Utah In USA: Planning to visit Utah? Get excited, because there are so many incredible places to visit in Utah that we often refer to the state as BeaUTAHful. From the arches and red rocks to the desert landscapes, the mountains, the rivers, and the sand dunes, it has enough of the colors in God’s Art Studio that we also think the entire state should just be claimed as a national park.
There are also plenty of activities for those who are less adventurous or prefer to be somewhere with comforts.
The most popular attractions in Utah, however, remain those that involve outdoor activities, whether they are hiking or seeing a natural beauty.
Utah in USA best Places to Visit
1. Zion National Park
The park is now one of the most visited in the country, welcoming more than four million visitors per year. Zion National Park is a geological wonderland and offers some of the best hikes in Utah. With massive sandstone cliffs colored in creams, reds, and pinks, you will be in awe. I’ve even referred to it as “Indeed a Holy Place” in our blog article about our visit.
You can see a wide variety of plant and animal life before checking out a narrow slot canyon that is worth the hike.
Another spot you will not want to miss is the Zion Canyon Kolob Canyons. It features 2,000-foot peaks of red Navajo sandstone set along lolling streams. There’s an amazing 5-mile scenic drive with gorgeous scenic viewpoints and cascading waterfalls.
Another popular adventure is the hike to the observation point at Angel’s Landing. Be warned, though, as it is not for the faint of heart! Also, be aware that they are implementing a lottery system for that hike soon.
2. Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the best places to visit in Utah. One of the “Mighty 5” National Parks of Utah, with numerous canyons as well as buttes that the Colorado River has carved throughout the years. There are four districts to explore: the rivers, the Maze, the Needles, and the Island in the Sky.
The last of these is the most accessible with a scenic drive, a route for four-wheeling, and multiple hikes. To explore the park’s backcountry, hike through the Needles, or if you want to prove your skills, head to the Maze.
You can also find panels of Native American rock art in the Horseshoe Canyon Unit or take a flatwater or whitewater trip.
3. Arches National Park
Traveling to Arches National Park is like visiting another planet, one with thousands of natural sandstone arches, red rocks and landforms in amazing configurations, and light that seems to change every moment.
With over 2,000 sandstone arches within its borders, Arches National Park definitely ranks among the most unique places to visit in Utah–or, in fact, the entire USA.
The stone here is a rich red, evocative of the Old West and natural America. You can also find Wolfe Ranch on-site, a one-room cabin built in 1898 and largely unchanged today. The Ranch offers a glimpse into the harsh desert life for early 20th-century Americans.
4. Canyonlands National Park
This Utah national park is divided into four districts, each of which offers a different experience. The most accessible district is Island in the Sky; it rises more than 1,000 feet above the ground and provides spectacular views of the area.
Native American art can still be found in the Horseshoe Canyon today. In addition, the Canyonlands offers a variety of different desert environments for tourists and hikers, including the labyrinthine Maze, hiking trails, and rafting or kayaking on the rivers.
5. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
This National Monument covers 1.7 million acres of land and was the first monument that the Bureau of Land Management administered instead of the National Park Service. Throughout the monument, you will find an incredible range of geological formations and features as well as world-class paleontological sites.
There are three main sections of the park, including the Canyons of the Escalante, the Kaiparowits Plateau, and the Grand Staircase.
All have difficult terrain and a feeling of remoteness. Some key features worth visiting throughout this park include the White, Gray, and Pink Cliffs within the Grand Staircase, Buckskin Gulch (the longest of all slot canyons around the world), and Boulder Mountain, which is 11,000 feet tall.
6. Temple Square
Temple Square is the five-block area surrounding the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. The square is a popular visitor destination and showcases a number of experiences centered around the worship of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Recent travelers recommend taking a free, guided tour of the square and also mention that you don’t have to be particularly religious to find it of interest. Tours are not scheduled, but knowledgeable docents are available every day between 9 a.m. and 4, 7, or 8 p.m., depending on the month. Tours begin on the hour and meet at the flagpole west of the temple. Visitors are also welcome to attend the Sunday morning concerts in the Tabernacle, as well as the Thursday evening choir rehearsals (7:30 p.m.), both put on by the renowned Tabernacle Choir.
