Utah
Utah, which is in the Southwest region of the United States, is well known for its incredible scenic beauty and year round outdoor activities including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, boating, water skiing, horseback riding, camping, and rock climbing. The capital city of Salt Lake City has a number of unique modern and historical sites to visit, including Temple Square, the headquarters for the Mormon church.
Regions
| Wasatch Range The most urbanized area of the state - home to Salt Lake City, the majority of Utah's population, a number of LDS temples, and world class skiing and snowboarding |
| Canyon Country Mars on earth; few people reside here, but some of the world's most extraordinary desert landscapes and enormous national parks await |
| Northeastern Utah High desert landscape, mining settlements, and the Uinta Mountains, home to Utah's highest peaks |
| Southern Utah Utah's southwest is home to striking desert landscapes, forested mountains, ranchland, and the warmest spot in the state |
| Central Utah Rolling hills, giant mountain peaks, agricultural land, and historic Mormon settlements abound in the Central region |
| Western Utah High and endless but wildlife-containing desert, high mountains, rugged terrain, salt flats, and the Great Salt Lake |
Cities
- 1 Salt Lake City – found along the Wasatch Range, it is the largest city and capital of the state, the center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church, whose members are known as Mormons), including Temple Square, and the University of Utah; host city of the 2002 Winter Olympics
- 2 Cedar City – good-sized college town of Southern Utah University in northern Dixie, home to the annual Utah Shakespearean Festival, and near Cedar Breaks National Monument and the northwestern section of Zion National Park
- 3 Logan – fast-growing city in Cache Valley in northern Utah, with plenty of nearby recreational activities, two impressive Mormon religious structures, and Utah State University
- 4 Moab – tourist town in northeastern Canyon Country, in the center of a major recreational area that includes Arches, Canyonlands national parks and Dead Horse Point State Park, and offering outdoor outfitters and guides
- 5 Ogden – traditionally industrial city north of Salt Lake City, which includes George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park and is near many ski resorts and abundant recreational activities
- 6 Park City – mountain resort city at center of large winter sports area with 2 ski resorts; many events for the 2002 Winter Olympics took place near here
- 7 Price – small town in eastern Utah with many local dinosaur attractions, ancient Indian petroglpyhs, the College of Eastern Utah, and wide open desert areas
- 8 Provo – in Utah Valley south of Salt Lake City on the Wasatch Range, home to Brigham Young University, and surrounded by high mountains, great skiing, canyons, Utah Lake, and numerous other recreational opportunities
- 9 St. George – fast-growing city in the southwest corner of state in Dixie, near Zion National Park and offering plenty of leisurely recreational activities akin to Mesquite, Nevada and also a hot spot for spring break
Other destinations
Utah has an extraordinary number of national parks and monuments. The following is subdivided into "National parks and monuments" and "Other" as an aid to the reader:
An "Entrance Pass" from the United States National Park Service is a particularly good investment if you're visiting Utah and planning to see its national parks and monuments. The $80 fee(with reduced prices for US citizens who are over age 62, members of the military, veterans, or have a permanent disability) allows unlimited access to all National Park Service units for a year, and also provides discounts on some of the services within the units. Passes are available to US Citizens and visitors. Paying for this pass may save you money in the long run as you move from park to park in Utah. (There are a very few national monuments that are not part of the National Park Service, and are therefore not covered by a Park Pass; Monument Valley is one prominent example in Utah.)
- 1 Arches National Park – largest concentration of natural arches in the world, just northeast of Moab, as well as other strange sandstone formations, such as pinnacles, cliffs, mesas, and gorges
- 2 Bryce Canyon National Park – heavily-forested mountainous area with large natural amphitheater and other strange sandstone formations
- 3 Canyonlands National Park – large, spectacular wilderness of sandstone cliffs, narrow gorges, canyons, plateaus, bluffs, and other strange and beautiful formations west of Moab
- 4 Capitol Reef National Park – remote park along the Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile (160-km) monocline of domes, monoliths and narrow canyons
- 5 Cedar Breaks National Monument – large natural amphitheater northeast of Cedar City in forested, mountainous area
- 6 Dead Horse Point State Park – spectacular gorge southwest of Moab where the Colorado River winds through a major bedrock of sandstone
- 7 Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Lake Powell
- 8 Monument Valley – A Navajo Nation Tribal Park boasting the Southwest's most famous desert scenery
- 9 Zion National Park – popular area of sandstone cliffs, gorges, gullies, bluffs, plateaus, mesas, and other strange and colorful formations
Understand
Dixie refers to the low-lying area in the southwest corner of the state. It contains the city of St. George, and the climate is more closely-related to the southwestern deserts than it is to the rest of the state, with low annual precipitation, hot, dry summers, and mild winters with infrequent snowfall. Early settlers were able to grow cotton in the area, hence the name Dixie (a name for the cotton belt of the southern U.S.).
