From Wikitravel

Utah, [1] located in the Southwest region of the United States, is well known for its 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.

[edit] Regions

Wasatch Front Home to Salt Lake City, the majority of Utah's population, huge LDS temples, and world class skiing

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

Dixie Utah's southwest is home to striking desert landscapes, forested mountains, ranchland, and the warmest spot in the state

Central Utah Rolling hills, agricultural land, and historic Mormon settlements abound in the Central region

Western Utah Endless desert, rugged terrain, salt flats, and the Great Salt Lake

[edit] Cities

• Salt Lake City – located along the Wasatch Front, 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
• Cedar City – good-sized college town of Southern Utah University in northern Dixie, home to the annual Utah Shakespearean Festival, and located near Cedar Breaks National Monument and the northwestern section of Zion National Park
• Logan – fast-growing city located in Cache Valley in northern Utah, with plenty of nearby recreational activities, two impressive Mormon religious structures, and Utah State University
• Moab – tourist town in northeastern Canyon Country, located 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
• 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
• Price – small town in eastern Utah with many local dinosaur attractions, ancient Indian petroglpyhs, the College of Eastern Utah, and wide open desert areas
• Provo – located in Utah Valley south of Salt Lake City on the Wasatch Front, home to Brigham Young University, and surrounded by high mountains, great skiing, canyons, Utah Lake, and numerous other recreational opportunities
• Park City – mountain resort city at center of large winter sports area with 3 ski resorts; many events for the 2002 Winter Olympics took place near here
• 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

[edit] 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:

[edit] National parks and monuments

A "Park Pass" from the United States National Park Service [2] is a particularly good investment if you're visiting Utah and planning to see its national parks and monuments. The $80 fee allows unlimited access to all National Park Service units for a year, and also provides discounts on some of the services within the units. Paying for this pass may save you money in the long run as you move from park to park in Utah. (Note, however, that 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.)

• 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
• Bryce Canyon National Park – heavily-forested mountainous area with large natural amphitheater and other strange sandstone formations
• Canyonlands National Park – large, spectacular wilderness of sandstone cliffs, narrow gorges, canyons, plateaus, bluffs, and other strange and beautiful formations east of Moab
• Capitol Reef National Park
• Cedar Breaks National Monument – large natural amphitheater northeast of Cedar City in forested, mountainous area
• Dinosaur National Monument – area featuring a major excavation site for dinosaur bones as well as spectacular scenery and Native American rock art
• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Lake Powell
• Golden Spike National Historic Site – the first transcontinental railroad was completed by the driving of a symbolic golden spike at Promontory Summit in The Utah Territory
• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
• Hovenweep National Monument -- mainly in Colorado but with some units in southeastern Utah
• Zion National Park – popular area of sandstone cliffs, gorges, gullies, bluffs, plateaus, mesas, and other strange and colorful formations

[edit] Other

• Bear Lake - popular water sports and summer resort area surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery northeast of Logan
• Cache Valley - a scenic mountain valley in Northern Utah, home to Utah State University and blanketed by irrigation-fed agriculture.
• Dead Horse Point State Park - spectacular gorge southwest of Moab where the Colorado River winds through a major bedrock of sandstone
• Flaming Gorge - reservoir north of Vernal, popular for water sports, located in the eastern Uintas
• Four Corners - only place where four states meet, located at southeast corner with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico
• Goblin Valley - desert valley with strange formations of sandstone in south-central portion of state
• Great Salt Lake - shallow, salty lake in northwestern portion of state northwest of Salt Lake City
• King's Peak - in the Uinta mountain range - the tallest mountain in Utah (13,528 feet)
• Kodachrome Basin State Park - is a small, popular (but very quiet) state park, situated about 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Bryce Canyon National Park, containing multicoloured rock formations
• Maple Canyon – Conglomerate rock climbing area with hiking, camping, and OHV.
• Monument Valley - A Navajo Nation Tribal Park boasting the Southwest's most famous desert scenery
• Palisade State Park – Golf, Fish, Swim, Canoe, Camp.
• Snowkite Skyline Drive – The newest extreme winter sport.
• The Arapeen ATV Trail System – 350-mile Off-Highway Vehicle Trail System.
• Uinta Mountains - large east-west range of the Rocky Mountains through northeast portion of state with spectacular mountain climbing and pristine, serene wilderness
• Wasatch Mountains - mountain range running through center of state north-south with gorgeous mountain scenery, excellent summer recreational activities, and multiple world-famous ski areas; vibrant fall colors that rival that of New England
• Yuba Lake State Park – Waterski, Fish, and Camp.

[edit] 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 Front is the heavily-populated region of basins and valleys located 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 located on the Wasatch Front.

The benches are the higher slopes along the Wasatch Front. Residential development on the Wasatch Front 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 good part of Utah's population. The beliefs and practices of these people are one of the stronger influences for public policy. Drinking and smoking aren't permitted by their church, and Utah's drinking laws are well-known for being strict and somewhat archaic. 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. Mormons are generally tolerant and friendly towards non-Mormons, but may be taken aback by cussing, smoking, or drinking in their presence.

