Overview
Surrounded by the Wasatch Mountains, the US state of Utah offers historic buildings, churches, museums, scientific exhibitions and arts festivals. Other attractions in Utah include its rocky canyons, colorful cities and five stunning national parks. The capital, Salt Lake City, is the worldwide center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons. Other sights include the Zion National Park around the Virgin River Canyon with its temple-like rock formations, the Canyonlands, Arches and Capitol Reef National Parks.
- Travelationary: Covers basic information about Utah geography and economy.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
There are no direct flights to Salt Lake City from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. With 1 stopover flying to Salt Lake City among others: Lufthansa (LH)/United (UA) from Frankfurt/M. and Munich via Denver or Chicago, among others; Swiss (LX)/United (UA) from Zurich via Chicago; Austrian (OS)/United (UA) from Vienna via Newark or Chicago, among others. Direct flights to Salt Lake City are available from Frankfurt M. Eurowings Discover (4Y), from London Delta (DL) and Virgin Atlantic (VS) as well as from Paris Delta (DL) and Air France (AF).
Flight times
Salt Lake City – Boston: 4 hours 45 minutes; Salt Lake City – Chicago: 3 hours 10 minutes; Salt Lake City – Denver: 1 hour 30 minutes; Salt Lake City – Houston: 3 hours 5 minutes; Salt Lake City – Las Vegas: 1 hour 25 minutes; Salt Lake City – London: 9 hrs 45 mins; Salt Lake City – Los Angeles: 2 hours; Salt Lake City – New York City: 4 hours 30 minutes; Salt Lake City – Paris: 10 hours 15 minutes Salt Lake City – Frankfurt/M: 11 hours 15 minutes; Salt Lake City – Munich: 12 hours 15 minutes; Salt Lake City – Zurich: 12 hrs 20 mins; Salt Lake City – Vienna: 12 hours 30 minutes (only flight times, without stopover).
airpasses
The oneworld Visit North America pass is also valid in Utah. For information on this, see Arrival in the USA. The Jet Blue Airpass lets you book 3 or more flights across the entire Jet Blue network in the US at once. The Jet Blue Airpass is valid for 90 days, can be changed flexibly, and luggage is included. For more information on availability of the limited contingents, contact STA Travel at +49-69-255 150 000. Jet Blue flies to Salt Lake City in Utah.
Departure fee
The airport taxes are already included in the ticket price.
Arrival by car
Utah is very well integrated into the network of US interstate highways; I-15 runs north-south from Idaho via Salt Lake City to Arizona, I-80 runs east-west from Nevada to Wyoming, and I-70 joins I-15 from Colorado. Greyhound lines run from San Francisco, Los Angeles or Portland via Salt Lake City to St. Louis and New York. More information from Greyhound. Tolls: Approximately 100 km of I-15 at Spanish Fork and the Adams Way Parkway in South Weber are tolls. Tolls on I-15 can only be paid electronically with an Express Pass.
Note on arrival by car
Average bus travel times: Salt Lake City – Cheyenne: 9 hours; Salt Lake City-Denver: 11 hrs 30 mins; Salt Lake City – Las Vegas: 8 hrs 30 mins; Salt Lake City – Portland: 20 hrs; Salt Lake City – San Francisco: 15 hrs.
Arrival by train
The Amtrak California Zephyr line runs from San Francisco to Chicago via Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake City – Las Vegas route takes 8 hours and the Salt Lake City – Los Angeles route takes 15 hours and 30 minutes. Additional information from Amtrak. Rocky Mountaineer connects Denver, Colorado with overnight stays in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, to Moab, Utah.
rail passes
The Amtrak USA Rail Pass is valid on the entire Amtrak network. Detailed information under Arrival USA.
Passport and visa regulations
Entry with children
Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.
Contact addresses
Utah Office of Tourism Germany
c/o Harvardt PR & Marketing
Landwehrstrasse Landwehrstrasse 68
D-30519 Hannover
Germany
(0511) 6741 0345.
http://www.visitutah.com
http://www.visitutah.com Canyonlands Travel Region — North
25 East Center Street
US-84532 Moab, Utah
United States
(435) 259 88 25, (800) 635 66 22 (toll free within the US).
http://www.discovermoab.com Salt Lake City Convention & Visitors Bureau
90 South West Temple
US-84101 Salt Lake City, Utah
United States
(801) 534.49.00, (800) 541.49.55 (toll free within the US).
http://www.visitsaltlake.com
http://www.visitsaltlake.com Canyonlands Travel Region — South
San Juan County Visitor Services, PO Box 490
US-84535 Monticello, Utah
United States
(435) 587 32 35, (800) 574 43 86 (toll free within the US).
http://www.utahscanyoncountry.com/index.html
http://www.utahscanyoncountry.com/index.html Utah State Parks and Recreation
1594 West North Temple, Suite 116
US-84114 Salt Lake City, Utah
United States
(801) 538.72 20, (877) 887.27.57 (toll free within the US)
http://www.stateparks.utah.gov
http://www.stateparks.utah.gov
Attractions
Motorsport on sand dunes
More than 20,000 acres of shifting dunes exist about 115 miles southwest of Salt Lake City in the Little Sahara Recreation Area. They are the ideal playground for drivers of dune buggies, desert four-wheel drive cars and other off-road vehicles. In the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park near Kanab in southern Utah you can roar through the coral-red desert on motorized quads.
