Ian Bronson
Some places change the way you move. Utah draws you out gently, without asking, until the outside feels more familiar than anything else. What comes next isn’t just a list—it’s a path through places that make staying out there feel like the most natural thing in the world.
Dead Horse Point State Park
Perched above a sweeping bend in the Colorado River, Horse Point offers one of Utah’s most dramatic overlooks without the crowds of nearby parks. The view stretches over layered canyons and sheer cliffs. However, cliff edges are unguarded and can shift—stay back from the rim, especially in windy conditions.
Zion National Park
Zion’s towering sandstone cliffs rise above canyons shaded by cottonwoods, where rivers have carved paths through stone. Hikes like Angels Landing test your balance, while The Narrows leads you straight into the flowing Virgin River. Here, checking the weather is a must, as flash floods can turn a peaceful hike into a real hazard.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Formed from wind-sculpted Navajo sandstone, these glowing dunes rise between forested slopes and red cliffs. The coral-colored sand catches the sun, creating a striking contrast against the rugged desert. Plus, scenery shifts with every breeze, so no two visits look alike.
Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon sits just beyond St. George, where red cliffs meet dark volcanic rock in a terrain full of contrast. Trails lead through shifting sand and cooled lava, each path revealing something new. It’s a quiet park, but the variety hidden in its corners feels endless.
Antelope Island State Park
Rising out of the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island is where wildlife and terrain coexist in sweeping silence. Bison roam freely across dry grasslands, and pronghorn antelope flash past the hills. The surrounding lake reflects the sky and shoreline, which creates one of Utah’s most serene and surreal hiking experiences
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
This hidden gem offers both ancient history and lakeside peace. The Petrified Forest Trail loops through a ridge scattered with fossilized wood, each piece a snapshot of a prehistoric forest preserved in stone. Underfoot, shards glint with quartz, amber, and mineralized bark.
Goblin Valley State Park
Erosion carved these sandstone formations into hundreds of mushroom-shaped hoodoos, crowding the valley like a frozen army mid-motion. The park doesn’t rely on trails—you wander freely, weaving between the goblins and losing track of direction in the best way. Just remember that without marked paths, it’s easy to get disoriented, so bring a map.
San Rafael Swell
This massive uplift cuts across central Utah like a wrinkle in the Earth’s crust. Inside its folds, you’ll find narrow canyons, towering buttes, and long-abandoned mining relics scattered in the dust. There’s no formal entrance, just open land and endless possibilities for hiking and wandering off-grid without interruption.
Kodachrome Basin State Park
Named after the vivid color film, Kodachrome Basin bursts with sandstone spires called sedimentary pipes—tall, slender formations found almost nowhere else. Trails like Angel’s Palace and Panorama Point wind through open desert, each turn revealing cliffs streaked with orange, pink, and cream.
Buckskin Gulch
Towering sandstone walls make Buckskin Gulch one of the most dramatic slot canyons in the Southwest. It narrows quickly, and the flash floods that once carved it still pose a threat today. The silence is profound, and the views are remarkable. However, hikers must stay alert, check forecasts, and avoid the canyon if rain is possible.
