Utah Parks and Recreation Areas with Auto Touring

Canyonlands National Park preserves a colorful landscape of sedimentary sandstones eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the Colorado River and its tributaries. The Colorado and Green rivers divide the park into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze and the rivers themselves. While the districts share a primitive desert atmosphere, each retains its own character and offers different opportunities for exploration and learning. read more...

Phone: 435-719-2313   Price Range: $5 - $10   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Moab   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park   Activities: Backpacking, Biking / Bicycling, Boating and Watercraft, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Rock Climbing, Auto Touring, Interpretive Programs, Star Gazing, Tours   Details Provided By: Canyonlands National Park

The Pony Express National Historic Trail was used by young men on fast paced horses to carry the nation's mail across the country, from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California, in the unprecedented time of only ten days. Organized by private entrepreneurs, the horse-and-rider relay system became the nation's most direct and practical means of east-west communications before the telegraph. Though only in operation for 18 months, between April 1860 and October 1861, the trail proved the feasibility of a central overland transportation route, and played a vital role in aligning California with the Union in the years just before the Civil War. read more...

Phone: (801) 741-1012   Price Range: N/A   Open Season: N/A   Camping: No
Nearest Popular City: Salt Lake City   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Historic Trail   Activities: Auto Touring, Interpretive Programs   Details Provided By: Pony Express National Historic Trail

Natural Bridges protects some of the finest examples of ancient stone architecture in the southwest. Located on a tree-covered mesa cut by deep sandstone canyons, three natural bridges formed where meandering streams eroded the canyon walls. The bridges are named Kachina, Owachomo and Sipapu. read more...

Phone: (435)692-1234   Price Range: $3 - $6   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Lake Powell   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Monument   Activities: Hiking, Auto Touring, Interpretive Programs   Details Provided By: Natural Bridges National Monument

Completion of the world's first transcontinental railroad was celebrated here where the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads met on May 10, 1869. Golden Spike was designated as a national historic site in nonfederal ownership on April 2, 1957, and authorized for federal ownership and administration by an act of Congress on July 30, 1965. read more...

Phone: (435) 471-2209   Price Range: $4 - $5   Open Season: N/A   Camping: No
Nearest Popular City: Brigham City   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Historic Site   Activities: Biking / Bicycling, Hiking, Wildlife Watching, Auto Touring   Details Provided By: Golden Spike National Historic Site

A huge natural amphitheater has been eroded out of the variegated Pink Cliffs (Claron Formation) near Cedar City, Utah. Millions of years of sedimentation, uplift and erosion have created a deep canyon of rock walls, fins, spires and columns, that spans some three miles, and is over 2,000 feet deep. The rim of the canyon is over 10,000 feet above sea level, and is forested with islands of Englemann spruce, subalpine fir and aspen; separated by broad meadows of brilliant summertime wild flowers. read more...

Phone: (435) 586-9451   Price Range: $0 - $4   Open Season: June 1 - Oct 15   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Cedar City   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Monument   Activities: Cross Country Skiing, Hiking, Wildlife Watching, Auto Touring, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs, Snowshoeing, Star Gazing   Details Provided By: Cedar Breaks

Arches National Park preserves over two thousand natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch, in addition to a variety of unique geological resources and formations. In some areas, faulting has exposed millions of years of geologic history.The extraordinary features of the park, including balanced rocks, fins and pinnacles, are highlighted by a striking environment of contrasting colors, landforms and textures. read more...

Phone: (435)719-2299   Price Range: $5 - $10   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Moab   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park   Activities: Backpacking, Biking / Bicycling, Hiking, Rock Climbing, Auto Touring, Interpretive Programs, Tours   Details Provided By: Arches

As the harbinger of America's westward expansion, the Oregon Trail was the pathway to the Pacific for fur traders, gold seekers, missionaries and others. Beginning in 1841 and continuing for more than 20 years, an estimated 300,000 emigrants followed this route from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon on a trip that took five months to complete. read more...

Phone: (801) 741-1012   Price Range: N/A   Open Season: N/A   Camping: No
Nearest Popular City: Salt Lake City   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Historic Trail   Activities: Auto Touring, Interpretive Programs   Details Provided By: Oregon National Historic Trail

Led by Brigham Young, roughly 70,000 Mormons traveled along the Mormon Pioneer Trail from 1846 to 1869 in order to escape religious persecution. The general route is from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake City, Utah, covering about 1,300 miles. read more...

Phone: (801) 741-1012   Price Range: N/A   Open Season: N/A   Camping: No
Nearest Popular City: Salt Lake City   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Historic Trail   Activities: Auto Touring, Interpretive Programs   Details Provided By: Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail

The Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile long wrinkle in the earth's crust known as a monocline, extends from nearby Thousand Lakes Mountain to the Colorado River, now Lake Powell. Capitol Reef National Park was established to protect this grand and colorful geologic feature, as well as the unique historical and cultural history found in the area. For more information, click on the In Depth button on the right. read more...

Phone: 435-425-3791   Price Range: $0 - $5   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Torrey   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park   Activities: Backpacking, Biking / Bicycling, Birding, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Rock Climbing, Wildlife Watching, Auto Touring, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs, Star Gazing   Details Provided By: Capitol Reef National Park

The California Trail carried over 250,000 gold-seekers and farmers to the gold fields and rich farmlands of California during the 1840's and 1850's, the greatest mass migration in American history. Today, more than 1,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen in the vast undeveloped lands between Casper Wyoming and the West Coast, reminders of the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of early American travelers and settlers. More than 240 historic sites along the trail will eventually be available for public use and interpretation. read more...

Phone: (801) 741-1012   Price Range: N/A   Open Season: N/A   Camping: No
Nearest Popular City: Salt Lake City   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Historic Trail   Activities: Auto Touring, Interpretive Programs   Details Provided By: California Trail