Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City is a modern and bustling metropolis set amongst mountains and on the shore of the Great Salt Lake. This city is a great place to take a break from Utah’s desert, as you can go sailing on the Great Salt Lake, ski down nearby slopes in the winter, eat at gourmet Asian and barbeque restaurants, and go bar hopping between famous breweries.
Moab. Moab is a quaint and outdoorsy city located in between Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. It is the perfect town to stay in if you are traveling to either of these parks. And Moab is packed with adventure activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, canyoneering, horseback riding, rafting, and hiking. The town itself is a beautiful one to walk around, and it has many delicious local restaurants, cafes, and breweries to enjoy after a day of adventure.
Park City. Park City is a quaint ski town nestled amongst large mountains and open wilderness. It is a popular destination to go for skiing, but they also have great outdoor activities all year round such as mountain biking, hiking, and kayaking.
Monument Valley. With sandstone buttes, colossal mesas, and panoramic vistas, Monument Valley is one of the USA’s iconic landscapes. You can take a scenic drive through Monument Valley independently or with a Navajo tour guide.
Canyonlands National Park. Canyonlands is an enormous National Park. Over 330,000 acres are filled with arches, buttes, mesas, canyons, hiking trails, dirt roads, campgrounds, and overlooks. It would take days, weeks even, to fully explore all that Canyonlands has to offer.
Arches National Park. Arches National Parkis a wonderland of desert vistas, short hiking trails, unique rock formations, and you guessed it, arches. Not only will you find over 2,000 arches here, but you will also see hoodoos, fins of sandstone rocks, massive mesas, and balanced rocks. Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, and Balanced Rock are three popular sites to see here.
Capitol Reef National Park. Capitol Reef, often an overlooked national park, is full of many wonderful surprises. With an amazing scenic drive, hiking trails that rival those in Zion, rugged, remote areas to explore by 4×4, short, easy slot canyons, historical landmarks, and even delicious pie, this national park is absolutely amazing.
Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon National Park…a fantasyland of hoodoos, bizarre rock formations, and sandstone pillars. This is a beautiful place, and its unique landscape sets it apart from other national parks. Although Bryce may not have the same sweeping, expansive vistas as the Grand Canyon, it’s still a breathtaking experience the first time you see gaze across this landscape.
Zion National Park. Zion National Parkis a hiker’s paradise. This relatively small park is packed with some of the most thrilling hikes in the United States. From the awe-inspiring hike up Angels Landing to the bucket list-worthy Zion Narrows to the family friendly Riverside Walk, there is something here for everyone.
The Narrows. The Zion Narrows is one of Zion’s most popular hikes, for good reason. This is the quintessential slot canyon hike. For miles, you hike in the North Fork of the Virgin River, surrounded by sheer rock walls and amazing beauty. It’s challenging, it’s unique, and it makes for a very memorable experience. If you are looking for a hike that will astound you, test your limits, and give you a greater appreciation for the beauty of the American Southwest, the Zion Narrows is perfect for you.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Grand Staircase-Escalante is a huge area of protected land in southern Utah. It is one of the last unmapped areas of the United States. Scramble through slot canyons, drive on dusty, dirt roads, and be amazed at the diverse beauty of this part of the United States.
Dead Horse Point State Park. Dead Horse Point is a beautiful park that has all of the ingredients of a perfect outdoor destination: easy but fun hiking trails, low crowds, and a jaw-dropping view that just may be better than anything you would get in the nearby national parks. Plus, its small size makes it easy to explore if you are short on time. This state park has many hiking trails and viewpoints overlooking buttes and mesas. You can also go mountain biking here.
Goblin Valley State Park. Goblin Valley is an easy to visit state park that is located in southeastern Utah. With its hoodoos, toadstools, “goblins,” and short but sweet hiking trails, this park is pure fun to visit. Kids, and kids at heart, will LOVE this park!! The main section of hoodoos and goblins is free to explore…there is no need to stick to a designated hiking trail. Which means that kids are free to explore, play hide and seek, and discover the nooks and crannies of this magical place.
Little Wild Horse Canyon. Little Wild Horse Canyon is one of the most thrilling slot canyons in Utah. With tight passageways, curving, scalloped walls, and short sections of easy rock scrambling, this hike is fun for both kids and adults. You can hike the narrowest (and most fun) section of Little Wild Horse as a fast out-and-back hike, or do this as a loop, adding on Bell Canyon. And, this Canyon is only 10 minutes from Goblin Valley State Park.
Snow Canyon State Park. Snow Canyon is a beautiful state park with colorful sandstone cliffs to rock-climb and lava caves to explore. There are many hiking trails in this park that will take you to spectacular overlooks over the canyon, as well as some through slot canyons to see ancient petroglyphs. Snow Canyon is a relatively uncrowded park, and it serves as a great place to enjoy outdoor activities without having to fight through packs of tourists.
