Welcome to the Bigroads ultimate travel guide to Utah! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Utah.
Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I currently do not make a profit from this website, and you will see no invasive or annoying ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.
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Ahhhhhh, Utah. The state that holds my heart. Anyone who visits southern Utah will fall in love. There's nothing quite like it on earth. The desert scenery is so stunning it can change a person. There's five national parks there, and any one of them will drop your jaw. The northern half of the state is great too, with beautiful forests and many gorgeous mountains and wildflower fields. If you haven't been to Utah yet, make it your next vacation.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN UTAH
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Are you short on time and struggling to choose something to do or see in Utah? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Utah, in no particular order:
✮ Spend a few days hiking the sandstone trails of Arches National Park
✮ Explore the sites of Zion National Park using their shuttle bus system
✮ Marvel as you walk around the odd rock formations in Goblin Valley State Park
✮ Drive the UT-12 scenic byway all the way from Panguitch to Torrey
✮ Enjoy the jaw-dropping views from Dead Horse Point State Park
✮ Go skiing or snowboarding at one of the famous resorts of northern Utah (e.g. Park City, Alta, Snowbird, etc.)
✮ See the famous hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park
✮ Hit the world-famous mountain biking trails of Moab
✮ Go offroad driving pretty much anywhere in southern Utah
✮ Try canyoneering in one of Utah's slot canyons (guides available in select towns)
If I could select only one place to visit in Utah, it would be Moab. The access to outdoor activities from Moab is outstanding. Tourism is huge business there, and so there's tons of lodging, restaurants, and other tourist attractions too. Plan a 7 day (or more) trip there and you won't be disappointed.
Interested in discovering great attractions in other U.S. states? My 10 Great Attractions in Each U.S. State guide covers the best attractions from coast-to-coast. And here is a guide to the best One-Week Vacations in the U.S..
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN UTAH
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Utah. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Utah bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northern Utah (including Park City and Salt Lake City)
✮ Alta Ski Area, Little Cottonwood Canyon - one of the 5 best ski resorts in Utah; 119 trails; 11,068ft summit; 2,538ft vertical drop
✮ Bonneville Salt Flats - desert driving with no speed limits! be careful!
✮ Bridal Veil Falls, Provo Canyon - my 2nd favorite waterfall in Utah
✮ Deer Valley Resort, Park City - one of the 5 best ski/snowboard resorts in Utah; 103 trails; 9,570ft summit; 3,000ft vertical drop
✮ Dinosaur National Monument, near Vernal - dramatic canyons; awesome hiking and river rafting
✮ Family History Library, Salt Lake City - the world's most comprehensive genealogical library
✮ Fantasy Canyon, Vernal - unique geological formations
✮ Hill Aerospace Museum, Ogden - one of the best aviation museums in the U.S.
✮ Mirror Lake Scenic Byway (UT 150 - one of the best scenic drives in Utah; many outstanding hiking trails stem from this road
✮ Mormon Tabernacle Choir / The Tabernacle, Salt Lake City - famous choir
✮ Natural History Museum of Utah, Salt Lake City - excellent natural history museum
✮ Park City Historic District - great shops, art galleries, restaurants, bike paths, and museums
✮ Park City Mountain Resort, Park City - the largest lift-serviced ski resort in the U.S.; 330 trails; 10,026ft summit; 3,226ft vertical drop
✮ Salt Lake Temple / Temple Square, Salt Lake City - home of the Mormon church
✮ Snowbasin Ski Resort - one of the 5 best ski/snowboard resorts in Utah; 107 trails; 9,350ft summit; 2,900ft vertical drop
✮ Snowbird - one of the 5 best ski/snowboard resorts in Utah; 140 trails; 11,000ft summit, 3,240ft vertical drop
✮ Timpanogos Cave National Monument, American Fork - excellent guided underground cave tours
✮ Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest - outstanding scenery, hiking, backpacking, backcountry skiing, and other outdoor adventures
✮ Utah State Capitol, Salt Lake City - one of the most beautiful state capitol buildings in the U.S.
Southwestern Utah (including Kanab, St. George, and Zion National Park)
✮ 4x4 driving in/near Kanab
✮ ATV/ORV-ing near Hurricane
✮ Best Friends Animal Society, Kanab - world-class animal sanctuary
✮ Cedar Breaks National Monument - similar scenery to Bryce Canyon National Park, but without the crowds
✮ Kanarra Falls, Kanarraville - gorgeous and photogenic slot canyon with waterfalls; permits required
✮ Pioneer Park, St. George - attractive town park with fun rock scrambling and natural arches; kids will have an absolute blast here
✮ Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, near St. George - beautiful red rock scenery; excellent desert hiking; slot canyons
✮ Snow Canyon State Park, near Kanab - one of the most beautiful state parks in the U.S.; two days' worth of hiking trails to explore
✮ St. George Temple, St. George - beautiful Mormon temple
✮ Thunder Junction All Abilities Park, St. George - one of the best children's playgrounds in the U.S.
