Southern Utah is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, where vast sandstone landscapes, winding rivers, and high alpine meadows offer nonstop opportunities for exploration. Beyond the popular Mighty Five national parks, the region is filled with quieter trails, desert vistas, and expansive skies. From early morning bike rides along world-famous single-track trails to sunset hikes through remote canyons, southern Utah offers unforgettable experiences for anyone looking to get off the beaten path and into nature.
Mornings in southern Utah invite early risers to trace the Virgin River Rim Trail, weaving through alpine meadows at 9,000 feet, or to test their limits on Moab’s Porcupine Rim – famously dubbed the Whole Enchilada by mountain bikers worldwide. By afternoon, the cooler elevations of Cedar Breaks National Monument beckon, where wildflowers bloom across meadows perched at 11,000 feet. Lake Powell offers a refreshing plunge framed by towering sandstone walls—an oasis carved into the heart of the desert.
When twilight falls, the sandstone fades to shadow and the sky erupts with stars. Goblin Valley State Park becomes a dreamscape, where you can roll out a sleeping pad and count shooting stars in silence. For a more immersive experience, southern Utah offers astronomer-led stargazing programs across the region, revealing the Milky Way in one of the darkest sky regions in North America.
Adrenaline seekers find their rhythm on the Colorado River, which winds through southern Utah with options for all levels of whitewater adventure. From the beginner-friendly Moab Daily’s splashy Class I and II rapids to the legendary Westwater Canyon, with its stunning 17-mile stretch of sandstone spires and roaring Class IV rapids, there’s a route for every rafter.
The Fisher Towers—twisted spires sculpted by erosion—offer a dreamscape of gargoyles and minarets for experienced rock climbers. Nearby, Looking Glass Arch tempts adventurers with airy rappels and stunning desert views, easily accessible 30 minutes from Moab. For a seamless experience, local guiding companies like Smile Mountain Guides and Desert Highlights provide curated climbs, and luxe stays at places like ULUM offer concierge-led adventures that combine comfort and thrill.
Backpackers seeking true solitude will find it in the endless canyon networks of southern Utah. Routes like the Owl Creek–Fish Creek Loop in Cedar Mesa and the Egypt–Twentyfive Mile Wash in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument offer multi-day wilderness treks. These trails reward hikers with silence, starlight, and a profound sense of connection to the land.
As the sun dips below the cliffs, southern Utah reveals one of its greatest treasures: the night sky. Home to the largest concentration of International Dark Sky Places in the world, sites like Hovenweep, Kodachrome Basin, Bears Ears, and Goosenecks State Park offer stargazing, where constellations and galaxies are visible to the naked eye in crystalline clarity.
Golfers can also find their slice of paradise, particularly in and around St. George. Since its first course opened in 1965, the area has blossomed into a premier golf destination. Today, over a dozen lie within a 20-mile radius, including the world-class Black Desert Resort (ranked the No. 1 public-access course in Utah) and Sand Hollow Resort, renowned for its cliffside holes, red sand bunkers, and panoramic desert views.
No matter your passion—whether it’s rafting wild rivers, scaling sandstone towers, chasing sunsets across high alpine ridges, or simply sitting beneath a sky filled with stars—southern Utah promises a summer of untamed exhilaration. For more: visitutah.com.