The Wasatch Range is the heavily-populated region of basins and valleys between the Wasatch Mountains on the east and on the west by the Great Salt Lake (to the north) and the Oquirrh Mountains (to the south). 3/4 of Utah's population lies in this portion of the state, which stretches from Brigham City in the north to Santaquin in the south. Ogden, Salt Lake City, Sandy, Orem, and Provo are on the Wasatch Range.
The benches are former shorelines of the ancient Lake Bonneville on the higher slopes along the Wasatch Range. Residential development on the Wasatch Range typically extends high onto the slopes of the Wasatch Mountains in some areas. Homes here are generally more affluent, as they provide spectacular views of the surrounding areas, and the benches receive more precipitation and much more snow than the valley floors.
Mormons or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints make up a majority of Utah's population, and their beliefs and practices are one of the strongest influences for public policy in the state, particularly when it comes to drinking, smoking, and homosexuality. Mormons are generally tolerant and friendly towards non-Mormons, but may be taken aback by cussing, smoking, or drinking in their presence, particularly in the more rural cities and towns. Sunday is considered a day of rest, and so some stores will be closed on Sunday. These stereotypes hold more weight in smaller cities and towns, and in some areas (especially Park City and Salt Lake City) the number of non-Mormons do outnumber members of the LDS faith.
When to visit
Utah has four distinct seasons and widely-variable climate zones. Summer is hot in the north (about 80-100 °F / 27–38 °C), but rarely extreme, and is often unbearable in the far southern valleys and desert terrain (often exceeding 100 °F / 38 °C, and even 110°F / 43 °C). However, summers tend to be quite comfortable in the mountains, making summer an ideal time to experience the mountain terrain of Utah. In winter, temperatures from 20–40 °F (-7–4 °C) are common in the north, with warmer temperatures in the south. Overnight temps can occasionally drop below 0 °F (-18 °C). Snow is common statewide, with the exception of the far southern valleys, from November - March, and often occurs even earlier and later than this. Snow is particularly common downwind of the Great Salt Lake, due to lake effect. A number of excellent ski resorts operate in the Wasatch Mountains, especially around Salt Lake City, from about late November through mid-April. Snow is common in the mountains from late September - May. Summer and fall are both excellent times to enjoy the mountain scenery, with comfortable temperatures, low chance of snow, and easy access to a number of fantastic trails and hiking paths.
Although snow is common in winter in much of the state, rain is less common - it can be expected in winter and spring in the south and in spring in the north, but it's usually fairly light and short in duration. Fall also sees a short but unpredictable rainy season. Although summer is bone dry statewide, thunderstorms are a daily threat, especially throughout the south and in the northern mountains. Although these t-storms are short and small, they can be very intense. Although summer and fall are great times to enjoy the mountains and the slot canyons and desert terrain of southern Utah, attention must be paid to the skies as the evening approaches if camping in the mountains or enjoying the rugged terrain of southern Utah, especially in August. These storms can bring flash flooding to the narrow slot canyons of southern Utah, so make sure to evacuate the slot canyons as soon as possible if you see thunderstorms nearby - if you have a guide they will usually know when precautions must be taken. Summer and fall also bring a serious threat of wildfires in the backcountry.
September and early October is usually the best time to enjoy Utah, especially the mountains, with milder temperatures than summer, less chance of violent thunderstorms, and little chance of snow in the mountains. In addition, significant snowpack can linger in the mountains through May, while by early Autumn, summer has melted all of the snow, and snowstorms are rare. The national parks of Utah can get very crowded during Summer but predictably become less crowded towards late Summer and into Fall. Finally, Fall colors are spectacular in the mountains of Utah, and reach their peak in September. Colors in the valley peak in mid-October but aren't especially spectacular. The gorgeous Fall colors in the mountains rival the famous colors of New England, and are sometimes accompanied by early snow, creating a unique and beautiful mixture of vibrant colors and soft white.
Tourist information
- Visit Utah website
Talk
English. On top of the Latino population that speaks Spanish, there are a surprising number of non-native Spanish speakers, especially in Salt Lake City and Provo. A large number of non-native speakers served as LDS missionaries in Latin America, a region where the church has had permanent missions since 1925. "No hablo inglés" doesn't work anymore when these guys knock at your door. The universities also have a large number of foreign speakers, particularly Chinese.