✮ Tuacahn Amphitheater, Ivins - beautiful outdoor theater/concert venue
✮ Utah Shakespeare Festival, Cedar City - Tony Award-winning theatre; held summer and fall on the campus of Southern Utah University
✮ Zion National Park - one of the premier U.S. national parks; world-class desert scenery, hiking, backpacking, and canyoneering
Southcentral Utah (including Escalante, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Capitol Reef National Park)
✮ 4x4 driving in/near Capitol Reef National Park
✮ 4x4 driving in/near Escalante
✮ Bryce Canyon National Park - see the most famous hoodoos in the world
✮ Canyoneering in Escalante - several guide companies are based in Escalante
✮ Capitol Reef National Park - wonderful desert scenery; outstanding scenic drives and hiking
✮ Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - some of the best boating adventures in the U.S.; many impressive geological sites
✮ Goblin Valley State Park, near Green River- weirdly eroded rock formations; one of the best and most unique state parks in the U.S.
✮ Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument - holds a lifetime of off-the-beaten-path adventures (on and off-trail)
✮ Hole-in-the-Rock Road, near Escalante - unpaved and often rough gateway to a myriad of outdoor adventures (e.g. canyoneering)
✮ Little Wild Horse Canyon, near Goblin Valley State Park - one of the most accessible slot canyons in Utah
✮ Lower Calf Creek Falls near Escalante - easily the most beautiful waterfall in Utah, and probably top 10 in the U.S.
✮ Old Paria, near Kanab - beautiful, colorful badlands; do not drive the dirt road when wet!
✮ Red Canyon (Dixie National Forest), near Bryce Canyon National Park - gorgeous scenery; hiking trails; natural arches; ORV driving
✮ UT State Highway 12 (UT 12) - easily the most scenic paved drive drive in Utah; connects Panguitch/Bryce Canyon area to Torrey
✮ Rainbow Bridge National Monument - one of the world's most spectacular natural arches; access via boat or a long backpacking trip
Southeastern Utah (including Moab, Arches National Park, Bears Ears National Monument, and Canyonlands National Park)
✮ 4x4 driving in/near Canyonlands National Park
✮ 4x4 driving in/near Moab - Moab is one of the finest places in the world for this activity; many guided tours are available
✮ ATV/ORV/UTV-ing in/near Moab - Moab is one of the finest places in the world for this activity; guided and self-guided tours are available
✮ Arch hunting in/near Moab - there are hundreds of arches and natural bridges in the area that you can research and try to find/explore
✮ Arches National Park - the largest concentration of natural arches in the U.S.; world-class scenery and day hiking
✮ Bears Ears National Monument - thousands of archaeological sites/ruins, petroglyphs, and pictographs; several excellent scenic drives too
✮ Canyonlands National Park - the three districts (Needles, Islands in the Sky, Maze) hold a lifetime of on- and off-the-beaten-path adventures
✮ Canyoneering in/near Moab - several companies offer guided tours (e.g. Morning Glory, Bow & Arrow, Entrajo Canyon, etc.)
✮ Corona Arch, on BLM land near Moab - this is probably my favorite natural arch in Utah
✮ Dead Horse Point State Park, near Moab - one of the most beautiful state parks in the U.S.; outstanding desert scenery
✮ Downtown Moab - this lively downtown area has tons of restaurants, shops, art galleries, and lodging
✮ Hot air ballooning in/near Moab - very expensive but very memorable! make reservations well in advance
✮ Moab Food Truck Park - one of the finest (and most delicious) food truck parks we've encountered on our travels across the U.S.
✮ Moki Dugway - a scenic dirt road that travels steeply to an outstanding viewpoint; no guardrails in some sections!
✮ Mountain biking in/near Moab - Moab is famous for its world class mountain biking trails (e.g. Slickrock Trail, Whole Enchilada, etc.)
✮ Natural Bridges National Monument - features three large natural bridges and archaeological sites/ruins
✮ Newspaper Rock - one of the finest petroglyph panels in the Southwest; easy access off UT 211 near Monticello (1 hour south of Moab)
✮ Rafting the Colorado River
✮ Rafting the Green River
✮ Skydiving in Moab
✮ US-163 / Forrest Gump Highway, near AZ border - iconic views of the sandstone buttes of Monument Valley
✮ Valley of the Gods - impressive desert scenery on a 17-mile long scenic dirt road
✮ Wilson's Arch, near Moab - a huge natural arch with easy access off US-191 just south of Moab
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Utah? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
Discover 5-star attractions in neighboring states using these state guides:
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NV |
WY
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN UTAH
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These towns and cities in Utah are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Kanab - a small town close to amazing desert scenery; a growing tourist destination; home of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
✮ Moab - a small town that serves as a gateway to an astounding amount of outdoor recreation and natural beauty; has a lively Main Street
✮ Park City - a small ski known famous for its large, world-class ski area; has many fine restaurants, boutique shops, and art galleries
✮ Salt Lake City - a major city with heavy Mormon influence; gateway to several outstanding ski/snowboard resorts and a national forest
✮ Springdale - an exceptionally scenic small town that is the main gateway to Zion National Park; has a very lively tourism area
✮ St. George - a medium-sized city with beautiful city parks and access to excellent outdoor recreation; Snow Canyon State Park is there
✮ Torrey - a very small town that serves as the primary gateway to Capitol Reef National Park; at the northern end of the UT 12 scenic byway
My favorite city in Utah is St. George - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there
My favorite small town in Utah is Moab - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 4-5 nights there
My favorite ski town in Utah is Park City - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there
If you want to visit Arches National Park, stay in Moab.
