Your kids may be glued to their iPhones throughout the flight (or car ride) to Utah, but once they spend a few minutes hiking the rose-orange dirt roads that criss-cross Capitol Reef National Park, they'll change their tune. Mammoth, jagged-edged rock formations shoot up into the sky. These wrinkles in the earth's surface developed tens of millions of years ago, and Google Maps doesn't do the dazzling scene a bit of justice. (Admission: $20 per vehicle.)

Pretty much every inch of Bryce Canyon's perfectly chiseled landscape is a Kodak moment (or maybe an Instagram moment?) waiting to happen. Even if you're not snapping photos at every turn, the vast ridges and valleys make the perfect backdrop while you inspect the indigenous plants and wildlife, or descend along narrow paths on a mule (rides $65-$90 per person). (Admission: $35 per vehicle.)

With more than 2,000 natural stone arches, Arches National Park's contrasting landscape of land forms and textures will entice any type of traveler to stick around until nighttime, where the night sky lights up with its natural wonders. Due to little light pollution in the area and the park's efforts to keep lighting low, guests can gaze at the sky's majestic beauty all night long. (Admission: $30 per vehicle.)

Some travelers prefer to make a pitstop in Utah during longer treks through the southwest, or even visit as a side trip from coastal cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. The numerous self-guided trails at southern Utah's Zion National Park make exploring its vast backcountry, hidden swimming holes, and rivers a cinch for solo travelers. (Admission: $35 per vehicle.)

Keep an eye out for the narrow rim and lookout trails that make Canyonlands National Park one of the most gratifying hiking experiences in the state (and trust us, there's tough competition). Utah's largest park also offers endless mesas, cliffs, rivers, pine trails, and, yes, canyons, for mountain bikers as well as those four-wheeling it. And if you really want to rough it, look into the park's diverse campgrounds, each with their own scenery. (Admission: $30 per vehicle.)