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Stories to Inspire Your Travel
We’re capturing stories, videos and photos meant to guide and inspire you on your travels to Utah. Whether it's cycling route recommendations from a professional cyclist or pro-tips on how to keep kids happy on a trail. We’re talking about all this and more.
Recently Published
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Off the Eaten Path: Dining Between the Mighty Five
Written By Paula Colman
6 minute read
Whether you’re visiting a single Utah national park or all five, take time to explore and enjoy the local food on the spectacular routes between the parks.
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Sunrise Hikes to City Lights: Day-to-Night Adventures in Utah’s Mountain Towns
Written By Kristen Pope
5 minute read
Easy access between Northern Utah’s mountains and towns presents visitors and locals with the best of both worlds: outdoor adventure by day and city culture at night.
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Where to Climb Near Salt Lake
Written By Jeremiah Watt
7 minute read
From Maple Canyon to Logan Canyon and spots in between, explore Northern Utah’s rock climbing legacy and iconic routes to add to your adventure itinerary.
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Find an Adventure
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When Turns Are About Adaptability, Not Disability
Written By Bob Wassom
6 minute read
What happens when a paralyzing accident makes skiing impossible? You start over, hope for the best — and look for all the help you can find. Here’s how one ski instructor got back on the hill with a lot of help from adaptive technology.
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The Spiral Jetty, Utah’s Most Iconic Land Art Sculpture, Keeps Drawing a Crowd
Written By Elaine Jarvik
7 minute read
In April 1970, it took six days, 625 man-hours, 292 truck-hours, $9,000, and 6,500 tons of basalt, limestone and mud for Robert Smithson to construct the Spiral Jetty. His work still stands today. Visit and be inspired by this iconic piece of Utah's land art.
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Your Guide to Utah's Best Hot Springs
Written By Matcha
Here’s a quick guide to planning your visit to Utah’s best hot springs. The fun goes beyond sitting and soaking — you’ll find waterslides, paddleboard yoga, camping and music festivals that turn a quick visit into a weekend worth of fun.
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How to Support Local On Your Utah Road Trip
Written By Elainna Ciaramella
5 minute read
Many small businesses in Utah rely on tourism for survival. These expert tips help road trippers make a real difference in communities by supporting local.
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The Art of Supporting Utah Artists
Written By Lindy Blanchette
5 minute read
Here’s a look at six local artists whose work draws upon Utah’s diverse environments as inspiration.
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You Are Where You Eat: Salt Lake Latino’s Perfected Flavors
Written By Willy Palomo
4 minute read
Here is a guide for a day — or weekend — packed with some of the Salt Lake City's best Latino cuisine, brought to you by the hands who have cared and perfected their flavors for centuries.
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Women In the Wilderness
Written By Kathryn Knight Sonntag
A wild woman is a woman in her natural state.
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How to Visit Utah's National Parks
Written By Ryan Coons
3 minute read
Get the most out of a visit to Utah’s parks and monuments, while also ensuring they stay Forever Mighty, by following these tips.
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Farm to Table X
Written By Austen Diamond
3 minute read
James Beard-nominated Table X creates modern American cuisine with ingredients from its onsite garden.
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Elevate Your Hiking with Mindfulness
Written By Annie Hartvigsen
Incorporating simple mindfulness techniques into your next hike can take the edge off anxiety and enhance your overall well being.
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Field Guides: Voices From the Forever Mighty Landscape
Meet the people whose lives have been shaped by nature — and are helping others find their way.
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Utah’s Women Make History
Written By Darby Doyle
5 minute read
Walk in the footsteps of Utah’s earliest women’s suffrage leaders at sites throughout downtown Salt Lake City. Along the way, view public art installations commemorating voting rights and stop at trail-adjacent local women-owned businesses.
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The Fly Girls of Park City
Written By Whitney Childers
7 minute read
Kick off your ski trip by visiting Utah Olympic Park and reliving the fight for gender equality in the Olympic Winter Games with Park City’s very own women changemakers.
