Destinations Guide / United States / Utah

Outdoor Adventures in Utah

A trip to Utah offers endless possibilities. The state is filled with tourist attractions, adventure destinations, scenic roads, breathtaking scenery, cultural landmarks, ski resorts, and outdoor activities. If you are planning to travel to Utah, you can choose among a wide range of exciting travel packages. Below is a list of some of the most popular Utah tours that you can consider:

Visitors may enjoy several hiking opportunities in Utah. A visit to northern Utah may include trekking up the Wasatch Mountains, loaded down with high alpine terrain, grand trails, camping, and biking trails for hiking and horseback riding, to Bear Lake for summertime bicycling and fishing, and to the underground cafeteria of the Church of The First knocks at St. George at the base of the Rocky Mountain Range. St. George is known for its pioneer history, including a former residence to Brigham Young. The Wasatch Mountains provides many opportunities for hiking, biking, geocaching, hot air ballooning, and panoramic views. Of course, there are a number of designated biking paths in the Great Salt Lake area. Other popular hiking locations in Utah include Cedar City, Provo, and Sandy UT.

Besides great outdoor pursuits, visitors also can enjoy a glimpse of ancient Native American culture in Cedar City, Utah’s main city. The Native Americans, called “Clans,” once roamed the Great Salt Lake and its canyons. They constructed beautiful cliff walls to mark their path across the landscape, leaving their mark on hundreds of cliff faces and cliff edging. Today, visitors can find a host of Native American art in the form of cliff paintings, carvings, and sculptures in Utah’s parks, on display in Cedar City.

One more great spot for outdoor adventures in Utah is Grand Canyon National Park. Located in the southwest corner of the state, the Grand Canyon encompasses a region encompassing two states: Arizona and Utah. Millions of years ago, massive glaciers covered the northern rim of the Grand Canyon, making it one of the largest natural creations in the world. Today, visitors can explore the park’s famed Geyser Rock, where they can watch melt-water slowly fill an artificial lake or ride a cable car into the canyon-ravine-sheltered cliffs.

The west-central states also have a number of outdoors recreation destinations that offer scenic opportunities. Visitors in Idaho enjoy the famous Snake River, home to the world’s second largest elk. The Snake River is also home to numerous scenic hiking trails that begin in the parking lot of the Snake River State Park. Hikers will find that the wildlife population in the Snake River Valley consists of moose, deer, bear, eagles, and mountain goats. The trout found in the canyonlands national park and Cedar City offer a catch-and-release experience, as do the resident blue catfish found in Cedar City and the Rogue River.

State parks in Utah boast a variety of different hiking trails. In Cedar City, visitors can find the Cedar City-Brian Head Tourism Center, where they can enjoy maps and information about the local area, as well as the parks in Cedar City. The Great Salt Lake State Park, located in Cedar City, offers miles upon miles of hiking trails that are suited for both beginners and experienced hikers. The Great Salt Lake National Monument, located near Cedar City, is a significant historical site, featuring a massive sandstone monument that features art and illustrations of dinosaurs.

One of the more popular outdoor pursuits in Utah is rock climbing. There are a number of fantastic rock climbing areas in the state. The Rocky Mountain National Park has a large variety of climbing areas, including the famous Needles Peak, situated in the north central part of the park. Visitors can also go to Grand Canyon National Park, which is west of Cedar City. Both Grand Canyon and the Salt Lake City national parks offer rock climbing opportunities, as do several other Utah destinations.

Another popular activity in Utah is the enjoyment of outdoor adventures, whether it is mountain biking rafting, kayaking, white water rafting, or horseback riding. Biking is popular in Cedar City, as are rafting trips through the Grand Canyon. Horseback riding can be enjoyed throughout the state by taking advantage of the various horseback riding trails around Provo and Salt Lake City, as well as other state parks. White water rafting is another favorite outdoor adventure in Utah, as visitors can take trips through the scenic Canyonlands. The Dead Horse Point State Park in Fillipah is a popular spot for horseback riding, as is the Grand Circle Trail in the North Salt Lake area.