Welcome to 2017, fellow Utahns! We’re so lucky to live in the Beehive State – there’s so much to see and do here that you could live a lifetime and not see it all. We wrote about a lot Utah’s amazing places during 2016, and thought we’d bring you a compilation of 23 of the best.
Click on the link next to each caption to go right to our full article for all the details.
- George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park
Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park/Facebook This cool dino park in Ogden is the perfect place to spend a warm day. Bring a picnic lunch and choose your favorite dinosaur (they recently got facelifts, so they’re looking pretty fresh!)
- The Brighton Lakes Trail
summitcheese/flickr This gorgeous trail starts at Brighton Ski Resort and takes you all the way up to over 10,000 feet in elevation. Along the way, you’ll see several alpine lakes, and plenty of wildlife.
- Bonneville Salt Flats
Tom Kelly/flickr Utah’s most barren place is also one of its most beautiful. The Bonneville Salt Flats, along I-80 West near Wendover, are well worth a visit this year.
- Frontier Homestead State Park
Dutch Kathy/flickr Learn what it was like to be a pioneer in Utah in the 1880s. This living museum features mining equipment, games and crafts from that time period.
- The Timber Moose Lodge
Timbermoose Lodge This stunning, spacious lodge is the perfect venue for your next family reunion, company party, wedding or pretty much any occasion where you want to gather your 50 closest friends. Located in the Heber Valley, it’s full of amenities, and the scenery is breathtaking.
- Meadow Hot Springs
Zoe N./TripAdvisor In the middle of an unassuming field near Fillmore, you’ll find family-friends hot springs!
- Big Rock Candy Mountain
Big Rock Candy Mountain/Facebook Plan an overnight trip to Marysvale this spring or summer and stay at Big Rock Candy Mountain. It’s open from April through October, and you’ll find tons to do here.
- Tracy Aviary
Andy N. Condor/Facebook Visit Tracy Aviary to meet Andy N. Condor, the 57-year-old Andean Condor who pretty much runs the place (the aviary also has lots of other cool birds).
- Buckskin Gulch
Chris M. Morris/flickr If you’re interested in a real Utah adventure, and you’re up to the challenge, Buckskin Gulch is a breathtaking place. It’s one of the longest, deepest slot canyons in the world, so you’ll need some serious skills to tackle this one.
- Bear Lake
Steve B./TripAdvisor Utah’s own “Caribbean of the Rockies,” Bear Lake is an emerald wonder. Go boating, fishing, scuba diving or just spend the day on the beach. And of course, grab a raspberry shake.
- Kanarraville Falls
jsnhix/flickr A short, easy hike takes you to a secret waterfall in a little slot canyon. This place is so peaceful and pretty!
- Snowbasin Resort
Snowbasin Resort/Facebook One of Utah’s best-kept secrets, Snowbasin is a picturesque, fun-filled place to visit in the summer. Our article tells you about all the summer activities here, but of course, Snowbasin is also a killer ski resort in the winter.
- Bridal Veil Falls
mini/TripAdvisor Bridal Veil Falls is located in Provo Canyon, and it’s one of Utah’s few waterfalls that can be viewed right from the road. The falls plunge 607 feet into the Provo River.
- Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel
Alex Proimos/flickr The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel in Zion National Park was an incredible feat of engineering when it was completed in 1930. It’s 5,613 feet long, and has several windows cut right into the side of the mountain for some killer views.
- Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/flickr The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is home to millions of migrating birds every year. Visit this quiet oasis to see swans, ducks, eagles and more.
- Cedar Breaks National Monument
Cedar Breaks National Monument/Facebook This under-appreciated national monument is so worth a visit. Its geography is similar to that of Bryce Canyon National Park, but the crowds are almost non-existent and you’ll enjoy some real solitude here.
- Wild West Playground At Veteran’s Memorial Park
Linda Lovin-Life L,/Yelp This Western-themed playground at Veteran’s Memorial Park in West Jordan is fun for all ages.
- Antelope Island
Scott Law/flickr Not only is Antelope Island a picturesque gem in Utah’s Great Salt Lake, there’s tons to see and do here as well! Hang out on the beach, go for a hike and say hello to some bison (from afar, of course).
- Pando - Fishlake National Forest
Bryant Olsen/flickr Utah is the home of the oldest and largest living organism in the entire world, and it’s disappearing. Pando is an aspen grove that is approximately 80,000 years old and covers 106 acres. Unfortunately, Pando is sick. Despite the Forest Service’s efforts, it’s not generating new trees.
- Hell’s Backbone Bridge
Georgia/flickr Utah’s scariest bridge is arguably Hell’s Backbone, located in between Escalante and Boulder, along the Hell’s Backbone Scenic Byway. The bridge is just 109 feet long, but it’s narrow…and there’s a dropoff of 1,050 feet!
- King’s Peak
Hyrum K. Wright/Wikimedia If you’re up for a two-day backpacking trip, make plans this summer to hike King’s Peak. It’s a long, strenuous journey, but well worth the effort.
