State & National Parks in Utah

1. Zion National Park

One of the most visited and beautiful national parks in the United States, Zion National Park is a marvelous nature preserve that is distinguished by its steep, red, canyon cliffs, in southwest Utah. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive cuts through the main section of the park, leading to heavily-forested trails that run along the Virgin River.

The Emerald Pools hiking trails are some of the most scenic within the park, leading visitors past magnificent waterfalls and shimmering pools.

Along the trails, visitors will enjoy breathtaking views of the Red Arch Mountain and Cliffs, Great White Throne, and Lady Mountain. For visitors who would like to extend their stay in this natural paradise, Zion National Park offers three idyllic campgrounds.

1 Zion Park Boulevard, State Route 9, Springdale, UT, Phone: 435-772-3256, Map

2. Arches National Park

Arches National Park is a U.S. National Park that is situated just north of the city of Moab, Utah. The shimmering Colorado River runs along the south and southeast portion of the park. The park features over 2,000 sandstone arches that have been formed naturally over the years by the surrounding elements. In addition to the arches, the park has hundreds of massive fins, giant balanced rocks, and soaring pinnacles. The park’s red-rock wonderland continues to impress the droves of visitors it receives each year with its marvelous formations, picturesque trails, and breathtaking sunsets. Some of the park’s more famous arches include the Delicate Arch, Double Arch, and Landscape Arch.

PO Box 907, Moab, UT, Phone: 435-719-2299, Map

3. Bryce Canyon National Park

Each year, over two million tourists head to Bryce Canyon National Park to experience its otherworldly magic. This sprawling reserve is located in southern Utah, near the city of Bryce, and is best known for its crimson-colored hoodoos – spire-shaped rock formations. As visitors enter the park, the road will take them past the marvelous Bryce Amphitheater, a hoodoo-filled canyon that lies just below the Rim Trail – a popular hiking path. Some of the park’s top viewpoints include Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point. Visitors can deepen their understanding of this magnificent park by attending ranger programs; they’ll enjoy rim walks, geology talks, night sky viewing, and full-moon hikes.

Highway 63, Bryce, UT, Phone: 435-834-5322, Map

4. California National Historic Trail

There are four National Historic Trails that pass through the state of Utah, these routes have all been recognized for their national historic significance. The California National Historic Trail is approximately 5,600 miles in length and stretches through portions of 10 different states that include Wyoming, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, Missouri, Kansas, Idaho, Colorado, California, and Utah. Visitors exploring Utah’s section of trail will have the opportunity to retrace the footsteps of more than 250,000 emigrants that traveled through the state’s rugged terrain during the mid-1800s. They’ll also have the opportunity to check out some of the historic landmarks along Utah’s portion of trail that include the Fort Douglas Military Museum, the Donner-Reed Museum, and Little Mountain Summit.

300 North State Street, Salt Lake City, UT, Phone: 801-538-1900

5. Canyonlands National Park

Known for its expansive and dramatic desert landscape, Canyonlands National Park can be found in southeast Utah, about 10 miles southwest of the city of Moab. The park is divided into three separate districts, the natural divide is caused by the flow of the Colorado and Green Rivers. Visitors will find the Island in the Sky district located in the north section of the park, while the Maze district can be found in the west section, and the Needles district in the southeast corner. Visitors will enjoy breathtaking views of towering rock pinnacles, chopped buttes, and surrounding mountain ranges. During hikes throughout the park, visitors may spot carved petroglyphs, sandstone staircases, and Native American rock paintings.

2282 Resources Boulevard, Moab, UT, Phone: 435-719-2313, Map

6. Capitol Reef National Park

Situated in south-central Utah’s red-rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a marvelous hidden treasure loaded with domes, canyons, cliffs, and bridges. The park is also home to a geological wrinkle in the earth that extends nearly 100 miles in length called the Waterpocket Fold. The most scenic part of the Waterpocket Fold is Capitol Reef, this section features massive white domes made of Navajo sandstone, as well as craggy barrier reefs, or cliffs. The park offers the perfect setting for some backcountry hiking, visitors will traverse slot canyons and narrow, twisting gorges as they explore Capitol Reef. High atop the monocline fold, visitors will enjoy breathtaking panoramic views over Utah’s rugged and beautiful terrain.

52 West Headquarters Drive, Torrey, UT, Phone: 435-425-3791, Map

7. Cedar Breaks National Monument

Cedar Breaks National Monument is a United States National Monument located in the state of Utah, just a short drive from Cedar City. Situated at an elevation of more than 10,000 feet, Cedar Breaks overlooks an enormous geologic amphitheater that measures approximately half a mile in depth. Visitors will experience a sub-alpine environment that features colorful hoodoos, towering bristlecone pines, and lush wildflower meadows. During the warmer months Cedar Breaks is perfect for camping, hiking, and mountain biking. When winter rolls around, visitors can enjoy snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. With little to no light pollution, the monument provides an idyllic setting for star gazing.

Cedar Breaks National Monument, 2390 West Highway 56, Suite 11, Cedar City, UT, Phone: 435-586-9451

8. Dinosaur National Monument

Dinosaur National Monument is a U.S. National Monument situated in the southeast portion of the Uinta Mountains, near Jensen, Utah. The Green and Yampa rivers intersect with one another at Dinosaur, offering multiple locations within the park for visitors to enjoy water activities, such as whitewater-rafting. One of the most intriguing aspects about visiting this monument are the fossilized dinosaur bones that are visibly embedded in the rock to this day. The monument features over 1,500 fossils exposed on a cliff face inside of the Quarry Exhibit Hall. Dinosaur has several amazing hiking trails to explore; during hikes visitors may come across ancient petroglyphs. The trails are a perfect way to appreciate Dinosaur’s rugged landscape and breathtaking scenery.

Dinosaur National Monument, 11625 East 1500 South, Jensen, UT, Phone: 435-781-7700

9. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a conservation and recreation area that is part of the U.S. National Park Service, located in Lake Powell, Utah. This recreation area encompasses over 1.25 million acres of mostly rugged desert terrain. The Colorado River and its tributaries, including the San Juan, Escalante, Paria, and Dirty Devil rivers, wind through the Colorado Plateau, forming a dynamic landscape of complex water and desert environments. The vast and diverse landscapes of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area provide unparalleled opportunities for a variety of water-and-land-based recreational activities. Some of those activities include mountain-biking, hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, whitewater-rafting, climbing, and boating.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, 4304 Bullfrog Road, Lake Powell, UT, Phone: 928-608-6200

10. Golden Spike National Historic Site

Golden Spike National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site that is located at north-central Utah’s Promontory Summit. This historic site is situated just north of the Great Salt Lake. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn all about the settings and people that helped complete the first Transcontinental Railroad. Golden Spike also provides daily demonstrations of replicated steam locomotives from the start of May through mid-October. The two steam locomotives they use for the demonstrations are the No. 119 and Jupiter. With its storied history dating all the way back to 1869, the tours and re-enactments, and breathtaking scenery, visitors are sure to enjoy a memorable time.

Golden Spike National Historic Site, 6200 North 22300 West Street, Corinne, UT, Phone: 435-471-2209