If you want to visit Bears Ears National Monument, stay in Bluff, Blanding, or Monticello. I absolutely love the Bluff Dwellings Resort in Bluff.
If you want to visit Bryce Canyon National Park, stay within the actual park or in Bryce City or Panguitch.
If you want to visit Canyonlands National Park, stay in Moab.
If you want to visit Capital Roof National Park, stay in Torrey or Teasdale.
If you want to visit Zion National Park, stay within the actual park or in Springdale.
Moab is my favorite town in Utah and it's probably the best adventure town in the United States. The world-class hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, and 4x4 driving trails can keep people busy for years. There's also many great hotels/resorts and places to eat in town.
Tourism continues to grow rapidly in Kanab, although the tourist traffic is still only a fraction of Moab or Springdale. If you perform some research, you can identify endless opportunities for outstanding outdoor adventures using Kanab as a hub.
Escalante isn't listed on my list above, but it's also a nice place to visit. Although it is very small with limited services, Escalante does serve as a great base camp for exploring nearby Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and parts of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Stay there if you plan on exploring the Hole-in-the-Rock Road, an unpaved road with many hiking and climbing adventures to be had.
Read my Favorite Places in the U.S. Guide to find new and interesting towns and cities across the country.
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Here are some things that Utah is famous or well-known for:
✮ 4x4 roads / off-road driving
✮ alpine lakes
✮ archaeological sites
✮ aspen trees
✮ ATV/OHV/UHV-ing
✮ BLM public lands
✮ canyoneering
✮ deserts / desert scenery
✮ dinosaur fossils / dinosaur footprints
✮ float trips
✮ Great Salt Lake
✮ hiking / backpacking
✮ hoodoos
✮ moose
✮ Mormons
✮ mountain biking
✮ national forests
✮ national monuments
✮ national parks
✮ natural arches
✮ natural bridges
✮ outdoor recreation
✮ overlanding
✮ petroglyphs/pictographs
✮ salt flats
✮ sandstone
✮ scenic drives
✮ skiing/snowboarding
✮ slot canyons
✮ tight alcohol regulations
✮ unique geology / rock formations
✮ wildflowers
Visit my What is Each U.S. State Famous For? guide to explore the unique characteristics of other states.
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Utah has five national parks and all five are world-class. There are also many other federally managed parks and properties in the state, including:
National Parks (also known as "the Mighty Five")
✮ Arches National Park - natural arches; balanced rocks; sandstone towers; day hiking; desert scenery; 4x4 driving
✮ Bryce Canyon National Park - hoodoos; day hiking; backpacking; horseback riding; historic cabin rentals
✮ Canyonlands National Park - buttes; mesas; pictographs/petroglyphs; day hiking; backpacking, 4x4 driving; mountain biking; canyoneering
✮ Capitol Reef National Park - natural arches; scenic driving; day hiking; 4x4 driving; rock climbing; historical sites; canyoneering
✮ Zion National Park - scenic driving; day hiking; backpacking; rock climbing; horseback riding; road biking; canyoneering
National Monuments
✮ Bears Ears National Monument - archaeological sites; day hiking; backpacking; pictographs/petroglyphs; slot canyons
✮ Cedar Breaks National Monument - geological attractions; bristlecone pines; colorful desert scenery
✮ Dinosaur National Monument - river rafting (Green & Yampa Rivers); hiking; petroglyphs; dinosaur fossils; camping
✮ Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument - geological attractions; archaeological sites; day hiking; backpacking; 4x4 driving; camping
✮ Hovenweep National Monument - archaeological sites; hiking; camping
✮ Natural Bridges National Monument - natural bridge; archaeological sites; day hiking; camping
✮ Rainbow Bridge National Monument - natural bridge; boating; backpacking
✮ Timpanogos Cave National Monument - guided cave tours
National Recreation Areas
✮ Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - geological attractions; hiking; backpacking; slot canyons; 4x4 driving
National Forests
✮ Ashley National Forest
✮ Dixie National Forest
✮ Fishlake National Forest
✮ Manti-La Sal National Forest
✮ Uinta National Forest
✮ Wasatch-Cache National Forest
National Historical Parks / Trails
✮ California National Historic Trail
✮ Golden Spike National Historical Park
✮ Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
✮ Old Spanish National Historic Trail
✮ Poney Express National Historic Trail
My favorite national park in Utah is Arches National Park. It has the best cluster of natural arches of anywhere on the planet. Every official hiking trail in the park is absolutely worth doing.
My favorite national monument in Utah is Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument. If you do some heavy research, you will find many amazing surprises in this park. This national monument is better than most of the official US national parks.
You can easily visit all five official Utah national parks on a 2-week trip. If you only have 1 week to travel, I would pick 2 or 3 of the national parks to visit and focus on those. Most people would say that April-June and Sept-Nov are the best times to visit Utah's national parks, but you can visit them year-round (although snow/ice/bitter cold can be a factor in winter). Heat can be unbearable in the summer at the national parks, especially in Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Zion National Park. Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef are usually cooler than the other three parks.
Several of Utah's national parks now require timed entry, parking, and/or hiking permits. Make sure to do your research on when and where permits are required, ideally 6-12 months in advance. Most of the permits now sell out well in advance. The two parks most likely to have permits/reservations systems are Arches and Zion.
