10 ways to find adventure in southern Utah

Fiery rocks in quirky formations are a Utah staple. But if hoodoos—those bewitching columns of rock—are your thing, Bryce Canyon National Park is a must-see. With the largest concentration of hoodoos on the planet, this expanse of nearly 36,000 acres is a prime spot to unplug and be inspired. From the town of Springdale, you can drive less than two hours north through Zion National Park to get here, spotting mountain goats along the way. 

The area has a wealth of family-friendly options for hikes and sights, including the park's Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail, with its royalty-themed formations. Don't miss the nearby Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, and Bryce viewpoints, clustered at the northern end of the park's main 18-mile road. The park's average elevation of 8,000 feet is the stage for top-to-bottom hikes in and out of the canyon's natural Bryce Amphitheater.

The Old West outlaw Butch Cassidy once used the lands of Dixie National Forest as a hideout. Visitors today retreat to its stark canyons and swaths of conifers for everything from hiking to fishing to skiing. Spanning 170 miles in central southern Utah, the area's varied landscape is both expansive and accessible. Scenic Byway 12, also known as the All-American Road, threads along the eastern side, offering the chance to either drive or cycle through aspen trees and mountain lakes. 

Off Route 12, the Cassidy Trail, which is open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, traces the infamous thief's path—scenery that might look familiar if you've seen 1969's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which was shot here. Fishing enthusiasts head to Panguitch Lake, one of dozens of fishable lakes, rivers, and streams within Dixie's nearly 2 million acres. On the western side, the red-rock vistas at Brian Head Resort are unlike any you've ever seen from a ski slope. Campgrounds are plentiful, and multiple national monuments and parks, including Cedar Breaks, lie within or adjacent to the forest.

In 1904, Scribner's Magazine published a piece about Zion Canyon titled "A New Valley of Wonders." Artist and explorer Frederick S. Dellenbaugh wrote, "For hours, as we traveled, this all-pervading panorama, so varied and stupendous in outline and in color, threw its enchantment around us." Of course, there was nothing "new" about the canyon, which had hosted nomadic tribes and native settlers for thousands of years. The Southern Paiute called the land Mukuntuweap—"straight canyon," in one translation—and that was the original name of the national monument established here in 1909.

Zion National Park is now one of Utah's mighty five national parks, all of them located in the southern half of the state. Zion is also the nation's third most visited national park, with hikes ranging in difficulty from the easy loop at Emerald Pools to the spectacular heights at Angel's Landing. The gateway town of Springdale offers plenty of places to shop and recharge, with the inspiring canyon as the "all-pervading" backdrop.

About 1.5 million visitors head to Arches National Park annually, drawn to the natural stone gateways for which it's named. More than 2,000 arches have been documented on the park's 73,234 acres: They frame both our memory-making snapshots and vistas that were sculpted millions of years ago. Perhaps the most famous of these is Delicate Arch, which at 46 feet high and 32 feet wide is the park's biggest free-standing arch, and the massive Landscape Arch, accessible via an easy 1.6-mile out-and-back trail. The park's popularity means that from April through October, visitors need a timed entry ticket, and ranger-led hikes into the sunset glow of the Fiery Furnace can book up. But the off-season is also a great time to see Arches, when you can beat the crowds—and, during ski season, take a side trip to the slopes.

Less than an hour's drive from Arches, Canyonlands National Park has more than four times the acreage and gets about half the number of annual visitors compared to its sister park. Visitors come here knowing they will find serene yet stunning places to camp, hike, backpack, cycle, and raft. Located where the Green River meets the Colorado, the park is divided into three evocatively named districts: Island in the Sky, the Needles, and the park's most remote area, the Maze. Cyclists looking for a longer ride can take the Island in the Sky Cruise, a 51-mile journey between and through Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point State Park. Among many hikes, particularly in the trail-rich Island in the Sky district, the short and easy loop to Mesa Arch rewards you with a breathtaking view from one of the park's main attractions.

A prime jumping-off point for exploring nearby Arches and Canyonlands, the town of Moab has a charm all its own. Coffee shops, bakeries, and quirky restaurants like the stalwart Jailhouse Cafe serve up fuel for your adventures, which might start with the many shops and art galleries along Main Street. Beyond the national parks, the area offers a variety of recreational activities and local outfitters. 

Rock climbers can head to nearby Indian Creek for its five-star climbing routes, and hikers will find an abundance of options, including the easy Grandstaff and Corona Arch trails. Rafting, too, is a popular choice, with multiday whitewater tours at Cataract Canyon for the intrepid adventurer and half-day floats on the Colorado River for those who want a more chill experience. Another huge draw in Moab is mountain biking. The area has seen a singletrack renaissance, with lots of relatively new bike trails for riders of all levels. While there are plenty of hotels, consider glamping at Under Canvas Moab to take advantage of the area's unparalleled views of the stars.

Among the many places to go around Moab, don't overlook Dead Horse Point State Park, which is less than an hour's drive from town and promises to leave you with some of the most memorable views of your trip. If water's role in carving this incredible landscape wasn't clear before, it's vividly apparent when you look down on the Colorado River, snaking its way through layers and layers of rock. Eight miles of easy hiking trails take you to eight awe-inspiring overlooks that give you a 2,000-foot view of canyon country. The park's Intrepid Trail System, which opened in 2014, has more than 12 miles of mostly easy and intermediate mountain biking trails. One of multiple officially designated International Dark Sky Parks in the area, Dead Horse Point is a wonderful place to camp and stargaze.

Named for the pair of distinctive buttes that stand out on the horizon, Bears Ears National Monument spans more than 1.3 million acres in southeastern Utah. A three-day "starter kit" itinerary takes you from south of Moab along the Indian Creek Corridor Scenic Byway and includes the town of Bluff, the cliff dwelling site and petroglyphs at River House, and on to views of the San Juan River from Goosenecks State Park, among other sights. Enjoying this landscape fully and respectfully requires taking in the context and the living history of Native American tribes here: The Bears Ears Education Center in Bluff or the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum in Blanding are two good places to start. "There's a story behind the place," says Carol Talus, who welcomes visitors through Airbnb Experience to her ancestral home on the Navajo Nation, just outside of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. "There's a story coming from the original people that live here."

Capitol Reef National Park's signal feature is the Waterpocket Fold, a "geologic wrinkle" in the Earth that runs almost 100 miles long. The park's name comes from the white sandstone domes that resemble capitol buildings and the rocky cliffs that call ocean reefs to mind. The park's 15 day-hikes—a mix of easy, moderate, and strenuous routes—include the sandstone arch of Hickman Bridge and the Grand Wash–Cassidy Arch trail, two of many standout attractions. But the area's human history is just as fascinating as the geological features. See the petroglyphs left by Fremont and Ancestral Puebloan people hundreds of years ago and sample baked goods from the 1890s-era Gifford Homestead. And if you spot a “U-Pick Fruit” sign in the Mormon community of Fruita, you're welcome to harvest what's ripe from the orchards of peach, cherry, apple, and other trees.

Not far from Zion National Park, the town of St. George boasts a mix of restorative scenery and creature comforts. The mild weather and red-rock backdrops make for an ideal golf setting, with a number of courses available. Activities for kids include the St. George Children's Museum and Pioneer Park, where aspiring canyoneers can explore the pint-size slot canyon known as The Crack. Pioneer Park is also home to Utah's first desert conservation garden, Red Hills Desert Garden, five acres of beauty with an 1,150-foot stream. Luxury spas, shopping, and a busy arts scene that is anchored in part by the Kayenta Art Village complement the natural beauty and outdoor activities.