23 Incredible Natural Wonders In Utah That Defy Explanation
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Meghan Byers
Author
If you’re a nature lover, Utah is the place for you – few states are quite as resplendent with natural wonders. Home to a whopping five national parks, Utah is filled with stunning vistas you’ll never forget, attracting travelers each year to explore its unique landscapes. Whether you’re a native to Utah or you’re planning a trip to this spectacular state, we’re here to help you compile your Beehive State bucket list. Here you’ll find a good selection of the best natural wonders in Utah that you’ll definitely want to get out and explore, from the iconic to the lesser known.
Best Gorges & Canyons In Utah
Utah has so many staggeringly beautiful canyons and gorges to explore. We’ve managed to narrow it down to five, picking out some of the most popular jaw-dropping canyons and gorges in Utah alongside some lesser-known canyons.
1. Zion Canyon
Zion National Park, Utah, USA
No list of the best canyons in Utah would be complete without Zion. Over 5 million visitors arrive each year to Zion National Park to explore the park's uniquely varied topography and gorgeous scenery. At over 2,500 feet deep in areas, Zion Canyon's sandstone cliffs soar high up toward bright blue skies and make for a scene so stunning you'll almost feel like it can't be real.
2. Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
Not a technical canyon but instead comprised of a series of giant, naturally formed amphitheaters, Bryce Canyon (located in Bryce Canyon National Park) is perhaps most famous for having the largest concentration of hoodoos in the entire world. It also has some of the darkest skies in the United States, making it a fine spot for stargazing after a day spent hiking its strange and beautiful landscapes and admiring the red, orange, white, pink, and brown colors of the spires. The iron content in the rocks is what gives them their vivid colors.
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3. Fantasy Canyon
Fantasy Canyon, Utah 84078, USA
Fantasy Canyon isn't the biggest or most striking canyon on our list, but it is one of the most unique. With rock formations that look like something from a fantasy world, this 10-acre canyon is well worth exploring. You can take the half-mile loop trail through the fragile but beautiful assortment of rock formations and imagine you're on another planet far from Earth.
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4. Red Canyon
Red Canyon, Utah 84759, USA
Red Canyon is a great option if you're looking to explore Utah's natural wonders without the crowds. Here, not far from Bryce Canyon National Park, you'll find hoodoos and red rock towers, bright red soil, impressive cliffs, and miles of trails. Mountain bikers will enjoy riding through this gorgeous landscape, which is dotted with ponderosa pines, providing a nice contrast to the red rock.
5. Flaming Gorge
Flaming Gorge, UT 84023, USA
Located partially in northeast Utah and partially in Wyoming, Flaming Gorge Reservoir is massive, at 91 miles long and with 360 miles of shoreline. It's the perfect place for year-round activities and exploration, and a popular spot for summertime swimming, boating, fishing, and more. Head to the Red Canyon Visitor's Center in Manila, Utah, and you'll be able to enjoy some incredible views of the gorge and the red cliffs that give it its name.
Best Caves In Utah
There’s nothing quite so mysterious and enchanting as a cave, and in Utah you will find multiple options for indulging in a little spelunking. Here are some of the best caves in Utah to add to your bucket list.
6. Mammoth Cave
Mammoth Cave, Duck Creek Ridge Rd, Duck Creek Village, UT 84762, USA
Mammoth Cave is actually one of the largest lava tubes in Utah, formed sometime less than 2,000 years ago (so relatively recently in our planet's history) by cooling lava and water. At about a quarter mile long, it has 2,200 feet of passageways to explore - although some portions of the cave are blocked off from October through April in order to protect hibernating bats. Mammoth Cave has four chambers and makes for a fun family adventure.
7. Timpanogos Cave
Timpanogos Cave National Monument, 2038 E Alpine Lp Rd, American Fork, UT 84003, USA
Timpanogos Cave National Monument actually includes three caves you can tour, called Hansen Cave, Middle Cave, and of course, Timpanogos Cave. Discovered in the late 1800s and early 1900s, these caves have attracted visitors for tours for over a century. Inside the caves you'll find stalactites, stalagmites, and helictites, along with other interesting geological formations. You do need to book a ranger-guided tour to enter the cave, which is reached via a steep (though paved) trail.
