Those who plan to visit Utah (the “Beehive State”) will find themselves surprised by a unique scenic beauty, with its lush forests and arid red rocky deserts, through dazzling white salt flats and iconic western landscapes. Five national parks, numerous state parks, scenic drives, towns with a strong Mormon identity, and Indian reservations- the things to see in Utah are truly countless.
Here is our selection of attractions broken down by category (for a complete list of all sights in Utah, check out our Utah itineraries section). Ready to plan an unforgettable trip?
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National Parks in Utah
There are a total of 5 national parks in Utah, and because of their beauty, they have been renamed the Utah Mighty Five. Let’s take a closer look at each one:
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon is probably the most famous park in Utah, known worldwide for the largest concentration of hoodoos (distinctly shaped rock pinnacles). It is located in southwestern Utah, not far from the borders with Arizona and Nevada. Its beauty makes it a virtually must-see stop on road trips in the Southwest.
More than a canyon, it is a true natural amphitheater to be admired in its vastness. It can be visited easily by car by stopping at the main viewpoints, or you can decide to keep going by exploring its many trails, which will allow you to enjoy up close the distinctive rock formations that characterize this beautiful park.
- Read our guide on Bryce Canyon National Park
Arches National Park
While Bryce Canyon can boast an immense concentration of Hoodoos, Arches is home to more than 2,000 sandstone arches, carved with incredible skill by Mother Nature. In addition to the arches, you will also find other geological wonders in the park. You can either admire them from your car, driving along the Arches Scenic Drive, or on foot, along the many trails that wind through the park’s unique rock formations.
The park is located on the eastern side of Utah, not far from the Colorado border and close to Moab, a major tourism hub in Utah.
- Read our guide on Arches National Park
Zion National Park
Another park that will leave you speechless is Zion National Park, located near Springdale. High spurs of red rock with white veins rise up to a good 8727 ft above sea level, reaching for the blue of the sky and planted in green vegetation. As many as 900 different species of plants populate this landscape that only seemingly looks like a desert.
The park covers 230 square miles, and Zion Canyon is 16 miles long and is 2985 ft deep at certain points. In addition to Zion Canyon, Kolob Canyons near Kanarraville, easily accessible by car from I-15, is also part of Zion.
Unlike the Grand Canyon, you can admire these magnificently colored rocks from below by walking on the trails or by taking the main roads, such as the famous Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, by car or by the shuttle buses the park provides in the summertime. The most popular trails include Angels Landing and The Narrows. If you have children or are not a fan of difficult climbing and hiking, then I recommend Riverside Walk, Weeping Rock Trails, Upper and Lower Emerald Pools, which are the most popular easy hikes in the park.
- Read our guide on Zion National Park
Canyonlands National Park
The Colorado River and the Green River have also given mankind the famous Canyonlands, the largest national park in Utah. It covers an impressive 1366 square miles with gorges, rocks, canyons, pinnacles, and vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see.
The park can be divided into four macro areas: Island in the Sky, Needles, The Maze, and Horseshoe Canyon Unit. The first two are the most accessible and safe parts of the park, while The Maze and especially Horseshoe Canyon Unit are untraveled and rather dangerous desert areas to explore on your own. Island in the Sky is located not far from Moab and is renowned for the viewpoints located on its plateaus. If you do not have much time, this is the area of the park I suggest you visit. Equally impressive is Needles with its towering rock ‘pins’. This, however, is a part of the park more suited to experienced hikers or those who enjoy walking.
- Read our guide on Canyonlands National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
If the lines and multitude of tourists at Bryce Canyon, the Arches, or Zion annoy you, Capitol Reef National Park will give you a taste of that feeling of solitude and peace you imagined visiting a canyon. In fact, this park is less popular than the others while still being uniquely beautiful. It is located along the UT-24 Scenic Byway near Torrey and is characterized by its narrow, elongated shape.
The three main areas of the park are Fruita, within which is the Visitor Center and an old Mormon settlement with lush orchards, the remote Waterpocket District, the area to the south that affords splendid views of the geologic barrier, and Cathedral Valley, with its tall rocks reminiscent of Gothic cathedrals. Fruita is the most easily accessible area, where you can drive through parts of it and you will find trails with breathtaking natural vistas.