7. Monument Valley
Monument Valley is located in the heart of the Navajo Nation, on the border between Arizona and Utah, not far from the Four Corners National Monument. Entrance to Monument Valley is on US Highway 163, 28 miles from Kayenta, Arizona, where most hotels are located, and 26 miles from Mexican Hat, Utah.
If you’ve decided to visit Monument Valley in winter, I’m sure your first thought would be the weather. In winter, daytime temperatures hover between 40-50°F (5-10°C), dropping below freezing at night.
Unless it gets windy, it’s actually not very cold and quite pleasant to walk around, especially if the sun is shining!
Monument Valley is at 5200 ft (approx 1500 meters) altitude, in the desert, and it seems very little rainfall throughout the year. In winter, it may snow, but it’s extremely rare to experience heavy winter storms – if it does snow, normally it’s just a light dusting, making Monument Valley even more magical.
8. Great Salt Lake
Salt Lake City is one of the most unique cities in the United States. Back in the early 19th century, pioneers believed the area’s Great Salt Lake was inhabited by monsters and giants. This spooky legend faded until Brigham Young decided to make Salt Lake the home of the new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1847. Today, those who have spent time in Salt Lake will tell you that it’s more than just a place of great faith, it’s also a thriving cultural hub and an excellent home base for hikers and skiers.
The most visited tourist attraction in Salt Lake City is Temple Square. Many visitors embrace the chance to learn about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spending time touring the beautiful religious sites in Temple Square. And even if you aren’t interested in Salt Lake’s heritage, the city is worth a visit for the views alone. The Wasatch and Oquirrh mountain ranges provide a stunning backdrop to the city skyline while the magnificence of the Great Salt Lake is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
9. Flaming Gorge
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is located in northeast Utah and southwest Wyoming. During his 1869 expedition down the Green River, John Wesley Powell named the area “Flaming Gorge” because of the brilliant red color of the sandstone cliffs that are located adjacent to the river.
The recreation area is administered by Ashley National Forest and there are many activities that visitors enjoy in the area. These include boating, camping, fishing, hiking, rafting, and more.
There are 43 campgrounds with 700 individual campsites found along the 91 miles of a waterway with 360 miles of shoreline. In 1964, the Flaming Gorge Dam was built across the Green River to create the Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
10. Park City
Park City is a gem in Utah located an easy 45-minute drive from the Salt Lake City airport. In the winter months, the city is alive and the slopes are filled with skiers and snowboarders at the largest lift-served ski resort in the USA, Park City Mountain Resort. One of the many unique experiences is going on a thrilling bobsled ride on the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Sliding Track.
The summer comes with beautiful weather and smaller crowds. The ski resorts offer unique activities like an alpine slide, mountain coaster, zip lines, mini-golf, and a few ski lifts are open you can take up enjoy hiking and mountain biking. Take the opportunity to be outside, enjoying fly-fishing, mountain biking, hot air ballooning, horseback riding, river rafting, and golf all summer long.
Park City has a unique charm unlike any other area in Utah. If you love enjoying the snow or being outside in the summer, you might find Park City to be perfect for you.
11. Moab
Its deep red cliffs shoot toward the sky forming arches, balancing rocks and skyscrapers made of pure sandstone in the desert. It’s a place of extremes. Where summer heat quickly rises above 110 degrees and winter coats its landscape in snow.
At the town’s center, Moab sits just 10 minutes from Arches National Park, 30 minutes from Canyonlands National Park, and 40 minutes from Dead Horse Point State Park, an astounding landscape in its own rite. But those who seek adventure don’t have to go far from town. Corona Arch sits outside of both national parks and is one of the best and most underrated arches in the area.
12. Timpanogos Cave National Monument
Timpanogos Cave National Monument is a national monument on Mount Timpanogos near American Fork, Utah. The monument protects the Timpanogos Cave Historic District and is managed by the National Park Service.
