Recommended trip lengths for the Northern Utah region:
Allow two days to experience Salt Lake City.
Add an additional day for each of the following stops:
-
Park City
-
Antelope Island State Park
-
Golden Spike National Historic Park
-
Bear Lake State Park
-
Timpanogos National Monument
-
West Desert
To extend your stay to Vernal and the Dinosaur National Monument area, add another two days.
To experience Jurassic National Monument and the San Rafael Swell, add an additional day or two.
Top Base Camps
-
Heber Valley
Between the destination towns of Heber and Midway, Heber Valley astonishes with its alpine splendor and access to endless outdoor recreation.
-
Logan
The Logan area hosted the Shoshone tribe’s ancestral hunting for thousands of years and is still home to great examples of early Mormon pioneer architecture, including the Temple and Tabernacle.
-
Ogden
Ogden is an outdoor recreation mecca. It has also worked to restore its historic art deco architecture and buildings and blend in new development toward a charming and vibrant downtown.
-
Park City
Park City is the perfect mountain town. The winter slopes were once featured in the Olympics, and in summer the mountains and nearby state parks and reservoirs transform into a hiking, mountain biking, fishing and camping mecca.
-
Provo
Provo and the larger Utah Valley sets itself a part as a place for innovation in tech, health care, education, as well as place for easy access to Provo Canyon's offerings, including Sundance Mountain Resort.
-
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City makes a great gateway for travelers making a trip to Utah's ski resorts or southward to Utah’s renowned red rock country
-
Vernal
Enjoy a family adventure in Vernal, UT, with a list of hotels and fun things to do with kids in the area.
National Places
-
Ashley National Forest
Elevations in the Ashley National Forest range from 6,000 feet to over 13,500 feet. The crown jewel of this forest is Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.
-
Bonneville Salt Flats
The Bonneville Salt Flats are a 30,000 acre expanse of hard, white salt crust on the western edge of the Great Salt Lake basin in Utah.
-
Dinosaur National Monument
Northeastern Utah’s dinosaur legacy comes to life at Dinosaur National Monument, where geological and climatic forces have tilted, warped, and eroded the earth’s crust to reveal a treasure trove of fossils.
-
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
With more than 200,000 acres of land and water, Flaming Gorge is a scenic playground for boating, waterskiing, windsurfing, camping and backpacking in addition to some of the best fishing in the west.
-
Golden Spike
Visit the Golden Spike National Historic Park to relive the history with exhibits and demonstrations, and take in the beauty of the surrounding Great Basin Desert and nearby Great Salt Lake and Spiral Jetty.
-
National Historic Trails
Four National Historic Trails pass through Utah, recognizing routes of travel that are of national historic significance.
-
San Rafael Swell
San Rafael hikes and bike rides offer unique terrain and jaw-dropping scenery. Learn about the area’s trails and start planning your trip!
-
Timpanogos Cave
Timpanogos Cave sits high on the northern slope of Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah.
-
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (UWCNF) encompasses Utah's Wasatch Mountains adjacent to the state's northern metropolitan area, and the north slope of the High Uintas Wilderness.
State Parks & Reservoirs
-
Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park is 25 miles north of Salt Lake City. Accessed by a causeway, the island sits in Great Salt Lake and features free-roaming bison and antelope herds.
-
Bear Lake State Park
Bear Lake is a 20-mile long and eight-mile wide natural lake with beautiful, placid waters that perfectly match the tranquil pace of the quaint towns that dot the shore. The northern half is located in Idaho and the southern half in Utah with the state lines dividing it.
-
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
This is the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, an eye-opening stop along Utah's populous Wasatch Front for any traveler and a top destination for any serious birder with gaps on their life lists.
-
Deer Creek State Park
The sunlight sparkled and danced on the water as we drove beside Deer Creek Reservoir. The day was warm, the sun was out, and I was excited to get out on the ..
-
East Canyon State Park
For history buffs, East Canyon offers the opportunity to retrace the footsteps of pioneers. Visitors can splash in the springs where the Donner party collected drinking water, hike beside Brigham Young’s wagon ruts, or mountain bike down the Pony Express route.
-
Fishing Jordanelle State Park
Just outside Salt Lake City and Park City, anglers at Jordanelle State Park love the blue ribbon waters that are home to a variety of fish.
-
Fishing Starvation State Park
Don’t let the name scare you away. Starvation Reservoir has top-notch fishing with plenty of walleye, bass, and even trout, to keep your belly full. Plan your trip now.
-
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
With more than 200,000 acres of land and water, Flaming Gorge is a scenic playground for boating, waterskiing, windsurfing, camping and backpacking in addition to some of the best fishing in the west.
