Utah

From its expanses of iconic desert playgrounds to its towering Wasatch Range, Utah is home to every type of outdoor adventure you can imagine. Locals and visitors alike are spoiled with convenient access to world-class winter and summer time activities and lodging.

Top Spots in and near Utah

  • Torrey, Utah

    Capitol Reef's Sulphur Creek Route

    4.8
    5.87 mi / 1191 ft gain
    This is a point-to-point hike that either requires a shuttle or 3 mile walk along highway 24. The starting trailhead is the Chimney Rock Trailhead which has limited parking. The ending trailhead is the Capitol Reef National Park Visitors Center. We only had one car so I dropped everyone off at th...
    Read more
  • Moab, Utah

    Photograph the Milky Way at North Window Arch

    4.7
    Arches National Park is a must see for all photographers, but especially for astrophotography. Many of the most common places to shoot are balanced rock, and Delicate Arch and there's a good reason, these are beautiful places. North Window Arch is much less common, and even on a moonless night,...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Trail Run Upper Big Water Trail to Dog Lake

    4.0
    6.2 mi / 1267 ft gain
    Drive all the way to the top of Millcreek Canyon until you can't drive any further. (They close the road further down the canyon in the winter so this trail is not accessible to cars in the winter.) There is a small parking lot at the end of the road, park here. The trail head is going to be on t...
    Read more
  • Logan, Utah

    Hike to the Wind Caves, UT

    4.5
    3.7 mi / 1000 ft gain
    As you drive up Logan Canyon, you'll see the trailhead on the left side of the road, just after Guinavah-Malibu Campground. It's a fairly steep hike, but also very well maintained. The Wind Caves are probably the most popular hike in Northern Utah and for a good reason. As you can see in the pict...
    Read more
  • Mexican Hat, Utah

    Camp at Muley Point

    5.0
    0.25 mi
    Muley Point on the southern end of the Cedar Mesa is one of the finest camping (and car camping) sites in North America, towering some 2400' above the San Juan River Canyon (and The Goosenecks State Park) looking south directly into the northern mouth of Monument Valley. It is a breathtakingly be...
    Read more
  • Cottonwood Heights, Utah

    Fishing Big Cottonwood Creek

    4.0
    Big Cottonwood Creek is a fun little creek that is often overlooked by the more popular fly-fishing waters of the Provo, Weber, and the Green Rivers of Utah. The fish aren't as big, but make up for it by being less selective with flies and a willingness to go after dry flies any time of the year....
    Read more
  • Moab, Utah

    Upheaval Dome Overlook

    4.0
    1.21 mi / 200 ft gain
    Upheaval Dome is a geologic structure whose origins have remained hotly debated for years. Some scientists say it is the site of a meteorite impact while others theorize it is nothing more than a naturally occurring salt dome. No matter what the true answer is, there is no question that this shor...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Salt Lake Overlook via Desolation Trail

    4.1
    4.76 mi / 1729 ft gain
    This popular trail follows a portion of the Desolation Trail leaving from Mill Creek Canyon. The trail to the overlook is 4.75 miles round trip with a 1700 ft elevation gain. You begin at the Desolation Trailhead and then turn around once you have a view of the Salt Lake Valley. It is a perfect h...
    Read more
  • Moab, Utah

    Drive through Scenic Castle Valley

    5.0
    Going west on Highway 128 towards Moab, take a left onto La Sal Loop Road. And you're there! To get back to Highway 128, simply turn back on the same road. You can also take a right onto Porcupine Ranch Road, meeting at La Sal Loop Road again, eventually reaching Highway 128.During this drive, yo...
    Read more
  • Moab, Utah

    Explore Faux Falls

    1 mi / 200 ft gain
    Faux Falls is located near the Ken's Lake campground off Route 191, 20 minutes south of Moab. When I was there it was during several days of thunderstorms. The waterfall was really gushing. Not sure how much water is running when there hasn't been rain in a while. The falls can be seen from the ...
    Read more
  • Alta, Utah

    Cottonwood Ridge Line via White Pine Lake Trailhead

    8.05 mi / 2431 ft gain
    Begin at the White Pine Trailhead in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Follow the trail up toward Red Pine Lake. The trail gets a little hard to follow after the lake, but find your way up to the ridge between Pfeifferhorn and White Baldy. Set up camp and enjoy a night in the high mountains. Morning wil...
    Read more
  • Brighton, Utah

    Photograph Star Trails at Silver Lake

    1 mi
    Silver Lake is one of the easiest, most accessible hikes in the Wasatch, located at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, close to the ski resorts of Brighton and Solitude.The lake is accessible all year; with a boardwalk or a well-signed path circling the lake through spring to fall. In the wi...
    Read more
  • Provo, Utah

    North Summit of Mount Timpanogos

    5.0
    15.64 mi / 5571 ft gain
    To reach the north summit of Timpanogos you start out just like you would if you were going to the main summit. There are 2 different trail options to choose from; The Aspen Grove trail near Sundance Ski resort or the Timpanooke trail through American Fork Canyon. I will put the start point on th...
    Read more
  • Moab, Utah

    Hike the Big Horn Overlook Trail

    4.0
    3.5 mi / 0 ft gain
    As a pet owner, you probably know that bringing your pooch along on your National Park adventures can be a frustrating experience. Most of our Parks do not allow pets on trails, and for several good reasons, but if you bring your dog(s) with you to Moab country, you’ll be happy to know that there...
    Read more
  • Provo, Utah

    Upper Falls

    4.0
    0.54 mi / 423 ft gain
    Coming from Provo, at about 2.5 miles make a right hand turn for Nunn's Park/ Bridal Veil. Go straight through the intersections and pass Bridal Veil Falls (on your right) and continue until you see a park on your right (Upper Falls Park). Park here and cross the bridge over the creek and then fo...
    Read more
  • Moab, Utah

    Mountain Bike Moab's Porcupine Rim

    5.0
    15 mi / 1000 ft gain
    This ride is one of the most popular in Moab, let alone the state of Utah. With that said, you probably won't have the trail to yourself so be sure to take time to hangout at the best vista points and chat with the other riders. Although the shuttles try to stagger the drop-offs, there will be ri...
    Read more