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Utah Is Your Easy Winter Vacation Destination (and We All Could Use Easy)
Written By Paula Colman
5 minute read
Whether you’re looking for a break, vacation or quest for fun this winter, Utah is the place, as always, for adventure — whatever you plan to do or wherever the trail takes you along the way.
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Llama Trekking Through Canyon Country
Written By Ryan Salm
6 minute read
Reconnect with yourself, history and Utah's landscape on a guided llama trek through canyon country.
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Gleaning a Small Town's Harvest
Written By Rosie Serago
8 minute read
Scandinavian heritage, fine arts and historic preservation define Utah’s Sanpete Valley. Check out Heritage Day in Spring City.
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Turning Carbon Into Culture
Written By Andrew Dash Gillman
10 minute read
Helper, UT has a future, and it is one built by the community, through hard work, love for place and a touch of serendipity.
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Salt Lake's Tattoo Scene: Inclusivity is the New Frontier
Written By Stephanie Doktor
Traveling for tattoos is second nature for those seeking the perfect piece. Keep Salt Lake, the Crossroads of the West, in mind when planning your next piece.
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Movies Filmed in Utah: Plotting a Cinematic Drive-Through
Written By Andrea David
Follow a Germany-based film enthusiast on an extended road trip to discover the rich history of Utah cinematography.
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Powder Pups to the Rescue
Written By Austen Diamond
5 minute read
Four furry friends help the Solitude Ski Patrol do their duties.
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Why You Should Ditch I-15 on Your Way to Zion
Written By Melissa McGibbon
6 minute read
If you’re not in a rush to get to Zion National Park from Northern Utah, consider taking a long, meandering route that features historic sites, adventure breaks and out-of-this-world scenery. Hop off I-15 and take Highway 89 and four nearby scenic byways to see and do as much as you possibly can on your way to Zion.
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Harnessing Passion: The Arctic Rescue Sled Dog Team
Written By Sara Hobbs
Maren and Racer Gibson of All Seasons Adventures in Park City, Utah rescue "unadoptable" Huskies and Malamutes. The dogs participate in a dog sledding operation to help find their purpose. Book a dog sled tour with the pups and witness their story as they pull your sled through the area's snow blanketed open spaces.
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'Bad' Brad: A Story of Blues, Blood and Legendary Jazz
Written By Andrew Dash Gillman
5 minute read
Meet Utah’s legendary DJ and blues musician, “Bad” Brad Wheeler. Take a peek into the history of Salt Lake City’s music scene through the memories of Bad Brad.
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Day-tripping a Women-owned Business Enclave in Salt Lake City
Written By Whitney Childers
4 minute read
While the lure of Salt Lake City’s shopping and dining experience attracts tourists to downtown, less than 10 blocks away is the trendy and unique 9th and 9th and Maven District neighborhoods. It’s brimming with 40-plus women-owned businesses that are helping to boost the local economy, as well as each other.
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Lakeside Near Torrey: Three Ways
Written By Melissa Fields
Take a trip to this trio of Capitol Reef-area reservoirs where you can swim, fish, kayak and cool-off.
Explore the National Parks
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Traveling with Dogs: The Mighty 5 National Parks
Written By Visit Utah
At all of The Mighty 5® national parks, activities with pets are extremely limited, and every time your dog is out of your vehicle, it must be restrained in a crate, cage, or on a leash (of no more than 6 feet).
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How to Visit Utah's National Parks
Written By Ryan Coons
3 minute read
Get the most out of a visit to Utah’s parks and monuments, while also ensuring they stay Forever Mighty, by following these tips.
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5 Expert Tips to Prepare for Your Utah National Parks Adventure
Written By Visit Utah
3 minute read
If you’re planning to visit Utah national parks for a hike, learn important tips to maximize your experience and keep you and your family safe. Plan a Utah trip.
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Wellness in the National Parks
Written By Tiffini Porter
5 minute read
Put your health on the itinerary with easy-to-follow tips to help you care for your body, mind and spirit while exploring in and around Utah’s national parks.
