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Utah

Activities in Utah

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of 7

  1. A

    Park City Mountain Resort

    We love the Town Lift-served hiking and mountain biking (day pass $20). Park City Mountain also operates a 3000ft-long alpine slide (per ride $10), where a wheeled sled flies down 550ft along a cement track, as well as a super-long zipline ride (2300ft long, 550ft vertical; $20). Kids not tired yet? Check out the adventure zone (admission $20) with its climbing wall, spiderweb climb, boulder climb and slide. Note that hours vary depending on the activity and the month.

    reviewed

  2. B

    Western Spirit Cycling Adventures

    Canyonlands White Rim, Utah and nationwide multiday tours.

    reviewed

  3. Red River Adventures

    Rentals and tours.

    reviewed

  4. Jans

    You’ll feel on top of the world in the peaks over Park City, where over 300 miles of trails crisscross the mountains. The visitor center has trail maps. One of the best for mountain biking is the 15-mile one-way Mid-Mountain Trail, which follows the topography at 8000ft, connecting Deer Valley to Olympic Park. You can also start at Park City Mountain, bike the steep Spiro Trail up to Mid-Mountain, then return on roads for a 22-mile loop. Rail Trail is an easy, near-town bike ride. Rent bikes at Jans. It has guided rides (about $120 for three hours) as well.

    reviewed

  5. Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

    West of Brigham City, the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge engulfs almost 74,000 acres of marshes on the northeastern shores of the Great Salt Lake. The best time for bird-watchers is during fall (September to November) and spring (March to May) migrations. Birds banded here have been recovered as far away as Siberia and Colombia. Cruising along the 12-mile, barely elevated touring road feels like you’re driving on water. You can hear the replicated migratory calls year round at the Wildlife Education Center. The center is just after the I-15 intersection; the driving tour is 16 miles west.

    reviewed

  6. Wildlife Education Center

    West of town, the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge engulfs almost 74,000 acres of marshes on the northeastern shores of the Great Salt Lake. The best time for bird-watchers is during fall (September to November) and spring (March to May) migrations. Birds banded here have been recovered as far away as Siberia and Colombia. Cruising along the 12-mile, barely elevated touring road feels like you’re driving on water. You can hear the replicated migratory calls year round at the Wildlife Education Center. The center is just after the I-15 intersection; the driving tour is 16 miles west.

    reviewed

  7. Canyon Rims Recreation Area

    The BLM Canyon Rims Recreation Area to the east of Canyonlands National Park has two interesting overlooks, undeveloped hiking and backcountry driving. Turn west off Hwy 191 (32 miles south of Moab, 27 miles north of Monticello); a paved road leads 22 miles to Needles Overlook and a panorama of the park. Two-thirds of the way to the overlook, the gravel Anticline Overlook Rd stretches 16 miles north to a promontory with awesome views of the Colorado River.

    reviewed

  8. Gorgoza Park

    Lift-served snow tubing takes place at Park City Mountain's Gorgoza Park, 8 miles north of town, off I-80. Plunge down three beginner or four advanced lanes; for kids under 12 there's a miniature snowmobile track, and for littler ones the Fort Frost play area with carousel. The Park City Mountain Resort-wide shuttle will take you out there directly if you reserve.

    reviewed

  9. National Ability Center

    Year-round adapted sports program for people with disabilities and their families: horseback riding, rafting, climbing and biking.

    reviewed

  10. Canyon Trail Rides

    The national park's only licensed outfitter operates out of the park lodge. You can take a short, two-hour trip to the canyon floor ($50) or giddy-up for a half day ($75) through the dramatic hoodoos on Peekaboo Trail.

    reviewed

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  12. Mystic Hot Springs

    Monroe is a quiet, conservative Mormon farming community with one (good) restaurant. The main draw, however, is the hippie-esque Mystic Hot Springs, where the water runs out of the earth into old claw-foot tubs and small cobbled-together pools. Put up a tent or stay in one of the tiny historic cabins they’ve dragged here from around the state.

    reviewed

  13. C

    Desert Highlights

    Canyoneering and combo raft trips here are big on personal attention. Regulations are being reviewed, but in the past they've had canyoneering permission for Fiery Furnace and other Arches National Park trips.

    reviewed

  14. Aloha Precision Ski & Snowboard

    Plan ahead online and you can use the Quick Start Program (www.parkcityinfo.com/quickstart) to trade your airline boarding pass for a same-day, free afternoon lift ticket at Park City’s three resorts. Rent equipment at resorts or in town at Aloha Precision Ski & Snowboard.

    reviewed

  15. Crystal Hot Springs

    Get into hot water year-round at Crystal Hot Springs, 10 miles north of Brigham City in Honeyville. Adults float in different temperature soaking pools while kids zip down the water slides (open shorter hours than the pools November through February). Camping at RV/tent sites is $25/15.

    reviewed

  16. D

    Canyon Trail Rides

    Zion's official horseback-riding concessionaire operates across from Zion Lodge. Take a one-hour ($40) or three-hour ($75) ride on the Sand Bench Trail along the Virgin River.

    reviewed

  17. Miller Motorsports Park

    Feel the need for speed? Head 30 miles west of town, where you can take a lesson and get behind the wheel of a 325 horsepower Mustang GT race model (reservations required), kart race or do a zip-line. Book ahead. Utah Jazz' late Larry Miller built the raceway.

    reviewed

  18. Black Diamond Equipment

    Retail store for leading manufacturer of climbing and ski gear that headquarters here in SLC.

    reviewed

  19. E

    Moab Adventure Center

    The open-air, canopy-topped land safaris offered here are popular. This megacenter also arranges, alone or in combination, rafting trips, Jeep rental, horseback riding, rock climbing, guided hikes, scenic flights and even Arches National Park bus tours.

    reviewed

  20. F

    Gallivan Center

    The ice skating rink at Gallivan Center is a children’s winter favorite. Skate rental available. In summer, bring a picnic to the outdoor concert and movie series at this center. An amphitheater is in a garden.

    reviewed

  21. G

    Tag-A-Long Expeditions

    Book self-guided cross-country ski packages, snowmobile transfers and hut lodging here.

    reviewed

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  23. Norwegian Outdoor Exploration Center

    Take a hike with Norwegian Outdoor Exploration Center, a nonprofit educational guide service supporting at-risk youths. It leads terrific wildflower and backcountry tours for about $20 per person.

    reviewed

  24. Escape Adventures

    This Las Vegas–based company with green intentions (vegetable-oil-fueled support vehicles, solar-powered store, Leave No Trace group member…) organizes mountain biking and multiday multisport tours.

    reviewed

  25. Zion Adventure Company & Zion Outdoor Center

    Leads rock-climbing and canyoneering trips and classes and guided cycling tours. Pre-trip planning info and shuttle service for The Narrows. The shop sells outdoor-activity gear, clothing, guidebooks and maps.

    reviewed

  26. H

    Matheson Wetlands Preserve

    The Nature Conservancy oversees the 890-acre preserve just west of town. At the time of research, a wildfire had closed sections of the park indefinitely. Check for updates before heading out with your binoculars.

    reviewed

  27. Tag-a-Long Expeditions

    Detail-oriented and Moab-specific, Tag-A-Long is a good all-adventure outfitter. It offers flat-water jet boats, white-water rafting, land safaris, horseback riding, scenic flights, skydiving and more.

    reviewed