 | The False Kiva at Canyonlands National Park | | | | | I dream about Utah landscapes. Growing up nearby in Colorado, my family would make yearly trips to the Utah desert. My mother would say the myths of the world are depicted in the rock formations that rise out of the horizon. "Look at the three wisemen," she'd say as we cycled past three towering pillars. "There is Kali with her four arms," she'd say about another. These annual sojourns to Utah with my mother were a highlight of my childhood. One spring break in college we scrambled down cliff ledges to camp in the bottom of Upheaval Dome Canyon. Afterwards we spent a couple of days racing each other across slick rock outside of Moab. | This trip with my mom stays with me. Especially the nights, when we'd sit chatting, the air cool on skin warmed from a day in the sun, the sky clear and the darkened earth disappearing into the star-filled vastness – the pull of gravity the only thing reminding me that I was not floating in space. Writer Amiee Maxwell shares my enchantment with Utah, particularly her home in Torrey which she describes as the perfect place from which to explore Utah's best natural attractions. I'm inspired to pack my hiking boots and head back to the desert, you should come along for the ride. | | | | | Digital editor, Lonely Planet | | | | | Throughout Utah you'll find a variety of unique landscapes and experiences. Here are some tips and ideas for a one-of-a-kind Utah trip. | | Goblin Valley State Park is famous for its goblin-like hoodoos | | | | | | | See the great Salt Lake. Antelope Island State Park at sunrise or sunset has the best lake views. | | | | | Take the tram to the top of Snowbird. Go in July and hike down. The wildflowers are amazing. | | | | | Explore Goblin Valley State Park. It's full of amazing hoodoos and other rock formations. It's also very close to Little Wild Horse Canyon which is full of family-friendly slot canyon hikes. | | | | | Find the water hikes. Hike Sulphur Creek in Capitol Reef National Park. It's strangely lush. | | | | | Learn about Ancestral Puebloan People. Stop at the visitor's center in Blanding before heading to Bear's Ears National Monument to learn more about Puebloan culture and how to respectfully enter the sites. | | | Visit Utah in the fall. Ski season is from December through February. | | Fly in to Salt Lake City International Airport. Driving is the best way to get around Utah. | | A tent or camper is best for exploring. If you're coming to ski, check out Park City. | | Hiking a narrow slot canyon is a must, but you may be single-file for a good stretch! | | | Beaches in Utah? Yep, and these are the best | | Lower Calf Creek Falls, Great Salt Lake, Bear Lake | | | | | Thinking about hitting up Zion or Bryce Canyon? Our guidebook has everything you need to know about these epic national parks. | | | Lonely Planet writer Amiee Maxwell's love for the southern Utah desert is infectious. Her tips are indispensable. | | | | Looking up Bryce Canyon National Park | | | | | Do you consider Utah home? | I'm from Wisconsin, but I've lived in Utah for 21 years. I've lived in Salt Lake and then Park City for a while, but I love the desert in southern Utah and where I live in Torrey. I'm a freelance writer and do a lot of work with our local newspaper writing about the national parks. | | | What's so special about Torrey? | From my house, I can look out and see Capitol Reef National Park. To the south is Boulder Mountain which is a high mountain plateau with endless lakes and trails and beyond that is Escalante. Just a few miles to the north is Thousand Lake Mountain which has this incredible boulder on top. To the northwest is Fish Lake Plateau. There is just so much to do. | | | What mistake do people always make when going to Utah? | Everybody always goes straight to the national parks, which are great, but they blow by all these other amazing places. If you take a little time, explore some state parks and some lesser known areas, you'll find a ton of places just as beautiful with no people, just cows. | | | | | "I could spend my whole life exploring here." – Amiee Maxwell | | | What's the ultimate Utah road trip for those who want to really explore? | I would start in Moab and head south to the Needles district of Canyonlands. The drive is just beautiful through Indian Creek. Keep heading south and drive through the new Bears Ears National Monument. You'll drive over Comb Ridge which is an incredible geologic feature. Go to Blanding and stop at the visitor's center, and then drive from Blanding to Hankesville. From there, head to Capitol Reef and then drive the whole scenic byway 12. It is the coolest drive from Boulder to Escalante in Bryce Canyon. From Bryce Canyon head to Brian Head and Navajo Lake and end up in Zion. | | | What should people keep in mind as they plan their trip? | Bring hiking water sandals, more water than you think you'll need and stock up on food every chance you get. Its hot in the day but very cold at night, so bring your warm clothes for evening and mornings. Keep an eye on the weather. You can use the National Weather Service Utah Twitter for flash flood and rain warnings. The Gaia mapping app is very helpful for exploring and dispersed camping. And pack out all of your waste and camp at spots that look like someone has already been there. | | | | What are your favorite places to go in Utah and when? | In fall, you have to go see the Aspens changing in Fishlake National Forest. In winter, you go skiing. Snowbird and Alta are my favorite mountains. In spring, I love to go to Escalante and take a backpacking trip at the Grand Staircase (above). In summer, I like to go hiking in the Uinta Mountains. | | | This email was sent to you by: | Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 | | | |
