Utah - Nature and Scientific Wonders
Arches National Park
Arches National Park contains the world's largest concentration of natural stone arches. This National Park is a red, arid desert, punctuated with oddly eroded sandstone forms such as fins, pinnacles, spires, balanced rocks, and arches. The 73,000-acre region has over 2,000 of these "miracles of nature."
Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon is filled with incredible red rock formations. From brilliant red sandstone hoodoos and mazes to open amphitheaters and lush green forests, Bryce Canyon National Park inspires awe and appreciation for one of Mother Nature's greatest miracles. The wonder of Bryce can be experienced by horseback ride, guided tour or a solitary hike.
Canyonlands
In Canyonlands National Park, you can view thousands of feet down to the Green and Colorado Rivers, or thousands of feet up to red rock pinnacles, cliffs and spires. Whichever direction you look, you're sure to notice the incredible beauty of Utah's Canyonlands National Park. As Utah's largest national park, Canyonlands has been naturally sliced into three distinctive districts: The Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze.
Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef National Park offers marvelous scenery, hiking trails, historic sites including a deserted pioneer town, and unique geology and plant life. You can also find amazing rock art from the ancient Fremont Indian culture.
Castle Country
Native American petroglyphs and Indian writing at Nine Mile Canyon are only a part of the many attractions in the Price area. Price sits at the top of the San Rafael Swell, which is home to vast deserts, yawning canyons and fascinating rock formations. Goblin Valley State Park and the Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry are nearby destinations popular for nature enthusiasts, off-road riders and rock hounding.
Central Utah
The Central Utah region is a goldmine of Utah heritage and outdoor recreation. Visitors here will find historic Bed & Breakfast inns located in picturesque small communities. US Highway 89, dubbed the Heritage Highway, and the popular Paiute and Arapeen off-highway trail systems are located here.
Sportsmen will find a variety of streams, lakes and reservoirs, along with state parks and public lands for family recreation.
Davis County
Davis County, located just north of Salt Lake City, is a great alternative close to but outside of the busy city.
This area offers some of northern Utah's most popular attractions, including the Great Salt Lake, Lagoon Amusement Park, Cherry Hill Campground and Waterpark, and direct access to Antelope Island State Park.
Grand Staircase/Escalante
Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument includes land with a wide variety of topographical features. This multi-hued landscape can be divided into three regions: The Canyons of Escalante, The Grand Staircase and the Kaiparowits Plateau. Recreational opportunities abound within the vast area included in the monument.
Heber Area
Heber City Utah is located in a beautiful mountain valley just a short drive from the Wasatch Front. The area offers outstanding year-round outdoor recreation including golf, fly fishing, boating and water sports, skiing and other winter sports. In summer, temperatures are usually cool and pleasant. In winter, abundant snowfall makes this a paradise for winter recreation.
Kanab/Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon National Park one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World, is located just south of the Utah town of Kanab. The park's beautiful North Rim is just 90 scenic minutes away. In addition to serving as the prime gateway city to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Kanab is also just minutes from Lake Powell, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Known as "Little Hollywood" because of the hundreds of western movies filmed throughout the area, Kanab offers visitors an unparalleled "Old West experience."
Lake Powell
Lake Powell, in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, is one of the world's great places for houseboating! The 186-mile long lake offers sandy beaches, cool blue water, and exceptional red-rock scenery. It is excellent for boating, skiing, kayaking and fishing. Boat or hike to Rainbow Bridge, or explore any of its many canyons or sand dunes. With a shoreline longer than the whole western coast of the continental United States, Lake Powell offers adventure for everyone.
Logan
Logan, Utah, is a quaint agricultural town located in beautiful Cache Valley. The surrounding area is home to Bear Lake, a popular water sport playground, Utah State University and Beaver Mountain Ski Resort.
With mountains on both sides of the valley, many people consider pastoral Logan to be the most beautiful city in Utah!
Keep your eyes open for a wide variety of wildlife year-round and enjoy spectacular fall colors as you drive through Wellsville Canyon and Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway.
Moab
Two national parks are found within the Moab, Utah, destination: Arches National Park, and Canyonlands National Park. Moab is known as a Utah adventure capitol, offering activities such as mountain biking on Slickrock, off-road trails and the Moab Jeep safari, whitewater rafting down the Cataract Canyon section of the Colorado River, and hiking to Delicate Arch - Utah's famous icon.
Monument Valley
Over the years, Monument Valley has been the setting for more Western movies than any other site in the United States. Unique sandstone formations, the Navajo Indian Nation and the Four Corners Monument define this vast, open desert region.
Come experience the Old West of John Wayne, and tour the country once known only to outlaws, struggling pioneers and Native American people.
Much of the land in this region is part of the Navajo Nation; here you have a great opportunity to learn about Native American culture, historic and modern.
Vernal/Flaming Gorge
Vernal and the Uinta Basin are known for high adventure and mountains. Flaming Gorge Reservoir offers spectacular outdoor activities, including boating, fishing, camping, biking and hiking. The Green River flows through the region, providing blue ribbon trout fishing and exciting whitewater rafting. The Uinta Mountains shelter hundreds of lakes and streams teaming with trout. These are the highest mountains in Utah and offer great opportunities for hiking, backpacking and horse or llama packing. Dinosaurs roamed this area and left countless fossils and footprints. Learn more about these creatures at Dinosaur National Monument, home to one of the largest collections of Jurassic period bones and fossils. The Utah Field House of Natural History offers a renowned museum and displays on dinosaurs and other prehistoric life. State parks at Steinaker and Red Fleet reservoirs provide modern campgrounds and wonderful opportunities for boating and fishing.
Zion Area
Zion National Park is Utah's most popular national park, offering breathtaking vistas and slot canyons, glistening pools and delicate waterfalls. The heart of Zion park is spectacular Zion Canyon. Other famous features include Angels Landing and the Zion Narrows.