24 Must-visit Destinations in Utah—Otherworldly Salt Flats, Bright Turquoise Lakes, and National Parks Included

Utah doesn’t get as much attention as some of its neighbors (ahem, Colorado), but the terrain is so stunning and varied that much of the natural landscape is designated national park, national monument, or national forest land. It’s impossible to check out every site the state has to offer in one visit, but certain places stand out.

From desert marked with red sandstone arches to giant, snow-covered ski mountains and bright-white salt flats, there are ample spots to explore beyond the five phenomenal national parks. With that in mind, here are 24 of the best places to visit in Utah.

Zion National Park

Utah has five renowned national parks, but Zion was the state’s first—and it’s the number one attraction today. Visit and you’ll see why. Hiking below the steep red cliffs surrounding Zion Canyon is truly awe-inspiring, as are the park’s slot canyons, emerald-colored pools, and waterfalls with hanging gardens.

Park City

Park City is one of those places where you can have it all. It’s just over 30 minutes from Salt Lake City, but has a mountain town feel that’s complemented by a huge network of biking and hiking trails in the summer and two great ski areas—Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort—in the winter.

Goblin Valley State Park

Wander among hoodoos, columns of rock jutting out of the ground, at Goblin Valley State Park. You can spend the day exploring Little Wild Horse slot canyon, which includes a stretch where the walls are so tight that you have to turn sideways to get through. Make your way to the Third Valley to set up camp among the tallest rock formations. As a certified Dark Sky Park, this is an excellent place to spend the night to stargaze. For the more adventurous, consider an afternoon of canyoneering with an outfitter or rent a bike to explore the area.

Powder Mountain

With the most skiable acreage in North America, Powder Mountain is the place to be when the snow starts flying in Utah. In addition to cruising down over 160 trails around the resort, you can go off-piste, exploring the mountain’s untracked in-bounds terrain. (Oh, and the area receives an average of more than 500 inches of snow annually.)

Paria Canyon

Set within the wildly beautiful Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, this natural wonder lies on the Utah-Arizona border, but is still on the Utah side. Walking between the soaring red sandstone walls of Paria Canyon, one of the world’s longest slot canyons, is an awe-inspiring experience. The most adventurous can make their way through the canyon’s tributary, Buckskin Gulch, for a hike that extends to nearly 40 miles.

Arches National Park

The reddish-orange sandstone arches of this national park seem to belong in another world. And since there are more than 2,000 of them, even a short hike gives visitors the chance to take in stunning views of the park’s most notable features. You’ll also find other geological wonders, such as Balanced Rock, which towers over the desert landscape.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is unlike any other state capital in the U.S. It sits at the base of the Wasatch Range, providing a mountain backdrop to even the most urban downtown area. To see the two sides of the city, you can walk the Temple Square, headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, before grabbing lunch at the Mark of the Beastro, a vegan diner with a devil theme.

St. George

Unlike other parts of the state, the city of St. George boasts year-round warm weather and easy access to endless recreation—from the dunes and red sandstone cliffs of Snow Canyon State Park to the reservoir of Sand Hollow State Park to the iconic Zion National Park. This destination also has incredible dining and great golfing.

Canyonlands National Park

The desert landscape of Canyonlands National Park is marked with towering rock pinnacles, remote canyons, and Native American rock paintings. Meanwhile, the Colorado River cuts through the dry scenery, providing whitewater rapids sought out by rafters and kayakers.

Moab

This city in eastern Utah is a gateway to the red rock wonders of the state—many of which are found within neighboring Arches and Canyonlands national parks. In addition to the parks, Moab is home to myriad petroglyphs, seen along Hidden Valley Trail, and dinosaur tracks located within Mill Canyon.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is as rugged and remote as it gets, which is why it was one of the last places in the continental U.S. to be mapped. These days, you can view rock art by Indigenous peoples, see dinosaur fossils, and explore the monument’s slot canyons, arches, and monoliths.

