Capitol Reef National Park   |  Alison Vagnini

Outdoor Recreation

Utah is all about outdoor recreation and is known for many amazing outdoor activities. If you're seeking a weekend of hiking or backpacking, Utah has countless options. For starters, one could spend years exploring all of the nooks and crannies of just one of the five national parks, 44 state parks, nine national monuments, five national forests and two national recreation areas. 22.8 million acres of public lands, make up almost 42 percent of Utah outdoors. These lands range from snowcapped mountains of remote mountain ranges to wild rivers and colorful red rock canyons.

Overnight Activities

Camping

Utah is the thirteenth-largest state by area and covered in more than 300 public campgrounds, as well as dispersed camping areas.

Explore Camping

Backpacking

There is no more varied place in the world than Utah to backpack. Backpacking in Utah can take you through alpine forests, red rock lands, jagged peaks or lush waterways — all featuring immense solitude.

Explore Backpacking

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Support Utah's Search and Rescue Teams

Venturing into Utah's backcountry is never without risk. When you purchase a Utah Search and Rescue Assistance (USARA) card, you can help cover the costs incurred by local rescue teams when you need their help.

Learn more

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    2 Days

    Away from it All

    Many stop by Cedar Breaks National Monument to peer into its colorful amphitheater. Separate yourself from the crowd by arriving early and racing the sunrise to the Ramparts. Later, drop deep into the backcountry of Bryce Canyon’s spire-filled basin, where few tourists ever venture — an amphitheater of peace. Then, at night, admire the stars in the pristine darkness of Bryce Canyon’s 9,000-foot elevation.

    Camping & Backpacking, Hiking, Solitude, Stargazing

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    3 Days

    Cycling Utah with TJ Eisenhart

    Follow Tour of Utah pro-cyclist TJ Eisenhart through three days of challenging, scenic and diverse riding. The range behind Utah Valley is also home to Timpangos Cave National Monument, Sundance Mountain Resort, incredible mountain biking and one of the finest road cycling canyons in Utah.

    Adventure, Cycling, Mountain Biking

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    3 Days

    Denver to Moab: A High-Octane Weekend Road Trip

    Start planning your road trip from Denver to Moab with three days of mountain biking, hiking, skydiving, rafting and experiencing the best of Moab.

    Adventure, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Watersports and Rafting

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    9 Days

    Higher Octane

    Ready for the most adrenaline-inducing, heart-hammering adventures Southern Utah has to offer? Whether you’re into bombing single track, charging Class V rapids, tackling hidden trails or jumping out of planes — we've got nine days of thrills for you to cross off your bucket list.

    Camping & Backpacking, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Native American, Watersports and Rafting

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    5 Days

    Red Rock & Dark Skies: Stargazing the National Parks

    This road trip through southwest Utah takes you to four of Utah’s best places to see the Milky Way — Capitol Reef National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument.

    Adventure, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Solitude, Stargazing

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    3 Days

    Slickrock Adventure

    Discover how close Salt Lake City is to Arches and Canyonlands national parks in this three-day weekend filled with adventure options.

    Adventure, Cycling, Hiking, Mountain Biking

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Recreate Responsibly

Tread Lightly, and Leave No Trace! in Utah by modeling appropriate behavior and leaving the areas you visit better than you found them. Practice minimum impact camping and pack out what you pack in. On off-highway vehicles, minimize your impact by traveling only in areas and on trails open to them.

Learn More About Forever Mighty Leave No Trace

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