10 Reasons To Live In Utah
Utah is an outdoor lover’s paradise. From world class skiing to relaxing boating locations and breathtaking natural landscapes to wildlife watching, Utah has everything that an outdoor lover could ever desire.
1. Moab
Visitors to Moab have so many destination choices including two National Parks, Arches and Canyonlands. There are four main attractions within Arches National Park: the Windows Section, Fiery Furnace, devils Garden and the Delicate Arch. The park is perfect for mountain biking, camping, climbing, hiking and even offroad adventures. Canyonlands National Park also features gorgeous natural architecture and centuries-old rock art.
Photo: James Marvin Phelps/Flickr
2. Park City
Park City, host city of the 2002 Winter Olympics, is home to the world-famous Sundance Film Festival. If independent movies aren’t your thing, you can take advantage of world class skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking, alpine rides, play a round or three of golf and even let loose thanks to the city’s hopping nightlife.
Photo: Sabbath Photography/Flickr
3. Lake Powell
Bordering Arizona, Lake Powell is one of the most breathtaking boating locations in the nation. The lake is the perfect spot for water skiing, jet ski tours or even an afternoon of fishing. If your goal is pure relaxation, navigate back to one of the quiet canyons and spend some time marveling at nature’s work.
4. Bonneville Salt Flats
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages the more than 30,000 acres in west Utah known as the Bonneville Salt Flats. The ground is covered in sodium chloride, better known as table salt. The surface of the salt flats in the spring and summer is nearly perfectly flat, which makes it an ideal place for those with a need for speed. The first unofficial land speed record was set on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1914 and in the nearly 100 years since that time, hundreds of records have been set on this unique section of land.
5. Zion National Park
Zion is one of many national parks in Utah but it stands apart from the rest as the oldest national park in the state. If you have a favorite outdoor activity then it is likely that you can do it in Zion National Park. There are spots for the following types of activities within the park: backcountry trips, biking, camping, canyoneering, hiking, horseback riding and offroad trips. If you’d prefer to just admire nature from the comforts of your vehicle, take a scenic drive in the Kolob Canyons section of the park.
6. Monument Valley
If you are looking for flat high desert lands dotted by monolithic rock formations then Monument Valley is where you need to be. Monument Valley is one of the Navajo Nation Parks and visitors can explore the area on foot, horseback or via an aerial or jeep tour.
7. Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is home to one of the most distinct landscapes in the nation. The hoodoo-filled national park was created by the freeze-thaw cycle over millions of years. Park visitors can tour the area on one of several hiking trails or mount up and explore in true cowboy fashion – on horseback. After a day of exploration, visitors are encouraged to stay into the night and explore the sky as part of the park’s astronomy program.
8. Castle Country
Learn more about the Native American history of the region by visiting the petroglyphs and Indian writing within Castle Country’s Nine Mile Canyon. Other must-see sites in Castle Country include San Rafael Swell, Goblin Valley and the Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry.
9. Whitewater Rafting
Utah’s Green River offers class 1 through class 4 whitewater rapids. This makes it the perfect destination for beginning rafters as well as those with more experience. Several different rafting tours are available, ranging from a ½ day trip that starts in Gray Canyon to the 100-mile trip in Labyrinth and Stillwater Canyons.
10. Cache Valley
Just north of Salt Lake City lays the Cache Valley region of Utah. The area has several Jeep and ATV trails, fantastic bird watching opportunities, natural hot springs, great fishing lakes, hiking trails, horseback tours and much more.
Photo: Fool-On-The-Hill Flickr
Sources:
Utah.com
Navajo Parks & Recreation
National Park Service
Tour Cache Valley