Get in
By road
Take I-15 from Southern California and Las Vegas. It also enters from Idaho to the north, eventually connecting to Canada. I-80 connects west to Reno and northern California - the route begins in San Francisco. It also connects from Wyoming near Evanston, providing the quickest route from Denver to Salt Lake City. I-70 heads straight west from Denver, entering Utah near Grand Junction and providing quick access to the incredible desert terrain of southern Utah, although not to any of the urban centers.
Bus service is provided by Greyhound.
By train
Amtrak runs the California Zephyr from Emeryville to Chicago, stopping in Green River, Helper, Provo, and Salt Lake City.
For more information, see Amtrak's website or Wikivoyage's article Rail travel in the United States.
By plane
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC IATA) is the westernmost hub for Delta Air Lines, which offers nonstop service from 109 different destinations, most in the western US, but also from medium-sized cities in the central US and the large cities on the east coast. Nonstop service is also available from Paris-De Gaulle and 5x weekly service from Tokyo-Narita. American Airlines, United, and low cost airlines Southwest and JetBlue also serve Salt Lake City.
Cedar City (CDC IATA) in central Utah is served with prop service to Salt Lake City, and St. George (SGU IATA) in southern Utah has prop service to Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.
Canyonlands Field (CNY IATA) (serving the Moab area) has service to Ely, Nevada (ELY IATA) and Denver on Great Lakes Airlines.
By foot
- The American Discovery Trail connects Utah with Nevada, Colorado, and both coasts.
Get around
By car
Nearly every city in Utah is laid out on a grid system, a vision of the original Mormon settlers. They generally feature wide roads, with a numbering system consisting of intervals of 100 originating from a central point (for example, heading north from the center, the first road will be 100 North, then 200 North, and so on). This system can be confusing for first-time visitors, but is easy to pick up and familiarize yourself with. The major exception to this is Ogden, which was settled as a non-Mormon railroad town and therefore possesses a different numbering system.
By bus
Information on transit can be found from APTA. The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) maintains a bus system with several routes, generally between Ogden and Provo. UTA also is responsible for the TRAX system, which is light rail running from the University of Utah to downtown Salt Lake to Sandy. For both bus and train, one-way fare is $2, and a transfer can be obtained upon request, which will allow you to board another bus or train within two hours. UTA also operates Frontrunner, a commuter train, running between Pleasant View, north of Ogden, through Salt Lake City to Provo. The cost of Frontrunner is $2-$9 one way depending on how far you travel. Fares have change frequently in the past, so check UTA website for updates.
See
Utah is known for its outdoor attractions, including the "Mighty 5" national parks: Arches National Park, full of (you guessed it) natural arches; forested, mountainous Bryce Canyon National Park; Canyonlands National Park, an enormous wilderness of cliffs and gorges; Capitol Reef National Park, with sandstone canyons and Native American remnants; and Zion National Park, which has truly spectacular cliffs and rock formations. These five parks are just the beginning—Utah has a huge number of breathtaking natural sights.
Meanwhile, Utah's cities are home to unique cultural attractions, including the headquarters of the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City and the Sundance Film Festival in Park City.
Itineraries
- Skyline Drive – winds for over 100 miles (160 km) along the very top of the Wasatch Plateau, providing access to forested mountains, alpine meadows and numerous lakes, streams and camping areas. At elevations ranging from about 9,000 to 11,000 feet (2,700 to 3,300 meters) above sea level, it is one of the highest roads in America. Views of the mountain basins and surrounding valleys are marvelous.
Do
Utah is also home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world. Most of Utah's best ski areas are in Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon, which are both less than an hour's drive away from Salt Lake City. Utah has world class skiing regularly hitting 500 inches (12.7 meters) at places like Alta and Brighton however its trails are very hard to ski and the deep powder is very hard but mountains like Alta have great ski schools for the kids.
If you like off-roading, Moab is home to the semi-annual Jeep Safari. The Safari will oftentimes run twice a year, one over Easter Weekend the other over Memorial Day Weekend. The desert terrain combined with its vast canyons can make for some fun and beautiful scenic drives, or wild rides with some very challenging obstacles. You can also bike and in some cases take an ATV out on the trails. For a less arid ride, try your hand at high mountain OHV riding through aspen and pine forests on the Arapeen ATV Trail System.
Rock climbing can be done at Maple Canyon and Zion National Park. If this is not enough to satisfy your extreme sports cravings, consider snowkiting at high altitudes on Skyline Drive.