Dead Horse Point State Park

This state park is as dry as it is immense. With a high-desert landscape of canyons crisscrossed with trails, travelers come to look out over the dramatic Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park. When the sun drops, stick around Dead Horse Point State Park to stargaze.

Bonneville Salt Flats

You don’t have to travel to South America to see the Uyuni Salt Flat. You just have to get to northwestern Utah, where the Bonneville Salt Flats sprawl over 30,000 acres. The blinding-white salt crust resembles snow and is five feet thick in some areas.

Bryce Canyon National Park

The largest concentration of hoodoos can be found in Bryce Canyon National Park. In addition to the red sandstone wonders, the park often boasts stunning sunrise and sunset views, plus prime stargazing due to the lack of light pollution. Utah has the most Dark Sky-certified places in the world, making it an excellent destination for nighttime photographers and astronomy enthusiasts alike.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

Admire the sunset on the mounds of red sand in Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Visitors can hike, drive, and even slide down the dunes, which are estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000 years old. Sandboards and sleds are available to rent.

Mystic Hot Springs

This unique take on natural hot springs funnels the mineral water into a series of reclaimed bathtubs and pools where you can soak the day away. For the full experience, stick around Mystic Hot Springs for some on-site live music or spend the night in one of the laid-back resort’s many vintage buses (including one that followed the Grateful Dead).

Snowbird

This ski area in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains boasts 2,500 feet of terrain and around 500 inches of snow annually. What’s more, Snowbird usually has the state’s longest ski season. The resort offers plenty of activities in the summer, too—play on the alpine slide or take the tram to the top of the mountain for awe-inspiring views of Twin Peaks and Mt. Baldy.

Dinosaur National Monument

Dinosaurs once roamed much of Utah, and there’s no better place to see and learn about them than at Dinosaur National Monument. The remains of these great wonders are still visibly embedded in the rocks, while petroglyphs showcase the area’s first human populations.

Fifth Water Hot Springs

A little over an hour’s drive south of Salt Lake City, you can hike to this popular spot for a soak. After about two miles on the Fifth Water Hot Springs Trail, you’ll come upon a waterfall and the main attraction—also called Diamond Fork Hot Springs. Sit back and relax, but keep in mind you have to hike back to your car.

Homestead Crater

Head south of Park City to Midway, and you’ll find one of Utah’s lesser-known natural wonders, Homestead Crater, a geothermal hot spring set in a limestone dome formed some 10,000 years ago. One of the country’s best swimming holes, it’s also the only warm-water dive site in the continental U.S. Under the “natural skylight” created by the dome’s opening, you can swim, scuba dive, or snorkel for a fee (advance reservations are required).

Bear Lake State Park

Everything in Bear Lake State Park revolves around its shining jewel. Dubbed the “Caribbean of the Rockies,” this bright turquoise lake gets its striking hue from an abundance of calcium carbonate deposits in the water. Visitors enjoy fishing, water sports, sailing, or just relaxing on the sandy shores.

Mount Timpanogos

One of Utah’s most popular and recognizable mountains, Mount Timpanogos—nicknamed “Timp”—tops out at 11,752 feet above sea level. Reaching the summit requires a strenuous 15-mile hike round-trip, with water crossings, loose rocks, and a steep climb at altitude. Along the way, hikers are treated to views of glacial lakes, waterfalls, and wildflowers. There are also moderate trails suitable for beginners that don’t ascend to the peak.

Capitol Reef National Park

The centerpiece of Capitol Reef National Park is the Waterpocket Fold, a massive layered and eroded rock formation often described as “a wrinkle on the earth.” The geologic monocline extends almost 100 miles and is surrounded by white sandstone domes, towering monoliths, and otherworldly pillars and arches.

Goosenecks State Park

Goosenecks State Park is tiny, but mighty. It’s renowned for its clifftop vistas over the roaring San Juan River. And the views don’t stop when night falls, thanks to the park’s International Dark Sky designation—you just have to look up.