Delicate Arch in Arches National Park
Utah is an outdoors enthusiast paradise. With more than 40 state parks and five national parks, the recreational opportunities are endless. Whether visitors are interested in viewing ancient American Indian rock art or hiking the world-famous Zions Narrows, Utah's State and National Parks have something for all.
State Parks Overview
Utah has 42 state parks from north to south. In order to take advantage of all the opportunities available at the many parks, visitors can purchase an annual "State Parks Pass" for only $75. More information is available on the park specific day use costs on the Utah State Parks website referenced below in the Resources section.
Northern Utah State Parks
In the northern part of the state most of the state parks are either reservoirs and lakes or historical sites. Among the reservoirs and lakes are Bear Lake, Willard Bay, Rockport, Jordanelle, Utah Lake, Great Salt Lake Marina, Deer Creek, Scofield and Starvation. Historical sites include the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail, This is the Place, Utah Field House of Natural History, East Canyon and the Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn.
Southern Utah State Parks
The parks in the southern half of the state are more spread out than those in the more densely populated North and while there are still a number of lakes and reservoirs, there are more sites associated with unique geological features and American Indian history.
American Indian sites include Fremont Indian, Anasazi and Piute State Parks. Some of the parks with unique geology include Goblin Valley, Kodachrome Basin, Escalante and the Edge of The Cedars State Parks.
National Parks
Utah is also the home to five national parks. All of the national parks in Utah were designated to preserve the unique geologic formations in the southern half of Utah.
Much like the state parks, visitors can purchase a "National Parks Annual Pass" for only $80 and it is good for 12 months from the date of purchase. Admission to most national parks is approximately $25 for a week long use pass, so purchasing the annual pass makes sense if you plan on visiting at least three national parks during a 12-month period.
Since all of Utah's National Parks are located in the hot and arid southern half of the state, during the summer months temperatures will regularly exceed 100 degrees F and it is important to carry plenty of water when visiting any of the parks.
Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
Arches National Park is located just outside of Moab, Utah. The park was created to preserve the over 2,000 natural sandstone arches and over 70,000 other sandstone formations located within the parks borders. The most famous formations in the park include the Delicate Arch, featured on the Utah State License Plate; Double Arch featured in the opening scenes of "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade;" and Balanced Rock. There is one main driving loop through the park that provides a view of all the major attractions and access to most of the trails.
Canyonlands National Park was formed by the meandering Colorado River and its tributaries. The Park is divided into three main sections: Island in the Sky, The Maze and The Needles. There are two main park entrances near the Island in the Sky Visitors Center and The Needles Visitors Center, additionally, there are only paved roads in the Needles Section and The Island in the Sky. Access to the Maze is on dirt roads and hiking trails.
Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion
Capitol Reef National Park was established to protect a unique geologic feature known as a monocline. The Waterpocket Fold is nearly 100 miles long and it's most scenic portion is contained in Capitol Reef National Park near the Fremont River.
Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the more popular National Parks in Utah. The unique geology of Bryce Canyon was not created by a river but rather by freeze and thaw cycles that resulted in the creation of the many spires and towers of colorful sandstone that populate the park. There is one main road through the park that ascends to the highest elevation point in the park with several lookout points to view the canyon below. The Navajo Loop is a popular trail that leads down into the bottom of the canyon for an up close look at the many rock formations.
Zion National Park is Utah's Oldest and most popular national park with over 2 million visitors annually. The canyon was formed by the Virgin River and has many towering landscapes such as the Great White Throne and the Three Patriarchs. Due to Zion's immense popularity and a desire to protect the landscape the park has a shuttle system that operates from April to October every year that transports visitors to the main attractions within the park. There are several popular short hikes for casual visitors, such as the hike to the Temple of Siniwava at the entrance to the Zion Narrows, and the Pa'rus Trail. For the more adventurous the most popular hike is the Zion Narrows which requires a back country permit.
Tags: State Parks, National Park, Utah State, American Indian, Capitol Reef, National Park, southern half
