Welcome to Utah

In Utah, cities, mountains and cultures meet. With the unmistakable red rock landscapes of the Mighty Five® National Parks and the Greatest Snow on Earth®, Utah is brimming with jaw-dropping landscapes, outdoor adventure and vibrant towns and cities, all just waiting to be explored.

The culturally vibrant Wasatch Front of the western Rocky Mountains is home to many of Utah’s liveliest downtowns. The state capital, Salt Lake City, is an artsy, cultural centre that boasts historic attractions including Temple Square, containing more than 15 attractions related to the history and beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nearby Antelope Island State Park, the largest island in the Great Salt Lake, is home to free-roaming bison and antelope herds and a craggy adventure destination with miles of hiking and biking trails. From Salt Lake City take one of many scenic byways or winding back roads to explore over 40 state parks, six national forests, seven national monuments and Utah’s famed national parks.

Utah’s Mighty Five® National Parks; Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion feature some of the most astonishing landscapes in the world. America’s adventure capital, Moab, is the ideal base to explore Canyonlands and Arches National Parks; discover over 2,000 natural sandstone arches or brave an off-roading adventure, mountain biking or white-water rafting. In Bryce Canyon National Park, take a walk or horse ride through the coral-coloured hoodoos, hike The Narrows or up to Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park, and stand nose-to-nose with ancient petroglyphs in Capitol Reef National Park.

In Utah the night skies are a sight to behold. Thanks to wide open lands and dark sky preservation efforts by parks and surrounding communities, Utah is one of the best places in the world to stargaze. With the highest concentration of International Dark-Sky Association-certified locations in the world, including communities, parks and protected areas, you’ll have no problem catching incredible views of the moon, constellations, planets and even the Milky Way! Many areas offer their own night sky programmes with telescopes and astronomers at hand.

Canyonlands NP - Mesa Arch HR_Credit Credit Utah Office of Tourism

Film enthusiasts will be in their element as they delve into Utah’s movie heritage. Having shot five films in the area, John Wayne named the towering mesas of Monument Valley as ‘the place where God put the West.’ Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump also famously ended his cross country run here, while Thelma and Louise took their final leap at Dead Horse Point State Park, and in Arches National Park a young Indiana Jones discovered the Cross of Cortez in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The annual Sundance Film Festival takes place every year towards the end of January. Founded by Robert Redford, the 10-day celebration showcases the best in independent film making.

Jay_Dash_Photography_IMG_0383_CREDIT Jay Dash

Utah is criss-crossed by scenic byways, which add up to hundreds of miles of vivid travel experiences where the road trip is as memorable as the destination. Utah’s scenic byways are a photographer’s paradise of scenic overlooks, trailheads, museums, and authentic communities to overnight in or hook up a motorhome. Whilst journeying through Utah make time to stop at some of the lesser visited locations including Goblin Valley State Park, Snow Canyon State Park and Kodachrome Basin State Park, which is just off of Scenic Byway 12 (a designated an All-American Road).

Utah is the perfect place for adrenalin junkies with a wide range of exciting and adventurous outdoor activities. Hike through famous slot canyons, horse ride through red rock pinnacles, get wet and wild on a whitewater adventure, go off the beaten path on an off-road adventure, or take in the surroundings from the saddle of a mountain bike!

The Wasatch Front boasts the Greatest Snow on Earth®, and ski enthusiasts can’t go wrong with the high elevation slopes of Salt Lake City’s world-class resorts, Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude. In Park City, ski or snowboard one of the largest resorts in the USA at Park City Mountain. Nearby, exclusive Deer Valley, a skiers-only paradise, averages 300 inches of powder a year. Further north those in search of small-town charm combined with peaceful slopes are drawn to the historic town of Ogden with easy access to the slopes of Powder Mountain and Snowbasin. For a truly unique Utah experience, pair a skiing or snowboarding trip with a visit to the Mighty Five® National Parks. Expect solitude and serene landscapes with a dusting of snow during this quieter time to visit.

Getting to Utah couldn’t be easier with direct flights between London Heathrow and Salt Lake City. Southern Utah is also easily accessed from Las Vegas International Airport. Once in Utah, getting about is straight forward. Hit the road, explore and savour the fresh air, impressive scenery and blue skies!