Believe it or not, Ripley, Utah is the best place in the USA to see huge, rust-colored rock formations, nigh-mysterious Martian-like deserts, and beautiful blooming succulents. Mind you, there’s much more to see and do in the state than admire its rugged, windswept beauty. So, if you’re planning a visit to the American Midwest, grab a pencil and paper and get ready to take some notes. Here are 25 of the best things to do in Utah.

25 Of The Best Things To Do In Utah

1. Zion National Park, Springdale

This park is nestled in the scenic high plateau country. Here you’ll discover a wealth of biodiversity and unique landscapes within its trademark tan and reddish-brown colored canyon walls, woodlands, forests, and desert. Approximately 4.3 million visitors come here every year.

Families visit to enjoy the outdoors and family-friendly trails. Hardcore climbers and hikers come for the more challenging aspects of the national park.  Families flock here to experience the great outdoors and hike the easy trails. Other activities available here include glamping, horseback riding, glamping, nature walks, and picnicking.

Arches National Park features over 2,000 gigantic, stunning sandstone arches. Over 1.6 million travelers visit annually. Mind you, humans have frequented this place for the past 10,000 years, as indicated by artifacts and petroglyphs discovered in this area. Here you will find campsites, hiking trails, and many geological wonders. You can go horseback riding, and do some stargazing too. If you’re interested in any of the ranger-led programs, the best time to visit is from spring through fall.

Travel to the Arizona–Utah state line. For it is here that you will find this unique landmark nestled in the Navajo Tribal Nation. Monument Valley comes complete with iconic buttes and orange-red desert scenery.  

Undoubtedly, you may have seen the landscape in movies, music videos, TV shows, and video games. While the views from the visitor center are certainly superb, the park is even more memorable up close. So while you can drive through the valley, your best bet is to get a Navajo tour guide. They’ve lived there since 1,400 AD.

Magnificent Temple Square is located in the heart of Salt Lake City. Owned by the well-known Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is a 10-acre complex that features a noteworthy, intricate six-spire temple from the 1800s. This famous attraction is conveniently located in proximity to many of Salt Lake City’s other exceptional attractions including pretty parks, and world-class restaurants. So don’t forget to stop and check out this temple and other nearby architectural wonders.

The notable 7,300-acre Park City Mountain Resort is near Deer Valley. It’s one of the state’s most popular attractions for families seeking some outdoor fun. It is also the country’s largest ski resort. It’s an exceptional place for skiing, snowboarding, and even sleigh rides. Need more? There are cabins, assorted eateries, snowmobile tours, snowboard lessons, ski and cable cars, various special events, and even “ski-in-ski-out access” to popular, historic Main Street.

This is both the most remote and the largest national monument in the United States. Naturally then, it’s also one of the top tourist spots in the state. Dating back more than 200 million years and spanning an area of more than one million acres, it’s quite (ahem) grand.

This colossal site features a vast wealth of artifacts and fossils. It’s a great place for canyoneers, hikers, and off-roaders as well. Explore the arches, forest, scrublands, slot canyons, and waterfalls.

This former prehistoric lake spanned a significant portion of the state millions of years ago. Today it’s the Western Hemisphere’s largest saltwater lake. Some call it America’s answer to the Dead Sea.

Fact is though, that, unlike the Dead Sea, this lake is home to a multitude of living things. It is also a popular place for swimming, kayaking, motorboating, sailing, wildlife spotting, sunbathing, and more. The scenery is gorgeous and the sunsets are incredibly colorful. You can even go camping here if you want to spend more than a few hours here.

The Dinosaur National Monument is situated on the border between Utah and Colorado, where the Yampa and Green Rivers meet. It includes more than 800 individual paleontological sites. You don’t need to be a hardcore dinosaur fan to enjoy this place either.

Some of the most popular activities here include camping, hiking, and rafting. Be sure to see the popular cliff wall at the Carnegie Quarry. Reportedly, over 1,500 dinosaur fossils are located here.