- Read our guide on Capitol Reef National Park
Other natural sights
Utah’s natural beauty is not limited to national parks. Here is a selection of the best:
Dead Horse Point State Park
Halfway between Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park, there is Dead Horse Point State Park, a place with disarming beauty, carved over the centuries by the waters of the Colorado River. You can admire the canyon from several outlooks, where the river curves as if it has changed its mind and turned back, creating a horseshoe shape. Another interesting attraction in the park is Marlboro Point, which offers a beautiful view of Shafer Canyon, also observable from the Canyonlands.
The park is easily accessible and close to Moab. If you do not wish to walk a lot, a short walk along the Dead Horse Point Trail will take you to a terrace with a picturesque view. The network of trails, some even a few miles long, will allow you to visit this park in more detail. And if you love movies, how could you forget Tom Cruise’s rock climb in Mission Impossible 2? Or Thelma and Louise‘s car jump in the film’s finale? Both scenes were filmed in this area.
- Read our guide to Dead Horse Point State Park
Goosenecks State Park
About 30 minutes from Monument Valley you’ll find Goosenecks State Park, a small state park where you can view the masterpiece created as a result of erosion caused by the San Juan River over a thousand years. From a spectacular outlook that is easily accessible and generally uncrowded, you’ll have the chance to look out over a rare and particularly striking rock formation. The river over the centuries has carved out the rock, creating ‘hairpin bends’ reminiscent of a goose’s neck (hence the park’s name).
Goosenecks State Park was declared in March 2021 to be one of the International Dark Sky Parks. Since there are very few artificial lights for miles around at night you can view the stars in a way that is unparalleled. Admission to the park is relatively low. There are few services in the park and you cannot go down to the river. The only activities are taking unforgettable photos and admiring a starry sky–it doesn’t sound like much, but believe me, it’s incredible.
- Read our guide on Gooseneck State Park
Goblin Valley
Another area that is part of the International Dark Sky Parks is Goblin Valley, where visitors can see billions of stars in the night sky over the San Rafael Reef. And if you prefer daytime to night, you still won’t be disappointed by the numerous 170-million-year-old Hoodoos. You’ll feel like you’re walking among giant rock mushrooms, discovered by a group of cattlemen in 1920 who named it Mushroom Valley.
The park can be visited either by bicycle on certain trails or on foot. There are a dozen trails that allow visitors to explore the valley safely. From easy to challenging, ranging from a mile or so to about 7.5 miles. In any case, the hoodoos area is easily accessible by car; in fact, the parking lot is a short distance away from the famous rock mushrooms.
- Read our guide on Goblin Valley
Snow Canyon State Park
The southwestern area of Utah is also home to Snow Canyon State Park, about a 15-minute drive from the town of Saint George. The park is renowned not only for its towering red sandstone rocks with white streaks but also for the rivers of petrified lava that have shaped its landscape.
Snow Canyon State Park is also ideal if you’re traveling to Utah with children, since most of the trails are easy and leveled. The idea of walking on lava paths that are “only” 27,000 years old can be appealing to those who have recently studied volcanoes in school, and there are sandy areas to play in as well as areas where you can safely jump from rock to rock. The park is also famous for its modern and convenient campground.
- Read our guide to Snow Canyon State Park
Valley of the Gods
Goblin Valley is to Bryce Canyon as the Valley of the Gods is to Monument Valley. Valley of the Gods has free admission and requires no permits or authorizations; it is located just a few miles from Monument Valley. The valley with its pinnacles, mesas, and huge monolithic rock formations that soar skyward like sentinels, is easy to explore as long as you have a 4×4 or otherwise a car with high ground clearance and the weather conditions are good. All you need to do is drive along Valley of the Gods Road, a dirt road about 17 miles long and full of scenic spots and striking views.
Keep in mind that the valley has no facilities of any kind, there are no rest stops or gas stations, and while it is possible to get out of the car and walk short trails to get a closer look at the magnificent sandstone monoliths, there are no marked trails.
- Read our guide on Valley of the Gods
Bonneville Salt Flats
Although unlikely, should you get tired of visiting red canyons and rocky monuments, Utah also offers its visitors another kind of breathtaking landscape, where this time, the main color is white instead of red. The Bonneville Salt Flats is a huge salt-covered plain that seems endless. The spectacle is thrilling and the area is certainly worth visiting even though it may be far from the main points of interest in Utah.
In fact, Bonneville Salt Flats is located in the northwestern part of the state, about 124 miles from Salt Lake City. The area is also famous for the speed races that have been held at the Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway for nearly 100 years.
