19 of the best places to visit in Utah

19.09.2024 - 14:41 / lonelyplanet.com / Jesus Christ

Sep 19, 2024 • 7 min read

Utah is the perfect destination for lovers of the outdoors, and the state's hiking, mountain biking and winter sports are top notch. With five national parks, seven national monuments and endless other public lands and state parks, it can be hard to boil your must-sees down to a manageable list.

You can tick off all of Utah's national parks, delve into the state’s Mormon pioneer history, kick back in a hot spring or sample some craft brews. Here are the top things to do in Utah.  

Tucked into a high mountain basin between Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon national parks stands Pando, the world’s largest known tree. Pando is a massive grove of quaking aspens linked underground by a single root system. Each of the trees' 40,000-plus stems looks just like an individual tree, but they are genetically similar to one another. Visit in fall when Pando’s leaves turn a brilliant golden yellow or in summer when you can also swim and fish at Fish Lake.

Delicate Arch and Park Avenue are definite must-sees in Arches National Park, but for a more intimate experience, hop on a ranger-led tour of the Fiery Furnace, a maze-like canyon of narrow passageways, sandstone fins and other interesting rock formations. The tour does require a bit of fitness, so make sure you’re comfortable squeezing through narrow canyons and hoisting yourself up and over large rocks before you sign up.

Jutting out into Great Salt Lake at its northwestern shore in a coiled fashion, the Spiral Jetty is a massive work of art made entirely of mud, salt and basalt rocks. It was created in 1970 by Robert Smithson, an American artist famous for his land art. Hike up the hill near the parking area for the best spot for photographing the sculpture in its entirety. Stay for sunset to watch the colors reflect off the shallow waters of this unique saline lake. 

Utah has a reputation for being a bit dry when it comes to wine, beer and spirits thanks to the state’s predominant religion, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (previously known as the Mormon Church), which formally forbids members from consuming alcohol. But despite some quirky liquor laws, you can get a drink in Utah, and the mountains, deserts and culture of this scenic state have inspired a burgeoning craft beverage scene. 

If you want to try a Utah beer, make it a Polygamy Porter, brewed at Park City’s Wasatch Brewery. Also in Park City, try High West Distillery’s Valley Tan, a style of whiskey originally concocted by Mormon pioneers. In the southern part of the state, stop by Etta Place Cidery, a small craft cider maker that showcases the flavors of their red rock desert orchards.

The Subway is one of Zion National Park’s most popular backcountry canyoneering