The city of Moab is said by some travel writers to be “the gateway” to the state’s trademark red rock formations as well as the home of some of Utah’s best hotels and resorts. This family-friendly place is also a great place for biking, camping, hiking, off-roading, and whitewater rafting. Veteran visitors recommend going to the Colorado River for the noteworthy three-hour Sound and Light Show tour as well.

Here you will find warm (unsurprisingly) pink sand that is a natural byproduct of the erosion of the Navajo sandstone in the area. Today the lovely landscape here features rust-colored cliffs and pink-peach tinted sand that contrasts with the often pastel blue skies. Here you can go ATV riding, camping, horseback riding, hiking, sandboarding, and wildlife watching. Stay to see the stunning sunset and the stargazing.

The well-known Bonneville Salt Flats cover an area of 30,000 white salt-crusted acres of the Great Salt Lake’s western edge. This snow-white area is so flat and so vast that it initially inspires otherworldly imaginings. Visit in the spring when the winter snow has melted into crystal clear water and mirrors the massive mountain ranges that surround it. Keep in mind though, that depending on when you visit, the conditions may be extreme so dress appropriately. Avoid driving over the flats as the saltwater is quite corrosive, and a vehicle could easily get stuck in the mud under the salt crust.

This city is situated on the Arizona border. Visit any time you like as there is something to do here all year long. This family-friendly metropolis offers an almost endless assortment of cultural institutions from which to choose. Highlights include a great golf course, hiking trails to state parks, Jurassic-era dinosaur tracks, and the super St. George Children’s Museum. Indeed, just a short jaunt from here is the famous Grand Canyon.

Regular readers may recall that this national park encompasses an area of nearly 36,000 acres, and has been recognized by the human race for thousands of years. It is nigh-famous for its scarlet rock formations and the various natural amphitheaters that are the product of stream erosion and frost weathering. Almost three million travelers come here annually.  

Be sure to visit early in the morning or stay overnight because both sunrises and sunsets make this spot even more colorful. If you enjoy hiking and horseback riding, visit in the warmer months. If you prefer more chilling challenges such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, come in the winter. You can camp here too.

This library is a striking example of modernist architecture. It was designed by Moshe Safdie, the internationally-acclaimed architect. The interior design is also impressive. There are fireplaces on every one of the four floors, a coffee shop, an art gallery, a trio of glass elevators, a spectacular spiral staircase, and, of course, thousands of books to borrow. Take in the view as you ride the elevator to the rooftop and enjoy the panoramic view from the sky deck. You needn’t be a bookworm to appreciate this library.

This temple was inspired by India’s Rajasthani architecture and was built in 1998. It serves the state’s Hindu population. (Bet you never knew there was a Hindu population in Utah, huh?)

Yes, here in the middle of a raw, rugged desert landscape in a place with mainly Mormons, there is a gorgeous, elaborate temple. The 15-acre property includes a lovely lake, a waterfall, outdoor stages, a big pavilion, organic crops, and even some animals. Tours are available every day. Following the tour, you can enjoy the vegetarian buffet, go to the temple room for a short session of kirtan, stroll the grounds on your own, or even visit the gift shop. If you’d like to check out a Hindu festival, you can even experience the Holi and Diwali celebrations.

The famous real Up house was erected by Bangerter Homes in 2011. This iconic, Disney-approved building from the motion picture Up is located at 13218 Herriman Rose Boulevard and is open to visitors. From furniture to wallpaper even the interior is a detailed duplicate of Carl and Ellie’s residence in the movie. Thus, the home is an exceptional opportunity for Instagram posters both inside and out. Be sure to contact the owners prior to going beyond the charming white picket fence though so they’re prepared for your visit.  

The Moqui Cave is composed of sandstone. Found in the southern part of the state, it’s actually a natural history museum that includes fluorescent minerals and even a bar. It was once the home of both dinosaurs and Native Americans who left behind a distinctive trail of footprints, fossils, art, pottery, and more now on display.  

