Location: Hatch
Top Things to do in Hatch
Top Restaurants in Hatch
Top 10 Things to do in Hatch, United States
Hatch is a town in Garfield County, Utah, United States. The population was 133 at the 2010 census. It is 260 miles (420 km) south of Salt Lake City.
Restaurants in Hatch
1. Bryce Canyon National Park
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By csb123 - Gainesville, GA
We loved seeing the unique hoodoo rock formations. The Queens garden – Navajo loop trail from sunrise to sunset point was great. We loved the park. However, the entire family was ready to move on after one day.
Be aware that there are limited lodging and restaurant options near the park.
2. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Best Friends Animal Society is the only national animal welfare organization focused exclusively on ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. An authority and leader in the no-kill movement, Best Friends runs the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals, as well as lifesaving programs in partnership with rescue groups and shelters across the country. Since its founding in 1984, Best Friends has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters nationwide from 17 million per year to about 4 million. That means there are still over 9,000 dogs and cats killed in shelters each day. And we will not be done until that number is zero. Best Friends has the knowledge, technical expertise and on-the-ground network to end the killing and Save Them All(R).
Reviewed By jkiel - Salt Lake City, Utah
We volunteered here for a few days, and cannot say enough about how incredible this place is, staffed by wonderful, caring people who truly want to attain no-kill status in the USA. There is a wide variety of animals - but this is not a zoo, you can't just drive up to an animal area and "visit" without volunteering. This makes it a much less stressful home for the animals, and makes the volunteer experience even more special.
If you do volunteer, make sure you have lunch at the cafe (vegetarian/vegan) - it's the best $5 lunch you'll get!
If you can't volunteer, sign up for a tour or three. The Grand Tour takes you all over the sanctuary, and gives you excellent background information about the mission of the sanctuary, the canyon, and the southern Utah area that is so beautiful.
3. Dark Ranger Telescope Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 169 reviews
See our Universe's wonders through BIG telescopes in the darkest/best stargazing location in USA -Utah's Bryce Canyon region. Watch live multimedia presentations about astronomy and nocturnal animals. Learn constellation stories during laser sky tours. Work on your Astronomy Boy/Girl Scout Badge. By capping attendance at 42, our knowledgeable and entertaining astronomers provide the premium astronomy experience. Private Tours up to 150 people also available by special request.
Reviewed By LisaVADC - Arlington, Virginia
Saturn, exploding stars and a galaxy far far away! That and more is exactly what I saw with my own eyes thanks to the great Dark Ranger Telescope Tours. Kevin the Ranger really helps to make this a wonderful experience. Very knowledgeable and truly entertaining! We learned and I laughed!. I was really looking forward to this as a part of my Bryce vacation and I was not disappointed. I do not like the cold and thanks to repeated advice, I was prepared – so follow the advice and you will be warm enough to enjoy the magnificent skies, lessons and humor. I also found Kevin is very open and responsive to questions as you plan your trip as well as during the night tour. I wish I lived closer so I could do this again and again! I highly recommend this to any visitor to Bryce area.
4. Natural Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 440 reviews
Reviewed By CrankingChick - Tucson, Arizona
Natural Bridge (elevation 8627') is a viewpoint on the scenic drive in Bryce Canyon National Park that overlooks an arch formed when natural forces carved away the red rock. "Bridges" are formed when the rushing water of streams or rivers erodes the rock. Technically, this formation is an "arch" because it was created by a combination of factors. First, water in the cracks of the rock froze and thawed, expanding and weakening the fissures. Then over time rainwater ate away at the top and sides of the soft limestone. Ultimately, gravity caused the weaker sections of rock to collapse, leaving the hole in the center. I enjoyed seeing young quaking aspen trees at this location as well. There's a small parking area at the site. You can't really see the arch when just driving by in the car because it's below the road level, but the overlook is only a few steps from the parking lot. The walkway is paved and wheelchair-accessible. This viewpoint is located about 12.4 miles south of the park entrance sign on Utah State Route 63. Entrance fees are required to access this area ($30/car, valid 7 days, or use NPS passes). Note that the regular park shuttle does not visit this location, but you can reserve a seat on the free Rainbow Bus tour that visits the southern end of the scenic drive twice per day (435-834-5290).
