Summary For Utah Adventures
Overall rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ – 4 adventure travel stars (rounded up)
If I were to describe Utah adventure travel experiences for those who are obsessed with getting out and playing in Mother Nature’s realm, I would have a hard time limiting the superlatives.
Yes, there are many places in the world that can rightly claim to be an outdoor adventure paradise, but Utah is right at the top of the list. I guess that’s why Utah tourism is so popular.
Get ready for some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable from the amazing rock formations like “the wave” in Coyote Buttes North to the majestic mountains like King’s Peak, which is more than 13,000 feet high.
Lake Powell is a natural wonder, and if you enjoy water-related adventure activities then this is a must-see destination for you.
And if you’re looking for top-of-the-line whitewater rafting experiences you’ll have much to choose from, and you’ll see some breathtaking scenery along the way.
Utah adventures offer you a large state with a small population, so you have plenty of room to run free and explore from the picturesque snow-covered mountains to pristine desert landscapes and on to some of the most beautiful lakes you could ever imagine.
Utah Adventures – The bottom line: Utah is the perfect place for having the time of your life in the great outdoors at any time of the year.
Check out the list below for some great ideas to get you started in your quest for exciting adventure experiences on land, in the air and in the water.
Exotic Factor
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ – 4 adventure travel stars
When it comes to the exotic nature of Utah you need not go any further than the natural wonders of this scenic state.
Start with the red rock formations of Arches National Park where unusual sandstone sculptures formed over time and created one of the world’s truly unique artistic works of nature. And then there’s Bryce Canyon National Park where you’ll see the intricately carved spires like a church in the wilderness.
The vast expanse of Canyonlands National Park will leave you in awe as you survey the magnificent peaks, plateaus, and gorges. And when the sun rises and sets on Lake Powell your Utah experience will reveal a magical mural that will make you a believer in a heaven on earth. The colors are incredibly surreal.
And there’s one very unique thing you might want to do just to say you did it.
Go visit the Four Corners monument where you can be in four different states at the same time.
Cultural Factor
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ – 3 adventure travel stars
The strongest influence on the culture in Utah is the Mormon religion. Salt Lake City is at the center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Mormon way of life permeates the society as a whole from the way families interact to the politics of the state.
One interesting cultural study is the beginnings of the Mormon religion in Utah since they arrived in the mid 1800s. When they migrated to the Salt Lake Valley seeking religious freedom, others – like miners, sheep herders and soldiers – followed and the settlement of Utah blossomed. Within 20 years more than 60,000 Mormons arrived in Utah by covered wagon or handcart. It all makes for an interesting cultural story.
Utah tourism can also take you farther back in time to the Native American cultures of the Anasazi, Fremont, Ute, Navajo, Shoshone, Paiute and the Goshute tribes. You can get a feel for their customs and ways of life in centuries past throughout the state including the ancient indian village in Anasazi State Park to the Parowan Gap Petroglyphs.
There’s also incredible architecture to see including some notable structures like The Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Salt Lake Temple and the Salt Lake City and County Building.
Adventure Factor
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ – 4 adventure travel stars
Utah provides a year-round playground for those who like to get outside and have fun in the air, on the water and over the land… this is a place for doers.
In the winter you can head to the mountains for some excellent snow skiing where many of the events were held for the 2002 Winter Olympics. If skiing isn’t your thing then how about some snowshoeing or snowmobiling?
When it warms up you can head out to the raging rivers for the thrills of white water rafting, go horseback riding, camping or rock climbing.
If all of this physical fun isn’t you’re cup of tea then you might want to enjoy some of the gentler experiences like birdwatching, eco tours or the walking tours.
The bottom line is that Utah adventures has something for everybody all through the year.
Hard
- Bungee jumping
- Canoeing
- Dog sledding
- Four wheel drive trips
- Hang gliding
- Hunting
- Ice climbing
- Motorcycling
- Mountain biking
- Mountain climbing
- Orienteering
- Paragliding
- Rappelling
- Rock climbing
- Scuba diving
- Skydiving
- Snorkeling
- Snow shoeing
- Snow skiing
- Soaring (gliding)
- Spelunking (caving)
- Survival training
- White water rafting
- Wilderness training
- Windsurfing
Soft
- Birdwatching
- Cultural tours
- Eco tours
- Nature trips
- Walking tours
Could be either
- Backpacking
- Bicycling
- Camping
- Canopy tours / Ziplines
- Fishing
- Flying
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hot-air ballooning
- Quad-biking / ATVs
- Sailing
- Snowmobiling
- Trekking
- Wildlife watching