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
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Wellsville, Utah
Box Elder Peak
4.37.57 mi / 3986 ft gainFrom the Rattlesnake Trailhead (about a mile northeast of the Sherwood Hills Resort on U.S. 89) to the peak is just under 4.5 miles. The hike is great exercise, as it's relatively steep. The steep angle provides for stunning views along the entire trail, making this one of the most picturesque hi...Read more -
Oakley, Utah
Backpack to Cutthroat Lake
4 mi / 280 ft gainThere isn't a trail to Cutthroat Lake so for a portion of the hike will be cross-country. I highly recommend bringing a GPS but with intermediate route-finding skills you should be able to find your way. We used the Gaia GPS app and this made the hike much easier. The distance depends on the r...Read more -
Evanston, Utah
Backpack to Ryder Lake
4.718 mi / 2000 ft gainRyder Lake is accessed via the Stillwater Trail, beginning at the Christmas Meadows Trailhead off of Mirror Lake Highway. The trail heads due south from Christmas Meadows along the Stillwater River. It winds through lodgepole pine forests and skirts alpine meadows, gradually gaining elevation. A...Read more -
Boulder, Utah
Drive the Burr Trail Scenic Backway
5.066.2 mi / 4124 ft gainThe Burr Trail is a 66 miles mostly-paved road connecting Boulder, Utah / Highway 12 with the Notom-Bullfrog road that passes through some of the most scenic (and largely untouched) painted-rock backcountry in three of our national parks/monuments including Grand Staircase-Escalante, Capitol Reef...Read more -
Moab, Utah
Camp at King's Bottom
4.0Kane Creek is a massive canyon, with the Colorado river at it's feet and red cliffs towering on either side. There are numerous trail heads and campgrounds the farther you explore into the canyon. However, these sites fill up fast. The canyon restricts camping to only designated sites, capping th...Read more -
Moab, Utah
Camp at Drinks Canyon
5.0Drinks Canyon Camping Area is located just 6 miles up the Colorado River on Hwy 191 from Moab. This BLM managed campsite has 17 sites that are all first-come, first served. Just a short drive from Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Fisher Towers, and the surrounding BLM land, Drinks...Read more -
Torrey, Utah
Chimney Rock Loop
5.03.46 mi / 909 ft gainFrom the trailhead, the trek starts off pretty step. You will reach a fork near the top of the plateau which starts the official loop. At the junction go left (counterclockwise). The trail offers wonderful views along the way. The loop will bring you on top of "chimney rock" for views over Hwy 24...Read more -
Moab, Utah
Green River Overlook
4.5Turn right on Highway 313 after Mesa Arch Trailhead and follow the road past Willow Flat Campground to Green River Overlook. Park at the parking lot. Climb over the railing onto the rock edge. Sit and breathe in that desert wind and distant sun. Simple as that. I recommend camping at Willow Flat...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike Porter Fork, Millcreek Canyon
5.06.8 mi / 3250 ft gainPorter Fork starts at the aptly named Porter Fork Trailhead about 4 miles up Millcreek Canyon. It’s actually Porter Fork Road for the first 1.5 miles of the trail. This section is a pleasant, paved path winding up through a dozen or so cabins. You’ll gain about 1,000 feet. If you make it past the...Read more -
Garrison, Utah
Gandy Warm Springs
5.0Near the border of Utah and Nevada stands Spring Mountain which harbors a warm spring, underwater cave system, and crystal ball cave. The warm springs has two separate pools both around 80 degrees. The main pool has water cascading down the hillside into the pool as well as a underwater cave syst...Read more -
Moab, Utah
Drive Long Canyon Road
5.0Moab is an outdoor mecca, from rock climbing to mountain biking to 4WD adventures and while not particularly technical (it is only rated Class 2) the 7.8 mile Long Canyon Road just north of Dead Horse State Park is an excellent way to get a taste for the incredible features (and views) that the C...Read more -
Springdale, Utah
Wildcat Canyon Trail
5.05.88 mi / 892 ft gainThis 5.8 mile (one-way) trek is a multi-functional trail. The trail can serve as standalone trail allowing hikers to get in either a solid in-and-out day hike or as a leg to a much bigger and epic Trans-Zion Trek. For those interested in the later, the Wildcat Canyon Trail is the leg of the journ...Read more -
Moab, Utah
Camp at Willow Springs Trail
4.0Willow Springs Trail is state-owned land located 13 miles north of downtown Moab Utah. The state provides some vault toilets and port-o-lets throughout the area, but there are no designated campsites or fire rings. Along the main road, there are plenty of large flat spots that people with RV's or...Read more -
Monticello, Utah
Rock Climbing in Indian Creek
5.0Just outside the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park and 40 miles south of Moab lies one of the greatest crack climbing destinations in the world. Indian Creek is home to world famous routes such as "Supercrack of the Desert" 5.10 "Way Rambo" 5.12- and "Incredible Hand Crack" 5.10c.This...Read more -
Lake Powell, Utah
Hike to Horse Collar Ruin at Natural Bridges National Monument
5.03.2 mi / 500 ft gainNatural Bridges National Monument is one of Utah's many geologic wonders. While this monument is primarily known for its bridges, it also has an impressive collection of cliff dwellings known as Horse Collar Ruin. The dwellings have passed the test of time after being abandoned by native people m...Read more -
Layton, Utah
Stroll through the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve
5.01 miThe wetlands of The Nature Conservancy's Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve are a unique system of salt and fresh water marshes, ponds, pools, sloughs and mudflats. It is a rich feeding ground for tens of thousands of migrating birds, making this destination a birder's paradise.Great for all ski...Read more