The BEST National AND State Parks In Utah YOU Have To VIsit
Share This Post
Utah is an extraordinary state home to some of the best natural wonders of the world. Sights so expansive and grandiose they change your entire perspective of the world you thought you knew. Pillars of stone as tall as buildings next to snaking gorges diving half a mile into the Earth. Utah has it all, and in the grandest, most remarkable ways possible.
Utah is the pinnacle of unparalleled natural splendor, and the National and State Parks highlight the best of that. Whether it’s the Utah Mighty 5 with popular parks like Zion and the Canyonlands or lesser-known parks like the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, every corner of Utah is magnificent and just waiting to be discovered. Breathtaking visuals that for centuries have made the American West such a spectacular and sought after place.
With all these stunning spots, it’s hard to decide which are the best National and State Parks in Utah. Luckily, we put together a list of the best, most can’t miss parks in the great state of Utah!
1.) Antelope Island State Park
Permit/Reservation Requirements
No requirements only an entrance fee
One of the most underrated parks in Utah, Antelope Island is a natural sanctuary just on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, offering a glimpse into the diverse beauty found throughout Utah. A place where glass like waters meet dry mountains overlooking the entire park and city beyond. Where beasts roam freely like bison the size of cars, bighorn sheep climbing steep mountainsides, and, of course, plenty of antelope. Here, you can enjoy expansive, majestic sights and hikes to the top of mountains like the Frary Peak Trail all without the crowds of people. Antelope Island isn’t as frequented as many of the other Utah parks, which is a big bonus since much fewer people mean you’re free to roam large swaths of the park uninterrupted, just you and Utah beauty.
Pro tip- Just after you enter the park, look to the right hand side to see stunning glass like reflections in the Great Salt Lake.
2.) Bonneville Salt Flats
Permit/Reservation Requirements
No requirements free to enter
An otherworldly place unlike any of the other national parks in Utah. Here you can be swept away from the world you thought you knew and feel as though you’ve been transported to a place that looks as if the Earth itself has forgotten about. Miles and miles of untouched dry salt like a blank canvas of earth, or after a hard rain, miles of still glass like water perfectly reflecting the sky above. This anomaly has stood undisturbed for nearly 5,000 years, since the ancient waves of Lake Bonneville went from covering 1/3 of Utah in waters up to 1,000 ft deep to becoming cracked and completely dried out. While this park is most known for the incredible spiderweb like salt lines and the home of the land speed record, it’s the strikingly simple yet layered in beauty surroundings that keep people coming back.
Pro tip- The Bonneville Salt Flats are home to some unforgettable sights. Click here to see how we got our incredible shots!
3.) Zion National Park
Permit/Reservation Requirements
Permits needed for certain hikes, but only an entrance fee is needed to enter the park
One of the most awe inspiring places on the planet, Zion National Park is a place that will show you what natural wonder truly means. A national park where deserts and mountains mix in a spectacle that has to be experienced in person to be able to appreciate its full power. Consistently among the top 5 most visited national parks in the country, you can expect large crowds, but outside of peak times, the park is large enough to have whole areas to yourself. For anyone looking for some of the best hikes in the world like Angel’s Landing and the Narrows or spectacular spots to sit and appreciate the views like Overlook Canyon, there’s no better place in the United States. No matter your age or fitness level, Zion National Park is an unforgettably gorgeous sight just waiting to be explored.
4.) Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Permit/Reservation Requirements
No requirements only an entrance fee
Used in numerous movies and TV shows, this long strip of open land creates a perfect pocket of sand stretching over 3,500 acres throughout the valley. Right near the border of Utah and Arizona, the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park almost seems out of place compared to the rest of Utah. Tall rolling sand dunes cut through the middle of rocky canyons and dry forests, showing a drastic shift from the usual rocky terrain of Utah. As if someone randomly dumped millions of pounds of sand in the same spot. Here you can rent ATVs and dune buggies for an all out thrill among the dunes or wait for the end of the day to see sand shimmering in the sunset as it whisps about in the air. Plus, with fewer visitors than other Utah parks, you’re able to capture some stunning sunset pictures! 