8. Kanab Sand Caves
Sand Caves, U.S. 89, Kanab, Utah, USA
Located just north of Kanab, Utah, the Kanab Sand Caves (also sometimes called the Moqui Caverns) are picturesque sandstone caves with multiple large rooms to explore. They were created in the 1970s as part of a short-lived sand mining process to make glass - now the caves simply provide a fun outing for intrepid explorers. You'll need to hike a quarter mile trail to get to the caves, and you'll want sturdy footwear with good traction. There are several large "windows" that offer lovely views and great photo opportunities, but be aware that outside each window is a steep drop.
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Best Waterfalls In Utah
Whether it’s to cool down after a hike through the desert, or just to stand back and admire the view, we can’t get enough of chasing waterfalls in Utah. These are some of the best waterfalls you can find in the Beehive State.
9. Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls, Utah 84604, USA
Bridal Veil Falls, located on the south side of Provo Canyon, is an impressive 607 feet tall - in fact it's actually the tallest waterfall in the entire state. It travels down the mountainside in two tiers and can be seen right from US 189, although you'll probably want to get out of the car to get a closer look. In the fall, the foliage surrounding the waterfall makes for an especially picturesque scene.
10. Donut Falls
Looking for a unique twist on chasing waterfalls? Take this easy out-and-back hike to check out the view from beneath Donut Falls, a small but mighty waterfall which pours right into a hole in the roof of a cave. This is an easy, 3.2-mile hike that makes for the perfect family outing. In the wintertime, you may even see Donut Falls partially frozen.
11. Lower Calf Creek Falls
Lower Calf Creek Falls Trailhead, Boulder, UT 84716, USA
Perhaps one of the prettiest sights in Utah (and there's a lot of competition), Lower Calf Creek Falls is a beautiful waterfall that plummets 126 feet down into a pool. It is a bit of a hike to reach the falls, at three miles one way, and the hike is rated as moderate, so keep that in mind. But it's well worth the trip. The waterfall is spring-fed all year round, and in the summertime, the pool below is a popular spot for swimming.
Best Overlooks & Scenic Vistas In Utah
Utah is bursting with scenic views, with overlooks and scenic vistas where you can see for miles and miles. So many places in Utah will take your breath away, and these are just a few of our favorite spots in this spectacularly scenic state to stop and take in the view.
12. Canyon Overlook Trail
Canyon Overlook Trailhead Parking Lot, Hurricane, UT 84737, USA
The Zion Canyon Overlook offers incredible canyon views by way of a relatively easy, 1-mile trail off of Route 9. This is a highly popular trail for good reason - you'll be greeted with one of the best views in the park once you reach the overlook, which sits perched above the Great Arch.
13. Inspiration Point
This is one overlook that's sometimes, well, overlooked, in favor of other more popular scenic points like Bryce Point, Sunrise Point, and Sunset Point. There are a total 13 viewpoints along the Bryce Canyon National Park scenic drive, and Inspiration Point is well worth a stop. Offering three levels and different views of the main amphitheater of Bryce Canyon, Inspiration Point is breathtaking. You'll want to stay a while and let yourself really take in the view, admiring the details of thousands of hoodoos lined up across the landscape stretched out before you. You're sure to be inspired.
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14. Dead Horse Point
Dead Horse Point, Utah 84532, USA
This is one of the most photographed scenic vistas in the world. Dead Horse Point is located within Dead Horse Point State Park in Moab, and is easily reached via a short trail. It towers 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, and offers a dramatic view of both the river and the pinnacles and buttes of Canyonlands.
Best Rock Formations In Utah
You could spend a lifetime traveling the Beehive State marveling at its geological wonders. There are thousands of beautiful rock formations in Utah, from arches to hoodoos and so much more. Each one tells a story of Utah’s fascinating geological past.
