What is utah known for

Mountain passes and desert beauty abound, and you can drive through most of it. So if your personal favorites are autumn aspen leaves in high alpine mountains, we've got you covered. Or if you prefer wide open skies and bizarre desert formations, you'll find that too. Often you'll find both on one highway. Dinosaur Fossils - All over the freakin' state Hike to million-year-old dinosaur footprints in Kanab , see fossils at museums, visit dinosaur quarries.

This state is dripping with prehistoric remnants. Mountain Biking slickrock trails Mountain Biking Moab's Slickrock trail is a smooth and tacky ride--you'll be amazed at what you can stick on this sandstone. The trail is often referred to as the best mountain bike ride in America. White-Water Rafting - Through canyons that will change your soul White water rafting on Utah's rivers is the most intimate and awe-inspiring way to experience the mountains, plateaus, deserts and plains throughout the state.

Plus, the river guides really really really love food, and you'll never eat better. And sleeping under remote desert skies? There are no words. So, read more Affordable Price Tag - From a state with lots of kiddos and on a budget with the aesthetic tastes of opera-goers. It's hard when you have expensive tastes, and you want to give the entire universe to the people you love most.

Utahns get it. You'll also find some incredible campgrounds near Moab. In winter, this area receives snow, and the adventure opportunities diminish. The best time to visit is in the spring March to May and fall September to October. You can still enjoy yourself here in summer, but daytime temperatures get very hot. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Moab. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a huge area of rugged terrain, with a landscape of canyons, arches, hills, waterfalls, forest, and scrubland. It offers a sense of remoteness that is hard to find in other parks. Dirt roads, where you can drive great distances without ever passing another vehicle, are all part of the experience. Covering 1. Hiking is a popular way to explore the region.

In the southern part of the monument is Paria , a town near the Paria River, founded in , but abandoned by Remnants of the town and the nearby areas have been used in a number of western films. The park offers camping, but if you're looking for a little more luxury, one of the best resorts in Utah is right next to Grand Staircase-Escalante.

Dead Horse Point State Park. The main viewpoint looks over a gooseneck in the Colorado River carving through the colorful landscape. Cliff walls rising 2, feet and plateaus at various levels stretch out into the distance. On a shelf of land below the viewpoint, the Potash Road runs along a ledge. Looking to the left along this road, you can see Thelma and Louise Point , where the final scene of the motion picture Thelma and Louise was filmed. The best way to see the sights at Dead Horse Point State Park is to take a stroll on the walking trail along the rim.

Capitol Reef National Park is another great place to explore Utah's interesting landscapes. Located directly west of Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef reveals a huge wall of banded sandstone rising above the Fremont River. The canyons, rock spires, cliff walls, arches, and gorges are an inspiration for anyone with an interest in photography.

From a distance, the wall dominates the landscape and glows an almost purple color in the late-day sun. Most people come here for sightseeing, but you'll also find a variety of hiking trails in the area. This park sees far fewer tourists than most of the other big parks in Utah, which can be a refreshing treat. The nearest town to Capitol Reef is Torrey , to the west of the park, where you can find accommodation and camping options. The park's visitor center is 15 minutes from town and located at the start of the beautiful Capitol Reef Scenic Drive , one of the main highlights of a visit to the park.

George Photo Copyright: Lana Law. George's position in southern Utah, near some incredible parks, makes it a convenient city to base yourself if you're interested in outdoor activities. But, even if you're not, the town has its own attractions and is worth a visit. Zion National Park is just an hour away, and one of Utah's great undiscovered natural areas, Snow Canyon State Park , is less than 20 minutes away.

Within a half-hour drive of St. George, you'll find outstanding hiking trails , as well as beautiful areas to camp. The city of St. George has a number of attractions and things to do related to its Mormon history, including the St. Accommodation: Where to Stay in St. Cedar Breaks National Monument. The same forces of nature that shaped Bryce Canyon were at work in Cedar Breaks, creating a smaller but equally dynamic-looking amphitheater. Dominated by colorful hoodoos, the amphitheater is more than 2, feet deep and three miles in diameter.

Located at an elevation of 10, feet, the park sees full on winter conditions, with snow covering the monument from fall until spring.

Cedar Breaks is open year-round, but the scenic drive through the park Highway is closed from approximately mid-November to late May or June. At Four Corners, in the southeast, Utah meets Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona at right angles, the only such meeting of states in the country. Utah became the 45th member of the union on Jan. Utah is known for having some of the best skiing in the country, and the mountains near Salt Lake City receive an average of inches of snow per year. The Sundance Film Festival, one of the premiere independent film festivals in the world, is held each January in Park City.

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In , reeling from the murder of their founder and prophet, Joseph Smith, and facing continued mob violence in their settlement in Illinois, thousands of Latter Day Saints better known as Mormons threw their support behind a new leader, Brigham Young. Two years later, Young Utah Fun Facts There are two theories on the origination of the word "Utah": The first is that it originates from the Native American "Ute" tribe which means "people of the mountains.

Area Codes. List of U. Senators From Utah. Representatives From Utah. List of Utah State Representatives. Utah State Constitution.