Home to five national parks, 43 state parks, seven national monuments and two national recreation areas, Utah has many options for adventuring and gathering in the mountains.
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Located in northern Utah, the High Uintas Wilderness is known for the tallest peaks in Utah and more than 1,000 natural lakes. State Route 150, the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, spans 78 miles from Kamas, Utah to Evanston, Wyo. Check out Park City for a stroll down historic Main Street and to relax at a five-star resort or a luxury boutique hotel, like the new Washington School House Hotel. Only minutes from Salt Lake City are Little Cottonwood and Big Cottonwood Canyons. In the city, choose from such places as The Grand America Hotel or the boutique Hotel Monaco.
Ashley National Forest With more than 1.3 million acres, this forest in northeastern Utah ranges from 6,000 to more than 13,500 feet in altitude. Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is a memorable place to visit, spanning from high deserts in Montana to the slopes of Utah’s Uinta Mountains. For a rustic stay, head to Red Canyon Lodge and overnight in ponderosa or alpine cabins.
Manti-La Sal National Forest A diverse landscape made up of sandstone canyons, mountaintops, lakes and streams, the Manti-La Sal National Forest stretches from central to southeastern Utah. Hidden up in the cliffs are Ancestral Puebloan structures, as well as rock art. Spend a night at the Desert Rose Inn & Suites in Bluff and take an extra couple of days to explore the San Juan River and drive through the Valley of the Gods to Goosenecks State Park.
Fishlake National Forest Located in central Utah, Fish Lake is the largest natural mountain lake in the state and allows for trophy trout fishing and great bird-watching. Groups looking for a luxurious stay should reserve a room at Cougar Ridge Lodge in Torrey. Capitol Reef National Park is also a site to see, and grab a bite to eat at Café Diablo near the entrance.
Dixie National Forest Headquartered in Cedar City, Dixie National Forest encompasses almost two million acres, stretching about 170 miles through southern Utah. The Ashdown Gorge Wilderness is located on both the western and northern borders of the desert-like Cedar Breaks National Monument and displays multicolored Wasatch limestone, meadows and forestland. While there, check out a sunset at Cedar Breaks National Monument and a stay at the DoubleTree Resort & Spa by Hilton Brian Head.
