Welcome to Utah!
Utah is land of extremes which holds a special appeal for outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors will find a wide variety of fantastic landscapes and rock formations that offer unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation - rock climbing, rafting, hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing and countless other summer and winter activities to satiate the soul.
Utah Powder 3
Credit: Lee Cohen / Ski Utah |
Most of the state is situated on a plateau above 4,000ft (1,219m), but the elevations rise and fall spectacularly across snow-covered mountains and deep river canyons. The extreme forces of nature, create ruggedly beautiful, multicolored canyons, eroded rock sculptures, red desert plains, forested mountains and snow-capped peaks. The southern part of Utah has five national parks, including Zion, Canyonlands and Bryce Canyon, which draw the most visitors.
When you get to Utah, one of the things that you'll immediately notice is the proximity of the mountains to the Salt Lake City International Airport and Downtown Salt Lake City. Yeah, everything really is that close. In some states, you have to drive hours to get from the airport to the slopes, not in Utah. With 11 resorts within an hour drive of Salt Lake City, you can catch a early flight and be on the slopes by the afternoon. Where else can you do that? Not in Colorado that's for sure.
Chesler Park - Canyonlands
Photo Courtesy: National Park Service |
Southern Utah - Moab: Canyonlands is a high desert of rock, with spectacular formations and rugged gorges that have been carved over the centuries by the forces of the Colorado and Green rivers.
Amazing sandstone spires and rock arches that seem to defy gravity, all colored by iron and other minerals in shades of orange, red, and brown, define the national parks of southeastern Utah. This area of Utah draws the adventurer for mountain biking, hiking, four-wheeling, whitewater rafting and other adventures.
Rock Climber Moab
Photo Courtesy: Utah Travel Council/(Frank Jensen) |
Moab is a unique Western community situated in the red rock country of Southeastern Utah on the Colorado River.
Arches National Park is only six miles from downtown and
Canyonlands National Park is 32 miles from Moab. The City is surrounded by public lands which are used not only for grazing, drilling, and forestry but for recreation such as
mountain biking,
hiking,
rafting,
rock climbing, and
cross-country skiing. Because the area is rich in these recreational opportunities, Moab has become the hub of tourist activity and services.
Photo Essay:
Read and take a look at an interesting photo essay by Shayok Mukhopadhyay. Covers: Moab | Dead Horse | Canyonlands | Arches | Moab | To Zion | Zion | Bryce
