22 Places In Utah That Are So Beautiful, I Can't Believe They're Even Real

This area gets its name from the 2,000 towering sandstone arches scattered randomly across the national park. It's hard to believe that these perfect arches, formed over thousands of years, weren't manmade in any way.

Right down near the Arizona border, Buckskin Gulch is considered one of the best slot canyons in the world. It's about 15-miles long, one of the longest in the US. Adventurous hikers can tackle it in a day, but it's best avoided in the heat of summer.

Lake Powell, on the border of Utah and Arizona, is like something from another world. This manmade lake looks amazingly natural, with clear water that reflects the orange and red of the sandstone cliffs lining the banks. The lake is especially popular with kayakers, who paddle out to caves and secluded beaches.

You'll find this stunning park in the south of the state, featuring endless peachy pink sand dunes. Their color comes from the Navajo sandstone cliffs surrounding the area, which eroded over time to form the dunes.

Monument Valley Tribal Park is one of those instantly recognizable places...and not just because of Forrest Gump. You can drive through this Navajo Nation park and watch the vast landscape unfurl before you — tall sandstone buttes, green scrub, and red land that stretches for miles.

This area in the state's northeast, near the Wyoming border, is for explorers who are happy to rough it a little. A virtually untouched and pure mountain range, it is mostly closed to vehicles, with only a few roads and 4x4 trails traversing the land.

"Grand" is right: this national monument includes over 1.8 million acres of protected land. It's surprisingly easy to visit and navigate and has a well-maintained network of trails for any keen hikers. Drive the scenic road through the park to see old Western movie sets, sandstone cliffs, slot canyons, and prehistoric village sites.

This sprawling national park near Moab is not one for the faint-hearted. Huge sections of the park are extremely remote, where you could hike for days without seeing anyone else. It has deep canyons and tall cliffs, all formed by wind and water shaping sandstone over millennia.

Utah's first national park, Zion, is home to some amazing walks and viewpoints, and Angels Landing might be the most iconic of them all. Every day hikers scale the treacherous peak to watch the sun rise over the valley below.

Like the name suggests, this inland lake is incredibly salty – even saltier than the ocean! – which makes it extremely easy to float in. It's a popular summer destination, so pack your swimsuit and a picnic and make a whole day of it.

Just west of the Great Salt Lake you'll find this vast salt flat that looks almost like a frozen polar landscape. If you're planning a visit, there's a great view of the flats from a rest stop on I-80, between Salt Lake City and Wendover.

Located just off the highway in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, these strange rock formations are a perfect road trip stop-off point to stretch your legs. A short trail winds through the desert out to these fairytale-esque natural formations.

This area in the state's southwest is a huge expanse of rugged terrain and incredible desert landscapes. It's ideal for adventurers who want to get off the beaten path and explore land that seems frozen in time.

This small island in the Great Salt Lake is home to many wildlife species including bison, bighorn sheep, and, you guessed it, antelope. You can hike or mountain bike through the island's backcountry, or just got for a swim and take a stroll along the beach.

This spectacular park in the state's south is known for its tall rock formations called "hoodoos." The red and orange spires stretch as far as the eye can see, and look especially amazing at sunrise and sunset.

Another park filled with hoodoo rock formations, except the locals call these ones goblins — hence the park's name. Visiting this park is like walking on the surface of Mars; it has so many strange rocks and colors going on.

This small cliffside state park offers amazing views of the Colorado River and the sweeping landscapes of Utah. There are stories of ancient hunters using this natural vantage point to plot their next hunt, and much later, of cowboys using the area to corral mustang.

This peak in the Wasatch Range is one of the most popular hiking spots in the state. It can be hiked in about four hours, via the Timpooneke trailhead. The route passes green meadows, wildflowers, an alpine lake and waterfalls, and the view from the top is just staggering.

Found in Capitol Reef National Park, this geological formation is a long "wrinkle" in the earth that extends for nearly 100 miles. The rocky cliffs and valleys formed around 50–70 million years ago, when the earth shifted and pushed everything upwards. The best way to see it is by driving down Notom-Bullfrog Road or the Burr Trail, stopping at lookouts and doing little hikes that lead off the main road.

Up in the north, stretching over the Colorado border, this national monument is full of dinosaur fossils and bones that were uncovered in the area. The park is also home to rock drawings and partially intact dwellings made by the Fremont people who lived here around 1,000 years ago. Plus, Dinosaur National Monument is one of the best places in the state for stargazing, officially designated as an International Dark Sky Park.

Bear Lake is often touted as the “Caribbean of the Rockies” because of its bright blue color. Located on the Idaho border, it's popular with kayakers and paddleboarders who take advantage of the calm water.

This national monument is famous for its well-preserved Puebloan buildings, constructed between 1200 and 1300 CE. Artefacts have been found in the area that put ancient tribes living on this land over 10,000 years ago.