13 Best Things to Do in Utah

Angels Landing is one of the most revered and heart-stopping hikes in the world. Located in Zion National Park, the 5-mile roundtrip trail takes you through steep red-rock canyons, up thigh-burning switchbacks, and across a narrow spine with 1,000-ft drops. The reward is the park’s iconic canyon vistas.

Start early and grab the first park shuttle to avoid the crowds and oppressive Utah summer sun. The most popular starting point is The Grotto, a picnic area just north of Zion Park Lodge. If dizzying heights are not your thing, stick to the tamer West Rim Trail, which still provides plenty of dramatic canyon scenery.

The Kodachrome Basin State Park is a remote Utah gem, known for its stunning monolithic spires and photo-worthy landscape. It's a great alternative to the often-crowded Bryce Canyon National Park, which is about a 30-minute drive away.

Plan at least 3 days to fully explore Kodachrome Basin’s vast hiking trails and multi-coloured sandstone pillars. Hike the Panorama Loop Trail and revel in vistas of the park's natural arches. Chimney Rock, Shakespeare Arch, and Ballerina Geyser are some of the highlights of the state park. You can even catch a view of the Milky Way thanks to the lack of light pollution.

Utah is featured in many iconic Hollywood movies, so a cinematic road trip is a great way for film buffs to explore its renowned scenery. Blessed with a unique landscape of high mountain peaks, salt deserts, and nature carved red rock formations, you can understand why many filmmakers picked Utah as their shooting locations.

Start your road trip off at the SLC airport where Jim Carrey’s character in Dumb and Dumber (1994) says goodbye to his beloved Mary. Head to the salt flats of Utah’s West Desert and imagine Independence Day (1996) being shot on the barren landscape. Finally, explore southwestern Utah, where Robert Redford shot his breakthrough movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). Grab a cinematic road trip guide form the SLC Visitor Centre to ensure you don’t miss a single stop.

Utah is home to one of the largest concentrations of slot canyons in the world, many of which are easily accessible for novice explorers. These natural formations are formed from rushing water, which broke down the sandstone rock for over millions of years.

Located in the Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument, the Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons are popular among seasoned adventurers. You’re in for a real treat as you scramble through a scenic paradise of red and purple rock layering. The intense river-hiking location of Paria Canyon is best tackled with a group for safety purpose. Note that some of these narrow gorges might not appeal to claustrophobics.

The San Rafael Swell offers many of the dramatic rock formations seen in Utah’s “Mighty 5” national parks, but with a fraction of the crowds. Formed by a tremendous earth bulge some 50 million years, this 3,000-sq-mile area is rugged and lined with titled red-rock canyons and buttes.

A must-visit in the San Rafael Swell, Goblin Valley is home to numerous creepy wind and water-carved rock hoodoos. The Wedge (Little Grand Canyon) has stunning canyon views, gorges and mesas sprawling out before you, while Rochester Rock Art Panel is a pristine example of 1,000-year-old Fremont art. Due to its remoteness – an hour’s drive from the nearest town – it's best to spend a long weekend camping or sleeping in a campervan.

Powder Mountain is a massive, 8,000-acre ski resort east of Ogden, with an abundance of groomed trails and backcountry terrain. Whether you're a winter sports newbie or veteran, this ski mountain has options for every skill level.

Start with a free orientation with an informative mountain host, who can recommend the best runs for you and your family. Almost every trail on Powder Mountain is accessible by lift, so everyone can join in on the fun. Stay around Eden for affordable and low-key lodging, from which you can enjoy a day trip to the mountain.

Temple Square is a 35-acre church complex in the heart of Salt Lake City. The stunning Salt Lake Temple is the centrepiece of the complex, housing the HQ of the Church of Latter-day Saints. You can enjoy a variety of event centres, museums, restaurants, and colourful gardens year-round.

Take a free tour of the grounds and historical residences to learn about the rich 150-year history of Mormon influence in the region. Grab dinner at the 10^th floor, The Roof Restaurant, which serves a fine-dining buffet while revelling in spectacular views of the ornate temple.

The Canyonlands National Park is an expansive 340,000-acre outdoor mecca in Utah. The sprawling array of high plateau mesas and rugged canyons were carved by the intersecting Colorado and Green Rivers millennia ago.

If you only have a day, the Island of the Sky portion of the park is easily accessible and features a jaw-dropping scenic drive. Highlights include the famed Mesa Arch, Grand View Point, and Upheaval Dome. There are few places more beautiful in Utah to camp than on the rim of the enormous canyons cutting through the park. Base yourself in Moab and visit the nearby Arches National Park, one of Utah’s “Mighty 5” national parks.

Nile Mile Canyon Road is your guide for a beautiful road trip through some of the finest examples of prehistoric rock art in the US. Naturally cutting through the northern part of the famed Book Cliffs rock formation, the road winds for 40 miles along the Nine Mile Creek, ending at Bulls Canyon.

Start outside the town of Wellington and head north along the Nine Mile Canyon Backway. Highlights include Argyle Canyon, Rasmussen Cave and granary ruins of the Fremont people who occupied the canyon over 1,000 years ago. Stop at Fremont Village and revel in The Great Hunt, the famous animal hunt scene carved into the canyon walls. Stay a night at Nine Mile Ranch for a true wilderness experience.

Moab is synonymous with outdoor adventure, especially mountain biking. Located in eastern Utah, this small, off-the-beaten-path town provides you with a plethora of outdoor activities. Explore rugged nature at the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, kayak the intimidating Colorado River, or walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs at Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trails.

You can live out your cowboy (or cowgirl) dreams at one of the numerous local ranches in Moab. Utah may not be known for its alcohol, but don’t leave the town without visiting its excellent microbrewery and winery.

Utah’s Zion National Park is formed around the verdant Zion Canyon, which provides a home for many plant and animal species in the middle of a desert landscape. While nothing like the size of the Grand Canyon, the sheer walls of Zion Canyon reach as much as 2,640 ft down. Angels Landing is an especially peaceful spot, giving you the ideal view down the canyon.

Down by the waterside, the Narrows are well worth checking out. As the name suggests, it’s the narrowest point of the Zion Canyon, forming a striking slot canyon.

Arches National Park is an Instagrammer’s dream come true, with some 2,000 sandstone arches forming ideal natural frames for the stunning Utah sunsets. Among the most popular named arches (there are too many for all of them to have names) are Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch and Double Arch.

The Courthouse Towers area is a wonder to behold for its monolithic stone columns, as is Balanced Rock. If you visit during winter, you get more bearable temperatures as well as the unusual sight of a snow-covered desert landscape.

Alta Ski Area is the second-oldest ski resort in the United States having been opened since 1938. It’s most well-known for its deep snow and long, fast runs for skiers. It’s located just 2 miles further up Little Cottonwood Canyon from Snowbird Resort.

Alta Ski Area is different from Salt Lake City’s other resorts by being a ski-only area, with no snowboarding allowed. It’s praised by international and elite downhill skiers for its top-quality runs and some of the best powder fields in the world. However, beginners and intermediates are also accommodated with several slopes designated just for them.