Top Ten Destination Spots in Utah
10. Maple Canyon
Located in Sanpete County, Utah, Maple Canyon offers unique cliffs and is a rock climber’s paradise. Maple Canyon is nestled in the Sanpitch Mountains and has many trails to hike on.
Box Canyon is below maple Canyon. Box Canyon is a gorge and offers a trail that is a mile and a half long. There are also campgrounds to stay at.
There are ten campsites in Maple Canyon that have picnic tables and firepit rings.
Make sure to bring food to cook on the open fire, there are not any stores too close by. But if you do have to get to a store, there is one about 15 minutes away from maple Canyon.
Maple Canyon is a popular spot for rock climbing
9. Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo is the highest mountain in the Wasatch Range. Located near Nephi, Utah, and inside the Uintah National Forest, Mount Nebo Loop is a site to see.
It climbs over 9000 feet in elevation and overlooks Utah Valley, Mount Nebo and the Wasatch Mountains. Mount Nebo is a popular place to go horseback riding and offers trails and campgrounds as well. Fall time is breathtaking.
The highest peak on this mountain reaches 11,877 feet high and a popular spot for hikers to visit.
The best time to visit Mt Nebo is in the Spring, Summer and Fall. The Mt Nebo Scenic Byway is a great drive to take and the views make the drive well worth it.
This is a popular drive by the locals during fall time due to the colorful leaves and spectacular landscape.
Fall Colors up Nebo Loop
Mt Nebo near Nephi, Utah
8. Lake Powell
Surrounded by red rock cliffs and canyons, Lake Powell is a popular vacation spot for Utah.
Boating and water sports are a main attraction to this Lake.
There are also areas with interesting rock formations and can end in more secluded areas which are the perfect spots for people in houseboats.
The warm waters and sandy beaches are great for a summertime trip. If you don’t have equipment for water sports, don’t worry, they have all kinds of gear and equipment available to rent.
Hiking and fishing are a great pastime to do while visit Lake Powell. While hiking you may run into the biggest natural bridge in the world, Rainbow Bridge.
Lake Powell is close to many great sites to see in the area which include; Zion National Park and The Grand Canyon.
If you love boating Lake Powell is the place to go. Of course, you don't have to be an avid boater to have a great experience at this unique lake.
Lake Powell
7. Lagoon
Located in Farmington Utah, close to Salt Lake City, Lagoon is an amusement park full of rides, booths, food, entertainment and fun.
The carnival food and games give it the quintessential theme park feel.
The tallest roller coaster at Lagoon is called, Wicked.
Lagoon also comes with admission to Lagoona Beach, a water park, and Pioneer Village which is a theme based area that includes food and boutiques.
Pioneer Village is a living museum and houses exhibits and over two dozen buildings.
The bakery there still sells baked goods and was where the first soda fountain in Utah was housed.
Every building in Pioneer Village is a museum and inside each building are antiques.
A view of The Lagoon from the Skyride
The Colossus
6. Goblin Valley State Park
Everyone who has ever been to goblin valley has either taken a picture or been in a picture of kids climbing the goblin shaped rocks.
These rocks are eroded sandstone and are shaped similar to a mushroom.
This is a very unique place to visit and so much fun for the kids as well.
Goblin Valley offers trailsto hike on and campgrounds to camp at.
Summer time in this area can be a lot of fun but it is important to know that during the summer months, it is common for this area of Utah to be hit by flash floods.
Often compared to Mars, Goblin Valley is the perfect spot to bring your camera to.
Goblin Valley
Another view of Goblin Valley State Park
5. Little Sahara Recreation Area
Little Sahara Recreation Area are sand dunes and are a hot spot for Easter weekend in Utah.
People load up their dune buggies, ATV’s and motorbikes and have a great time flying through the sand mounds, in which one is seven hundred feet tall.
There are campsites available for those who want to stay longer than a day.
The unique white sand is left behind by the river that flowed into a lake and receded approximately 15,000 years ago.
Is the Little Sahara Recreation Area somewhere you might be interested in visiting?
The Little Sahara Sands Dunes
4. Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 by Brigham Young.
The centerpiece of Salt Lake is the LDS temple, surrounded by Temple Square, which stands in the middle of the city and is a popular Christmas attraction.
Temple Square is a breathtaking spot to visit around the holidays.
There are also carriage rides pulled by Clydesdales. Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Games which has opened up more attractions in Salt Lake.
Salt Lake City, Utah
3. Zions National Park
Surrounded by red rock, mountains, canyons, buttes, rivers and natural arches, Zions National Park boarders Kanab, Utah and is absolutely gorgeous.
Desert and woodland are also part of the beautiful scenery that Zions National Park has to offer.
The Virgin River runs through Zions and riverside trail runs along the river.
Located in Kanab, Utah, Close to Zions is another attraction worth seeing.
Best Friends. Best Friends is a rescue center for animals and the land it is on is so beautiful. If you are ever in Kanab, it’s worth a stop into Best Friends.
It’s a great place doing great things.
Zions National Park
2. Bryce Canyon
The unusual rock formations throughout Bryce Canyon make it a popular place to visit.
The red rock is stunning and the picnic areas are in perfect areas to relax and grab a snack before a hike.
There are many hiking trails available and if you don’t want that, then take the shuttle, which is also offered at Bryce Canyon.
Horseback riding is a popular pastime at this canyon.
There are places to stay at; Bryce offers two campgrounds and a lodge.
The lodge was built in 1920 and has a rustic feel to it. It is so beautiful but make sure you know that there are no TVs in the rooms.
Bryce Canyon
1. Arches National Park
Located in Moab, Utah, Arches National Park is number one on my list because nothing compares to this breathtaking park.
Full of arches made from red rock, Arches National Park offers many trails including trails that take you to specific arches.
Delicate Arch is probably the most famous one and is seem on most of the Utah license plates on their vehicles.
The hikes to the arches are so beautiful and well worth the exercise, but make sure you bring plenty of water and sunblock.