Discover Utah: Red Rock Landscapes and Open-Road Adventure
Few places in America offer landscapes quite like Utah.
From towering red-rock cliffs and natural arches to deep canyons, alpine mountains and vast desert landscapes, Utah is a destination made for exploration. Add spectacular scenic drives, fascinating history, outdoor adventure and some of the country's most famous national parks, and you have all the ingredients for an unforgettable holiday.
For travellers looking to experience America's great outdoors, Utah offers the freedom to explore at your own pace – and with so much to discover, the journey is every bit as memorable as the destination.
Discover The Mighty 5®
Utah is home to five extraordinary national parks, collectively known as The Mighty 5®: Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion.
Each offers a completely different experience, making it possible to combine several spectacular landscapes into one road trip. Arches National Park sits in the southeast of the state, while the other parks stretch across southern Utah.
For an easy international entry or exit, Salt Lake City is within around four hours’ drive of each of The Mighty 5®, making it a convenient starting point for exploring Utah’s spectacular national parks.
From the natural sandstone arches of Arches National Park to the towering canyon walls of Zion, The Mighty 5® showcases the remarkable variety of Utah's landscapes.
Arches National Park: Nature's masterpieces
Begin your adventure in Arches National Park, just outside Moab.
Millions of years of erosion have created a landscape filled with sandstone arches, towering spires and dramatic rock formations. The park is home to around 2,000 natural arches, including the instantly recognisable Delicate Arch.
A scenic drive through the park provides access to viewpoints and trails, while keen hikers can follow memorable trails to landmarks including The Windows, Double Arch and Landscape Arch, each showcasing the park's extraordinary geology.
Canyonlands: A landscape on a grand scale
Just 40-minute drive from Arches lies Canyonlands National Park, where the Green and Colorado Rivers have carved an immense landscape of canyons, mesas, cliffs and spires.
Head to Island in the Sky for spectacular views across the surrounding landscape, or venture further into the park for a greater sense of wilderness and solitude.
The scale of Canyonlands is difficult to appreciate until you're standing at Mesa Arch, where the landscape unfolds through a natural stone frame, revealing the vast canyons below, the Colorado River and the distant La Sal Mountains.
Capitol Reef: Utah's colourful hidden gem
Continue your journey west to Capitol Reef National Park, a spectacular landscape of colourful sandstone formations, cliffs and natural features.
The park's Waterpocket Fold creates a dramatic geological landscape stretching for almost 100 miles, while historic Fruita offers a fascinating glimpse into the area's pioneer past.
Take time to explore the scenic roads, discover ancient petroglyphs and enjoy the contrast between the colourful rock formations and the surrounding desert. Be sure to stop by the Gifford Homestead for one of its famous homemade fruit pies, a much-loved Capitol Reef tradition.
Bryce Canyon: A forest of hoodoos
Next, make your way to Bryce Canyon National Park, where thousands of tall, narrow rock formations known as hoodoos rise from a series of natural amphitheatres.
The colours change throughout the day as sunlight moves across the landscape, making sunrise and sunset particularly special times to visit.
Take a scenic drive around the park or explore one of the many walking trails that lead amongst the hoodoos for a closer look at one of Utah's most distinctive landscapes.
Zion: Towering cliffs and unforgettable hikes
Complete your journey through The Mighty 5® at Zion National Park.
Here, enormous sandstone cliffs rise dramatically above the Virgin River, creating one of the most spectacular landscapes in the American Southwest.
Whether you're looking for a challenging hike, hiring an e-bike to explore the park's scenic routes, or simply want to admire the scenery from the valley floor, Zion offers countless ways to experience its remarkable landscape.
Take the scenic route
Utah isn't a destination where you simply drive from one attraction to the next. The roads themselves are part of the experience.
The state has 28 scenic byways, taking travellers through mountains, forests, deserts, canyons and small communities. Along the way, you'll find scenic viewpoints, hiking trails, historic sites and opportunities to experience a quieter side of Utah.
One of the most spectacular is Scenic Byway 12, an All-American Road travelling through some of Southern Utah's most dramatic landscapes.
Building your holiday around these scenic routes allows you to slow down, explore beyond the national parks and discover unexpected experiences along the way.
Adventure beyond the national parks
While The Mighty 5® may be Utah's biggest draw, there is plenty more to discover.
Utah's state parks and surrounding wilderness areas offer opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, fishing and off-road adventures. From navigating narrow slot canyons and spotting bison at Antelope Island State Park to taking in the dramatic scenery of Dead Horse Point State Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, there's no shortage of outdoor experiences to add to your itinerary.
For those who prefer to take things at a slower pace, Utah's landscapes are equally impressive from a scenic viewpoint or during a relaxed drive through the countryside.
Look up at the stars
Utah has gained global recognition for its extraordinary dark skies and is home to the highest concentration of certified International Dark Sky Places anywhere in the world, with 28 designated locations across the state.
Visitors can experience incredible stargazing in Utah's national parks, state parks and dark sky communities, where minimal light pollution creates ideal conditions for spotting the Milky Way.
Many locations also offer ranger-led astronomy programmes, star parties and telescope viewing, providing unforgettable opportunities to explore the night sky.
Experience Utah throughout the year
Utah's diverse geography means there is something to experience in every season.
Spring brings wildflowers and comfortable conditions for exploring the state's national parks, while summer offers long days for outdoor adventures.
In autumn, higher elevations transform with colourful foliage, creating spectacular scenery along Utah's mountain roads and scenic byways.
Then comes winter, bringing snow-covered mountains and opportunities for skiing and other winter sports, alongside a quieter atmosphere in many of the state's landscapes.
The perfect destination for a road trip
Utah is made for travellers who want the freedom to explore.
With spectacular national parks, scenic roads, fascinating history and landscapes that change dramatically from one region to the next, a self-drive allows you to experience Utah at your own pace.
Combine the highlights of The Mighty 5® with scenic byways, state parks, local communities and time to simply enjoy the view.
Because in Utah, there is always something worth stopping for.
Ready to discover Utah?
From the arches of Moab to the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, the towering cliffs of Zion to the sweeping landscapes of Canyonlands, Utah offers an unforgettable journey through some of America's most remarkable scenery.
Take the scenic route. Explore The Mighty 5®. Discover Utah.
Your Utah adventure starts here.
Speak to our USA travel experts today to start planning your tailor-made Utah holiday.