- Read our guide to Bonneville Salt Flats
Monument Valley
The last natural attraction on our long list of things to see in Utah, Monument Valley, is perhaps the most famous and iconic landscape of the American West. Many will argue that this park is actually located in Arizona, but in fact, to be accurate, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is on the Utah-Arizona border line near Four Corners, the intersection of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Highway 163 is the main road and as you drive along it, you will recognize Forrest Gump Point, one of the most iconic landscapes on American road trips. The monoliths reach up to 984 ft in height and are the undisputed iconic landmarks of so many western movies. These places are breathtaking but also sacred. They are on a Navajo Reservation of the Navajo Nation, and the Navajo run the park.
- Read our guide on Monument Valley
Utah Cities
The main reason for going to Utah is inevitably the natural beauty, and often, its cities are interesting primarily for the points of interest in their immediate surroundings, however, the cities themselves have something to offer as well.
Moab
Moab, with its population of 5,000, can undoubtedly be considered the gateway to Utah’s most famous wilderness parks. Moab is located in the southeastern part of the state, and you may choose to sleep here several days given the many things to see and do in this area. Local attractions include the aforementioned Arches National Park, Island in the Sky at Canyonlands, and Dead Horse Point State just to name the closest ones. Moab is also located near some of the most famous scenic roads in the ‘Wild West’, such as the Upper Colorado Scenic Byway, Potash Road, Kane Creek Road, and La Sal Loop Scenic Drive.
In addition to driving and hiking, Moab is renowned for beautiful mountain biking trails, off-road adventures, camping of various kinds, stargazing, jeep tours, and even the Moab Giants Dinosaur Museum.
- Read our guide to Moab
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah and has a population of about 200,000. The city is located in the north-central part of the state and is located on I-15 and I-80. It is also home to a major airport that, like the airport in Denver, connects the area to other major U.S. destinations. In fact, the city provides an excellent base not only for exploring the attractions of Utah but also those in Wyoming and, more generally, in the Great American West.
Salt Lake City was founded by Mormons in 1847 and its identity, wealth, and history are closely linked to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A visit to Temple Square, the State Capitol, This is the Place Heritage Park and nearby Antelope Island with its magnificent bison and views of the Great Salt Lake is a must. But the city offers much more…
- Read our guide to Salt Lake City
Kanab
Kanab, also known as the Little Hollywood of Utah, is a small town of only 4,000 that is fortunate to be located in one of the most beautiful areas among Utah’s natural landscapes. More than 100 Western films and TV series have been filmed in this area, and the Little Hollywood Museum is a reminder of the town’s importance to the Western genre of American cinema.
From Kanab, you can also easily reach the east entrance to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. Not to be missed within a short distance are The Toadstools, Old Paria, Buckskin Gulch,
Moqui Cave and the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.
- Read our guide on Kanab
St. George
St. George, located at the intersection of three distinct geological zones, Mojave Desert, Colorado Plateau, and Great Basin, is the seventh largest city in Utah with a population of nearly 100,000. Its location is strategic for those who want to visit Utah’s parks and the Grand Canyon coming from Las Vegas or for those who are returning to Nevada or Arizona from Yellowstone (for example, a Las Vegas to Yellowstone road trip and viceversa)
St. George is also an ideal stop for families. Here you will find the St. George Children’s Museum, St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site, Red Hill Desert Botanical Garden, and Pioneer Park. From Saint George, you can reach Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon along the scenic UT-9, and enjoy the nearby natural beauty of Snow Canyon State Park, Sand Hollow State Park, and Kanarraville Falls.
- Read our guidebook on St. George
Utah scenic drives
Utah is the land of Scenic Byways that provide beautiful scenery without the slightest effort.
UT-12 Scenic Byway
UT-12, also known as Scenic Byway 12, is one of those roads that blends perfectly with the environment and makes you feel part of it. As you travel along this nearly 200-mile-long, free highway, you will see all the geological richness and variety of Utah. Some of the most well-known areas traversed by this route are Bryce Canyon, Dixie National Forest, Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument, Boulder Mountains, and Capitol Reef National Park.
The road, which travels from west to east, begins in the western-style town called Panguitch and ends in Torrey, a rustic town only five miles from Capitol Reef.
- Read our guide on UT-12 Scenic Byway
UT-24 Scenic Byway
The UT-24 Scenic Byway is one of the longest state highways in Utah, and the section between Torrey and Green River, which can be traveled in less than two hours without considering stops, is certainly one of the most scenic in the entire state. A short distance from Torrey you find Capitol Reef National Park, one of the parks that is part of the renowned Utah Mighty Five, and picturesque Fruita.
