Utah Travel Guide
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Utah holds the densest concentration of red-rock national parks on earth, marketed as the Mighty Five. Arches' 2,000 natural stone arches, Canyonlands' vastness, Capitol Reef's orchards and domes, Bryce Canyon's hoodoo amphitheatres, and Zion's towering Narrows.
The north is alpine: Salt Lake City under the Wasatch, the 'greatest snow on earth' at Alta and Snowbird, and the Bonneville Salt Flats stretching to the horizon. Temple Square anchors downtown SLC.
Destinations in Utah
Arches National ParkDelicate Arch at sunset; timed entry required.
Zion National ParkAngels Landing (permit) and the Narrows wade.
Bryce CanyonThe hoodoo amphitheatre at sunrise; the Navajo Loop descent.
Monument Valley (border)The Navajo Tribal Park's buttes, on the Arizona line.- CanyonlandsIsland in the Sky's grand overlooks and the White Rim.
Alta and SnowbirdLegendary powder in Little Cottonwood Canyon.- Capitol ReefThe Waterpocket Fold, historic orchards and far fewer crowds.
- Salt Lake CityTemple Square, the Utah State Capitol and the Great Salt Lake.
- Bonneville Salt FlatsThe blinding white speed-racing flats near Wendover.
Hover a state to explore it. Click a city pin to open its guide.
Top Cities & towns in Utah
Regional food
- Fry sauce (the Utah-born burger condiment)
- Pastrami burger (the Salt Lake specialty)
- Funeral potatoes (the cheesy potato casserole of church suppers)
Getting there
Salt Lake City (SLC) is the gateway. The Mighty Five form a loop from Moab (Arches, Canyonlands) through Bryce and Zion; allow 5 to 7 days driving. Summer is hot in the parks; spring and fall are ideal.