Here are my recommendations for the minimum amount of time a first-time visitor should spend at each of Utah's five national parks:
✮ Arches National Park - 2-3 days
✮ Bryce Canyon National Park - 1-2 days
✮ Canyonlands National Park - 1 day each for the Needles and Islands in the Sky districts; it's OK to initially skip the Maze District
✮ Capitol Reef National Park - 1-2 days
✮ Zion National Park - 2-3 days
For more information on Utah's national parks, visit the Utah page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all of America's national parks, explore my U.S. National Parks Guide.
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Utah has dozens of state parks. Many would agree that these represent Utah's finest state parks:
Flagship / Premier State Parks:
✮ Dead Horse Point State Park - desert scenery; scenic views; camping
✮ Goblin Valley State Park - desert scenery; rock formation; hiking; camping
✮ Snow Canyon State Park - desert scenery; lava flows; sandstone cliffs; hiking; horseback riding; camping
Other Notable State Parks:
✮ Antelope Island State Park - desert scenery; wildlife (e.g. buffalo); hiking; mountain biking; horseback riding; views of Great Salt Lake
✮ Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park - sand dunes; hiking; ATV riding
✮ Goosenecks State Park - desert scenery; scenic views; camping
✮ Kodachrome Basin State Park - desert scenery; rock formations; hiking; horseback riding; mountain biking; camping
✮ Sand Hollow State Park
My favorite state park in Utah is Snow Canyon State Park, although Goblin Valley State Park and Dead Horse Point State Park are also both outstanding.
Goblin Valley State Park is one of the best state parks in the U.S. for families with kids. Every kid loves running around the rock formations there. You can also hike nearby Little Wildhorse Canyon while you are in the area (Warning! avoid this and all other slot canyons if rain is in the forecast).
I would plan on spending a few hours each at Dead Horse Point State Park and Goblin Valley State Park. You can easily spend 1-2 full days exploring Snow Canyon State Park since it has many interesting hiking trails.
Find the best state parks across the country using my Top 100 State Parks in the U.S. guide.
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Utah boasts roughly 100 natural waterfalls. Here are some favorite waterfalls in Utah:
Northern Utah
✮ Adams Canyon Falls in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
✮ Battle Creek Falls in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
✮ Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon
✮ Donut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
✮ Fifth Water Hot Springs Waterfall in Diamond Fork Canyon - small falls, but there are hot springs here too; can get very crowded
✮ Stewart Falls in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Southwestern Utah (including Kanab, St. George, and Zion National Park)
✮ Archangel Falls in Zion National Park
✮ Cascade Falls in Dixie National Forest
✮ Emerald Pools in Zion National Park - seasonal flow
✮ Kanarra Falls in Kanarraville - hiking permits required
Southcentral Utah (including Escalante, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Capitol Reef National Park)
✮ Lower Calf Creek Falls in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
✮ Mossy Cave Waterfall in Bryce Canyon National Park
✮ Upper Calf Creek Falls in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Southeastern Utah (including Moab, Arches National Park, Bears Ears National Monument, and Canyonlands National Park)
✮ Faux Falls near Moab
I consider Bridal Veil Falls, Lower Calf Creek Falls, and Stewart Falls to be the three finest waterfalls in Utah. My favorite waterfall in Utah is Lower Calf Creek Falls in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. It's a world-class waterfall in a beautiful desert setting. A 6.0 mile moderately difficult round-trip hike is required to reach it, and it can be quite hot in summer. The trailhead for these falls is on scenic UT 12 about 65 miles east of the access road that leads south into Bryce Canyon National Park.
Horsetail Falls in the Lone Peak Wilderness is another good waterfall, but some route-fnding and rock scrambling is likely required. Mossy Cave Falls in Bryce Canyon National Park is also worth stopping at, but the water-flow is man-made. Provo River Falls along the Mirror Lake Highway is a very popular waterfall with easy access.
For a listing of all known waterfalls in New Mexico, visit the World Waterfall Database website.
Chase more waterfalls across the country with my Best Waterfalls in the U.S. guide.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN UTAH
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Utah is one of the very best states for scenic drives. There are so many outstanding paved and unpaved routes all over the state. Here is a list of many of the best scenic drives in Utah:
Northern Utah
✮ Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway/National Scenic Byway - a 512-mile paved loop that includes Moab, Vernal, and Dinosaur, Colorado
✮ Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway - a 82-mile paved route from Vernal, UT to the Wyoming/Utah state line at Flaming Gorge NRA
✮ Guardsman Pass Scenic Backway - a seasonal 14-mile paved route between Big Cottonwood Canyon and Park City Mountain Resort
✮ Mirror Lake Scenic Byway / UT-150 - a seasonal 56-mile paved route from Kamas that heads east to the Wyoming/Utah state line
Southern/Central Utah
✮ All-American Road/UT-12 - an exceptional 123-mile paved route from Panguitch to Torrey via Escalante; this is my favorite drive in the U.S.
