I’ve only been to Utah twice, but both trips felt just as incredible as the last, and I honestly can’t wait to go back.

The first time, my partner and I road-tripped from Washington through Oregon and Idaho, finally crossing into Utah. We took about a week, stopping first at the Owyhee in Oregon for a few days full of fishing before heading south to meet a friend and explore the Escalante area. We wandered through Bryce Canyon, hiked a handful of trails in Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, and even squeezed in a detour to Capitol Reef.

My second trip was with a close friend. We flew into Vegas, grabbed a rental car, and made a quick stop at Valley of Fire before crossing into Utah. We’d managed to snag permits for the infamous Subway in Zion, and exploring that ancient water-carved corridor with our two other friends was absolutely breathtaking. After Zion, we drove back down to Escalante and spent three more days exploring the monument: desert trails, slot canyons, hidden corners, and another section of Bryce Canyon.

Both trips were unforgettable in their own way, and Utah has absolutely cemented itself as one of those rare places I’ll keep coming back to.

Fun Fact: Utah has the highest concentration of natural arches in the world, more than any other place on the planet.

Where to visit: You can't go wrong with any of the 5 National Parks in Utah, although most trails and sites are permitted, with good reason, as they are gorgeous.

You can find camping, National Park, and hiking info at the bottom of the page. There is also a lot of dispersed camping.