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

  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Desolation Lake via Mill D

    4.6
    7.56 mi / 2024 ft gain
    Drive 9 miles into Big Cottonwood Canyon and park at the Mill D North Trailhead (on the left). On the right side of the road, there is a restroom. The trial head begins on the left, there is a visible sign you cannot miss before beginning. The trail is about 7.4 miles round trip, about half way...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Camp at Long Canyon

    1.0
    If you haven’t been to Moab, UT then you are missing out. There is truly something for everyone in this breathtaking desert landscape which has become increasingly popular over the past several years. There are two major national parks nearby, Arches and Canyonlands, which are easily accessible f...
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  • Corinne, Utah

    Camp by the Spiral Jetty

    5.0
    This spot is pretty wild and barren. Head there with an open mind and be ready to have an amazing experience. Some things to look out for: The Spiral Jetty is land art itselfThere's a guest book, which is kept in a green bag under the rocks near the parking lot. This book has the invoice for the ...
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  • Holladay, Utah

    Winter Hike to Mt. Olympus

    5.0
    7 mi / 4200 ft gain
    Approach: You can access the well traveled Mount Olympus Trail the same as you would any other season. Park in the trailhead lot or along Wasatch Blvd. The trail starts on the south side of the parking lot.Route Description: Even in the winter the Mount Olympus trail should be pretty straightforw...
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  • Kane County, Utah

    Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Canyons

    4.7
    5.44 mi / 584 ft gain
    This hike is located in the Grand-Staircase-Escalante Monument and the nearest town is Escalante, Utah. From Escalante, you take Hole-in-the-Rock Road 26 miles to the Dry Fork road turn-off. The Hole-in-the-Rock road It is a dirt road, and while I did see some sedans and minivans, I suggest a veh...
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  • Syracuse, Utah

    Photograph the Famous Stump by the Antelope Island Causeway

    4.8
    If you've ever visited Antelope Island State Park, there is no doubt you've seen the stump. This dead, bleached focal point with it's gnarled branches stands out in the middle of the vast landscape of the Great Salt Lake. It is located on the South side of the causeway, approximately two miles fr...
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  • Lake Powell, Utah

    Hike to the Ancestral Puebloan Ruins in Forgotten Canyon

    4 mi / 200 ft gain
    The Ancestral Puebloan Ruins found up Forgotten Canyon can only be described as awe inspiring and humbling. The small adobe brick homes are known as the Defiance House. It is believed that there were a couple of families (15-20 people) who dwelled in these homes circa 1200 A.D. These ruins can ...
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  • Kane County, Utah

    Hike Hole in the Rock

    5.0
    Hole in the Rock is a historic site in Utah where the Mormon Pioneers had to dynamite a path down the mountain to get through to the Colorado River. The pathway at Hole in the Rock is still cleared out, and you get to hike through the path that these enduring people traveled, bringing wagons down...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Rock Climbing Moab's Wall Street

    4.4
    Moab's Wall Street is exactly what it sounds like, but nothing like the "Wall Street" you're familiar with. Several miles off Highway 279, it hugs the Colorado River on one side and a towering 500ft sandstone wall littered with climbing routes on the other. There is easy access to all of the clim...
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  • Kane County, Utah

    Beach Camp On Lake Powell's Lone Rock Beach

    4.6
    Just twelve miles north of Page, Arizona on Highway 89 across the Utah border, Lone Rock Beach is a great open beach where you can drive right up and make camp anywhere you like. There is a $10 fee to get on the beach and it can get a little busy during the summer, but it seems like you can alway...
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  • Springdale, Utah

    Hidden Canyon Trail

    4.6
    3.22 mi / 2185 ft gain
    NOTE: This trail is currently closed due to a large rockfall. Please visit the NPS.Gov website for updates.  This trail starts at Weeping Rock Trailhead, it's the same trailhead for Observation Point and the East Rim Trail. You will start this hike up a paved section with several switchbacks up ...
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  • Alta, Utah

    Ski Little Cottonwood Canyon

    5.0
    It's no secret that Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC) is home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the lower 48, if not North America. What many people are not aware of is the extremely easy and quick access from Salt Lake City.Enter the Dawn Patrollers. Skiers and snowboarders from Salt L...
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  • Sandy, Utah

    Climbing in the Lone Peak Cirque

    4.0
    Lone Peak reaches 11,253 feet at its summit. It's alpine feel is unique as it stands above the busy city below. While this gem is one of the highlights in the Wasatch range, it must be earned. A long steep approach, best done at night in the summer months, deposits you in the high meadow surround...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Grandeur Peak East Trail

    4.4
    5.97 mi / 2513 ft gain
    This is the peak that can be seen from the valley located between Millcreek Canyon and Parleys Canyon. There are 2 trails that head up to this peak, but the one up Millcreek Canyon at the top of Church Fork is by far the more popular/enjoyable one (and the one described here). The other one heads...
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  • Virgin, Utah

    Camp on Dalton Wash Road

    5.0
    0.5 mi / 500 ft gain
    Zion National Park. Truly one of the beauties of the American Southwest. With red walls and orange sunsets, Zion is a must-see. However, during the busy season of the parks, finding a campsite that hasn't been snagged can be difficult. That's why I'd suggest looking for a quieter, equally as beau...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Mesa Arch

    4.5
    0.74 mi / 164 ft gain
    This is an easy 0.6 mile loop. The hike takes you out to Mesa Arch, which is one of the most famous structures of Canyonlands National Park. If you're out with your camera, you can get amazing shots of the arch with the rugged canyon as your backdrop. Some of the best photos of the arch are at s...
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