An “ultimate” outdoor bucket list for Utah? Impossible. Utah is FULL of amazing outdoor places that are just begging to be explored. Some of our “great outdoors” is so vast that you’ll need GPS just to avoid getting lost forever. While I can’t bring you a comprehensive list of every single outdoor experience you should have in Utah, here are some of the best.
- Ashley National Forest
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture/flickr The Ashley National Forest includes 1,384,132 acres. Outdoor lovers find forests, mountains, lakes and tons of wildlife. Much of this forest is located in the Uinta mountains.
- Bryce Canyon National Park
Jerry and Pat Donaho/flickr The amphitheater of Bryce Canyon National Park is truly stunning. Bring your camera to capture this beautiful scenery. Hike down in along several trails to see it up close.
- Zion National Park
fortherock/flickr Utah’s most popular national park has more than 3.5 million visitors annually. You’ll see why when you visit. If you’d like to get away from the crowds, visit some of the more remote parts of the park. Ask a friendly park ranger for some ideas.
- Antelope Island
Shaun Fisher/flickr This photo almost looks like an ocean beach, doesn’t it? Antelope Island does have a beach, and also hiking trails and tons of wildlife to view (check out the antelope, bison and dozens of bird species).
- Little Cottonwood Canyon
Alan English CPA/flickr There’s a secret in Little Cottonwood Canyon, that’s pretty well known to every Utahn along the Wasatch Front. Cecret Lake is a gorgeous spot tucked into this alpine terrain. Of course, you’ll find many other hiking and mountain bike trails here, too, along with opportunities for rock climbing, picnicking and viewing wildflowers.
- Ogden Valley
Visit Ogden Valley/Facebook Drive a few miles up Ogden Canyon to find this gem for outdoor enthusiasts. Boat, swim or fish in Pineview Reservoir, hike, picnic, and even ski at Powder Mountain.
- High Uintas Wilderness
Todd Slagter/flickr Talk about vast…the High Uintas Wilderness includes about 456,705 acres, and it’s perfect for whatever kind of outdoor adventure you want. From car camping to week-long backpacking trips, the High Uintas are truly representative of Utah’s beauty.
- Big Cottonwood Canyon
Bryant Olsen/flickr Big Cottonwood Canyon is full of excellent hiking and mountain biking opportunities (and of course, skiing in the winter at Solitude and Brighton). Hike the Brighton Lakes Trail to see four lakes.
- Canyonlands National Park
Joe Parks/flickr Canyonlands National Park is organized into four districts: Needles, Island in the Sky, Maze and Rivers. False Kiva, shown here, is in the Island in the Sky district.
- Mount Timpanogos
Mystified Cat/flickr Hike Mount Timp for the perfect outdoor afternoon.
- Arches National Park
Anne-Claude Faillétaz/flickr In addition to the famous Delicate Arch, you’ll find more than 2,000 other gorgeous sandstone arches.
- Capitol Reef National Park
Wolfgang Staudt/flickr Capitol Reef is a lot less crowded than Zion or Bryce National Parks - and just as gorgeous.
- Bear Lake
Mark Goebel/flickr Beautiful Bear Lake, with its picturesque scenery and azure waters, is perfect for boating, fishing and enjoying.
- Fish Lake National Forest
Robert Shea/flickr Fish Lake National Forest covers 1.5 million acres in central Utah. Pando, the the heaviest living organism in the world is located here. It’s a colony of quaking aspen that covers 106 acres. Fish Lake is Utah’s largest freshwater mountain lake.
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Utah State Parks/Facebook This is a great spot for ATV enthusiasts.
Did I miss some of your favorite outdoor spots in Utah?
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture/flickr
The Ashley National Forest includes 1,384,132 acres. Outdoor lovers find forests, mountains, lakes and tons of wildlife. Much of this forest is located in the Uinta mountains.
Jerry and Pat Donaho/flickr
The amphitheater of Bryce Canyon National Park is truly stunning. Bring your camera to capture this beautiful scenery. Hike down in along several trails to see it up close.
fortherock/flickr
Utah’s most popular national park has more than 3.5 million visitors annually. You’ll see why when you visit. If you’d like to get away from the crowds, visit some of the more remote parts of the park. Ask a friendly park ranger for some ideas.
Shaun Fisher/flickr
This photo almost looks like an ocean beach, doesn’t it? Antelope Island does have a beach, and also hiking trails and tons of wildlife to view (check out the antelope, bison and dozens of bird species).
Alan English CPA/flickr
There’s a secret in Little Cottonwood Canyon, that’s pretty well known to every Utahn along the Wasatch Front. Cecret Lake is a gorgeous spot tucked into this alpine terrain. Of course, you’ll find many other hiking and mountain bike trails here, too, along with opportunities for rock climbing, picnicking and viewing wildflowers.
Visit Ogden Valley/Facebook
Drive a few miles up Ogden Canyon to find this gem for outdoor enthusiasts. Boat, swim or fish in Pineview Reservoir, hike, picnic, and even ski at Powder Mountain.
Todd Slagter/flickr
Talk about vast…the High Uintas Wilderness includes about 456,705 acres, and it’s perfect for whatever kind of outdoor adventure you want. From car camping to week-long backpacking trips, the High Uintas are truly representative of Utah’s beauty.
Bryant Olsen/flickr
Big Cottonwood Canyon is full of excellent hiking and mountain biking opportunities (and of course, skiing in the winter at Solitude and Brighton). Hike the Brighton Lakes Trail to see four lakes.
Joe Parks/flickr
Canyonlands National Park is organized into four districts: Needles, Island in the Sky, Maze and Rivers. False Kiva, shown here, is in the Island in the Sky district.
Mystified Cat/flickr
Hike Mount Timp for the perfect outdoor afternoon.
Anne-Claude Faillétaz/flickr
In addition to the famous Delicate Arch, you’ll find more than 2,000 other gorgeous sandstone arches.
Wolfgang Staudt/flickr
Capitol Reef is a lot less crowded than Zion or Bryce National Parks - and just as gorgeous.
Mark Goebel/flickr
Beautiful Bear Lake, with its picturesque scenery and azure waters, is perfect for boating, fishing and enjoying.
Robert Shea/flickr
Fish Lake National Forest covers 1.5 million acres in central Utah. Pando, the the heaviest living organism in the world is located here. It’s a colony of quaking aspen that covers 106 acres. Fish Lake is Utah’s largest freshwater mountain lake.
Utah State Parks/Facebook
This is a great spot for ATV enthusiasts.
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