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7 Trails Near Zion National Park to Expand Your Hiking Experience
Written By Monique Beeley
7 minute read
While Zion Canyon is the centerpiece of Utah’s most-visited national park, there are a number of options for well-prepared hikers looking to deepen their familiarity with the landscape of southwestern Utah and to seek solitude among the red rock. Start exploring with these seven trails and destinations.
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Explore History & Culture
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Explore a Pioneer Homestead Near Flaming Gorge
In the heart of Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, the Swett Ranch is a testament to the self-sufficiency and ingenuity of Utah pioneers, representing the bygone homestead era, and it’s a historic site not to be missed by those interested in pioneer life.
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11 Family-Friendly Activities Near SLC
Written By Matcha
4 minute read
From roller coasters to ski slopes, discover 11 fun family activities in and around Salt Lake City.
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Following the Dinosaur Tracks of Red Fleet
Written By Andrew Dash Gillman
Explore Red Fleet State Park's cleverly built trail that crosses sandy washes, ribs of exposed stone and a dinosaur trackway.
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Explore Antelope Island's Fielding Garr Ranch
Volunteers Beth and Dennis Simonsen show visitors around the historic Fielding Garr Ranch complex on Antelope Island State Park in Northern Utah.
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Exploring Mule Canyon: House on Fire and Cave Tower
Written By Matcha
4 minute read
Driving the up the dusty, terracotta-colored road toward Mule Canyon in Cedar Mesa, you get a sense that this is a special place, though you might not be able to put a finger on why.
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Tooele? Tuilla? The Fascinating History of this Utah Town
Written By Matcha
5 minute read
While the town of Tooele has a fascinating story to its name, the best part about one of Utah’s original counties is its history.
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Discover Something New
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Backpacking in Canyonlands National Park
Written By Visit Utah
7 minute read
Canyonlands National Park offers a spectrum of backpacking opportunities — from short trips at designated backcountry campsites to longer, adventurous trips that require extensive planning and desert canyon navigational knowledge.
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Paddling the Escalante River: Surfing Spring’s Runoff Through the Grand Staircase
Written By Ryan Salm
6 minute read
Four friends embark on an otherworldly standup paddle journey through the heart of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, assisted by a local guide and his team of llamas.
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Paradise and Slickrock
Written By Stephen Trimble
Utah's national parks seen through a lifelong relationship with Capitol Reef
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Exploring Mule Canyon: House on Fire and Cave Tower
Written By Matcha
4 minute read
Driving the up the dusty, terracotta-colored road toward Mule Canyon in Cedar Mesa, you get a sense that this is a special place, though you might not be able to put a finger on why.
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Gravity and Water: Mark Making in a Winter’s Desert with Anne Kaferle
Written By Brinley Froelich
3 minute read
Finding Helper at a time when she “needed it the most,” landscape artist Anne Kaferle has put down roots in Utah, thanks to plein-air painting and the healing power of time alone in the landscape.
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Finding Strength and Inspiration Deep in the Utah Desert
Written By Elisabeth Brentano
How a series of hiking and camping trips in Utah’s parks and wilderness put Elisabeth Brentano on a transformative journey from urbanite to nature lover.
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The Hunt for Tavaputs Ranch
Written By Darby Doyle
18 minute read
Spectacular skies, off-road adventures and abundant wildlife in remote central Utah at Tavaputs Ranch.
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Elevate Your Hiking with Mindfulness
Written By Annie Hartvigsen
Incorporating simple mindfulness techniques into your next hike can take the edge off anxiety and enhance your overall well being.
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Backpacking the High Uintas Wilderness [VIDEO]
Written By Andrew Dash Gillman
8 minute read
Field notes — plus a short film — on backpacking the High Uintas Wilderness. Pursue solitude, extended moments of introspection, cutthroat trout and the Milky Way.