Eat
Expect to encounter fry sauce at some point; it's basically mayonnaise and ketchup with a bit of pickle relish added. It was invented by Don Carlos himself, of Don Carlos' Bar-B-Q restaurant in Utah. Locals put it on their french fries and just about anything else.
Pastrami cheeseburgers can be found in some local chain fast-food places, and they're exactly like what they sound like: a cheeseburger topped with a pile of pastrami.
Many restaurants serve local foods, and the Beehive State, although named for their residents being as busy as bees, is blessed by having a strong local honey industry. During the summer, look for sweet corn, cherries, peaches and other stone fruits, as well as Bear Lake raspberries in the north and Green River melons in the middle of the state.
On the sweet side, Jell-O sales may have declined a bit, but there's still plenty of pie. Utah's scones are deep-fried pastries, more like frybread or sopapillas, and usually made large and served with butter and honey, sometimes for breakfast. An ice cream shake is so thick that it can stand up in your cup. The two main universities produce their own ice creams: Aggie Blue Mint ice cream is tinted blue and has white chocolate and cookies mixed in, but around BYU, locals prefer LaVell Vanilla ice cream, which is named after a football coach.
A potluck or cooperative meal of any size will probably include something baked in a Dutch oven pot, at least one Jell-O salad, with bright green lime flavor being the favorite, and – if you're lucky – a casserole dish full of funeral potatoes. That's a dish of diced potatoes, a can of cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and cheddar cheese, with a crunchy topping of crushed potato chips or cornflakes.
Drink
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Heathen hops
Chances are, at some point during a visit to Utah, you will wonder: What the heck is "Polygamy Porter?!" The fact that their motto is "Why have just one" will likely only fuel further questions about why the state seems to be full of local brews insulting the local religion. The explanation is bizarre and not just a little humorous. An entrepreneurial Milwaukeean decided that America's most temperate state could use a brewery, and that the best way to market his brews would be to have as outrageous and controversial an advertising campaign as possible. Stunts like sending two men in stereotypical "Mormon missionary dress" door-to-door trying to convert Mormons to beer, predictably generated the intended controversy, which in turn served as widespread publicity for his business, the Wasatch Brew Pub. In any rate, it can feel a little uncomfortable to ask a local for a "Polygamy Porter," but it is a fine brew. |
Utah's liquor laws are known as one of the more peculiar things about the state. Liquor is sold only in state-owned stores and generally costs more than in other states. Beer used to contain slightly less alcohol (3.2% alcohol by weight [4% alcohol by volume]), but the law was changed to join the standard 5% ABV in November of 2019, which is now available in stores and restaurants. "Full strength" beer is available in bars, although not on tap, and liquor stores. In the early 2010s, state law changed the previous one-ounce limit on liquor in mixed drinks to a more standard 1.5 ounces. Secondary alcoholic flavorings may then be added to a mixed drink as the recipe requires. "Happy hours" and other drink specials are not allowed, so prices remain constant regardless of day or time. Keep in mind that driving after drinking is prosecuted aggressively in the state of Utah—and state law considers a person legally drunk with a blood alcohol content of .05% (i.e., 0.05 grams of ethanol per 100 milliliters of blood), as opposed to the standard of .08 almost everywhere else in the US.
Although liquor laws in Utah are strict, they are not impossible. There are several kinds of establishments to know about:
- Private club. Memberships are no longer required at Utah's bars as of 2009. Bars can serve until 1AM (last call usually occurs between 12:15 and 12:45 depending on the number of people in the bar) and close at 2AM.
- Taverns. A tavern is a bar that serves only beer and requires no "membership".
- Restaurants. Many restaurants serve beer as well as hard liquor. No "membership" is required, but you must order food. Mixed drinks and wine can be served with meals from noon until 1AM. Beer may be ordered 10AM–1AM.
Some restaurants still have a "Zion Curtain", which was required of new restaurants between 2009 and 2017. This usually takes the form of a frosted glass barrier, ostensibly to keep impressionable young children from seeing the "glamorous" job of bartending.
Mormons are forbidden by their religion from consuming alcohol or what were called "hot drinks" in the 19th century, which means any type of hot caffeinated, black tea, or many extend this to include any potentially addictive substance, such as caffeine, tobacco, or marijuana, and some extend it to anything that might be mistaken for a forbidden drink, such as herbal tea or caffeine-free soda. While these drinks are available in all cities and the main tourist areas, they may not be easy to find in some rural areas, as the religious prohibition shrinks the market. If you're thinking about a hostess gift, don't bring a bottle of wine or anything containing caffeine, unless you are certain it will not be offensive to the recipient. Even Mormons who occasionally drink alcoholic beverages might not like others to think that they do or might be embarrassed to have it in their home. While some Mormons abstain from Chocolate due to its trace amounts of caffeine, this practice has largely diminished.
