Utah Film Trail Locations
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Antelope Island State Park
The dangerous buffalo hunt from the epic western, "The Covered Wagon," was filmed here at Camera Flats. It was one of the most successful films of the silent era and the first Hollywood film ever produced in Utah. The movie follows a group of pioneers traveling from Kansas to Oregon, but nearly every stage of the 2000-mile trek along the Oregon Trail was filmed in northern Utah.
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Box Elder Historic Courthouse
Northern Utah’s small towns have provided the perfect backdrop for more than 60 holiday movies filmed in Utah since the 1980s. Brigham City and the surrounding area were featured in the holiday film, "Jingle Belle" starring Tatyana Ali and Cornelius Smith Jr., as well as other films and television series, including "Melvin and Howard" (1980), "Clay Pigeons" (1998), "Yellowstone" (2018-2020) and more.
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Bryce Canyon National Park
"The Deadwood Coach" was one of the first films to be shot in Utah. Considering Bryce Canyon's rugged scenery, it is not surprising that a Western introduced Hollywood to Utah. This silent-era film starred Tom Mix — one of the most popular actors of the 1920s. These red cliffs were the backdrop of many other films, including "Thunderhead: Son of Flicka" (1945), "Sergeants 3" (1962), and "Bonneville" (2006).
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Cedar City
With the railroad’s arrival in the early 1900s, the Parry brothers saw Cedar City's potential as a film destination. In 1924, they helped bring an early Tom Mix film, "The Deadwood Coach," one of the first films shot in Utah. The region later appeared in many classic Westerns from the 1920s–1960s, including "Ramona" (1928), "Union Pacific" (1939), "Drums Along the Mohawk" (1939), "Can’t Help Singing" (1944) and "Proud Rebel" (1958).
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Compass Rose Lodge, Huntsville
Northern Utah’s white-capped mountains, evergreen pines and quaint small towns have provided the perfect backdrop for more than 60 holiday movies filmed in Utah since the 1980s. Nestled in the heart of Huntsville, the Compass Rose Lodge along with the surrounding historical buildings have made it a picturesque setting for a number of holiday movies featured on the Hallmark and Lifetime channels, including, "Check Inn To Christmas" (2019), "The Christmas Edition" (2020) and "A Cozy Christmas Inn" (2022).
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Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
At Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, the hills of sand changed by wind have an otherworldly quality that blur the line of reality, making it the perfect backdrop for the sci-fi western television series, "Westworld." Director Jonathan Nolan used Utah’s classic western landscapes for this science fiction story about a Wild West amusement park filled with AI hosts. These sand dunes have also been the backdrop of countless other productions, including "Arabian Nights" (1942), "Mackenna's Gold" (1969), "One Little Indian" (1973) and "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (1976).
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Dead Horse Point State Park
Fossil Point that sits just below Dead Horse Point State Park is featured in one of the most iconic scenes from "Thelma & Louise" starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis. Director Ridley Scott was captivated with the landscapes in Moab and chose this area for the film's memorable ending. Other productions filmed in this area include "Fort Apache" (1948), "Mission: Impossible II" (2000) and "Westworld" (2016-2018).
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East High School, Salt Lake City
In 2006, "High School Musical" debuted on the Disney Channel and quickly became a worldwide sensation leading to two sequels and a television series that launched the careers of stars like Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Olivia Rodrigo. The iconic look of East High was the perfect backdrop of the "High School Musical" franchise and it has become a recognizable character to audiences all over the world.
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Eureka City
Since the early mining days of the 1800s, people have been drawn to the rugged beauty of this region. Filmmakers later discovered that it also served as a perfect backdrop for storytelling. Remnants of the past still dot the landscape and the quaint main street, rolling hills, and sprawling desert have been featured in numerous films over the years, including "The Maldonado Miracle" (2003), "The World's Fastest Indian" (2005), "Nitro Circus: The Movie" (2012), and "Omaha" (2025).
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Goblin Valley State Park
The otherworldly rock formations at Goblin Valley State Park can seem like they come from an alien planet, making it the perfect backdrop for movies. The sandstone hoodoos were famously used as the foundation for the Rock Monster in the campy, sci-fi film, "Galaxy Quest" starring Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver. Goblin Valley has also been featured in other productions, including "Rubin and Ed" (1991), "City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold" (1994) and "The Tree of Life" (2011).
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Goulding’s Lodge
This trading post in the Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley became a key location for Hollywood Westerns after director John Ford’s "Stagecoach" (1939) established the area as the symbol of "The West." Today, Goulding’s Lodge remains a gateway to this iconic landscape, preserving its rich history and enduring legacy in film and Native American culture.
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Great Salt Lake State Park
The indie classic, "Carnival of Souls" jump-started Utah as an unlikely home for the horror genre. Director Herk Harvey’s drive through Utah inspired the cult film featuring the abandoned Saltair Resort as its spooky backdrop. Since then, countless other productions have filmed at the Great Salt Lake State Park, including "SLC Punk!" (1998), "Double Teamed" (2002), "Tree of Life" (2011), and "Joe Bell" (2020).
