Utah is a state located in the United States of America. It is centrally located in the Mountain West region of the U.S. and is landlocked by five other Mountain Western states.
In this article, you will learn all about the state of Utah. We will provide fun facts about its popular cities, sites to visit, and the people who live in Utah.
Where is Utah?
Utah is one of the 48 contiguous states located in the United States of America. It can be found in the middle of the Mountain West surrounded by Idaho to the northwest, Wyoming to the northeast, Colorado to the east, Arizona to the south, and Nevada to the west.
What is the Geography of Utah?
Utah boasts some very unique geographical features including wide salt flats and a large salt water lake. It also features the Colorado Plateau, the Rocky Mountains, and the Basin and Ridge Region.
Additionally, the state is home to the Arches National Park which hosts over 2000 natural sandstone arches.
What Are Some Wacky Utah Laws?
In Utah, it is against the law to hunt whales or fish while riding a horse. It is also illegal for a trombone player to provide auction advertisements on the street. In Utah’s capital Salt Lake City, it is against the law to carry a paper bag with a violin while walking down the street.
How Did Utah Get Its Name?
Utah is named after the Ute tribe meaning people of the mountains. According to archeological evidence, Native Americans have lived in Utah for over 12,000 years and today there are three tribal reservations for the Ute tribe.
What Are the People Like in Utah?
Ever since Brigham Young settled in Salt Lake Valley in 1847, over 60% of Utah’s residents practice the Mormon religion. Utah is nicknamed the Beehive State in honor of the Mormon community who wanted to name that state after the honeybee.
What National Parks Are in Utah?
Utah is home to five national parks: Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, and Zion National Park. These five national parks span across the southern half of the state.
Bryce Canyon National Park is a canyon which plays host to mule deer and a hybrid mix of alpine forest and red rock hoodoo rock formations. Capitol Reef National Park boasts wide open skies and massive rock formations in this vast desert region.
Canyonlands National Park is home to the most photographed landform, Mesa Arch, and provides plenty of hiking opportunities. Arches National Park spans over 70,000 acres and has a plethora of diverse and unique rock formations.
Zion National Park is a wonderful outdoor retreat with many hiking paths, natural rivers, and beautiful overlooks.
What Are Some Cities to Visit in Utah?
Utah has a few unique cities for visitors to experience including Provo, St. George, Ogden, and Salt Lake City.
Provo is located in the middle of Utah Valley and at the base of the nearly 12,000 foot high Mount Timpanogos. The Provo River is a great place for kayaking and there’s plenty of hiking to do especially in Rock Canyon and Bridal Veils Falls.
St. George is located at a transitional point between the Colorado Plateau, the valley basin, and the Mojave Desert. In addition to shopping and luxury spas, St. George hosts a suite of outdoor recreational activities including fishing, hiking, biking, canyoneering, and ATV.
Ogden is set at the base of the Rocky Mountains with their beautiful snow capped peaks as a backdrop to this historical little town. Visit the town which the Transcontinental Railroad put on the map and explore its rich history, the family friendly Dinosaur Park, and plenty of spots for hiking and skiing.
The capital city of Utah, Salt Lake City, lies between the Wasatch Mountain Range and the Great Salt Lake. This booming city nicknamed the Crossroads of the West plays host to a number of shopping districts, breweries, ski resorts, and hiking spots.
Where and When Should You Go Stargazing in Utah?
With its wide open skies, Utah has some of the best stargazing locations in the country. There are eighteen certified International Dark Sky Parks in the state.
The Dark Sky Parks in northern Utah include Dinosaur National Monument, Jordanelle State Park, Rockport State Park, Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Steinaker State Park, North Fork Park, East Canyon State Park, and Antelope Island State Park.
In southeastern Utah the best stargazing can be found at Canyonlands National Park, Goblin Valley State Park, Hovenweep National Monument, Natural Bridges National Monument, Goosenecks State Park, Rainbow Bridge National Monument, Dead Horse Point State Park, and Arches National Park.
The certified International Dark Sky Parks in the southwestern region of Utah include Capitol Reef National Park, Fremont Indian State Park, Zion National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, and Bryce Canyon National Park.
The best time to stargaze in Utah is during the summer months usually after ten o’clock at night. It is ideal to pick an evening around the new moon so that the Milky Way is fully visible and not obscured by the moonlight.
Where Are the Best Ski Areas in Utah?
Several of Utah’s popular cities including Salt Lake City, Provo, Park City, and Ogden are hosts to some of the best ski resorts and parks in the state.
These areas include Brighton Ski Resort, Solitude Mountain Resort, Snowbird, and Alta Ski Area in Salt Lake City; Sundance Resort in Provo; Park City Mountain, Deer Valley Resort, and Woodward Park City in Park City; and Powder Mountain, Nordic Valley Resort, and Snowbasin in Ogden.
There are additional ski resorts in northern Utah located near the towns of Garden City and Logan including Cherry Peak Resort and Beaver Mountain Resort, and in southern Utah located near the towns of Cedar City and Brian Head including Eagle Point Resort and Brian Head Resort.