What do they drink these days? Look for a variety of dirty sodas, popularized by a soda shop called Swig, which are soft drinks with flavored simple syrups added. On cold mornings, you may find someone with a steaming mug filled with Postum, which is a coffee substitute made from roasted wheat bran and molasses.
Learn
Although Utah is not known for its educational institutions, it has two reasonably reputable universities: the Mormon-owned and -run Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo and the public, secular University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Students of BYU are not required to practice the Mormon faith, though they are required to abide by the Mormon code of conduct (e.g., no premarital sex, no consumption of alcohol, tea or coffee) while enrolled at the university.
Stay safe
While much of Utah is developed, there is a great amount of desert especially to the south and west. If going out to the deserts always take plenty of water (at least one gallon per person, per day) and sunscreen as well as light clothing. Let people know where you are going and when you expect to get back.
Always be careful and watch for lightning while hiking. It's often best to hike in the early morning to avoid the possibility of hitting an afternoon thunderstorm. If caught in a storm while hiking seek shelter as quickly as you can. Also, if you see a thunderstorm nearby while exploring the slot canyons or the rough desert terrain of southern Utah, seek high ground immediately! Flash flooding is common in these areas, even when there is not a thunderstorm overhead.
There is a great risk of avalanches after snow storms, especially outside of the boundaries of ski resorts. Stay in groups and have locator beacons.
Scam artists target Utahns frequently, and property crime is a considerable risk. Lock up, use common sense, and store valuables and personal information out of sight.
The violent crime rate is lower than that of the United States as a whole.
When driving, be careful if you go on Utah State Route 261. The southern terminus of SR-261 contains Moki Dugway, a 3 mile (4.8km) unpaved road with lots of narrow switchbacks that traverses an 1100ft (335m) tall Mesa.
Stay healthy
Because of Utah's high elevation those not accustomed can be subject to mild altitude sickness, especially when hiking. Always pace yourself when hiking, and drink plenty of water, especially in summer time.
The high elevation also makes the exposure to UV rays far more intense than other places. Too much exposure can lead to skin conditions down the road, including skin cancer. Always apply sunscreen when you are expecting prolonged time in the sun. It's advised to do this year-round.
Some parts of Utah are valley regions. In the winter time they are subject to days of pollution inversions. Those with respiratory and heart conditions should advise the air quality index to see the primary pollutant. You usually can find the indexes in the daily paper as well as watching local news and The Weather Channel.
Respect
Utah is among the more religiously devout states in the US. About three quarters of the population are Christians, with most of them being members of the Mormon Church. The Mormon faith is known for being traditional and conservative about issues like sexuality, culture, and relationships. Mormons avoid gambling, coffee and tea, alcohol, drugs, piercings, and tattoos, and tend to dress modestly. Although Utah is a Mormon-majority state, Mormons are now a minority in Salt Lake City, the state's largest city and the home of the headquarters of the Mormon church.
Utah and the Mormon church have a complicated history of polygamy, with the practice occurring openly but controversially in the mid 19th century. The church officially condemned polygamy in 1890, leading polygamists to break away from the church, and today the LDS church excommunicates polygamous members and distances itself from self-proclaimed members of the church who practice polygamy. Utahns and Mormons generally do not appreciate being associated with polygamy today.
Despite the church's controversies, practices and culture that may seem eccentric or esoteric to the unfamiliar, and satirical depiction in the media, Mormons are very polite and non-confrontational and won't hesitate to discuss their faith with curious visitors.
Go next
- Idaho - Utah's northwestern neighbor is a rugged state, with snow-capped mountains, whitewater rivers, forests, high desert, and plenty of wilderness.
- Wyoming - Northeast of Utah, Wyoming is home to most of the landmass of Yellowstone National Park and provides an excellent opportunity to experience America's cowboy heritage.
- Colorado - The Rocky Mountain state borders Utah to the east and offers a mind-boggling array of outdoor activities.
- New Mexico - Joining Utah only at the Four Corners, this state lies to Utah's southeast and was a Spanish and then Mexican colony until the Mexican War of the 1840s, and retains a culture that is heavily influenced by its native and colonial past.
- Arizona - Home to the Grand Canyon, Arizona borders Utah to the south.
- Nevada - The Silver State borders Utah to the west and is home to the adult playground of Las Vegas.