✮ Burr Trail - a 67-mile partially-paved route from Boulder to Bullfrog that is likely impassable in wet conditions
✮ Cathedral Valley Loop, Capital Reef National Park - a 58-mile dirt/gravel route that typically requires a 4x4 high clearance vehicle
✮ Colorado River Scenic Byway/UT-128 - a 44-mile paved route from I-70 near Cisco to Moab that travels along the Colorado River
✮ Cottonwood Canyon Road - a 47-mile mostly dirt/gravel route from Cannonville to US-89 near Kanab; 4x4 high clearance is recommended
✮ Kolob Canyons Road, Zion National Park - a 5-mile paved route heading east from exit 40 of I-15; closed in winter when snow/ice are present
✮ La Sal Mountain Loop - a 60-mile paved route through the La Sal Mountains from US-191 to UT-128/Castle Valley; may be closed in winter
✮ Moki Dugway/UT-261 - a 3-mile steep and curvy dirt/gravel road near Mexican Hat that provides great views of the Valley of the Gods
✮ Monument Valley/US-163 - a 44-mile paved route from Kayenta, AZ to Mexican Hat, UT; this is also known as "Forrest Gump Highway"
✮ Mount Nebo Scenic Byway - a seasonal 38-mile paved route from Nephi/UT-132 to Payson/US-6 through Uinta National Forest
✮ Potash Scenic Byway/UT-279 - a 17-mile paved route beginning at US-191 in Moab that heads west towards Canyonlands National Park
✮ Scenic Drive, Capitol Reef National Park - an 8-mile paved route that heads south from the national park visitor center off UT-24
✮ Snow Canyon Drive - a 5-mile paved route from Ivins that heads north through Snow Canyon State Park to UT-18
✮ US-191 between Blanding and Moab - a 75-mile paved route; don't miss Wilson Arch
✮ UT-9/Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway - a 45-mile paved route from La Verkin to Mt. Carmel Junction that travels through Zion National Park
✮ White Rim Road, Canyonlands National Park - a 100-mile dirt/gravel route that typically requires permits and a 4x4 high clearance vehicle
For more scenic drives, visit Travel Utah's scenic byways website.
In addition to the scenic drives mentioned above, Utah has hundreds, if not thousands, more excellent unpaved scenic routes. In fact, I'd say that Utah is probably the off-road driving capital of the United States.
My favorite scenic drive in Utah is Scenic Byway UT-12 (also known as the "All-American Road"). This is actually my favorite scenic drive in the entire U.S.
Discover great scenic drives across the country with my Best Scenic Drives in the U.S. guide.
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Here is a list of some of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in Utah:
Northern Utah
✮ Denver & Rio Grande Western Rail Trail
✮ Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail near Park City
✮ Jordan River Parkway Trail in Salt Lake City
✮ Legacy Parkway Trail near Salt Lake City
✮ Murdock Canal Trail
Central Utah
✮ Candy Mountain Express Bike Trail near Sevier / I-70
✮ Moab Canyon Pathway in Moab
Southwestern Utah
✮ Pa'rus Trail in Zion National Park
✮ Red Canyon Bicycle Trail near Bryce Canyon National Park
✮ Virgin River Trail near Zion National Park
The town of Moab also has a great series of paved bike paths.
For detailed information on all known rail trails in Utah, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN UTAH
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There are only a few notable amusement parks in Utah. None of these parks would be considered significant or large on a national scale.
✮ Cowabunga Bay Water Park, Drapeg - 20 minutes south of Salt Lake City
✮ Evermore Park, Pleasant Grove - 30 minutes south of Salt Lake City
✮ Lagoon Amusement Park, Farmington - 20 minutes north of Salt Lake City
✮ Splash Summit Waterpark - 45 minutes south of Salt Lake City
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Utah only has a few museums that I would consider nationally significant. The best museums in Utah include:
✮ Clark Planetarium, Salt Lake City
✮ Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill Air Force Base
✮ Natural History Museum of Utah, Salt Lake City
✮ Utah Field House of Natural History State Park, Vernal
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Utah has thousands of miles of hiking trails, and there is good hiking to be found all over the state. Here are some of the best day hikes in Utah:
Northern Utah (including Park City and Salt Lake City)
✮ Bald Mountain - Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest; the trailhead is off of Mirror Lake Highway (UT-150)
✮ Fifth Water Hot Springs - Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest; trailhead on Diamond Fork Road
✮ Jones Hole Trail - Dinosaur National Monument
✮ Lake Blanche - Twin Peaks Wilderness Area/Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest; trailhead on S. Big Cottonwood Canyon Road in Brighton
✮ Lofty Lake Loop Trail - Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest; trailhead off Mirror Lake Highway (UT-150)
✮ Mount Timpanogos via Timpooneke Trail - Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
✮ Pfiefferhorn via Red Pine Lakes Trail - Lone Peak Wilderness
✮ Red Pine Lake - Lone Peak Wilderness; trailhead off UT-210
✮ Sunset Peak via Catherine Pass - Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Southwestern Utah (including Kanab, St. George, and Zion National Park)
✮ Angels Landing - Zion National Park; accessed from the "The Grotto" Zion park shuttle stop; permits required!
✮ Buckskin Gulch via Wire Pass - Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness/BLM public lands; trailhead on House Rock Valley Road
✮ Canyon Overlook Trail - Zion National Park
✮ Kanarra Falls - Kanarraville; permits are required!
✮ Observation Point via Ponderosa Ranch - Zion National Park
✮ Red Cliffs Nature Trail - Red Cliffs National Conservation Area; limited parking!
✮ Red Mountain Trail - Red Mountain Wilderness/BLM public lands; near St. George and Snow Canyon State Park
✮ The Subway - Zion National Park; a permit (along with a harnass/rock-climbing experience) is required to travel the entire route
✮ The Wave - Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness/BLM public lands from House Rock Valley Road; permits required!