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, founded in 1847, was the “capital” of the Mormons who sought refuge here from religious persecution. The city nestles between the Great Salt Lake and the Wasatch Mountains, which offer excellent skiing at seven resorts from November through May. In 2002 the city hosted the Winter Olympics. In Salt Lake City itself, numerous historic buildings such as the Utah State Capitol, churches, museums such as the Pioneer Memorial Museum as well as cultural events and festivals await the visitor. Music, theater and dance also play an important role. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is one of the most famous choirs in the world. Its headquarters are in Temple Square in the famous Salt Lake Tabernacle, which is a National Historic Landmark. Also on Temple Square are, among others the Salt Lake Temple and two visitor centers. One of them informs about the history of the Mormons.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
A beautiful attraction is the Timpanogos Cave National Monument, located just 30 minutes’ drive from Salt Lake City. The stalactite cave system consists of three subterranean rooms with stalactite formations that simply have to be seen. In one of these spectacular rooms is the Hansen Lake with very clear water.
American West Heritage Center
At the foot of the Wellsville Mountains, about six miles southwest of Logan on US 89/91, is the American West Heritage Center, where amateur actors recreate the life and work of the pioneers in historic buildings. The Ronald Jensen Living Historical Farm is an authentic Mormon farm from the pioneer days. Here visitors can, for example, observe how sheep were sheared back then. The American West Heritage Center is also home to the Native American Encampment, where visitors can learn about the Shoshone Native American people, and the Mountain Man Camp, which provides information about the life of the Mountain Men in the wilderness and the fur trade.
- Usaers: Provides a full list of major rivers and mountains in Utah.
Winter sports in Utah
Utah has many beautiful ski areas, most of which are about an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City International Airport. There are seven major ski resorts within a 30-mile radius of Salt Lake City. These include the locally popular Alta Ski Resort, the modern and family favorite Brighton Ski Resort and the world famous Snowbird Ski Resort. With the Snowbird Aerial Tram you can also travel in summer to the almost 4000 m high Hidden Peak and enjoy the wonderful view. Utah also has Park City Resorts Canyons, Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort ski areas, Provo Resort Sundance and northern ski areas Beaver Mountain, Powder Mountain, Snowbasin and Wolf Mountain, and southern ski areas Brian Head and Eagle Point.
Capitol Reef National Park
The Capitol Reef National Park is not only the most pristine of the national parks in Utah, but also the quickest to reach from Salt Lake City. In the heart of Red Rock Country, Capitol Reef National Park features the nearly 100-mile-long Waterpocket Fold monoclinal, white sandstone domes, the natural Hickman Bridge, the Fremont River Falls, Cathedral Valley and the Temple of Rock formations the Sun, Temple of the Moon and The Walls of Jericho. Utah Scenic Byway 12 takes you past other of the national park’s famous rock formations and through the east side of Boulder Mountains. Hike, climb, camp, bike, fish and horseback ride in Capitol Reef National Park.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park with its temple-like rock formations is located on the Virgin River Canyon. The beautiful landscape of mountains, canyons and rivers is a paradise for hikers, climbers, horseback riders, campers, cyclists and bird watchers. A must for every park visitor are the majestic Kolob Canyons. The Scenic Drive Highway 9 leads through Zion National Park along Zion Canyon and Checkerboard Mesa. A tour led by rangers is also interesting.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park looks like a fairytale land with its amphitheater made of thousands of bizarrely shaped rock needles made of red and white sandstone. A hike on the Fairyland Loop, for example, remains an unforgettable experience. Drivers can also enjoy wonderful views of the national park from the parking lots. The Fairyland Point parking lot offers views of Boat Mesa, Fairyland Canyon, the Sinking Ship, Tower Bridge and the China Wall. An alternative to hiking or driving a horse is a horseback ride through this unique landscape.
Canyonland National Park
Canyonlands National Park is unique for its impressive rock pinnacles (The Needles), the Table Mountain Island in the Sky and Horseshoe Canyon with the well-preserved rock paintings (pictographs) and rock carvings (petroglyphs) made by Native Americans. The Colorado River flows through Canyonlands National Park. The park offers hiking, car and mountain bike tours, rock climbing, horseback riding, camping, star gazing and bird watching, and canoeing.