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A Grand Tour of the San Rafael Swell
Written By Radha Marcum
5 minute read
This grand tour goes into the heart of Utah's Swell from north to south, connecting the uplift’s spectacular views with playful slot-canyon hikes, bike excursions, rock art, dinosaur bones, and soft-serve cones in town.
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The World's First Dark Sky Park
Written By Matcha
On March 6, 2007, Natural Bridges National Monument became the first International Dark Sky Park certified by the International Dark-Sky Association. More than 100,000 people visit Natural Bridges each year to check out the stunning bridges and hike in cool canyons, but only a handful of them stay through the night to see the area’s most amazing and unique feature: dark skies and glistening, bright stars.
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Lost and Found in Desolation Canyon
Written By Ben Dodds
13 minute read
Fully unplug on a return trip down the Green River through the remote Desolation Canyon. Along the way, read as the author navigates a few friends through tricky rapids and pauses on stillwater and at night to appreciate the beauty, stillness and solitude of desert wilderness. It's a 100-mile journey for dedicated adventurers, but it comes with real healing power.
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It’s About Time We All Unplugged
Written By Megan Michelson
7 minute read
After months of being at home, we’ve all been disconnected from each other but connected permanently to our screens. It’s time to pull the plug—literally. In Utah, you can find far-flung places to reset, wellness resorts that promote digital detox, and destinations where you can swap screen time for much-needed adventure time.
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How to Stargaze in Utah
Written By Whitney Childers
7 minute read
Tips on what to pack and when and where to go stargazing in Utah.
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Tips for Astrophotography
Written By Visit Utah
3 minute read
Need tips on how to take pictures of stars? Utah is the perfect location to put tips from an award-winning photographer into action.
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Wandering: Between the Contours
Written By Brooke Williams
7 minute read
Wandering pathless ways in the desert, everything I need strapped to my back, is, I believe is as close as most of us get these days, to the life evolution prepared us for.
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Serenity Found in Torrey and Capitol Reef’s Cathedral Valley District
Written By Melissa Fields
5 minute read
Taking Southern Utah’s remote, less-traveled path in Capitol Reef's Cathedral Valley District to nurture your body, mind and spirit.
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Knobby Tired Nomads: Bikepacking the Utah High Country
Written By Kurt Gensheimer
10 minute read
If you’re into bikepacking, Utah is a place you’ll want to check out. Read about a self-supported tour of Utah’s backcountry here, and start planning your trip.
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A Winter’s Desert: Visiting Southern Utah in the Slow Months
Written By Brinley Froelich
7 minute read
Experiencing the peace of canyon country in the winter is an attraction of its own.
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In Search of Robbers Roost
Written By Lindy Blanchette
4 minute read
Robbers Roost Utah, one of the infamous hideouts of Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch, is not easy to find even with directions from the locals. Explore Utah.
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The Freedom of Wild Places
Written By Kristen Pope
6 minute read
Clutching my hat with both hands, the wind roared and whipped by as I stood atop a rugged red rock formation, gazing out into the vastness of The Needles district of Canyonlands National Park.
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Find a Winter Refresh in a Utah State Park
Written By Rosie Serago
4 minute read
The best Utah state parks will entice you with ice fishing, white sand and snow-dusted scenery. Take a winter break to refresh with a visit to a few of these places.
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Ice and rock, snow and splendor: Winter in Southern Utah
Written By Jeremy Pugh
10 minute read
For an extraordinary adventure, plan winter hikes in Utah’s Zion National Park. Winter rewards hikers with stunning sights of stalactites and snow covered mountains.
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Permit of Solitude in Robbers Roost
Written By Visit Utah
6 minute read
Local guide Christopher Hagedorn leads a group through Robbers Roost in Southern Utah, where wind, water and time has left a primitive maze of canyons.
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A First-ever Camping Trip on BLM Lands
Written By Sara Hobbs
As a new resident of the western United States, I’ve discovered the gift of recreating on public lands. Though daunting at first, after researching and waiting too long, the time finally felt right to try camping on BLM lands in Utah’s dinosaur country. There is no shame in trying something new.