Located in the western part of the US, Utah is known to be a center for mining and countless tourist destinations that are intended for outdoor leisure and recreation. With over 3 million local residents, it's also considered to be one of the best picked tourist destination among the 50 states of the country. With all the tourist attractions that can be found in Utah, here are the five national parks in Utah that you must not miss.
Canyonlands National Park
According to Visit Utah Elevated, the Canyonlands National Park is one of the most visited national parks in Utah. Found in the west of Moab, Utah this is a stretch of different sorts of cliffs and canyons that are perfect for a number of travel and hike opportunities. The park is divided into four distinct "districts" which includes both land and river districts that all have individual attributes in terms of landscape and adventures which are perfect for backpackers.
You can also find the rock pinnacles which as commonly called as "Needles" and the rock paintings of the Native Americans in the Horseshoe Canyon. Travelers in the Canyonlands National Park can do mountain biking, hiking or even overnight camping to further explore the magnificent scenery of the Canyonlands that will make you go back over and over again.
Arches National Park
The 73,234-acre ground of the Arches National Park, which is adjacent to the Colorado River, is considered to be one of the top national parks in the country. It is one of the places that are mostly loved by scenic photographers as the view becomes dramatically red during sunset. In fact, the photographers often called it the "magic hour" - that moment when the red rock of the park radiantly blends with the sun.
This place is known to be a sanctuary to more than 2,000 arches which bring an astonishing landscape and panoramic view to the park. The Elephant Butte is considered to be the highest point of the Arches National Park.
Capitol Reef National Park
The Capitol Reef National Park is home to several ancient and modern ruined civilizations, Utah's Official Website says. Located in south-central Utah, the Capitol Reef National Park measures an approximate 60 miles long and barely 6 miles wide. On August 2, 1937, this was proclaimed as a National Monument by then President Franklin D. Roosevelt in order to preserve the ridges, canyons, and buttes in the area. Nevertheless, the protected area was formally opened to public in 1950.
The park has gotten its name from the white Navajo Sandstone cliffs that lines along the area that also have dome formations. The Capitol Reef National Park is a home to the almost 100 mi formation which is commonly called as the "Waterpocket Fold" which extend from the Thousand Lake Mountain to the Lake Powell.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Located in the Southwestern part of Utah, the Bryce Canyon National Park features the Bryce canyon, a collection of huge amphitheaters and unique geological structures commonly known as the hoodoos. This place is a home to colorful rocks of different sorts that naturally creates the dramatic but surreal panoramic view of the park. Travelers can go on biking, hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding or just take photos with a backdrop of individually distinctive rock formations. Just in 2016 alone, this place was recorded to have received a total of over 2.3 million visitors.
Zion National Park
With its astounding mesas and canyons on a 147,000-acre land located near Springdale, Utah, Zion National Park is basically an epitome of an amazing natural beauty consisting of cliffs, canyons and plateaus. This place welcomes all guests of any ages, and aside from hiking through the canyons with thin slots which is the major tourist activity in Zion National Park, the sanctuary is also home to over 200 species of birds and other wildlife. This national park is also a perfect spot for rock climbers with over 2,000 feet of both white and red Navajo sandstone rock walls.