Pro tip- Renting an ATV or dune buggy is well worth it so you can explore all corners of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.
5.) Bryce Canyon National Park
Permit/Reservation Requirements
No requirements only an entrance fee
Towering stone pillars resembling thick, hundreds of feet tall stalagmites, trails winding throughout the park cutting in and out of dense forests, and overlook vistas and vantage points perfect for taking in some of the best sunset/sunrise spots in the world… this is Bryce Canyon. Another stunning example of Utah’s ever changing landscape, Bryce Canyon, opens itself up to short hikes descending into the amphitheaters, offering up-close views of the marvelous towers. Or longer hikes along the cliffs edge for a complete overview of the park in all its glory. Bryce Canyon isn’t as expansive and grandiose as other parks, but that’s why it’s so special. It’s the collection of unique formations all compacted into one area that makes this sanctuary of stunning sights a can’t miss National Park in Utah.
Pro tip- Be sure to watch a sunrise at sunrise point for one of the most magical scenes in the country! 🌅
6.) Goblin Valley State Park
Permit/Reservation Requirements
No requirements only an entrance fee
Of all the incredible, one of a kind parks in Utah, Goblin Valley might be the oddest. Once completely underwater, this forest of misshapen sandstone now stands as one of the country’s most peculiar natural phenomena. Thousands of squat toadstools slowly eroded by wind and water over the course of 25 million years now litter the state park. With so many oblong structures, it looks as if you jumped down a green pipe and ended up in a beige mushroom kingdom. Not to mention, one of the best parts of Goblin Valley State Park is that you’re free to explore wherever you want. Whether it’s climbing on top of the stout hoodoos or venturing through little slot canyons winding throughout the park. So, if you want to explore something completely different, the best collection of hoodoos in the world is a great place to stop!
Pro tip- Being far from any major towns it’s a great spot for stargazing.
7.) Canyonlands National Park
Permit/Reservation Requirements
No requirements only an entrance fee
Part of the Mighty 5Â the Canyonlands are an inspiring spot that keeps expanding and expanding with incredible displays of natural wonder each more beautiful than the last. A National Park that visually embodies everything you would expect from the American West. With over 500 square miles of snaking canyons carved into the earth, open and peaceful grasslands, and glorious cliffside lookouts rising over 1,000ft from the canyon floor, there’s no better park in Utah for an extreme yet picturesque sense of scale. Plus, with over 70 miles of hiking trails, exploring every inch of this land is a treat for those looking to take in Utah in its purest form.
8.) Arches National Park
Permit/Reservation Requirements
A timed entry pass and an entrance fee
Hundreds of arches in all shapes and sizes all uniquely stunning. With massive natural bridges like the Landscape Arch, the largest arch in the United States, to tiny, thin archways scattered all around. This park truly lives up to its name. Although the natural stone arches are the main draw, there’s so much more to this national park. Twisting sandy trails that feel like you’re lost in a Utah adventure all your own, sprawling open plains that stretch into the horizon, and sunset vistas that rival any other in the state. The Arches National Park is a rocky outdoor adventure full of wonder ready to be experienced. Just make sure to get a timed entry pass in advance, or you will be forced to wait until evening or early the next day.
Pro tip- Get here early, as the park was certainly not made for this many people at once.
9.) Dead Horse Point State Park
Permit/Reservation Requirements
No requirements only an entrance fee
Although Dead Horse Point State Park is one of the smallest parks in Utah, it’s home to some larger than life views. In the middle of the Moab cluster of National and State Parks, perched on the tip of a cliffside overlook 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, you’re treated to vistas you only thought were possible in TV and movies. A view that keeps going and going appearing as if you can see the entire American West from this one point. Each cliff and canyon shaping a new wrinkle into the landscape, each twist and turn of the Colorado River carving out a new picturesque point. After a long day of hiking world class trails, Dead Horse Point is the perfect spot to cap off your incredible Utah adventure.
Pro tip- Look for a small ledge beneath the southwestern most lookout point for the best view in the park, and the view famously featured in Westworld!
Share This Post
