Utah is a beautiful state featuring plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures, experiencing interesting cultures, and simply enjoying the view, Here are our 7 favorite things to do during your trip.
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“The Mighty 5” National Parks
OK, so this is cheating, but there are five National Parks in Utah collectively known as “The Mighty 5.” Your trip to Utah should include a visit to as many of them as you can. So let’s pretend this is just one site when it’s actually 5!
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is located in southern Utah and is known for its red rock canyons and towering cliffs. If you can manage a challenging hike, definitely go on the Angel’s Landing trail. If you aren’t up to such a steep incline, The Narrows slot canyon hike might be a good option. You can see it from a paved and accessible one mile path called the Riverside Walk. If you continue, you will be walking in a river so pack your water shoes! For a easy family-friendly hike with great views of Zion Canyon, try the Canyon Overlook Trail.
If hiking isn’t for you, then drive the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. This 10 mile drive takes you from the Zion entrance to Mount Carmel. You’ll pass through switchbacks and tunnels – make sure to stop at all the viewpoints for glorious vistas. Another not-to-be-missed route is the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive accessed by shuttle bus or bicycle.
You can stay in a hotel or cabin inside the park. Or there’s plenty of great places to stay nearby. And there’s a ton of great things to do in the area.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Also located in southern Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is known for hoodoos, the tall, thin spires of rock jutting out from the ground. Definitely time your visit for sunrise at Sunrise Point to see the hoodoos glow in brilliant red, orange, and pink colors.
If you like to hike, take the Navajo Loop Trail. This moderate 1.3 mile hike starts from Sunrise Point. Combine this hike with the relatively easy Queen’s Garden Trail (total of almost 3 miles round trip) providing a great view of the hoodoos. Non-hikers will love the 18-mile Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive. Make sure to stop at the viewpoints of Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Rainbow Point.
You can camp or stay in the lodge in the park. Or there’s plenty of great places to stay nearby. And there’s a ton of great things to do in the area.
Arches National Park
Arches National Park is in southeastern Utah and has more than 2,000 natural stone arches. Take the 3-mile roundtrip hike to the most famous, Delicate Arch. Or take the short hike to the Windows Section to see some of the park’s largest arches.
If you aren’t interested in hiking, drive the 18-mile paved road through the park. Make sure to stop at Park Avenue, Balanced Rock, and Fiery Furnace.
You can camp in the park. Or there’s plenty of great places to stay nearby. And there’s a ton of stuff to see and do nearby.
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is also located in southeaster Utah. This vast landscape is divided into four districts. The highly accessible Islands in the Sky district provides panoramic views of the park. Take the easy 0.5 mile hike to Mesa Arch at sunrise. Then stop by the Grand View Point scenic overlook. Also don’t miss the 0.6 mile moderate hike up Upheaval Dome.
The Needles district has colorful spires had is a great place for hiking and camping. There are several short paved hiking trails that will give you a good overview of this section of the park. If you have a high-clearance, low range four-wheel-drive vehicle (like a truck or SUV), you can take advantage of hundreds of unpaved roads.
The Maze district is remote and rugged. The most popular place to hike is in Horseshoe Canyon to see ancient rock markings called the Great Gallery. This is another place where you can drive your high-clearance, low range four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The Rivers district includes the Colorado and Green rivers. Experience this part of the park best with a guided river rafting tour.
You can camp in the park. Or there’s plenty of great places to stay nearby. And there’s a ton of stuff to see and do nearby.
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is located in south-central Utah and features colorful cliffs, canyons, domes, and natural bridges. Take the 8-mile Scenic Drive for the best views. Then take the moderate 1.8 mile round-trip hike to Hickman Bridge.
Visit the Fruita Historic District to learn more about the pioneer community that once lived here. If you visit during the summer and fall, you can pick fruit from the Fruita Orchards. And year round you can purchase pies, jams, and other treats from Gifford Homestead.
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the park is the Waterpocket Fold. This is a 100-mile wrinkle in the Earth’s crust. Spend a day driving the 124 mile Loop-The-Fold Driving Tour starting at the Visitor’s Center.
You can camp in the park. Or there’s plenty of great places to stay nearby. And there’s a ton of stuff to see and do nearby.
Moab
Moab is a great place to base your exploration of 3 of the 5 Utah National Parks. But you don’t even have to leave town for scenery! It’s surrounded by a beautiful rocky red landscape.
You already know about the wonderful National Parks you should visit. But you’ll want to spend some time enjoying the town as well. There are plenty of shops and galleries to browse and restaurants to keep you fueled for your adventures. Visit the Moab Museum to learn about Moab’s history. There are exhibits on uranium mining, Native Americans who once lived there, and early pioneers. If you have kids in tow, plan to spend some time at Moab Giants Dinosaur Park. This unique park features life-size dinosaur replicas, a playground where kids can dig out dinosaur bones, an interactive museum, a 5D prehistoric aquarium, and a 3D theater.
Moab is also close to Dead Horse Point State Park. Stop by Dead Horse Point Overlook for one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Utah. If you have a little more time, take the easy 2 mile (one way) East Rim Trail or moderate 3.5 mile (one way West Rim Trail.
There’s plenty of great places to stay in Moab. And there’s a ton of stuff to see and do nearby.
Dinosaur National Monument
Located on the Utah and Colorado border lies Dinosaur National Monument. Learn about the dinosaurs and other creatures that roamed this area at the Quarry Exhibit Hall featuring an exposed rock wall with more than 1,500 fossils. Then hike the Fossil Discovery Trail to see more fossils in their natural state.