✮ Wahweap Hoodoos - Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument; trailhead on Nipple Creek Road off US-89
✮ Watchman Trail - Zion National Park
✮ Zion Narrows - Zion National Park; also known as the "Virgin River Narrows"
Southcentral Utah (including Escalante, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Capitol Reef National Park)
✮ Arches Trail - Red Canyon, Dixie National Forest; near Bryce Canyon National Park
✮ Fairyland Loop - Bryce Canyon National Park
✮ Golden Cathedral / Neon Canyon - Glen Canyon N.R.A.; trailhead on Egypt Road, which stems from Hole-In-The-Rock Road
✮ Hickman Bridge - Capitol Reef National Park
✮ Little Wildhorse Canyon/Bell Canyon Loop - BLM land near Goblin Valley State Park; great narrows start once you are 1.3 miles in
✮ Lower Calf Creek Falls - Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument; trailhead off UT 12 in Boulder
✮ Peekaboo Loop - Bryce Canyon National Park
✮ Peek-a-Boo Canyon & Spooky Gulch Loop - Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument; trailhead is off Hole-In-The-Rock-Trail Road
✮ Queens Garden / Navajo Loop Trail - Bryce Canyon National Park
✮ Upper Muley Twist Canyon - Capital Reef National Park
✮ Willis Creek - Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
✮ Willow Gulch / Broken Bow Arch - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area; trailhead is found off Hole-In-The-Rock Road
✮ Zebra/Tunnel Slot Canyons - Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument; trailhead is found off Hole-In-The-Rock Road
Southeastern Utah (including Moab, Arches National Park, Bears Ears National Monument, and Canyonlands National Park)
✮ Chesler Park/Joint Trail Loop - Canyonlands National Park (Needles district); can also be done as a backpacking trip
✮ Butler Wash Ruins - Bears Ears National Monument; well-marked trailhead off UT-95 west of Blanding en route to Natural Bridges N.M.
✮ Corona Arch - BLM public lands near Moab; well-marked trailhead on Potash Road (UT 279)
✮ Delicate Arch - Arches National Park; this is the official state symbol of Utah
✮ Devil's Garden Loop - Arches National Park; the best all-around hike in Arches National Park
✮ Double Arch - Arches National Park; you can also hike to "The Windows" and Turret Arch from here as well
✮ Druid Arch - Canyonlands National Park (Needles District); this can also be done as a backpacking trip (permits required to camp)
✮ Fiery Furnace - Arches National Park; 99% of visitors will take a guided tour (reserve in advance) since it's a giant maze in there
✮ Grand View Point Trail - Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky District)
✮ Horseshoe Canyon/Great Gallery - Canyonlands National Park (Maze district)
✮ House on Fire - an ancient ruin in Bears Ears National Monument; trailhead on short spur road off UT-95
✮ Landscape Arch - Arches National Park; this arch can also be seen as part of the "Devil's Garden Loop" (see above)
✮ Mesa Arch - a 1.0 mile round-trip hike in the Islands in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park
✮ Moon House Ruin - BLM land; trailhead off Snow Flat Road; hiking permits are required!
✮ Natural Bridges National Monument - features several relatively short hikes to three natural bridges and also archeological sites
✮ Sand Dune Arch - Arches National Park; great for kids and can be combined with a walk to Broken Arch
✮ Tower Arch - Arches National Park; a 4x4 high-clearance vehicle may be required to reach the trailhead
✮ White Rim Overlook - Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky District)
✮ Windows, The & Turret Arch - Arches National Park; you can also hike to Double Arch from here as well
My favorite day hikes in Arches National Park: Delicate Arch, Devils Garden Loop, Tower Arch, Double Arch, The Windows/Turret Arch
My favorite day hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park: Navajo/Queen's Garden Loop, Fairyland Loop/Tower Bridge, Peekaboo Loop
My favorite day hikes in Canyonlands National Park, Island in the Sky District: Mesa Arch, White Rim Overlook, Grand View Point Trail
My favorite day hikes in Canyonlands National Park, Needles District: Druid Arch, Chesler Park Loop/Joint Trail
My favorite day hikes in Capitol Reef National Park: Hickman Bridge, Cassidy Arch, Navajo Knobs, Upper Muley Twist Canyon
My favorite day hikes in Zion National Park: Angel's Landing, Zion Narrows, Observation Point, Canyon Overlook Trail
My favorite day hikes near Kanab: Toadstool Hoodoos, The Wave, Buckskin Gulch via Wire Pass, Sand Caves, Yellow Rock
My favorite day hikes near Salt Lake City: Lake Blanche, Lake Catherine, Sunset Peak, Stewart Falls, Cecret Lake, Frary Peak
The highpoint of Utah is Kings Peak (13,528'), found within Ashley National Forest in northeastern Utah. A backpacking trip is the norm for climbing this exceptional peak.
There are many outstanding off-trail day hikes in Utah as well. If you spend time researching those hikes you will be greatly rewarded. For example, there's a giant rock and it is yellow...