Additionally, it’s a cool place to be, both figuratively and literally, when the heat becomes a bit too much. The cave is never warmer than 65 degrees Fahrenheit. There’s even an outdoor cafe here. Be sure to see the teepee’s back-lit room where you can see the glowing paintings and minerals.  

Thanks to NASA, the well-known Mars Society has been prepping for a hypothetical future when man will boldly go to Mars. As you may already know, the terrain here in Utah actually resembles Mars. In fact, it’s been used for Martian simulations in the past.

The impressive Mars Desert Research Station or MDRS is run by a minimal crew of select scientists from different disciplines who actually carry out scientific studies on the station and also replicate space missions to the red planet. They usually conduct their simulations in the winter, and visitors are permitted to take photographs from a safe distance. They are, however, quite busy then so visitors are asked not to approach the actual station without being given permission. If the crew is not wearing space suits, feel free to request a tour. They do schedule visitor days in the spring so check their Facebook page for details.

This is the state’s first-ever desert conservation garden and covers an area of five acres. Here you will be able to see prehistoric dinosaur tracks over 200 million years old, a replica of a slot canyon, 5,000 desert plants, and an actual stream with both endangered and native fish. Attend a gardening or landscaping workshop. Walk through the noteworthy re-created terrain and enjoy the desert flora that blooms in the spring. Admission is free!

This museum is nestled in the research park of the University of Utah. It features dinosaur bones, fossils, insects, minerals, numerous plants, and even Native American artifacts. In total, there are 1.6 million objects on display here. You might also want to watch real scientists as they prepare new artifacts, or even participate in a dinosaur dig.

This pretty, picturesque place found in the foothills of the memorable Wasatch Range encompasses an area of approximately 21 acres. This is the Intermountain West’s largest botanical garden. While the scenery can be romantic, singles can enjoy the beautiful blooms and enchanting colors as well. Walk through the various themed gardens and plant collections. Visit in the spring and see more than 500,000 fantastic flowers bloom simultaneously in a rainbow of natural colors.

The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium almost always slots in on Utah’s “best things to do” list. Visitors can learn about 4,500 animals representing a total of 550 different species specifically separated into 74 major exhibits. They not only come from the United States, but also from Asia, the Antarctic, South America, and every one of the planet’s oceans too. Every year more than one million travelers come here to enjoy the interactive and educational exhibits and various creatures. Don’t forget the awesome animal encounters with penguins, sharks, and stingrays either!

Opened for business in 1916, the Utah State Capitol is located up on Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City and overlooks the downtown area. The building sports a Neoclassical revival Corinthian-style design. The property also includes gardens of native plants, a noteworthy Vietnam memorial, and a monument for the famed Mormon Battalion. Stroll the grounds and take one of the docent-led, hourly tours inside the state capitol. Take in the sight of this striking marble structure and the nigh-majestic view of the snow-topped mountains in the background.

The popular Clark Planetarium opened its doors in April of 2003. Thanks to a grant from the Clark Foundation, it replaced the old, historic Hansen Planetarium. Here you can enjoy inspiring IMAX films and immerse yourself in the many mysteries of outer space via assorted exhibits as well. Enjoy exploring alien landscapes, black holes, distant galaxies, and the solar system through several mind-blasting, interactive activities, and exhibits.

Legendary playwright and poet William Shakespeare once wrote: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances . . .” Why should Utah be an exception? The Utah Shakespeare Festival is a top-rated event offering audiences critically-acclaimed Shakespearean and contemporary theatrical presentations since 1961.

Visit sometime between June and early October. For it is then that you will be privy to the festival’s traditional summer-fall fare of classes, camps, Greenshows, plays, and seminars. Theatre aficionado or not, this old-fashioned theater experience can actually be one of the very best things to do in the state. Costumed vendors sell assorted beverages and snacks too. In fact, you can even sup at one of the event booths.

There you have it, fellow travelers. These are 25 of the best things to do in Utah, USA. Do you have any favorites we missed? Share them with us in the comment section!