At the northern tip of the monument are the Gates of Lodore. Here you hike the 1 mile round trip Gates of Lodore Trail to a scenic viewpoint of the canyon. This is also the start of multi-day river trips. For one-day river trips, head to Rainbow Park. Here you can also see petroglyphs created by the Fremont people 1,000 years ago and visit the historic circa 1882 Ruple Ranch.
Take a 10 mile scenic drive from the Quarry Visitors Center through the Cub Creek Area. Here you will find more Fremont petroglyphs including depictions of large lizards. You can also visit the Josie Bassett Morris Ranch. Josie lived here independently from 1914-1964 in a cabin that still stands. There are also plenty of hiking trails to further take in the scenery.
You can camp in the park. There are also many great places to stay nearby, and there are other fun things to see and do there.
Salt Lake City
So far in our Utah explorations, we’ve seen a ton of interesting scenery and one small town. So let’s go into the big city – Salt Lake City! But don’t worry – there’s still plenty of beautiful scenery to behold!
The top attraction in town is Temple Square. This five block area is located in downtown Salt Lake City and serves as the world headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). There are a lot of different things you can do and explore here. Highlights include guided tours, Tabernacle Choir rehearsal or performance, the Church History Museum, and the Beehive House which was home of LDS leader Brigham Young.
Nearby, tour the Utah State Capitol and walk the memorial pathway on its grounds. Throughout the complex, admire the vast array of art depicting Utah history. Across the street, visit the Pioneer Museum to learn more about the first Utah settlers. And if you are interested in learning more about Utah’s natural history, definitely spend a day at the Natural History Museum of Utah.
Great Salt Lake
But Salt Lake City isn’t just known for being the center of the LDS religion. After all, it gets its name from the Great Salt Lake, the largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere. Get great views of the lake from Ensign Peak, from the Great Salt Lake Legacy Parkway Scenic Byway, and from trails on Antelope Island State Park.
Other ways to experience the Great Salt Lake include taking a sunset cruise, paddleboarding, and simply bobbing in the water. The high salt concentration will make you extremely buoyant. But be aware that the water is smelly, there are biting flies, and you will be caked with salt when you emerge. It’s not for everyone!
You can camp at Great Salt Lake State Park and at Antelope Island State Park. If you prefer a city stay, there are many great places to stay in Salt Lake City. And there are plenty of other things to do nearby!
Bonneville Salt Flats
Not far from Salt Lake City is Bonneville Salt Flats. This surreal landscape of white salt flats stretches on forever. The salt crust can be as thick as 5 feet and covers 46 square miles. You can walk or drive out onto the flats to experience the otherworldly view. Visit at sunrise or sunset for brilliant light displays and reflections. Make sure to take your camera for some outstanding photos!
The Bonneville Salt Flats are famous for car racing. You can attend high-speed races at Speed Week in August and World of Speed in September. If you there at a different time, you can still see markers highlighting record-breaking runs at the Bonneville Speedway. And you can test your limits by driving your own vehicle on the flats’ smooth, hard surface!
This is an easy day trip from Salt Lake City, so you can stay there. Or if you prefer to be nearby, stay in Wendover. There are also several other fun things to see and do while in the area.
Park City
Another terrific city in Utah to visit is Park City. Known for world-class skiing and snowboarding slopes, Park City is a great place to visit in the winter. Park City Mountain Resort is the largest ski resort in the U.S. and offers a variety of trails, equipment rentals, and lessons. Other popular winter sports are snowmobiling and snowshoeing. And if you have always wanted to go dog sledding or take a sleigh ride, this is a great place to try it! If you happen to be visiting during January, you can even attend the Sundance Film Festival.
Don’t worry if you can only come in the summer. There’s still plenty to do! You can ride an Alpine Coaster or Slide and take hikes or ride mountain bikes on scenic trails. You an also participate in water sports or relax on the beach at Jordanelle Reservoir.
Activities you can enjoy year-round are scenic gondola rides and hot air balloon rides. You can also visit Utah Olympic Park built for the 2002 Winter Olympics. If sports aren’t really your thing, the Kimbell Art Center offers exhibits and art classes. Or you can tour the High West Distillery. Maybe you can enjoy a treatment at any number of spas in the city. Or you can shop until you drop at Junction Commons.
No matter what time of year you visit or what your interests are, you will enjoy exploring historic Main Street chock full of charming shops, restaurants, and galleries. Main Street comes alive at night due to the many bars, saloons, pubs, and live music venues.
There are many great places to stay in Park City. And there are also several other fun things to see and do while in the area.
Goblin Valley State Park
Our final sensational site in Utah is Goblin Valley State Park. This park is filled with thousands of hoodoo rock formations resembling goblins. You are allowed to climb on and around the hoodoos, so it’s a great playground for kids and kids-at-heart.
If you are up for it, hike the Goblin’s Lair Trail. This moderate 3 mile round-trip hike leads you into hidden slot canyon. While there, you may want to try some canyoneering. If you are experienced, you can bring your own equipment. But most people should book a guided tour.
If moderate hikes and canyoneering are beyond you, opt for the Curtis Bench Trail. This 1.5 mile roundtrip trail is easy and offers stunning vistas of the park. Or you can simply access the most iconic hoodoos, the Three Sisters Formation, from the main parking area.
You can camp in the park. Or there are many great places to stay in Green River. And there are other fun things to see and do while in the area.
What’s on your Utah trip itinerary?
These are just 7 of the sensational sites to see in Utah. But the state is full of many more incredible destinations that are worth exploring. Tell us below where you plan to visit!
We hope you have enjoyed this installment on our 7 Sensational Sites in Each State of the USA series. Tell us what you think in the comments below. You can also contact us and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest so you never miss a post.
