Traveling in Utah
Utah is mostly famous among Americans for its Great Salt Lake and its large population of Mormons. This high altitude landlocked desert is found in the western region of America. In the summer the state has scorching hot canyons and deserts, while the winter brings deep snow and some of the best skiing in the country. I’ve been to Utah multiple times and am am pretty happy with my experiences there so far, but there is always so much more to see! On my return I’d like to visit some more national parks in the south and perhaps climb Utah’s King’s Peak at 13,000 feet (4,000 meters).
Salt Lake City
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Founded by Joseph Smith in the 19th century, Salt Lake City is known today for being the heart of the Mormon religion. In the center of the city you’ll find Temple Square which holds the religion’s most scared buildings and churches built over 100 years ago. Despite being less than two hundred years old, the city has an interesting past, drawing in millions of visitors each year.
Salt Lake
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With the Pacific Ocean over 1,000 miles away (1,600 kilometers), locals come to the Great Salt Lake to cool off when summer temperatures reach over 100 degrees (40C). Most people seem to enjoy boating, water skiing, and other sports over swimming. The Great Salt Lake has one of the highest levels of salt in the world, and has earned the name the “Dead Sea of the West”. Like the Dead Sea in the Middle East, the salt content is so high that there are no fish in the Great Salt Lake.
Arches National Park
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Millions of years of winds and other natural phenomenons carved out over 2,000 natural arches in Utah’s eastern desert. Natural arches occur in other parts of the world, but no where else comes close to the thousands that exist in this national park. In addition to the unique arches, the land itself has some spectacular colors that make the park very beautiful and unique from the rest of the state. Arches national park can be scorching hot during the summer, yet snow covered in the winter.
Zion National Park
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Zion national park holds some of America’s most beautiful desert scenery and adventures. Zion is consistently picked by such organizations as National Geographic or the Discovery Channel as being home to some of the best adventures in the continent. Hiking, Camping, canyoneering, rock climbing, and several other outdoor activities against some of the most breathtaking views in the world can be done here.
Bryce Canyon
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Bryce Canyon is adjacent to Zion National Park, and its close proximity makes it easy to visit both places on the same trip. Bryce doesn’t as many true adventures as Zion, but still has an equal amount of spectacular scenery. The higher altitude also means there is likely to be a lot more snow here during the winter months which can give amazing views.
Uintas Mountains
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Just east of Salt Lake City, the Uintas Mountains hold the state’s biggest mountains, excellent hiking trails, and some of America’s best skiing. Utah’s highest mountain is King’s Peak which stands at over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters). The well marked trails leading to the summit make it an ideal climb for people in good shape but limited experience.