- Angel’s Landing
Kevin Lau/flickr If you haven’t hiked Angel’s Landing at Zion National Park yet, make 2017 the year you do it! It’s not for those with a fear of heights, but if you can make the summit, the view is just stunning.
- Dead Horse Point State Park
Michael Schmitz/flickr One of Utah’s most scenic state parks, Dead Horse Point State Park is definitely worth a trip this year. Bring your camera - the overlook is downright picturesque.
How many of these places are you planning on visiting in 2017?
Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park/Facebook
This cool dino park in Ogden is the perfect place to spend a warm day. Bring a picnic lunch and choose your favorite dinosaur (they recently got facelifts, so they’re looking pretty fresh!)
summitcheese/flickr
This gorgeous trail starts at Brighton Ski Resort and takes you all the way up to over 10,000 feet in elevation. Along the way, you’ll see several alpine lakes, and plenty of wildlife.
Tom Kelly/flickr
Utah’s most barren place is also one of its most beautiful. The Bonneville Salt Flats, along I-80 West near Wendover, are well worth a visit this year.
Dutch Kathy/flickr
Learn what it was like to be a pioneer in Utah in the 1880s. This living museum features mining equipment, games and crafts from that time period.
Timbermoose Lodge
This stunning, spacious lodge is the perfect venue for your next family reunion, company party, wedding or pretty much any occasion where you want to gather your 50 closest friends. Located in the Heber Valley, it’s full of amenities, and the scenery is breathtaking.
Zoe N./TripAdvisor
In the middle of an unassuming field near Fillmore, you’ll find family-friends hot springs!
Big Rock Candy Mountain/Facebook
Plan an overnight trip to Marysvale this spring or summer and stay at Big Rock Candy Mountain. It’s open from April through October, and you’ll find tons to do here.
Andy N. Condor/Facebook
Visit Tracy Aviary to meet Andy N. Condor, the 57-year-old Andean Condor who pretty much runs the place (the aviary also has lots of other cool birds).
Chris M. Morris/flickr
If you’re interested in a real Utah adventure, and you’re up to the challenge, Buckskin Gulch is a breathtaking place. It’s one of the longest, deepest slot canyons in the world, so you’ll need some serious skills to tackle this one.
Steve B./TripAdvisor
Utah’s own “Caribbean of the Rockies,” Bear Lake is an emerald wonder. Go boating, fishing, scuba diving or just spend the day on the beach. And of course, grab a raspberry shake.
jsnhix/flickr
A short, easy hike takes you to a secret waterfall in a little slot canyon. This place is so peaceful and pretty!
Snowbasin Resort/Facebook
One of Utah’s best-kept secrets, Snowbasin is a picturesque, fun-filled place to visit in the summer. Our article tells you about all the summer activities here, but of course, Snowbasin is also a killer ski resort in the winter.
mini/TripAdvisor
Bridal Veil Falls is located in Provo Canyon, and it’s one of Utah’s few waterfalls that can be viewed right from the road. The falls plunge 607 feet into the Provo River.
Alex Proimos/flickr
The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel in Zion National Park was an incredible feat of engineering when it was completed in 1930. It’s 5,613 feet long, and has several windows cut right into the side of the mountain for some killer views.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/flickr
The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is home to millions of migrating birds every year. Visit this quiet oasis to see swans, ducks, eagles and more.
Cedar Breaks National Monument/Facebook
This under-appreciated national monument is so worth a visit. Its geography is similar to that of Bryce Canyon National Park, but the crowds are almost non-existent and you’ll enjoy some real solitude here.
Linda Lovin-Life L,/Yelp
This Western-themed playground at Veteran’s Memorial Park in West Jordan is fun for all ages.
Scott Law/flickr
Not only is Antelope Island a picturesque gem in Utah’s Great Salt Lake, there’s tons to see and do here as well! Hang out on the beach, go for a hike and say hello to some bison (from afar, of course).
Bryant Olsen/flickr
Utah is the home of the oldest and largest living organism in the entire world, and it’s disappearing. Pando is an aspen grove that is approximately 80,000 years old and covers 106 acres. Unfortunately, Pando is sick. Despite the Forest Service’s efforts, it’s not generating new trees.
Georgia/flickr
Utah’s scariest bridge is arguably Hell’s Backbone, located in between Escalante and Boulder, along the Hell’s Backbone Scenic Byway. The bridge is just 109 feet long, but it’s narrow…and there’s a dropoff of 1,050 feet!
Hyrum K. Wright/Wikimedia
If you’re up for a two-day backpacking trip, make plans this summer to hike King’s Peak. It’s a long, strenuous journey, but well worth the effort.
Kevin Lau/flickr
If you haven’t hiked Angel’s Landing at Zion National Park yet, make 2017 the year you do it! It’s not for those with a fear of heights, but if you can make the summit, the view is just stunning.
Michael Schmitz/flickr
One of Utah’s most scenic state parks, Dead Horse Point State Park is definitely worth a trip this year. Bring your camera - the overlook is downright picturesque.
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