To find more hikes in Utah or to learn more about the hikes I've listed above, I recommend purchasing hiking guidebooks on Amazon (or from your local retailer). Another option is using AllTrails, but you have to be very careful when using that website as its information is sometimes wrong or incomplete. Published hiking guidebooks will likely always be significantly better than the information you find online.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN UTAH
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Utah offers outstanding backpacking opportunities, and there are great options across the state. Some of the premier backpacking routes in Utah include:
Northern Utah (including Park City and Salt Lake City)
✮ Amethyst Lake
✮ Highline Trail
✮ High Uintas Wilderness Loop
✮ King's Peak
✮ Naturalist Basin
✮ Red Castle Lakes
Southwestern Utah (including Kanab, St. George, and Zion National Park)
✮ Buckskin Gulch / Paria Canyon - a permit is required
✮ Hop Valley / Kolob Arch - a permit is required
✮ West Rim Trail in Zion National Park - a permit is required
✮ Zion Narrows / Virgin River Narrows in Zion National Park - a permit is required
Southcentral Utah (including Escalante, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Capitol Reef National Park)
✮ Coyote Gulch - a permit is required
✮ Death Hollow / Box-Death Hollow Wilderness
✮ Escalante River
✮ Halls Creek Narrows
✮ Reflection Canyon in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
✮ Under-the-Rim Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park - a permit is required
Southeastern Utah (including Moab, Arches National Park, Bears Ears National Monument, and Canyonlands National Park)
✮ Canyonlands National Park, Needles District (e.g. Chesler Park, Joint Trail, Druid Arch) - a permit is required
✮ Grand Gulch - a permit is required
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN UTAH
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Utah offers an endless amount of adventures, including these classics:
✮ ATV/OHV-ing in Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
✮ ATV/OHV-ing near Zion National Park
✮ ATV/OHV-ing the Arapeen Trail
✮ ATV/OHV-ing the BLM lands surrounding Moab
✮ ATV/OHV-ing the Paiute Trail
✮ ATV/OHV-ing the Sand Mountain Recreation Area
✮ 4x4 driving in/near Moab
✮ 4x4 driving in/near Kanab
✮ 4x4 driving in Canyonlands National Park (e.g. White Rim Road)
✮ 4x4 driving in Capitol Reef National Park (e.g. Burr Trail, Cathedral Valley)
✮ 4x4 guided tours in Moab
✮ Backpacking Buckskin Gulch / Paria Canyon - a permit is required
✮ Backpacking Coyote Gulch - a permit is required
✮ Backpacking Death Hollow
✮ Backpacking Grand Gulch
✮ Backpacking Kings Peak
✮ Backpacking Reflection Canyon
✮ Backpacking the Highline Trail
✮ Backpacking the Needles District / Chesler Park in Canyonlands National Park - a permit is required
✮ Backpacking the West Rim Trail - a permit is required
✮ Backpacking the Zion Narrows / Virgin River Narrows - a permit is required
✮ Canyoneering in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
✮ Canyoneering in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
✮ Canyoneering in Zion National Park
✮ Cycling the Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path
✮ Cycling the Candy Mountain Express Bike Trail
✮ Cycling the Denver and Rio Grande Western Rail Trail
✮ Cycling the Jordan River Parkway
✮ Cycling the Red Canyon Bicycle Trail
✮ Day hiking Angel's Landing in Zion National Park - a permit is required here
✮ Day hiking Devil's Garden in Arches National Park - a permit is required here
✮ Day hiking Kanarraville Falls / slot canyon - a hiking permit is required here
✮ Day hiking Mt. Timpanogos
✮ Day hiking Peek-a-Boo Canyon & Spooky Gulch Loop
✮ Day hiking Pfeifferhorn
✮ Day hiking Zion Narrows in Zion National Park
✮ Day hiking/canyoneering the Subway in Zion National Park - a permit is required
✮ Driving the Burr Trail - 4WD recommended; high clearance is also sometimes needed; avoid when wet!
✮ Driving the Cottonwood Canyon Road - 4WD recommended; high clearance is also sometimes needed; avoid when wet!
✮ Driving the Hole-in-the-Rock Road - 4WD recommended; high clearance is also sometimes needed; avoid when wet!
✮ Hot Air Ballooning in Moab
✮ Mountain biking the Hurricane Cliffs Rim Loop - designated by IMBA as an "epic" mountain biking trail
✮ Mountain biking the Mid-Mountain Trail - designated by IMBA as an "epic" mountain biking trail
✮ Mountain biking the Porcupine Rim / Whole Enchilada in Moab
✮ Mountain biking the Slickrock Trail in Moab
✮ Mountain biking the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park
✮ Rafting the Colorado River (e.g. Cataract Canyon)
✮ Rafting the Green River
✮ Rafting the San Juan River
✮ Rafting the Yampa River
✮ Rock climbing in/near Moab
✮ Rock climbing in/near Springdale
✮ Skydiving in Moab
✮ Via ferrata in Ogden
Utah offers the finest canyoneering in the United States. You can buy guidebooks on Amazon to help you discover both technical and non-technical routes. There are also several guide companies based in or near the town of Escalante as well that can take you on amazing technical slot canyon tours. No experience is required for those tours (in other words, you don't need to be a rock climber or even know how to rock climb at all).
Moab, Kanab, and Springdale all have several companies that offer guided offroad driving tours.
