West · UT
Utah
The Beehive State
Capital
Salt Lake City
Best Time to Visit
March-May, September-November
Featured view
Delicate Arch framed against Utah desert rock and sky.
Photo credit Jon Zander via Wikimedia Commons
CC BY-SA 3.001 Must-See Spots
The Mighty Five National Parks
Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches
Zion National Park
the Narrows and Angels Landing are bucket-list hikes
Monument Valley
iconic buttes on the Utah-Arizona border (Navajo Nation)
Park City
world-class skiing and the Sundance Film Festival
02 Hidden Gems
Goblin Valley State Park
thousands of mushroom-shaped sandstone formations
Bonneville Salt Flats
a surreal white expanse perfect for land speed records and photography
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
petrified wood and a reservoir in red rock country
Dead Horse Point State Park
views that rival the Grand Canyon overlooking the Colorado River
03 National Parks & Sites
04 Insider Tips
Capitol Reef is the least visited of the Mighty Five and has free fruit picking in the Fruita orchards
Angels Landing now requires a permit — enter the lottery in advance
Utah's scenic byways (Highway 12, Highway 24) are as stunning as the national parks themselves
Visit Arches at dawn or dusk — midday crowds and heat can be overwhelming