8 Most Fun Things to Do in Salt Lake City, UT

Head a few hours south of Salt Lake City to see over 2,000 natural sandstone structures at Arches National Park. Covering over 76,500 acres (31,000ha), the park is home to huge rocks and orange-hued bridges, fins and pinnacles. Hike or drive through this other-worldly landscape, formed over 65 million years ago, to see highlights like the Landscape Arch, Balanced Rock and Delicate Arch. If you’re short on time, the Windows Section of the park has some of the most staggering formations.

In addition to including the largest proliferation of arches in the world (over 2,000 of them), Arches National Park is home to one of Utah’s most iconic landmarks: the ‘Delicate Arch’. With dozens of scenic overlooks and trail-heads, a 40-mile scenic drive awaits, climbing up into a beautiful plateau with glimpses of far-off snowcap mountains. Feel free to cater your trip to skill level or time frame: from hiking the longer routes such as ‘Double O Arch’ or ‘Tower Arch’, to going for an easier route such as the ‘Park Avenue Trail’ or anything in the ‘Window Section’.

After hiking the maze of snaking trails through the scenic park or reserving a guided tour of the ‘Fiery Furnace’, stay in one of the parks nearby campgrounds (such as ‘Devil’s Garden Campground’) or visit the nearby town of Moab, rich with mountain biking trails if you’re looking for more adventure. Whether hiking, biking, backpacking, camping, canyoneering, rock-climbing or photographing, come to bask in the unbelievable beauty created by nothing more than time and the movements of this great Earth.

Hop on a bike to uncover Salt Lake City’s green spaces. Start downtown at the Gilgal Garden, where Mormon Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. carved a collection of surreal sculptures. The most famous features the religion’s founder, Joseph Smith, portrayed as a sphinx. Cycle on to City Creek Canyon, a Protected Watershed and Nature Reserve. The peaceful trail follows the river and is popular with hikers, bikers and dog walkers.

Near Springdale, Utah is Zion National Park. With canyons, rivers, mountains, mesas and natural arches, Zion lies at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, the Great Basin, and the Mojave Desert. Zion Canyon sits within the park and cuts through reddish-colored Navajo Sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River. Halfway through the canyon is Zion Lodge, which has motel units and cabins, as well as three campgrounds. Zion Lodge is open year-round, and the only campground that takes reservations is Watchman. Permits are required for overnight camping in the backcountry.

Around 80 percent of Zion National Park is a designated wilderness, perfect for hiking. Picture a vast landscape of red cliffs, high-altitude forests, plunging canyons and the gushing Virgin River. Famous trails include the Zion Narrows wading hike, Observation Point and the Emerald Pools. Zion is also known to have some of the best canyoneering in the country and is famous for its deep slot canyons. Spend a day swimming, rappelling and scrambling through this rocky wonderland.

Escape a few hours north to Grand Teton National Park, a mass of lakes and alpine terrain bisected by the winding Snake River. This torrid waterway offers whitewater rafting complete with gnarly class II and III rapids, including the nail-biting Big Kahuna. If you’re after something less adrenaline-pumping, take a guided, scenic boat trip along a quiet stretch of the river instead. Along the way, you’ll be surrounded by Teton peaks, lush flora and wildlife such as moose and bald eagles.

If you’re keen to cool off on a hot Utah day, drive 20 minutes west to the Great Salt Lake. Part of prehistoric Lake Bonneville, it’s the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. The best place for swimming is Antelope Island State Park with its soft-sand beaches, showers and direct water access. Spend some time simply floating in the water, buoyed by its high salt content, which can top 27 percent.

Yellowstone National Park is a nature lover’s retreat. Packed with abundant wildlife, geysers, and acres upon acres of stunning beauty, it comes as no surprise that this gem is just as captivating when winter arrives. Snow-capped mountains, ice-glazed trees, frozen lakes, and rolling white-blanketed hills make for one of the most relaxing destinations in the nation. Plus, have you ever seen a geyser in the winter? Experience this magical site by snowmobile or snowcoach.

The world’s first national park, Yellowstone, is a land of volcanic wonders. Since the park covers over 2.2 million acres (890,300ha) across three states, it’s best to focus on the highlights. Start with Yellowstone Caldera, site of a super volcano that erupted over 640,000 years ago. Its magmatic energy continues to power geothermal wonders like the famous cone geyser, Old Faithful. Then there’s Grand Prismatic spring, Yellowstone’s most photographed feature, with its steaming aqua pool encircled by bands of yellow, orange and green.

Spend an afternoon in Salt Lake City’s Liberty Park, where you can enjoy a slice of local life. This green haven is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and covers 80 acres (32ha) of land home to indigenous flowers and ancient trees. People come to picnic on the lawns, stroll and enjoy a game of tennis, basketball or volleyball on one of the courts. There’s even a swimming pool for cooling off, and harmonious drum circles on Sundays.

Salt Lake City is steeped in Mormon heritage, most of which revolves around the holy Temple Square. This walled neighborhood is the official headquarters of the Mormon Church and home to 20 religious sites. Catch choirs singing at the domed Mormon Tabernacle and marvel at Salt Lake Temple with its towers and gilt angel statues. Don’t miss the Beehive House, former home of Salt Lake City’s Mormon founder Brigham Young, or the Joseph Smith Building.