15. Delicate Arch
Arches National Park, Utah, USA
Almost 1.4 million people visit Arches National Park each year, and at the top of many travelers' lists is a visit to Delicate Arch, the most famous of the over 2,000 stone arches within the park. This free-standing natural arch is almost 60 feet tall, and has become a widely recognized symbol of Utah. After all, it's even on the Utah license plate!
16. Goblin Valley Hoodoos
Goblin Valley State Park, 18630Goblin, Valley Road, Green River, UT 84525, USA
If you're looking for otherworldly rock formations, look no further than Goblin Valley State Park - it's where multiple science fiction movies have been filmed, after all. The "goblins" here come in all shapes and sizes, with some being as much as several yards tall. These are truly unique rock formations that cover over three square miles, and offer a fascinating glimpse of Utah's geological history.
17. Devil's Slide
Devil's Slide, I-84, Morgan, UT 84050, USA
The Devil's Slide, as the name suggests, resembles a gigantic slide jutting out of the mountainside and extending several hundred feet down. It's comprised of two layers of limestone, each about 40 feet tall and 25 feet apart, with shaly limestone between the two layers. This unusual geological formation is the result of sediments deposited in a shallow sea that once covered areas of Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and Arizona.
18. Balanced Rock
Arches National Park, Utah, USA
At almost 130 feet tall, Balanced Rock is truly a sight to behold. This is one of the most iconic formations within Arches National Park, and that's saying something. It's also one of the few features of the park that you can see right from the road. The balancing rock extends 55 feet up from its base, but that won't always be the case - one day this rock will come crashing down, as a result of the erosion that shaped it this way in the first place.
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Unique Natural Wonders In Utah
Utah is filled with all sorts of unique natural wonders, no matter where you are in the state. These are just a few of the stand-outs that we’d be remiss not to mention.
19. Bonneville Salt Flats
Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah 84083, USA
The Bonneville Salt Flats are unlike any other landscape in the country. An expanse of over 30,000 acres is covered in a white salt crust, left over from the evaporation of the ancient Lake Bonneville, over 10,000 years ago. The salt that covers this 12-mile long, 5-mile wide expanse is just the same as your regular table salt. The conditions of the salt flats make it possible to reach amazingly high speeds, so the salt flats have become international hub of car racing. But this natural wonder is worth visiting just for the views alone.
20. Zebra Slot Canyon
Utah is well-known for its slot canyons, and we had to include at least one on this list.Zebra Canyon, though not very long, is a great example, with beautiful striped walls that gave it its name. It can be difficult to navigate and is probably not for the inexperienced hiker, but it's worth traversing if you're an experienced hiker who loves a good adventure.
21. Bear Lake
The clear, aqua-blue waters of Bear Lake have earned it the nickname "the Caribbean of the Rockies." At about 109 square miles, this freshwater lake is on the border with Idaho, and is split equally between the two states. During the summertime, tons of people flock to its sandy shores to enjoy all manner of activities on the water, from swimming to paddle-boarding and even scuba diving.
22. Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, 710 Reservoir Rd, Escalante, UT 84726, USA
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park can often be overlooked, but it's well-worth a visit. Thousands of pieces of brightly hued, kaleidoscopic petrified wood and lava flows can be found along the easy, one-mile Petrified Forest Trail, giving you a look into Utah's distant past. Be warned that it's illegal to remove any of the petrified wood - and legend says that if you do, a curse will be upon you!
23. Great Salt Lake
Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA
The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western hemisphere. It plays a very important role in the ecosystem, providing a habitat for millions of native birds. It is the remnant of the prehistoric Lake Bonneville (the evaporation of which created the Bonneville Salt Flats), and is also the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River. The Great Salt Lake offers tons of recreation opportunities for Utah residents and visitors alike, at Great Salt Lake State Park and Antelope Island State Park. The lake actually has higher salinity levels than the ocean, so it's easy to float in its waters.
What are your favorite natural wonders in Utah? We’d love to hear your top picks. After all, we couldn’t include them all in this list – there are so many to explore that it would put anyone’s Utah bucket list in danger of spilling right off the page. For even more, check out our collection of articles about nature in Utah.
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