5. Red Canyon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 585 reviews
Reviewed By CrankingChick - Tucson, Arizona
This interesting and beautiful area of red-rock hoodoos in the Dixie National Forest is easily accessible because Utah State Route 12 passes right through it - literally, since there are two tunnels! If you are traveling east of Bryce Canyon toward Zion National Park or Cedar Breaks National Monument then you can't miss it (about 9 miles east of the junction with UT63 at Bryce). There are pull-offs and parking along the road for photo-ops, educational signs about the history and geology of the area, and several trail heads. The visitor center is located on the north side of the road and has a large parking area, picnic tables and restrooms (open seasonally 9:00-6:00, Thursday-Monday in October, Friday-Monday in April, daily May-September). There are several trails in the area of varying length and difficulty. Some allow mountain bikes, horses and OHVs. We stopped for a couple of hours and hiked in the hoodoos around the visitor center and then down the paved bike trail since we had a wheelchair. It wasn't crowded on a Tuesday afternoon in mid-September, and the weather was very pleasant. The terrain at Red Canyon is similar to Bryce Canyon but on a smaller scale, so it may seem redundant if you've already visited there. However, it might be a good alternative if you're looking to avoid the crowd and entrance fee at the national park. A campground is available.
6. Parowan Gap Petroglyphs
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 116 reviews
Reviewed By Mindy and Roger A - Janesville, Wisconsin
Very detailed and easy to access Petroglyphs. To access the Petroglyphs travel approximately 15 miles north of Cedar City on Hwy 130, turn right on the Black Top road and go about 2.5 miles to the vertical gap in the ridge. The Petroglyphs are on both sides of the road at the gap.
Most of the Petroglyphs are on the lower portion of the walls & on broken off sections of rock. There is also a small cave on the south wall where the Shaman's lived and who probably did the inscriptions. If you look high up on the south wall you may be able to see an Owl nest. Also on the north wall high up, there is a large Eagle nest. both nests are on the far side away from the parking lot.
There are several placards with information & explanations for the Petroglyphs. There is also a pit toilet at the parking lot. Continue on this road toward Parowan to the location of Dinosaur Tracks then further on to Little Salt Lake.
These are excellent Petroglyphs. We have looked at Petroglyphs at several areas in Utah and judge these to be among the best!
7. Navajo/Queens Garden Loop
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
2.9-mile hiking trail that leads to rock formations shaped like Queen Victoria and her garden.
Reviewed By RetiredTravelerTN - Nashville, TN
One of our favorite experiences at Bryce Canyon was the combined Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop Trail. The rock formations are beautiful from above, but walking below the rim gives an entirely different perspective. Make the whole loop if you can. If mobility is an issue, begin at the Queen’s Garden trailhead and go just far enough to get an impression of the view below the rim.
8. Observation Point
Overall Ratings
5 based on 591 reviews
This overlook provides a great view of southern Zion Canyon if you're willing to climb the 2200 feet of elevation to get there.
Reviewed By YoostonTX - Houston
Go early so you’re not hiking uphill in the sun. My 9 and 7 year old did great - some snow and ice in spots, but we did ok. Echo Canyon is so cool - the view on the way up this trail is better than the view from the top, in my opinion. We really enjoyed this one - only 3 miles up then the last mile is flat. Prepare for varying temps, depending on clouds & wind... we went from really cold to hot once the sun hit us. So much fun and great workout!
9. Cedar Breaks National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 989 reviews
A smaller version of Bryce Canyon, this 2,500-foot deep basin filled with strange limestone formations in a vivid array of colors and hues offers breathtaking views on a five-mile drive along the rim. This naturally formed amphitheater has guided walks in the summer and a few designated hiking trails.
Reviewed By CrankingChick - Tucson, Arizona
We have been to Cedar Breaks on two separate visits 30 years apart, and we love it there. The vibrant vermilion "hoodoo" rock formations are very similar to those at Bryce Canyon National Park, but are concentrated in a smaller area. Cedar Breaks is less well-known and therefore less crowded than Bryce Canyon. I don't think that the commercial tour buses visiting "The Mighty 5" parks stop there, possibly because the roads to get there (Utah State Routes 14 or 143) are curvy two-lane mountain roads. The park is compact; you can spend as little as 30 minutes if you just want to peek at some overlooks, or as much as 1-2 days if you want to camp and hike. We spent about 2.5 hours there to visit all the overlooks and take a hike. The elevation at Cedar Breaks is over 10,000', so the temperatures are much cooler up there than in the surrounding valleys. The park is prone to winter weather, and the scenic access road (Utah State Route 148) is typically closed from late-October through mid-May. [Note that winter sports like skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiliing are permitted but facilities are closed; see website.] Unless you're planning to visit in summer, I strongly suggest checking the park website to make sure it's open. It was September both times we visited. The first time we went it was the end of the month and the park was open but it was 29 degrees, windy and snowing! On our recent trip, we visited on a Tuesday morning about the second week of the month. There were rain showers in the forecast and it was cool, but pleasant for hiking.
