For outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife lovers, the perfect getaway exists in Utah. Over 2 million acres of protected public lands in Utah are managed by the US National Park service. Utah is home to a staggering five famous national parks and seven national monuments.
Each year, adventure seekers visit Utah to hike the slot canyons, explore the sand dunes, go rock climbing in a picturesque setting and see the other-worldly Bonneville Salt Flats.
Take a look at the top picks for the most beautiful places in Utah you must see.
Arches National Park
This stunning park is one of Utah’s ‘big five’ national parks. The park encompasses over 76,000 acres with more than 2,000 documented natural sandstone arches.
Some of the landmarks you will see with a visit in Utah at Arches include:
- The massive Delicate Arch
- Slender Landscape Arch
- Balance Rock
Arches National Park is just north of the town of Moab, UT, and 230 miles south of Salt Lake City.
Plan to spend a minimum of two days exploring the park.
Canyonlands National Park
Another one of Utah’s big five national parks is a top choice for the most beautiful places in Utah. At a whopping 257,640 acres, Canyonlands National Park is the largest of the big five.
Famous landmarks you will see with a visit in Utah at Canyonlands include:
- Island in the Sky
- The Needles
- Maze Canyons
- Horseshoe Canyon
Canyonlands National is near Moab, UT, only 26 miles from Arches National Park.
Plan to spend a minimum of two days exploring the park.
Zion National Park
Zion Park is Utah’s first and most popular national park out of the Utah big five. The park encompasses 148,016 acres of red rock canyons and rock formations straddling the Virgin River.
Famous landmarks you can see here include:
- Angels Landing
- The Narrows hike
- Lava Point
Zion National Park is in Springdale, UT, 300 miles south of Salt Lake City.
While you are in the area, take time to visit the nearby Coral Pink Sand Dunes with their varied hues of warm pink sand.
Great Salt Lake
At 1,700 square miles, the Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the western hemisphere.
With an average 12 percent salinity rate, the lake is so buoyant that swimmers can easily float. Swimming and sunbathing are popular activities here, and freshwater showers are provided to rinse off the salt.
There are two Utah state parks here. Antelope Island State Park and Salt Lake State Park.
Antelope Island offers a visitors center, marina, and beautiful clean beaches.
The Great Salt Lake State Park offers a marina that is popular with boaters.
The lake sits in the state’s northern section, about 30 minutes from Salt Lake City.
Bonneville Salt Flats
These 300,000 acres win the prize for the most impressive and unique place in Utah. Wide-open stretches of flat space crusted with salt were created when ancient Lake Bonneville dried up. In some areas, the salt is as much as 5 feet thick.
Stop by the rest area on I-80, 10 miles east of the town of Wendover. The area is entirely surrounded by crusty flat land that almost looks like snow. Go ahead and walk on the salted land as there is a freshwater spray station to rinse the salt off your shoes.
Monument Valley
Unlike the nearby Utah national parks, Monument Valley is a tribal park owned by the Navajo Nation. No visit in Utah would be complete without seeing the monumental rock formations here.
Take the scenic drive through Monument Valley, a 17-mile loop past the most popular sites. It’s a slow drive that will take 2-4 hours. You’ll see amazing rock formations like the West Mitten Butte, John Ford’s Point, Three Sisters, Camel Butte, and Elephant Butte.
Hiking within this tribal park is only allowed on tour with a knowledgeable local Navajo guide.
Escalante National Monument
Escalante National Monument is a massive 1.87 million acres of protected public land in the vast southern Utah desert. It was proclaimed a national monument by President Clinton on September 18, 1996.
While this national monument does not attract as many visitors as Utah’s famous big five, its location makes it part of the national park loop. It’s twenty miles south of Bryce Canyon National Park and could easily be added to a Bryce Canyon trip.
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a series of slot canyons, rock ridges, and natural arches.
Plan to spend 2 hours taking the scenic drive through the national monument.
Dead Horse Point State Park
While not as large or as popular as Utah’s national parks, Dead Horse Point State Park is still a special place to visit. This 5,362 acres park has one of the most impressive views in the state.
From Dead Horse Point Overlook, you can see the meandering Colorado River below and Canyonlands National Park to the east.
Plan to spend at least 2 hours with a stop at the overlook, the visitors center, and perhaps a quick hike.
Have A Thrilling ATV Tour With A View Of Zion Canyon
Ready for adventure? Come offroading with us!
You’ll drive a Polaris RZR along sand trails and over large rocks. We lead small groups in Virgin River, next to Zion National Park. We’ll show you some amazing vistas that you might not see any other way.
Let’s get your next great adventure scheduled. Go online or call us today!
