10 Nature & Wildlife Areas in Utah That You Shouldn't Miss

August 18, 2021 Veronika Gaddis

Welcome to “The Greatest Snow on Earth” – Utah’s paradise for all outdoor enthusiasts! As host of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Park City knows how to entertain winter fun seekers. Snowboarders and skiers head for miles of spectacular slopes with deep fluffy powder and breathtaking mountain views. The Olympic Park provides family-friendly ski programs, rides and shows. Alta, Sundance, Snowbird and Brighton are other popular destinations for cross country and Alpine skiers. Those alluring snowy slopes turn to rolling wildflower fields in the summer. Golfing, fishing, horseback riding and water sports replace chilly outdoor sports adventures. Corral the family, pack a picnic and catch one of the ski lifts for an afternoon of hiking or mountain biking along scenic trails. Head to Salt Lake City, where Temple Square hosts millions of visitors a year. Bryce Canyon and Arches National Park are famous for surreal landscapes from horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters to unusual rock formations and hundreds of natural sandstone arches. Closer to home, wander along the quaint main streets of mountain villages to browse, shop and enjoy lunch at an outdoor café. At the end of the day, head home for an outdoor barbecue and an evening of games. Home rentals blend privacy, space and comfort with the cost-saving advantage of eating some meals at home.
Restaurants in Utah

1. High Uintas Wilderness Area

UT +1 435-783-4338
Excellent
81%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 16 reviews

High Uintas Wilderness Area

This area includes ten 13,000 foot peaks, with one being the state's highest mountain.

Reviewed By kaioatey - Half Moon Bay, United States

Magically beautiful part of the planet. Lots of trails. Sometimes the trails end a few miles offo from the road and you get to bushwack, with peaks, meadows, lakes all looking similar. It's probably a good idea to have a GPS. In the summer there are swarms of hungry small mosquitos and zillions of flowers. If visiting UT & WY, don;t miss this area.

2. Calf Creek Falls Recreation Area

Utah Highway 12 15.5 miles east of Escalante, Escalante, UT http://www.recreation.gov/recreationalAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&facilityId=202204&agencyCode=70901
Excellent
82%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 635 reviews

Calf Creek Falls Recreation Area

It takes time to get to, but Calf Creek falls are a recommended site to visit.

Reviewed By Global_Traveller11 - Salt Lake City, United States

Great 6 mile hike that was mostly easy with a couple of moderate spots. Fantastic views, some good shady spots and the waterfall at the end was really worth the effort to make it to the end!

3. Paria Canyon Wilderness Area

US Hwy 89 7 miles north of the Arizona border, Big Water, UT http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/wildareas/paria_vermilion.html
Excellent
94%
Good
6%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 17 reviews

Paria Canyon Wilderness Area

4. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

5001 Angel Canyon Rd, Kanab, UT 84741-5000 +1 435-644-2001 [email protected] http://www.bestfriends.org/
Excellent
89%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,463 reviews

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Best Friends Animal Society is the only national animal welfare organization focused exclusively on ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. An authority and leader in the no-kill movement, Best Friends runs the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals, as well as lifesaving programs in partnership with rescue groups and shelters across the country. Since its founding in 1984, Best Friends has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters nationwide from 17 million per year to about 4 million. That means there are still over 9,000 dogs and cats killed in shelters each day. And we will not be done until that number is zero. Best Friends has the knowledge, technical expertise and on-the-ground network to end the killing and Save Them All(R).

Reviewed By SDubs24 - Boulder, United States

This was our second visit to the sanctuary. We've done the grand sanctuary tour and the Dog Town tour - both were really great (and free!) On the grand sanctuary tour we visited with a bunch of cats and met a very sweet old dog in the senior area. They do amazing work here and the land is absolutely stunning. They have dogs, cats, birds, horses, wild animals, you name it! It's worth an hour or two of your time, and if you're able, you should definitely donate to this fabulous organization. They truly care about animals and are doing great work nationwide. I'd recommend booking your tour online in advance, they fill up fast.

5. Alstrom Point

Big Water, UT http://alstrompointtours.com
Excellent
89%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 19 reviews

Alstrom Point

6. Bryce Amphitheatre

Highway 63, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT +1 435-834-5322 http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm
Excellent
93%
Good
6%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 134 reviews

Bryce Amphitheatre

Reviewed By RICART75 - Peru, United States

Stunning, amazing, jaw-dropping, spectacular, exquisite, enthralling, breathtaking, etc....when one sees it, it becomes clear why words are inadequate. Once this concentration of hoodoos is viewed, the experience speaks for itself. This is a bucket list topper; the impact of which is not to be missed.

7. Mount Olympus Trail

5789 S Wasatch Blvd, Salt Lake City, UT 84121-3508 https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/uwcnf/about-forest/districts/?cid=fsem_035478
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 6 reviews

Mount Olympus Trail

8. Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area

1325 W Glovers Ln, Farmington, UT 84025-4706 +1 801-451-7386
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2 reviews

Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area

Reviewed By KayeN675 - Provo, United States

This is a hidden gem and one that people, especially birders, need to know about. Because of COVID the instruction center is closed for now so we missed out on that. But the walks and drive along the dikes are wonderful! We passed about 8 other cars with bird watchers and maybe 6 trucks with airboats. Even though these are loud, they didn't disturb our experience much. We saw 42 species of birds in about 4 hours - Pelicans, Canada geese, Gadwalls, Great Blue Herons, Pintails, Teals, Grebes, Avocets, Sand pipers, Yellow legs, blackbirds and more. The water ways are beautiful and inviting for the birds and habitat. The road is well maintained. There is a pit toilet near the beginning of the drive - it's the only one on the drive - nothing farther out. This really is an amazing treasure so close to the populated Wasatch Front. We will make trips back, for sure. Take binoculars, water and sunscreen for warmer days. It was a bit chilly and windy but it was a beautiful day.

9. Knolls Recreation Area

Wendover, UT http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/knolls.html
Excellent
60%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 5 reviews

Knolls Recreation Area

10. Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

2155 W Forest St, Brigham City, UT 84302-4429 +1 435-723-5887 http://www.fws.gov/refuge/bear_river_migratory_bird_refuge
Excellent
70%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 168 reviews

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

Reviewed By nete2017 - Pocatello, United States

Just two weeks before Christmas, we expected to identify maybe 10 birds at the refuge. This isn't exactly high time for birding. However, we were surprised to be able to identify nearly 40 birds, including a Barn Owl, many Pheasants, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagle, many Northern Harriers, Swans, Hooded Mergansers, a Loggerhead Shrike,man Great Blue Herons, and many varieties of ducks, though low in numbers. It was thrilling! And remarkably, the roads were well packed and not muddy. We have been here every month of the year and have never been disappointed. Occasionally, you will also see deer, a coyote, raccoons, beaver, weasels, etc.

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