Each of Utah’s 40 state parks has something to offer, but these 15 are especially cool. Some offer stunning scenery; others keep you busy with a host of recreation activities. Check out a few of our favorite parks to visit in Utah and plan your trip!

1) Visit the Buffalo on Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island, Utah, USA
Jacqueline Poggi/flikr
Watch for herds of buffalo, antelope, deer and bighorn sheep while you hike or bike around the island.

Read more about Antelope State Park.
2) Scuba Dive at Bear Lake State Park
ufoncz/flikr
Scuba from Cisco Beach. See if you can find the "Car Lot" -- dozens of vehicles submerged in the lake in the 1930s that have created an artificial reef.

Read more about Bear Lake State Park.
3) Survey an Endless View from Dead Horse Point State Park
Dead Horse Point, Utah 84532, USA
Bruno Monginoux/flikr
The Colorado River is a mere 2,000 feet below.

Read more about Dead Horse Point.
4) Learn About Utah’s Native Americans at Edge of the Cedars State Park
Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum, 660 W 400 N, Blanding, UT 84511, USA
Rob Lee/flikr
The Pueblos lived here from 825 to 1125 A.D.. You can climb down a handmade ladder to spend a little time in a kiva -- an underground Puebloan dwelling

Read more about Edge of the Cedars.
5) Jump Off a Cliff at Flight Park State Recreation Area
Flight Park Road, Flight Park Rd, Lehi, UT, USA
a4gpa/flikrv
Utah State Parks and Recreation partnered with Utah Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association so that Utahns can learn to paraglide and hang glide at the Point of the Mountain, between Salt Lake and Utah counties.

Read more about Flight Park.
6) Play Like a Pioneer at Frontier Homestead State Park
Frontier Homestead State Park Museum, 635 N Main St, Cedar City, UT 84721, USA
Echevvaria/Facebook
Excavate for Piute or Fremont artifacts, check out pioneer dwellings, learn about Utah’s mining history and check out some cool stagecoaches.

Read more about Frontier Homestead State Park.
7) Visit Mars Without Leaving Earth at Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley, Utah 84525, USA
jimmy thomas/flikr
Weird geographic formations spread out over 4,686 square miles that mimic the surface of mars. Or maybe the formations look like aliens? Use your imagination.

Read more about Goblin Valley.

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8) Run, Swim and Cycle as Fast as You Can at Jordanelle State Park
Jordanelle Reservoir, Utah, USA
TriUtah
Jordanelle is the perfect site for triathlons -- you’ll find hundreds of athletes at several events throughout the summer months.

Read more about Jordanelle State Park.
9) Golf 18 Holes Lakeside at Palisade State Park
Palisade State Park, 2200 E Palisade Rd, Sterling, UT 84665, USA
Palisades State Park/Facebook
Spend the morning golfing and the afternoon paddle boarding in the lake.

Read more about Palisade State Park.
10) Walk in the Footsteps of Dinosaurs at Red Fleet State Park
Red Fleet State Park, 8750 N Hwy 191, Vernal, UT 84078, USA
Linda Higginbottom/Facebook
Boat, fish and walk alongside 200 million-year-old dinosaur tracks.

Read more about Red Fleet State Park.
11) Ride the dunes at Sand Hollow State Park
Sand Hollow, St. George, UT 84770, USA
Dylan Duvergé/flikr
15,000 acres of red sand dunes, 15 miles east of St. George

Read more about Sand Hollow.
12) Learn Your Utah State History at the Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum
Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum, 50 W Capitol St, Fillmore, UT 84631, USA
Ken Lund/flikr
Remember when Fillmore was the state capitol? Neither do most people. The oldest government building in Utah is now a museum full of information about long-dead politicians, pioneers and other salty Utahns from days past.

Read more about the Territorial Statehouse Museum.
13) Hike and Camp at Wasatch Mountain State Park
Wasatch Mountain State Park, 1281 Warm Springs Rd, Midway, UT 84049, USA
Wasatch Mountain State Park/Facebook
Get out of the heat and enjoy over 21,000 square miles of recreation.

Read more about Wasatch Mountain State Park.
14) Wakeboard at Willard Bay State Park
Willard Bay State Park, 900 W 650 N, Willard, UT 84340, USA
Jesse Michael Nix/flikr
Hold on tight...

Read more aboutWillard Bay State Park.
15) Ride a Zip Line at Yuba State Park
Yuba State Park 1, Yuba State Pk 1, Utah 84639, USA
rkmase/flikr
Once you’re done fishing, ride the 850-foot zipline at Yuba.

Read more about Yuba State Park.

We only listed 15 of Utah’s 40 State Parks here. Did we miss your favorite?

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More to Explore

parks to visit in Utah

Kim Magaraci | February 17, 2022

Which are the least crowded national parks to visit in Utah?

Utah is known for having five National Parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands. Crowded trails, sold-out campgrounds, and traffic can be issues in each of them because they preserve some of the most incredible landscapes in the world. If you're looking to visit the geologic wonders of the Beehive State without waiting in lines or having to plan far in advance, then Canyonlands is the place to go. The park has a little bit of everything, including canyons, rivers, mountains, and deserts. Despite this, it's the most underrated of the "Big Five" and draws only about 700,000 visitors each year.

What are the best parks in Utah for families?

You don't have to plan a National Parks trip to find fun things to do outside in Utah. There are so many smaller parks you're sure to love. Big Bear in Sandy is a family favorite, and Wayne Bartholomew Family Park is one of the top spots in summer for a beach day in the Beehive State.

Are there any bucket-list-worthy hiking trails in Utah?

Perhaps the most famous hiking trail in the world - Angels Landing - is in Utah. It's certainly bucket-list worthy and not for the faint of heart! Other world-famous hiking trails in Utah include The Narrows in Zion, Delicate Arch in Arches, and the Najao Loop and Queen's Garden in Bryce.

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