We invite you to utilize this website to become familiar with Utah,
which is one of the most geologically diverse places in the world.
Perfect snow, rugged red rocks, 12,000 years of human history, coral pink sand dunes, mountain rivers & lakes and The Rocky Mountains. If Utah doesn't have it, you don’t need it. For a state located in the high desert, Utah has a surprisingly large number of fantastic lakes. Many of these are reservoirs formed by the damming of mountain rivers. The state of Utah is one giant playground to visit or to live in. The lakes tend to be set against mountain backdrops. Each lake has its own look and feel. Some are shallow and warm, others are deep and clear, and one is so salty that you float on its surface.
One of Utah's defining characteristics is the variety of its terrain. Running down the middle of the state's northern third is the Wasatch Range, which rises to heights of almost 12,000 feet above sea level. Utah is home to world-renowned ski resorts made popular by light, fluffy snow and winter storms that regularly dump feet of it overnight. In the state's northeastern section, running east to west, are the Uinta Mountains. It is a high-elevation area covered mostly by plateaus and basins, where a large number of lakes and rivers are, which remain mostly inaccessible. These mountains rise to heights of over 13,000 feet. The highest point in the state, Kings Peak, is at 13,528 feet.
At the western base of the Wasatch Mountain Range is the Wasatch Front, a series of valleys and basins that are home to the most populous parts of the state. It stretches north from Brigham City, Ogden, Salt Lake City, Orem, Provo to Nephi at the south end. Approximately 75% of the state's population lives in this corridor, and the population is growing. Western Utah is mostly arid desert. The Bonneville Salt Flats are an exception, being comparatively flat as a result of once forming the bed of ancient Lake Bonneville. Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, Sevier Lake, and Rush Lake are all remnants of this ancient freshwater lake.
Much of the southern and southeastern landscape is sandstone. Wind and water have carved their way through the sandstone forming huge canyons and arches. The Colorado River and its tributaries wind their way through the sandstone, creating some of the world's most striking and colorful wild terrain. Utah's temperatures are extreme, with cold temperatures in winter due to its elevation, and very hot summers statewide.
St. George to Zion National Park Complete Utah Scenic Drive
Scenic Drive Across the Bonneville Salt Flats
Park City to Salt Lake City Autumn Colors Scenic Drive
Little Cottonwood Canyon Autumn Colors Scenic Drive
Utah Scenic Byway Mountain Drive HWY 14 Through Cedar Canyon
Zion to Bryce Canyon National Park Complete Utah Scenic Drive
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive - Zion National Park Utah In Winter Snow
Monument Valley to Lake Powell Glen Canyon Complete Scenic Drive
Monument Valley Complete Scenic Loop Drive
Provo Canyon to Park City Scenic Drive Fall Colors
Arches National Park Complete Scenic Drive
Dead Horse Point State Park Moab Scenic Drive And Trail Walk
Shafer Canyon Road Complete Drive - Switchbacks - Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park - Island in the Sky Complete Scenic Drive
Moab Utah To Arches & Canyonlands National Parks Scenic Drive
Capitol Reef National Park Relaxing Nature Scenic Drive
Scenic Byway 12 Utah Complete Scenic Drive
Arches National Park to Capitol Reef Utah Scenic Drive
Complete Scenic Drive Through Arches National Park
(10/24) Most of City Creek Canyon will close beginning Nov 1st
(10/11) Utah's high elevations, and some people, welcome October snow
(9/29) The aspen trees are incredibly stunning right now!
(9/29) Timpanogos Cave: a refuge for explorers
(9/26) Ground broken for Utahraptor State Park near Moab
(9/20) Guardsman Pass and Wasatch State Park fall colors
(9/19) National park officials thin out forests to reduce wildfire danger
(8/25) Radioactive Area Next to Arches National Park
(9/16) Smithsonian traveling exhibit highlights change in Utahs rural areas
(9/6) Snowbasin Resort is upgrading parking, ski lifts, and accessibility
(8/31) Bear Lake continues to see major tourism growth
(8/23) Sen. Mitt Romney secures $526 million to replace 90 Utah bridges
(8/8) Remember rules and regulations in City Creek Canyon before visiting
(8/4) Capitol Reef National Park, one of Utah's natural gems
(7/27) Ski resorts to require reservations for parking lots
(7/27) Utah moose enjoy a little nosh in Little Cottonwood Canyon
(7/21) New boat ramp officially opens at Utah's Strawberry Reservoir
(7/19) Snowbasin building new lift, scheduled to run in 2023-24 season
(7/12) $100 million project aims to upgrade Deer Creek dam
(7/10) Logan Canyon to get cell service
(7/10) DWR releases 1,000 native fish into Weber River
(5/11) Officials releasing 650 million gallons of water per day into Great Salt Lake
Explore Utah was created and maintained by Explore Utah Online 2020-2023
This website is for the enjoyment of Utah and for information only.
Send your comments or questions to webmaster@exploreutah.online