Brent Beckley on Utah's Most Beautiful Parks

You’ve saved up your PTO, maybe even rolled a few over from last year, and now it’s time for you and the family to plan our this year’s vacation. Naturally, the first question to ask yourself is where you’d like to go; should you experience the sights and sounds of New Orleans or take a trip out westward to San Francisco or Denver?

Before you make that decision, consider a state that gets far less recognition than it deserves – Utah. Not just the skiing state that some people think it to be, Utah features not only 43 state parks, but 6 national forests and 6 national parks to boot.

With so many to choose from, making the decision of where to go in Utah might prove more difficult than deciding on Utah to begin with! Fortunately, a small list of personal recommendations follows – some of Utah’s best, most beautiful, and most scenic spots to visit this year.

Bryce Canyon National Park
Certainly one of the more well-known and highly-trafficked parks in Utah, Bryce Canyon certainly lives up to the hype.

At over 35,000 acres of land, Bryce Canyon features countless attractions, including ranger programs, night hikes, astronomy hikes, and of course some truly breathtaking views.

Camping and hiking are two of Bryce Canyon’s major attractions, but if you’re looking at a shorter stay in the area, it also features shorter trails and some fantastic (and quick) vantage points for sunsets, sunrises and everything in between.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes Park
If you’re traveling as a family, Coral Pink should be near the top of your family’s list. About an hour and a half off of highway 89, Coral Pink State Park features (of course) some nicely color dunes, dyed an incredible red-pink hue by the Navajo sandstone found throughout the area.

Angel’s Landing
If you’re looking for a nice hike, the Angel’s Landing trail will suit your needs perfectly. At about five and a half miles long, the hike features some precipitous drops and stunning views. Due to the fact that portions of the trail are extremely narrow and therefore quite dangerous, bringing young children to Angels Landing is not typically advised.

If you are able to brave the narrow, chain-link flanked trail and steep climbs, the view from the peak of Angel’s Landing is hard to beat (or even match).

One of the most beautiful states in the contiguous United States, Utah features the most parks and protected lands of any continental state. For individuals, groups or families that embody the “outdoorsy” type, Utah should be lifted to the top of your to-visit list in the near future.