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Heber Valley Railroad
Traveling between Heber City and Provo Canyon, the historic Heber Valley Railroad's timeless look captivates filmmakers and audiences alike. The breathtaking views of the Wasatch Mountains surrounding this landmark have made this train station a frequent backdrop for films and television shows, including "Touched by An Angel" (1994-2003), "Deidra & Laney Rob a Train" (2017), and "Escape from Germany" (2024).
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Helper Main Street
The mining town of Helper has been the backdrop to independent films and television shows over the years looking to capture the small town feel of the historic and restored downtown. The Book Cliffs mountain range offset by the railroad that passes through the Carbon Corridor provide filmmakers with a cinematic landscape. Helper has been featured in "Rigoletto" (1993), "Adventures of Power" (2008), "Wayshower" (2011),"Ghost Adventures" (2021) and more.
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Historic 25th Street
With its rich past and vibrant atmosphere, Historic 25th Street blends history with modern culture, making it the perfect destination for filmmakers. Ogden’s character and charm is visible in its historic buildings, restaurants, bars and shops that have been the backdrop for countless films and television shows, including "Touched By An Angel" (1994 - 2003), "Everwood" (2002–2006) and "Yellowstone" (2018–2020).
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La Sal Junction
The fourth installment of the live-action "Transformers" franchise, directed by Michael Bay and starring Mark Wahlberg, brought the iconic Autobots to La Sal Junction. Utah's red rock landscapes were the perfect contrast to the mechanical characters, creating an unforgettable backdrop for this action-packed film. San Juan County has served as a location for other productions, including "Thelma & Louise" (1991) and "Horizon: An American Saga" (2024).
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Lorin Farr Pool
A beloved classic, "The Sandlot" highlights the nostalgia audiences hold for their summer childhood memories of baseball, friendship and adventure. One of the most memorable scenes from the movie was shot at the Lorin Farr Swimming Pool where Squints pretends to drown in order to be "rescued" by the lifeguard, Wendy Peffercorn, and share an unforgettable kiss.
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Park City Main Street
In 1985, Sundance Institute began running the U.S. Film Festival in Park City, becoming a platform for independent artists. The Festival was officially renamed the Sundance Film Festival in 1991 attracting thousands of film lovers to this mountain town. Since then, iconic film and television productions have used Park City to enhance their stories, including "Dumb and Dumber" (1994), "Everwood" (2002-2006), "Hereditary" (2018), "Yellowstone" (2018-2020) and more.
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Parry Lodge, Kanab
The Parry Lodge started as a roadside motel in 1931 run by the Parry brothers, who promoted tourism for the Kanab region. Their attention to detail and hospitality drew Hollywood film companies to the area, including golden age Hollywood royalty like John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Shirley Temple, and Clint Eastwood. Over the past century, the hotel has welcomed hundreds of productions, including "The Lone Ranger" (1949-1957) and "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (1976), earning Kanab the title of “Little Hollywood."
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Payson Main Street
The City of Payson provided the backdrop for many recognizable scenes from "Footloose." Though set in small-town Texas, the "Footloose" story of a city boy trying to overturn the local minister’s ban on dancing resonated with Utah audiences in the 1980s, and remains a classic Utah film to this day. Since then Payson has been the backdrop of countless other films and television shows, including some featured on the Hallmark Channel and Netflix.
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Red Cliffs Lodge
The lodge was once a ranch owned by George White who became involved with Westerns that filmed in the area. He later founded the Moab Film Commission to support filmmakers like the legendary director John Ford who filmed many movies at Red Cliffs, including "Wagon Master" (1950), "Rio Grande" (1950), and "Cheyenne Autumn" (1964). More films and television shows have since used the ranch's breathtaking scenery as a backdrop.
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Snow Canyon State Park
Robert Redford, Paul Newman and Katharine Ross starred in the hit film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" that shot across southern Utah. Snow Canyon State Park's petrified sand dunes and rock formations provided the unique landscape needed for the film's famous chase scenes. A number of other productions have used the park as a backdrop, including "Jeremiah Johnson" (1972), "The Car" (1977) and "High School Musical 2" (2007).
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Solitude Mountain Resort
The snow-capped peaks of Solitude Mountain Resort were the backdrop for sledding scenes in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The beloved children's book was brought to life in the live-action adaptation directed by Ron Howard and starred Jim Carrey as The Grinch. Other productions filmed at the ski resort include "Ice Spiders" (2007), "The Wolf of Snow Hollow" (2020), and "Falling for Christmas" (2022).
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Sundance Mountain Resort
The serene beauty of Sundance Mountain Resort and Provo Canyon provided the perfect backdrop for "Jeremiah Johnson," the true story of a mountain man who wishes to live life alone in the wilderness. This 1972 film starring Robert Redford embodies all the elements of a classic Western with a soulful hero at its core. Redford went on to found Sundance Institute at Sundance Resort in 1981.