Guided tours lead visitors up the steep 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) paved trail that climbs 1,000 feet (300 meters) on its way to the caves. The three caves are called Hansen Cave, discovered in 1887; Middle Cave, discovered in 1921; and Timpanogos Cave, discovered in 1913. The three caves are connected by manmade tunnels created by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s.
The caves feature many unusual formations including flowstone, helictites, stalactites, and stalagmites.
Best time of year to visit Utah
If I had to pick the best time of year to visit Utah, I would recommend, September through October for visiting the Utah National Parks, May-October for hiking in Utah, and January-March for skiing.
A good idea when planning your national park road trip is to map out the parks and the best things to do in the area. Combine that with the best time of year to visit and you’ll have the best experience possible.
January – March
Expect cold weather. Yes, it is Southern Utah so it will be warmer than Salt Lake City, but it is still cold. This is especially important for Bryce Canyon which is higher elevation than the other parks. The other important things to consider during this time of the year are trial conditions. Hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park will require extra gear since it’s entirely in a river and Angel’s Landing could be very slippery. The perks of visiting during this time are that there are significantly less people which can make for a much better experience.
April – May
With the exception of Spring break/Memorial Day weekend, spring is still slightly less crowded than the summertime. The weather is also not as brutal compared to the summer. Snowmelt causes high river flow everywhere in the spring season so it’s important to consider river crossings, and hikes like the Narrows in Zion which might be closed.
June – August
The national parks are more crowded because of summer vacations. The weather is also hot. Do not underestimate the temperatures especially because most of the national parks in Utah have minimal shade. Sunrise and sunset hikes are your friends.
September – October
If your schedule is completely flexible, in my opinion, this is the best time of year to visit Utah national parks. Not everyone can swing a trip during this time but if you get a choice, this is my suggestion. The end of October will also likely have beautiful fall colors in the areas of the parks where there are trees.
November – December
Very similar to January-March. Expect cold weather. Yes, it is Southern Utah so it will be warmer than Salt Lake City, but it is still cold. This is especially important for Bryce Canyon which is higher elevation than the other parks. The other important things to consider during this time of the year are trial conditions. Hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park will require extra gear since it’s entirely in a river and Angel’s Landing could be very slippery. The perks of visiting during this time are that there are significantly less people which can make for a much better experience.
Traffic, crowds, and tourist considerations
When the national parks in Utah get crowded, it can be unpleasant. The successful promotion of the “Mighty Five” parks has meant an uptick in tourism. You may want to avoid these parks in the summer. Memorial Day weekend 2015, for example, saw Arches National Park closed due to overwhelming crowds. If you don’t want to stand in long lines for shuttles or deal with traffic jams, hit the parks in spring or fall on weekdays.
Tip: The national parks in Utah are highly promoted, but they’re not the only game in town. In fact, Utah has forty-five state parks as well.
The Best Food in Utah Valley
American Cuisine
Asian & Polynesian Cuisine
European & Latin American Cuisine
Desserts & Snacks
Utah Maps
Interesting Facts About Utah
- The lake is 24 miles long, 12 miles across (over 96,000 acres)
- Utah County is the 16th largest in the area in the State.
- Third largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi (slightly smaller than Flathead Lake, Montana, and Lake Tahoe, California).
- Utah offers climates that vary greatly, from snow-covered Logan in the north to sunny St.
- George on the Utah-Arizona border in the south. Utah’s highest point is King’s Peak, standing at 13,528 feet. The state’s lowest point is Beaver Dam Wash, at 2,350 feet.
- Water temperature can get as high as 80 degrees but averages around 73 degrees during the warm summer months.
- A boxing match was once staged at the bottom of the lake.
- Natural hot springs around the lake can be found on the south end of the lake and in the Saratoga Springs area.
- The first European to see Utah Lake was Father Silvestre Vélez de Escalante in 1776.
- Utah County is the fourth fastest-growing county in the country.
- The county has new population estimates of 606,425.
- The first JB’s Big Boy was opened in Provo, Utah.
- The county has three School Districts.
- Utah County is referred to as the most Republican County in the United State.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply