Utah is often viewed as one of the less glamorous states in the country. When you’re planning a vacation, you typically look towards more popular places like Florida or California.
Heck, you may even prefer to go to more extreme places like Alaska before you consider Utah! However, this state offers so much for tourists and holiday-goers. In fact, it is quickly becoming one of the hottest places to visit in 2022. Why? Well, just look at all it has to offer:
Loads of National Parks
In general, there are plenty of National Parks across the US that are well worth visiting. However, there’s an extreme concentration of them in Utah, and they are all absolutely gorgeous. A couple of the most popular include the Arches National Park in Moab, along with the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The latter is a natural rock formation that has become a national monument that’s flocked to by thousands of tourists every year. In fact, most of the National Parks here is unique as you do get to see so many rock formations, canyons, and loads of other crazy landscapes. The Zion National Park is another great option, and this has become famous for The Narrows. This is a hiking trail throughout the national park that takes you across running rivers and some incredible scenery. Generally, you can’t go wrong with any of the parks here in Utah.
Rock climbing for days
The nature of Utah means there are plenty of areas full of mountains and large rocks for you to climb. It’s like one giant rock climbing playground, and there are so many different places you can go to get the full experience. Generally, guided rock climbing in Moab is the top pick from many seasoned climbing pros. The mountains in this part of Utah are perfect to challenge you - but there are also climbing ranges that are perfect for beginners. Nevertheless, if you’re keen to have a bit of an adventure while traveling, Utah is the place to go. It’s worth noting that you can also do rock climbing in many places across the state without guides, but that’s only for the more experienced climbers out there. The best thing about climbing is that you see some awesome views and enjoy the fresh open air at the same time.
Vast canyons
The Grand Canyon isn’t the only canyon of merit in the country. Utah is home to loads of massive canyons that are full of thrills and exciting hiking trails. Big Cottonwood Canyon is perhaps one of the best around and regularly takes the top spot on lists of things to do in Utah. It’s found in the Wasactch Mountains near Salt Lake City, giving you a vast wilderness to explore. Out of all the amazing scenes here, the massive lake is one that stands out. You get bluey-green water, tall trees on the banks, and it’s the perfect place for a pit stop as you traverse this wonderful canyon. Of course, there are plenty of other canyons in Utah to explore, but this is one that needs to be put on your bucket list.
Loads of natural wildlife
As you would expect from a state with loads of National Parks, canyons, and mountain ranges, there is also a wealth of natural wildlife. Again, you can go towards Salt Lake City to see some of the best on offer. There is a park nearby that’s full of antelope, and you can reserve a campsite near the Great Salt Lake to relax during your stay. Other animals you’re likely to see across Utah include massive bison, mule deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, and even some raptors. It can almost feel like you’re on a North American safari at times - which is awesome!
Ski resorts during winter
If you’ve ever been to Utah, it will shock you to know that there are ski resorts in this generally sandy and dry state. Park City and Deer Valley are both Olympic ski slopes, and you can find 14 different resorts in total. So, if you’re into winter sports, Utah can offer something that many other places across the country cannot! When you take a step back and look at all the things on this list, you can see that Utah is a very diverse place to visit. It leans heavily on outdoor attractions, and it’s definitely a place to see if you want to experience some adventurous things. You’ve already got a few ideas for a trip in mind, so maybe this year is the year you pay Utah a visit?