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This Is The Place Heritage Park
Visitors are transported back in time by the many historical recreations of pioneer trades, original and replica homes, and native gardens. Both the architecture and surrounding landscape are always camera-ready, making this Utah State Park a perfect filming location for historical productions, including "Jane and Emma" (2018), "His Name is Green Flake" (2020), and "Escape from Germany" (2024).
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Uinta Basin/Vernal
Northeastern Utah has long been the place for experiencing the unknown, including aliens, ghosts, dinosaurs and more. The otherworldly landscapes of the Uintah Basin have been dubbed UFO Valley. This fascination has sparked many television shows to document the area's paranormal activity as seen on "Ghost Adventures" (2008), "Expedition X" (2020), "The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch" (2020), and "Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch" (2021).
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Wendover Airfield
Located on the outskirts of the Bonneville Salt Flats, the Historic Wendover Airfield offers a glimpse into the past and a secluded location for films and television shows. The iconic aircraft hangars, control tower, barracks and pool all provided the perfect backdrop for the action-packed thriller "Con Air" starring Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich. Other films including "The Philadelphia Experiment" (1984), "Wind" (1992), "Independence Day" (1996), "Mulholland Falls" (1996), "Hulk" (2003), "The Core" (2003), and "Fallout" (2024) have also featured the Wendover Airfield over the years.
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Zion Canyon Village, Springdale
Robert Redford, Paul Newman and Katharine Ross starred in the hit film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" that filmed across southern Utah. Since then Washington County has been the backdrop of countless other films and television shows, including "Jeremiah Johnson" (1972), "The Eiger Sanction" (1975), "Romancing the Stone" (1984) and more.
Utah Film Itineraries
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Classic Westerns of the Silver Screen
From the alpine backwoods of Jeremiah Johnson to the sweeping vistas of Westworld and all the John Ford's in between, Utah is the place to travel for movie magic.
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Filmed in Utah: Explore the Settings of Sundance Movies
It’s a film buff’s dream — a three-day northern Utah road trip through the mountains, desert flats and cityscapes featured in Sundance standouts such as “Brigsby Bear,” “SLC Punk!,” “Nine Days,” “Hereditary” and “Frozen."
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Robert Redford’s Sundance Scenes
Journey through some of Utah's most striking mountain and desert filming locations to experience the awe of the all-American frontier immortalized in Robert Redford's "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Jeremiah Johnson," and "The Electric Horseman."
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See Where High School Musical Was Born
Walk through the halls of the real-life East High and immerse yourself in the vibrant cultural and rocky mountain landscapes where Disney’s "High School Musical" and "High School Musical: The Musical" series were filmed.
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The Sandlot Fan's Guide to Utah
Relive the nostalgia of "The Sandlot," with visits to filming locations around Salt Lake plus some other kid-inspired stops to make your own memories.
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Thelma & Louise: A Tribute Road Trip Through the Classic Film’s Utah Settings
Perfect for fans of the beloved film “Thelma & Louise,” tour the exact places where the movie was shot, and make some memories of your own exploring the beauty of this exquisite desert.
Stories to Inspire Your Travel
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Sundance, Full Circle
When visiting the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, movies are only part of the experience.
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Selfie at Forrest Gump Point
Take a selfie where Forrest Gump decided he was done running near Monument Valley in Utah.
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Movies Filmed in Utah: Plotting a Cinematic Drive-Through
Follow a Germany-based film enthusiast on an extended road trip to discover the rich history of Utah cinematography.
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Explore Utah Through the Lens of "Horizon: An American Saga"
It's no surprise that Hollywood has turned to Utah's stunning and untouched terrain time and again.
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Salt Lake City FanX: Geeking Out in the Nerdiest State in the Nation
When it comes to Utah, you may never find a more fervent hive of fans and nerdery.
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HBO's Westworld. See it now, in Utah.
Where is Westworld filmed? Much of Castle Valley is actually located in Utah. Learn more about the setting of your favorite television series.
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Robert Redford Sets the Sundance Scene
Watch the story behind Robert Redford's founding of Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah, and learn what makes this Provo ski resort stand out.
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Filmed in Utah: 7 Itineraries Through Hollywood's Most Iconic Settings
Whether hitting the Sundance Film Festival in Park City and Salt Lake City in January or visiting Utah throughout the year, you’ll find yourself near some Utah’s most iconic and most filmed places.
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Sundance: The Story is Utah
For Sundance audiences and filmmakers, the Story is Utah, one with many visions and interpretations and where revolutions are encouraged.
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On the Trail of Utah's Classic Movies
Germany-based film enthusiast Andrea David is back in Utah, embarking on a road trip to explore 100 years of Utah film history.
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Kanab's Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival
Kanab's Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival is filled with round-the-clock Western-themed entertainment — think: music, cowboys and history.
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Beyond Sundance: The Ultimate Guide to Utah's Film Scene
From historic art house theaters in downtown Salt Lake City to a vintage drive-in beneath the stars of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah offers movie buffs experiences as dramatic and diverse as its landscapes.
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Utah's Most Terrifying Halloween Haunts
This is your guide to Utah's genuinely spine-chilling haunted attractions and dark history.
