Utah Vacation Ideas
Utah vacation ideas are boundless.
The state is full of outdoor adventure no matter what time of year you are looking to visit.
From some of the best resorts for skiing and snowboarding to unreal hiking trails amidst Mother Natures sandstone carvings, Utah has it all.
Lake Powell
In Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Lake Powell has some of the world's greatest views. With a shoreline longer than the whole western coast of the continental United States, Lake Powell offers adventure for everyone.
The 186-mile long lake offers sandy beaches, cool blue water, and exceptional red-rock scenery. It is excellent for boating, skiing, kayaking and fishing.
Boat or hike to Rainbow Bridge, or explore any of its many canyons or sand dunes. You can enter the area from Utah's marinas, or from Page, Arizona.
House Boat vacations are great ideas for this area. While you are out there Utah is a great opportunity to teach yourself and the children about the planets and the night sky.
One of my favorite things to do is look for constellations and for just a few dollars you can pick up a star finder. It's not hard to do and it is a lifetime of knowledge and fun for everyone.
Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge has been described as higher than the nation's capitol and nearly as long as a football field. One of the natural wonders of the world, the bridge has been formed by erosion of the sandstone by water flowing from Navajo Mountain towards the Colorado River.
It is the largest natural bridge in the world at 290 feet tall and 270 feet across.
The Navajo culture considers Rainbow Bridge sacred. It is a symbol of how the deities are responsible for creating clouds, rainbows and rain which is the essence of life in the desert.
Today, the shores of Lake Powell, which flooded Glen Canyon, bring boaters to its base. Until the formation of Lake Powell, the bridge was several miles up Bridge Canyon from the shores of the Colorado River, and was one of the most remote and inaccessible regions in the United States.
It can be reached by boat, on foot, or on horseback. Rainbow Bridge is located 50 boat miles northeast of Wahweap Marina.
Hikers must have a permit from the Navajo Nation. Unpaved roads on the Navajo Indian Reservation south of Lake Powell can reach trailheads to Rainbow Bridge.
The most commonly used trails are the 14-mile trail from the Navajo Mountain Trading Post or the 13-mile trail from the abandoned Rainbow Lodge.
The best times to hike are April, May early June, September and October.
Zion National Park
Designated in 1919, Zion National Park is Utah's oldest national park. With nearly three million visitors per year, Zion is Utah's most heavily used park.
Zion canyon features soaring towers and monoliths and is also known for its incredible canyons, including The Narrows, which attract hikers with various levels of expertise from around the world.
Hiking possibilities in Zion are endless; the park offers a wide range of hiking opportunities, with something suitable for every age and experience level, during every month of the year. Bring your map and compass and get going...
Some of the lower trails are wheelchair accessible. The park's shuttle system makes stops at many trailheads.
The Zion Narrow is the most popular hike in Zion Park, and one of the world's best canyon hikes. It can be tailored to suite any ability level.
The trail is the Virgin River so plan on getting wet. In fact, during the hot months of summer the cool water makes this hike particularly pleasant.
Serious hikers start at the top and do the entire 16 miles as a long day hike or an overnight backpack.
You might want to wear your bathingsuit for this hike because you will be spending about 60% of your time in the water and the remaining time walking on the riverbank.
For most of the hike the water is less than knee-deep, but there is always the chance you'll step into a pool that is waste-deep or deeper. The longest exposure to waist-deep water is usually about 20 yards.
Bryce Canyon
Millions of years of wind, water and geologic mayhem have shaped and etched the pink cliffs of Bryce Canyon. Thousands of brilliantly colored and delicately carved spires rise in from the amphitheaters of Bryce Canyon National Park.
If hiking is not your idea of a vacation you can take a 37-mile round-trip drive to Bryce Canyon's most famous viewpoints including Sunrise, Sunset, Rainbow, Yovimpa, and Inspiration Points.
Moab
Moab is known as a Utah adventure capitol. Two national parks are found within the Moab, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.
Activities such as mountain biking, off-road Moab Jeep Safari routes, whitewater kayaking on the Colorado River, and hiking to Delicate Arch are just some starters for you.
Moab, Utah is amazingly rich with rock climbing opportunity. The soft sandstone and desert environment offers more than a lifetime of climbing and has become popular with the climbing and mountain biking communities.
It is generally quite dry but spring and fall make for the most pleasant times for visitors. There is world-class desert crack climbing as well as miles and miles of cliffs to choose from.
Arches National Park contains the world's largest concentration of natural stone arches.
Accented by the red, arid desert the oddly eroded sandstone forms come in many shapes and sizes. Fins, pinnacles, spires, balanced rocks, and arches create an awe-inspiring skyline. The 73,000-acre region has over 2,000 of these "miracles of nature."
A 40-mile round-trip paved road leads visitors to the major sights and hiking trails in Arches National Park, including Balanced Rock, Skyline Arch, Double Arch in Windows Section, Fiery Furnace, Devils Garden and Delicate Arch; the park's most famous geologic feature.
Canyonlands National Park includes a huge area of rugged land west and south of Moab, Utah. Two mighty rivers, the Colorado and the Green Rivers have carved the canyons and plateaus.
The park offers some of the most challenging 4X4 roads and whitewater rapids in the world. It also offers great opportunities to hike, bike and other recreational activities to engage in.
The park is composed of five unique regions the Island in the Sky District, The Needles District, The Maze District, Horseshoe Canyon and The Rivers.
Despite their relatively close geography direct travel between them is virtually impossible because of the rough nature of the landscape.
People who want to explore the park should focus on one region at a time.
Capitol Reef National Park
A 100-mile long bulge in the earth's crust called the Waterpocket Fold is characterized by sandstone formations, cliffs and canyons.
Erosion has carved the rock into spectacular shapes. This wilderness of rock has inventive names such as Capitol Dome, Hickman Bridge, Grand Wash and Cathedral Valley.
The majesty of Capitol Reef's twisting canyons, massive domes, monoliths, spires of sandstone and deep, narrow gorges offer an assortment of activities for visitors to take part in. Like most of Utah this area is a photographers dream vacation.
Skiing
Amazing ski stories come out of Utah's every year. Utah truly ha some of the greatest snow on Earth.
With an average of 500 annual inches of dry, powder snow, on some of the most challenging slopes in the world you can be assured you will find great snow conditions.
All Utah 13 resorts have a good balance of beginner, intermediate and advanced runs so you can bring the whole family and all enjoy the same resort.
With the majority located within one hour of the Salt Lake City International Airport you can arrive in the morning and ski the afternoon. Most resorts have ski in/ski out accommodations so you never have to leave the resort, if you don't want too.
White Water Rafting
Ski resorts are not all that Utah has to offer. Their rivers offer some of the world's best white water rafting, with trips to match virtually any schedule and appetite for adventure.
The Green, Colorado and San Juan River all have challenges for whatever level you want. Hang on for dear life in Grand and Cataract canyons, over infamous drops like Satan's Gut, Little Niagara and Lava Falls or be lazy as you float down part of the Colorado River.
River trips are about more than whitewater and excitement. Most allow participants to explore scenic, historic and archaeological sites and to learn about river lore, geology and the environment.
Swim in a crystal clear waterfalls, explore 1000-year-old Anasazi ruins and hike to scenic viewpoints overlooking this classic canyon country landscape.
Utah is a great break from the stress of Modern life. Take some time to explore the land that Mother Nature and Father Time made.
Enjoy your vacation!