[edit] When to visit

Utah has four distinct seasons and widely-variable climate zones. The southern valleys, especially the southwest around St. George, are hot in the summer, with temperatures frequently exceeding 100°F (38°C) and occasionally reaching 110°F. The north usually sees temperatures from 75-100°F. Temperatures in the mountains are typically mild in the summer, great for camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities, with temperatures in the 60s and 70sF. The humidity is low, making the heat somewhat bearable. Only occasional scattered, but powerful, thunderstorms relieve the heat during summer. Winter can be cold in the north, and especially in the mountains and high mountain valleys, although temperatures below 0°F (-18°C) are rare except in the higher valleys. Below freezing temperatures are common in the north for most of the day, but usually only occur overnight in the southern valleys. Spring and fall see mild temperatures that are perfectly suited for outdoor and recreational activities, with temperatures from about 60°-90°F in the south and 50°F-80°F in the north. During these times, however, temperatures are often cold in the mountains.

Precipitation-wise, only about 5-10 inches of precipitation falls throughout most of the state, although totals reach 15-20 inches along the Wasatch Front and up to 55 inches in the mountains. Snowfall is rare in the southern valleys, averaging no more than 10 inches per year, but is common throughout the rest of the state. The Wasatch Front sees 40-80 inches while the mountains receive 200-500 inches. The first significant snowfall in the mountains usually occurs in October and usually sometime in November in the valleys, while the last significant snowfall in the mountains occurs in May in the mountains and in March (sometimes even early April) in the valleys.

Spring is the "rainy" season throughout most of Utah. In the southern valleys, it's often warm enough for rain throughout winter, with the "rainy" season beginning around December, while March is when rain becomes more common than snow in the north. The storm track slowly drags further north as the season goes on, and the rainy season usually ends during April in the south and during May in the north. The summer monsoon, which lasts from mid-July through mid-September, brings scattered but powerful thunderstorms to the state, usually in the late afternoon and evening. The storms are usually far more powerful in the mountains, and are more common in the south and east. Although summer is a great time to enjoy the mountains, these powerful evening thunderstorms should be watched for, especially in August. Storms are usually much less violent in the valleys, but can occasionally bring street flooding, hail, and powerful lightning. These storms rarely last more than a few hours, but can be very fierce. 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.

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. Temperatures are about the same as in spring, but it's usually drier. In addition, significant snowpack can linger in the mountains through May, while by fall, summer has melted all of the snow, and snowstorms are rare. Finally, fall colors are spectacular in the mountains of Utah, and reach their peak in September. Fall colors in the valley peak in October. The gorgeous fall colors in the mountains rival those found in New England, and are sometimes accompanied by early fall snow, creating a splash of red, yellow, and orange mixed with the soft white of snow.

[edit] Talk

English. There are generally fewer Spanish speakers in Utah than in other states of the southwestern United States, although this proportion is increasing. You may be able to find speakers of the major European and Asian languages in Salt Lake City and Provo, owing largely to the universities there (the University of Utah and Brigham Young University, respectively). Also many men who have served overseas as missionaries of the LDS (Mormon) Church have acquired working knowlege and often fluency in various foreign languages.

[edit] Get in

[edit] 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 Wikitravel's article Rail travel in the United States.

[edit] By Plane

Most major Airlines fly into Salt Lake City International Airport. There are also smaller airports scattered around the state for charter planes.

[edit] Get around

• Public Transportation: The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) [3] 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 $1.75, and a transfer can be obtained upon request, which will allow you to board another bus or train within two hours.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Itineraries

• Skyline Drive – winds for over 100 miles 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 above sea level, it is one of the highest roads in America. Views of the mountain basins and surrounding valleys are marvelous.
• Snowmobile Skyline Drive – the Wasatch Plateau of Central Utah is a high altitude play area with snow, meadows, and hill climbs. Know as 'Boondocker's Heaven'.

[edit][add listing] Do

Utah is also home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world. Most of Utah's best ski areas are located in Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon, which are both conveniently located less than an hour's drive away from Salt Lake City.

If you like off-roading, Moab is home to the semi-annual Jeep Safari. The Safari will often times run twice a year, one over Easter Weekend the other over Memorial Day Weekend. The desert terrain combined with it's vast canyons can make for some fun and beautiful scenic drives, or wild rides with some very challanging 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.

There is some mind-blowing rock climbing to be done in Utah, some of the best is located 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.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

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. Other states also have state owned liquor stores such as New Hampshire, although New Hampshire prices tend to be much lower. Beer contains significantly less alcohol (3.2% alcohol, as opposed to the standard 4-5%) than the usual brew, which is available in stores and restaurants. "Full strength" beer is available in bars and liquor stores. Also, state law prohibits the serving of more than one ounce (shot) of alcohol as the primary liquor in a mixed drink. Secondary alcoholic flavorings may then be added to a mixed drink as the recipe requires. While this can be circumvented with the purchase of a "sidecar" ( a separate shot of liquor ). Keep in note driving after drinking is prosecuted aggressively in the State of Utah.

Although liquor laws in Utah are more strict, they are not impossible. There are several kinds of establishments to know about:

• Private club. Sometimes seen with the tag "for members only" added to the end. Don't let this intimidate you because sometimes membership requirements consists of simply signing your name twice on a bill. Even though local law requires a small fee for a membership, usually an establishment will automatically give you a discount equal to the price of the membership fee required by local law. Sometimes, "for members only" is only code for a full service bar serving hard drinks as well as beer. This is a less intrusive way of preventing "offending" any of the local religious sects. There is a small temporary "membership" fee required at these locations, but anyone can be a member and sometimes this is analogous to a cover charge. Most only run a few dollars, and most members can then bring "guests".

• Tavern. 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.

[edit] 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 shelter immediately! Flash flooding is common in these areas, even when there is not a thunderstorm overhead.

[edit] Stay Healthy

Because of Utah's High Elevation those not accustomed can be subject to mild altitude sickness, especially when hiking. Always pace your self 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. To 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.

Certain 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.

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