-
Lost Creek State Park
Lost Creek State Park is located up a windy road 10 miles northeast of the town of Croydon. You'll see why this place has earned the name "Lost" as there is a huge reservoir hidden away in the mountains covering 365 acres. While the reservoir is wakeless, many people will take their boats here to fish. Other popular activities include paddling and hiking around the reservoir. Be sure to pack plenty of food and water as activities are limited, but nearby Taggart's Grill makes a great spot to eat after a day on the river.
-
Willard Bay State Park
Today Willard Bay State Park is a freshwater reservoir that is located only miles from both Ogden and Brigham City, UT, and offers awesome camping and boating, excellent birding and exciting fishing.
.jpg?w=450&h=294&mode=crop&quality=65)
History & Culture
-
Camp Floyd State Park Museum
Historic stories of the United States Army, Mormon pioneers, stagecoach travelers and the Pony Express all collide at Camp Floyd and the town of Fairfield.
-
Dinosaur National Monument
Northeastern Utah’s dinosaur legacy comes to life at Dinosaur National Monument, where geological and climatic forces have tilted, warped, and eroded the earth’s crust to reveal a treasure trove of fossils.
-
Fremont Indian State Park and Museum
Part way through the rugged Clear Creek Canyon, your team uncovers what turns out to the be largest known prehistoric Fremont Village site — more than 100 structures filled with countless artifacts. The extensive excavation from that highway discovery is preserved in nearby Fremont Indian State Park.
-
Golden Spike
Visit the Golden Spike National Historic Park to relive the history with exhibits and demonstrations, and take in the beauty of the surrounding Great Basin Desert and nearby Great Salt Lake and Spiral Jetty.
-
Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum
Get a feel for what life was like for those early pioneers establishing Utah. There are tons of interesting artifacts, and you can take it in at your own pace. The knowledgeable staff is happy to field your questions and engage your kids’ curiosity.
-
Utah Field House of Natural History Park Museum
Explore the incredible amount of geologic history of Utah area at the Field House of Natural History Park Museum. See dinosaurs, interactive exhibits and more!
-
Utahraptor State Park
Utah's favorite dinosaur now has a state park. Neighboring Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, Utahraptor State Park is recognized for more than it's red rock formations — it has pre-historic remains lying underneath its surface.
FIND ITINERARIES BY
-
#Utahisrad: The Cool Kids’ Guide to Salt Lake City
Meet the locals, see the weird stuff, try the local beer, see the bands and discover why #utahisrad.
-
Stars by the City
Fill your days with adventure and your nights with stargazing by following this six-day itinerary from Salt Lake City through the International Dark Sky Places in Northern Utah.
-
Sandstone Spires & Swimming Holes
Walk the paths of dinosaurs and descend through 200 million years of geologic history in this six-day road trip from Vernal to Kodachrome Basin. It’s a kid-friendly desert drive in search of dino tracks, slot canyons and swimming,
-
Attagirl! Women’s History & Highlights
This five-day itinerary pairs Utah women's history and time for reflection with active adventure, beautiful scenery and instagrammable locations.
-
Golden Spike Empire
Participate in railroad history, bird migration and iconic earth art in the quiet stretches of Northern Utah's rural Box Elder County.
-
Park City Classy Warm-Weather Weekend
There are many ways to build a magical weekend in Park City. Three days can easily include art galleries, spa time, boutique browsing, food, and live entertainment. And, of course, the mountains make the place, so hiking boots are recommended for your pack list, but you don’t have to spend the entire time — or any time — in outdoor-gear mode. There’s plenty to do, and the itinerary can be as laid-back or active as you like.
-
Play The Hits: Exploring Salt Lake City's Iconic Sights
Utah’s capital city boasts a unique history. It is rich in frontier history for sure but its story didn’t end (or begin) there. Experience the many layers of history, prehistory and contemporary culture.
-
Wasatch Wellness
A Northern Utah wellness guide from Salt Lake City to Ogden, Park City to Provo, that will have you boosting your physical and mental health with wilderness hikes, canyon drives, wellness therapies and farm-to-table dining.
-
West Desert Ramble & The Pony Express
This itinerary is a three-day adventure along the Pony Express National Historic Trail in Utah's West Desert. Visit Simpson Springs, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Gold Hill and more.
-
Yellowstone Loop
Everyone must go to Yellowstone once in his or her lifetime, and using Northern Utah as your gateway makes it that much greater.
-
Trekking Along the Dinosaur Diamond Highway
Utah’s Dinosaur Diamond Highway is the perfect guide to experience ancient history, millions of years in the making.