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Utah has more than a dozen ski resorts, and many are considered world-class. These ski resorts are generally considered the best in Utah:
Premier Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Alta Ski Area - 119 trails; 11,068ft summit; 2,538ft vertical drop
✮ Deer Valley Ski Resort - 103 trails; 9,570ft summit; 3,000ft vertical drop
✮ Park City Mountain Resort - 330 trails; 10,026ft summit; 3,226ft vertical drop
✮ Powder Mountain - 154 trails; 9,442ft summit; 2,522ft vertical drop
✮ Snowbasin Ski Resort - 107 trails; 9,350ft summit; 2,900ft vertical drop
✮ Snowbird - 140 trails; 11,000ft summit, 3,240ft vertical drop
Other Notable Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Brian Head Resort
✮ Brighton Ski Resort
✮ Solitude Ski Resort
✮ Sundance Resort
Except for the Brian Head Resort, all resorts that are listed above are fairly close to Salt Lake City.
Park City Mountain Resort is the largest ski resort in the U.S. The town of Park City makes for an outstanding base camp if you want to ski/snowboard ski there. Except for Brian Head Resort, all resorts that are listed above are fairly close to Salt Lake City.
Take note that the altitude of many of Utah's ski/snowboard resorts can have an impact on folks traveling from low elevation areas. For some it may take a few days (or more) to become fully adjusted to it.
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For offbeat and unique Utah attractions, visit one or both of these amazing websites: Atlas Obscura and Roadside America
If you want to visit southern Utah for the first time, and you have one full week to spend, I would consider this plan/route (in this exact order):
✮ Start in Las Vegas, NV
✮ Valley of Fire State Park, NV - 1 day
✮ St. George, UT / Snow Canyon State Park - 1 day
✮ Springdale, UT / Zion National Park - 2-3 days
✮ Bryce Canyon National Park - 1-2 days
✮ Finish in Las Vegas, NV
If you want to visit southern Utah for the first time, and you have two full weeks to spend, I would consider this plan/route (in this exact order):
✮ Start in Las Vegas, NV
✮ Valley of Fire State Park, NV - 1-2 days
✮ St. George, UT / Snow Canyon State Park - 1-2 days
✮ Springdale, UT / Zion National Park - 2-3 days
✮ Kanab, UT / Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument / Vermilion Cliffs - 1-2 days
✮ Bryce Canyon National Park - 1-2 days
✮ Torrey, UT / Capitol Reef National Park - 1-2 days
✮ Moab, UT / Arches National Park / Canyonlands National Park - 4-5 days
✮ Finish in Las Vegas, NV
Utah has very strict (arguably archaic) alcohol laws. Make sure you know the restrictions before you try to buy alcoholic drinks at a retail establishment in Utah.
Southern Utah can be unbearably hot (and potentially dangerous) in summer. To avoid 90-100+ degree temperatures, I recommend visiting April-May or Oct-Nov if you can.
The wildflowers of the canyons and mountains near Salt Lake City are spectacular. Visit in July or August for the best blooms.
Utah's most famous travel writer is Edward Abbey. His best book is Desert Solitaire, but most of his books are fantastic. Many consider him to be the "Thoreau of the West".
There are only a few 4x4/Jeep rental companies in Utah. Book your offroad vehicle months in advance! You can of course also try a personal rental through turo.com.
There are rattlesnakes in Utah, but you are unlikely to see one and they rarely bite. They also tend to give ample warning.
Watch out for poison oak and poison ivy if you are hiking along creeks or rivers in the Utah desert (e.g. Escalante River, Death Hollow, Mill Creek, etc.)
There are a few great towns and attractions that are within 1-2 hours of the Utah border that are worth visiting. This includes:
✮ Durango, Colorado
✮ Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
✮ Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah border (along US-163)
✮ North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (open seasonally)
✮ Page, Arizona (e.g. to visit Horseshoe Bend, Lower Antelope Canyon, Upper Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, etc.)
✮ Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN UTAH
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Utah:
✮ huckleberries
✮ funeral potatoes
✮ Navajo tacos (e.g. Twin Rocks Cafe in Bluff, UT)
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Utah (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each U.S. state, explore my Road Trip Food guide.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Utah (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY UTAH INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about Utah:
State Capital:
Salt Lake City
Major Airports:
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC); you can also fly into Las Vegas, NV or Denver, CO and then drive into UT
Largest Cities:
Salt Lake City (200,478), West Valley City (139,110), West Jordan (116,541), Provo (114,084), St. George (99,958)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-15, I-70, I-80, I-84
State Highpoint:
Kings Peak (13,528') in Ashley National Forest in northeastern Utah; an overnight backpacking trip is required to reach this peak
Professional Sports Teams:
NBA: Utah Jazz
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Beaver and Virgin
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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view from Angels Landing, Zion National Park, Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park hoodoos, Utah
Hill Aerospace Museum, Utah
Double O' Arch, Arches National Park, Utah
Druid Arch, Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Lower Calf Creek Falls, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
Zion Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah
Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah
Mesa Arch, Islands in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Corona Arch in Moab, Utah
Antelope Island State Park, Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Utah
Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah
Olympic Park, Park City, Utah
Lofty Lakes Loop off the Mirror Lake Highway, Utah
State Capital Building, Salt Lake City, Utah
Mountain biking the Slickrock Trail in Moab, Utah
Backpacking in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Zion National Park, Utah
Backpacking the West Rim Trail, Zion National Park, Utah
Devils Garden, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
Willis Creek, Utah
Hickman Bridge, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
Guided canyoneering tour near Escalante, Utah
MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
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