These 14 Mind-Blowing Sceneries Totally Define Utah

Utah’s natural beauty is one of the first things that comes to mind when people think about our state, and some of Utah's other attractions also define us. Some spots here are so unique and gorgeous, that the moment you see a photo of these Utah places, you immediately know where it was taken.

1. Delicate Arch

You know I have to start with Delicate Arch. It’s on our license plate, and more than 1 million visitors see it up close every year.

2. Wasatch Mountain Range

Most visitors who come to Utah via plane are awestruck when they circle the Salt Lake Valley on approach to the International Airport. We often forget how lucky we are to have our mountains -- in other places, mountains aren’t nearly as impressive. While the Wasatch is just one of our many incredible mountain ranges, it's the one that most visitors to Utah see first.

3. Bryce Canyon National Park

The spires and hoodoos of Bryce, combined with the vast, sweeping vista, make for stunning photographs. It’s one of the most photographed places in our state.

4. Dead Horse Point

Thelma and Louise drove off the edge of it in 1991, but this stunning vista has been a Utah icon for much longer than that.

5. Great Salt Lake

Up close, it’s often stinky, marshy and bug-prone. But it’s pretty cool that we have the largest saltwater lake in the entire western hemisphere. And, you can see it from outer space!

6. Moab Slickrock

Moab’s slickrock is so popular that people show up from all over the world to crawl, bike, hike and play on it. And of course, it’s pretty spectacular-looking as well.

7. Zions National Park

Utah’s most popular national park has around 3 million visitors every year. The Watchman is one of the most photographed icons of Zions, but of course visitors also love the narrows, the Subway and the vistas from Angel’s Landing.

8. Kennecott Copper Mine

Nature didn’t create this Utah icon — mining began over 100 years ago — but it’s still breathtaking in its own way. It’s ¾ of a mile deep and 2 ½ miles wide.

9. Salt Lake City

It’s Utah’s capital and largest city. While Salt Lake doesn’t have too much to offer in the way of skyscrapers, it has plenty of cultural offerings, such as a world-class symphony, opera and ballet. Compared to some states, our capital city is tiny, but Utahns can’t help but love it for its charm and beauty.

10. The Wave

It’s technically just under a half-mile across the Arizona border, but we claim it as our own. The Bureau of Land Management office in Kanab manages the hiking permits to see the wave up close, and the trailhead is inside the Utah border, so who’s to argue the point?

11. Utah’s Ski Resorts

This shot was taken at Snowbird, but pretty much all of Utah’s ski resorts offer some amazing views. The ski industry accounts for much of Utah’s tourism revenue, but Utahns love to ski and snowboard, too. Why not enjoy one of our state’s greatest natural resources —powdery, glorious Utah snow?

12. Monument Valley

Made famous by John Ford’s Westerns (Stagecoach was the first, in 1933), Monument Valley has been the site of dozens of movies.

13. Salt Lake City LDS Temple

While the Mormon pioneers certainly weren’t the first people in Utah, they’re the folks who turned its landscape from desert into cities and towns. Salt Lake City is the headquarters of the LDS church, and people from other places often identify our state by its Mormon population.

14. Lake Powell

It’s beautiful, recreational and controversial. Lake Powell defines Utah as a great place to play, and continues to embroil the state in water and environmental disputes.

These photos don’t show all of Utah’s beautiful places, just some of its most iconic. Which is your favorite famous Utah photo?