The next stretch from Waterpocket Fold to Caineville presents an outlandish landscape, with gray, yellow, and blue rock formations. As you continue through this moonscape, you will be greeted by the majestic and imposing Factory Butte and, if you wish to take Coal Mine Road, you can see the Moonscape Overlook. After Hanksville, almost at the end of the stretch, you will find the beautiful Goblin Valley.
- Read our guide on UT-24 Scenic Byway
UT-128 Scenic Byway
The UT-128 Scenic Byway is also known as the Upper River Colorado Scenic Byway precisely because it skirts the Colorado River. Because of its beauty and historical importance, UT-128 is part of both the Utah Scenic Byway circuit and the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway.
If you are going from east to west, the first town you will encounter is Cisco, a charming abandoned (or maybe not so abandoned) ghost town in which scenes from the movie Thelma and Louise were also filmed. After crossing the Colorado River on Dewey Bridge, you will cross Professor Valley and, a short distance away, Castle Valley. The legacy left by the many Western films shot in this area can be enjoyed at the Moab Museum of Film and Western Heritage.
The last section of the road is the most scenic as you will drive inside a gorge carved by the river whose sandstone walls drop sheer to the trailhead. UT-128 can be completed in about an hour, but given the many viewpoints consider spending half a day traveling on it. The best view is where the valley opens up to Fisher Towers, which you can also reach on a splendid hike (definitely recommended!).
- Read our guidebook on UT-128 Scenic Byway
UT-9 and Mount Carmel Highway
UT-9 is the road from La Verkin to Mount Carmel Junction and is about 45 miles long. Travel time without stops (highly unlikely) is just over an hour. Part of UT9 is within Zion National Park and is, therefore, toll-free. Depending on the route you are following, there are faster alternative routes, but this one certainly deserves to be extended a bit to enjoy its views.
The quirky Fort Zion with its saloon and zoo, the scenic Kolob Terrace Road and Smith Mesa Road, Grafton Ghost Town, and the stretch of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway along the canyon await you along UT-9.
- Read our guide on UT-9 and Mount Carmel Highway
Potash Road and Shafer Trail
Potash Road, also known as the Lower Colorado Scenic Byway, is one of the most beautiful scenic byways in Utah. It begins north of Moab and reaches Canyonlands National Park. Bear in mind that it is only partially paved, so it may not be for everyone. Running alongside the Colorado River, which has amazingly shaped the landscape over the centuries, is one of the key elements that make this route so popular. The rock walls of Wall Street, Longbow Arch, Corona Arch and Bowtie Arch, the Long Canyon Road overhanging a ravine and the Potash Boat Ramp are just some of the attractions on this scenic route.
If you consider yourself an adventurer, I also recommend the unpaved road called Shafer Trail where nature takes center stage between the Dead Horse Point Park area and Shafer Canyon in Canyonlands.
- Read our guide on Potash Road and Shafer Trail
Hole in the Rock Road
In the southern part of the state, you can take another wonderful scenic road called Hole in the Rock Road. The road is not paved, so it can only be traveled by driving a suitable vehicle and possibly by those who are more experienced off-road drivers as this is also not a route for everyone. As you leave UT-12, you will reach the mouth of the road that is mostly within the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument.
I think it is essential to stop or otherwise contact the Visitors Center before embarking on the route so you have up-to-date information on road and trail conditions. Since the arrival of the first pioneers, canyons, arches, and rock amphitheaters have amazed and challenged the passage of man and will make your experience unforgettable.
- Read our guide on Hole in the Rock Road
Map of the attractions in Utah
How to plan a trip to Utah
Itinerary planning
Regarding itinerary planning there are 2 resources in particular, in addition to those already linked in this article, that I would like to suggest to you: our section devoted to Utah itineraries and our in-depth look at how the time zone changes between Arizona and Utah (to keep in mind when traveling).
Which airports to land at?
The best international airports for visiting Utah are Las Vegas (Las Vegas McCarran International Airport) and Salt Lake City (Salt Lake City International Airport). However, in many cases you will find yourself visiting the “Beehive State” by taking long road trips (of twenty days or so), starting in California, so landing in Los Angeles or San Francisco might be a better option. You can also refer to our Southwest itineraries to get ideas for creating your own travel plan.
Car rental
If you want to truly enjoy the countless things to see in Utah there is only one way to do it: on the road. So rent a car and get ready to drive miles and miles along fabulous scenic roads and unique natural beauty. I refer you to our guide on how to rent a car in the U.S. for everything you need to know and to avoid any nasty surprises.