Arches National Park
Arches National Park is known for more than two thousand gigantic natural rock arches in a red rock wonderland. One of these arches is the Delicate Arch, which is Utah’s most recognizable landmark and can be found on state license plates and postmarks. Arches National Park offers hiking, climbing, biking, camping, auto hiking, horseback riding and canyon rappelling. Rangers also offer guided tours through the national park.
Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument is near Vernal. The huge Quarry Exhibit Hall, which exhibits a wall with about 1500 dinosaur bones, is located in the Utah part of the Dinosaur National Monument. Rainbow Park and Island Park offer boating on the Green River, touring the historic Ruple Ranch, and viewing Fremont culture rock carvings and carvings from the 400s to the late 1400s. existed. Activities such as camping, fishing and hiking are also available here.
Hovenweep National Monument
The transboundary Hovenweep National Monument is located in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah, between Cortez, Colorado, and Blanding, Utah. At Hovenweep National Monument you can see Native American rock dwellings and other fascinating remains of ancient cultures such as the Anasazi, and even find hunter-gatherer traces. Hovenweep National Monument offers a visitor center, hiking trails and campgrounds.
Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park is located on Antelope Island, the largest island in the Great Salt Lake, and is accessible via a causeway. This popular tourist destination offers panoramic views of the Great Salt Lake, hiking and biking trails, and beaches. The island is home to bison, California bighorn sheep, antelope, coyotes and lynx, among others. Far more saline than seawater, the Great Salt Lake is ideal for sailing and swimming. Countless species of waterbirds can also be observed near the shore.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area with Lake Powell
A popular recreation area is Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah and Arizona, which includes Lake Powell, whose side canyon features the stunning eroded Rainbow Bridge. On Lake Powell, which was created in the Colorado River by the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona, you can take boat tours with speedboats, go water skiing or kayaking and live in a houseboat. Lake Powell is also a fisherman’s paradise.
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area stretches south from Ashley National Forest to the Wyoming desert. It is a popular area for water sports enthusiasts, anglers and hikers. Animals such as American moose, antelopes, coyotes, bald eagles and golden eagles can be observed here with a bit of luck.
Hike
Hikers are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a trail in Utah. There is just a huge range of beautiful and interesting landscapes in this state. Recommended hiking trails are Bryce Canyon and Utah’s other national parks, as well as Cha Canyon from Lake Powell, Davis Gulch, West Canyon and, for the fit and experienced hiker, the Black Hole in White Canyon.
Moab City
Utah’s adventure capital is a popular base for activities such as hiking, biking, rock climbing, jeep tours and canoeing. Some of the most famous local attractions include Dead Horse Point, the Dan O’Laurie Museum, Pale Creek Ranch, the Hole ‘n the Rock Museum, which was dug into a rock, the Slickrock Trail and the Colorado River. Many people also enjoy the amusement and entertainment offerings of the popular resort. Alcohol is also served in Utah.
rafting
Not only can rafters choose the section of the Green River that best suits their skill level, but they can also raft past some of Utah’s most beautiful scenery as it runs through San Rafael Country. On the Colorado River, some rapids challenge even the pros among rafters and provide thrills. These include some rapids in the Grand Canyon, as well as the Brown Betty, Mile Long, and Big Drop Rapids in Cataract Canyon. Meanwhile, the section of the Colorado River at Fisher Towers is great for family rafting.
Scenic Byways
Many scenic byways run through Utah, i.e. roads that lead past well-known sights and through scenic and often protected landscapes. Highway 12 has been designated an All American Road because of the unique points of interest along its way. It connects the two national parks Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef and in between it leads past a beautiful forest, canyons and three state parks. In summer, the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway is very popular. This road, just 20 miles long, offers stunning views of Mount Timpanogos, among other things. Timpanogos Cave National Monument and Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort are also on this route.
Mormon Historic Sites
About 60 percent of Utah’s population is Mormon. Anyone interested in the history of this religious community will find numerous historical sites in Utah, where the life of the Mormons sometimes takes place to this day. Temple Square in Salt Lake is of particular interest with the impressive Salt Lake Temple, the Tabernacle and the Museum of Church History. In northern Utah, Mormon attractions like the Logan Temple, the American West Heritage Center, the Brigham City Tabernacle, the Martin Harris Tomb and the Ogden Pioneer Museum are recommended. In southern Utah, check out the Brigham Young Winter Home Museum, St. George Tabernacle, St. George Temple, Jacob Hamblin Home Museum, and the annual Mormon Miracle Pageant and Old Cove Fort.
Country data
Area (sq km)
219885
Population
3,205,958
Population density (per square km)
14
Population statistics year
2019
