one-of-a-kind river hike that’s perfect for photo ops. Then you’ll travel along the Riverwalk and hear about the ancient petroglyphs left behind by the people who once called this area home. When you head next through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, you’ll get the full story of the conflict between the Mormons and the Paiute tribe, then learn how an ingenious engineer figured out how to transport timber from the canyon’s rim down to its base with a complex pulley system! After you pass the totally strange Checkerboard Mesa, you’ll arrive at the East Entrance Ranger Station, where your tour will conclude. Your journey through Bryce Canyon begins at the park’s entrance and continues on to Fairyland Point, a lovely overlook offering your first glimpse at the kind of beauty that’s in store. Next you’ll pause at Sunrise Point and get your first look at the mysterious hoodoos which make this park famous. After that, of course, is Sunset Point, the perfect sister to Sunrise Point. Come sunset, photographers from all around the world gather here to capture the breathtaking final rays of sunlight. As you continue on toward Inspiration Point, you’ll uncover how this astonishing landscape formed in the first place. Then it’s time to revisit the story of the first Mormon pioneers who arrived here and declared this place their new home. After that, you’ll visit Swamp Canyon Overlook, which hides some seriously stunning views behind its modest name. But first, you get the facts about the connection Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid have with this park! Next, you’ll visit a natural arch—one of Mother Nature’s most impressive creations. Then it’s on to a couple of canyons guaranteed to take your breath away with their sweeping views and lush interiors, plus a mythical tale of malevolent water spirits that the Paiute once believed occupied these rivers. The final landmark on the tour is the beautiful Rainbow Point.