There is not a lodge or restaurant at Cedar Breaks. There's a campground that is open in summer, other than that the closest services are at Brian Head ski area (4-5 miles), Cedar City (20-25 miles), and Duck Creek Village (about 15 miles). We stayed at Cedar City and drove up the mountain on UT14 through Cedar Canyon first thing in the morning. It was a very scenic drive - I wish we had waited until the sun was a little higher in the sky because the canyon was still somewhat shaded by the surrounding mountains. This route passes Cedar Canyon Overlook about 17 miles east of Cedar City, where the Bristlecone Pine Trail leads .3 mile one-way to a panoramic view south toward Zion National Park (not wheelchair accessible).
The scenic access road for Cedar Breaks is UT148, a 7.5 mile, two-lane paved road that runs north-south between UT14 and UT143. It skirts the eastern rim of the massive bowl-shaped amphitheater and leads to 4 overlooks of the enchanting hoodoos below. The visitor center is located at the southern end of the road at Point Supreme Overlook, where visitors are expected to show NPS passes or pay the entrance fee ($6/person, age 15 and under free). It's typically open 9:00am-6pm, providing maps, information, souvenirs and restrooms. The overlooks are all worth the time to stop, offering different vantage points of the amazing geologic formations. Walkways are short, paved and suitable for wheelchairs.
We parked at Point Supreme and checked out the overlook and visitor center, then followed the paved trail across the road to the campground and picnic area where we connected to the newly-paved Sunset Trail. This path winds through alpine meadow, evergreen and aspen trees to the Sunset View Overlook. There were wildflowers all along the way, and we were enchanted by the friendly golden-mantled ground squirrels that were scurrying everywhere. It was quiet in the morning - we only saw one other couple the whole way. The walking distance from the visitor center to Sunset View is about 2-2.5 miles round trip. There are some gradual grades but it's suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Before setting off to hike, you should be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness (headache, shortness of breath, fatigue). Go slow and drink plenty of fluids. Note that pets are only allowed on the paved trail between the visitor center and campground.
Two additional hiking trails are available in the park (not wheelchair accessible). The Ramparts Trail starts at Point Supreme parking lot and leads along the rim to Spectra Point and Ramparts Overlook for views of the amphitheater and bristlecone pine trees (4 miles round-trip, steep grades). The Alpine Pond Trail is a 2-mile loop with trail heads at Chessmen Ridge Overlook on its south end and along the scenic drive on its north end (about a mile north of Chessmen).
After enjoying our hike and all the overlooks at Cedar Breaks, we ventured just about a mile north of the North View Overlook to Brian Head Peak (see separate reviews of Brian Head Peak Observation). This attraction is not part of the National Monument but is right next to it and well-worth the time! Access is via Forest Road 047 which is a dirt and gravel road that climbs steeply around the edge of the mountain peak for 2.7 miles to an elevation of 11,307' for spectacular views of 3 states. After consulting the rangers at Cedar Breaks about road condition, we attempted this drive in a low-clearance 2WD car. The views were worth it, but the road was quite rough and rutted and we had to go very slow.
From Brian Head we set out eastward for Panguitch and Bryce Canyon via the Patchwork Parkway scenic drive (UT143) through the Dixie National Forest; see separate reviews of "Brian Head-Panquitch Lake Scenic Byway".
10. Agua Canyon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 110 reviews
Reviewed By BradJill - Hong Kong, China
Aqua Canyon is the location of one of the very good viewpoints along Highway 63 at Bryce Canyon National Park. This particular stop is situated between Natural Bridge an Ponderosa Canyon Overlooks and is well worth a stop for the outstanding views of impressive stacks of hoodoos and other land formations as well as the landscape views into the lower Aqua Canyon area below
During our early April visit last year, we were treated to a light layer of snow on the main canyon rim. This contributed to very good pictures we were able to make at the Aqua Canyon viewpoint.
Note, the viewpoints along Highway 63 are each on the east side of the road. As such, its best to simply drive all the way down south to Rainbow and Yavimpa Point first. Then make your way north pulling over into whichever viewpoints you are interested in. I would give Aqua Canyon at least 4-5 minute stop.
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