Utah is a state in the south west with a variety of terrain, ranging from arid deserts to pine forests and mountain valleys. Long ago, it was inhabited by indigenous peoples like the Puebloans and Fremont people, who left behind rock art and dwellings that can still be seen today. In the 16th century, European explorers arrived in Utah, including Spanish explorers seeking gold and new lands. These explorers introduced horses and new technologies to the region, changing the way indigenous people lived. However, conflicts between Europeans and indigenous peoples often led to violence and displacement.
During the 19th century, Utah became part of the United States through a series of treaties and agreements. The Mormons settled in Utah in the mid-1800s, seeking religious freedom and a place to practice their faith. They built towns, farms, and temples, leaving a lasting impact on Utah's culture and landscape. In the 20th century, Utah experienced rapid growth and development, particularly with the discovery of natural resources like oil, coal, and uranium.
Utah is one of the most popular states for nature tourism and outdoor recreation. The state's natural beauty, including its national parks and ski resorts, attracts visitors from all over. I hired a car from Las Vegas and drove to several National Parks & State Parks namely: Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. But there are many more unique parks of oustanding natural beauty.
The Wave, Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness
A mesmerizing trail of colorful red sandstone that crosses the Utah/Arizona border, the Wave is a popular sought-after hike with a highly competitive permit process (maybe one of the most competitive in the US). While the odds might not be in your favor, those that are lucky enough to score one of the 20 daily permits will find solitude while they are exploring the remarkable patterns and landscapes that make up the Wave.
Toadstool Hoodoos
The highway US 89 skirts the southern edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. A roadside pull-off will lead you to the Toadstool Hoodoos, otherworldly formations eroded from the rock by wind, rain, and snow.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
A nature preserve immortalised by many cowboys movies, the sandstone buttes of Monument Valley are an iconic landscape of the American Wild Wild West. It's Navajo territory, a tribe of Native Americans who lived in that area for centuries, enduring harsh climate, and surviving slave raids by the Spaniards and white Americans, as well as attacks by other Indian tribes. A 17-mile-long dirt road through the preserve provides the best views over the most famous buttes.
Kanab
Kanab is a classic American West town, surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs and vistas of sagebrush. This scenery has lured filmmakers to Kanab for nearly 80 years. Abandoned film sets near town have become tourist attractions. The buildings all over town have plenty of movie posters and autographed photos to support Kanab's self-proclaimed title, "Little Hollywood."
