2025's 9 Most Scenic Utah Towns
There are few U.S. states with more to offer the outdoor enthusiast than Utah, and thanks to the soaring popularity of the “Mighty Five” road trip through the state’s iconic National Parks, more travelers than ever are getting to know the spectacular scenery of this underrated state. With the aforementioned five National Parks, diverse ecosystems, and some of the nation’s most fascinating geology to offer, Utah is hardly short on beautiful places to enjoy the outdoors. If you’re looking for a base for your explorations, these nine scenic Utah towns are all excellent options. Each one blends natural splendor with small-town character, offering both adventure and a welcoming place to stay.
Bluff
Suppose you were drawn to Utah by the promise of spectacular red-rock landscapes. In that case, this town in the Four Corners region, where Utah borders Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado at their corners, is the perfect place to base yourself in the region. A stop on the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway, a drive through stunning scenery and the awe-inspiring ruins of the cliff-dwelling Ancestral Puebloan peoples, Bluff's highlights are both natural and cultural.
Bluff's premier natural attraction is Arizona's Monument Valley, which is nothing short of an iconic stop on any Southwestern road trip. It might be across state lines, but in the Four Corners area, that means very little; you can't miss it while you're in the area. Also nearby is Bears' Ears National Monument, another worthy stop: its twin red buttes have been drawing the attention of locals and visitors alike for millennia. And, while there are better base camps for Canyonlands National Park (more on that later), it's also within striking distance of Bluff.
Bryce Canyon
Gateway to the eponymous National Park, Bryce Canyon needs no introduction. Any spot in town will reward you with a sweeping view of the park’s famous rock formations out across the plains, and that’s only the beginning. Those offerings include horseback riding, ATV tours, and the unbelievably scenic Canyon 2 Canyon bike trail. And that’s all before you make it to Bryce Canyon National Park.
Once in the park, you’ll be face-to-face with some of the most unique geology in North America. The park’s famous hoodoo structures, formed by weather erosion, are truly one-of-a-kind, and you’ll get the best look at them from the many stopoffs along the park road — Bryce Amphitheater is one of the most famous lookouts. There are more hikes along this road than you could possibly hope to complete, but if you must choose one, the Queen’s Garden-Navajo Combination Loop hike will take you through hoodoos, canyons, and some of the park’s most iconic scenery.
Garden City
Unless it’s the Great Salt Lake, you probably don’t imagine water when you think of Utah. That’s what makes Garden City such a find. Situated just outside of Bear Lake State Park, Garden City has easy access to one of the Mountain West’s most beautiful lakes. Its shockingly turquoise waters are the perfect place to boat, swim, jet ski, water ski, fish — the list goes on. Hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean, it’s also a surprisingly great place to scuba dive.
Garden City is also an all-year destination: while the hot summer months are best for water sports, nearby Cisco Beach is also a popular place to go ice fishing in the winter. Whether or not Bear Lake decides to freeze, a fish called the Bonneville Cisco spawns in shallow waters where it’s easy to catch the fish in a net or through holes in the ice. Finally, the brilliant blue water of this mineral-rich lake also makes a stunning backdrop for a camping trip.
Kanab
Searching for classic red rock panoramas without the National Park crowds? Head to Kanab. Its stark desert-like scenery made it a popular filming spot for Westerns back in the day, but these days it’s more famous for its scenic beauty than its “Little Hollywood” past. Located in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument area, Kanab rewards exploration in every way.
Nearby natural attractions abound. The Johnson Canyon Road is one of the state’s finest scenic drives, with sweeping views of southern Utah’s iconic red rock bluffs. Adventurous hikers can challenge themselves by traversing Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon, while less-intrepid nature lovers might enjoy clambering over the dunes or even off-roading at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Oh, and there’s an even more spectacular way to see this stunning area: the annual Balloons and Tunes Roundup, a February festival featuring a charming combination of musical acts and scenic hot air balloon rides.
Moab
Moab has become one of the most recognized adventure hubs in the American Southwest, and for good reason. It’s the perfect base camp for exploring two of Utah’s famed Mighty Five National Parks, offering breathtaking scenery, thrilling outdoor activities, and easy access to unforgettable landmarks. Arches National Park, home to those gravity-defying rock formations featured on everything from the Utah state license plate to National Park Service promotional campaigns, is one. The must-hit Windows Trail will give you the most arches for your buck. The other is Canyonlands National Park, which is not as famous but equally worthy of a scenic drive-through.
But that’s hardly the end of Moab’s embarrassment of natural riches. Dead Horse Point State Park is a stunning place for a long but fairly beginner-friendly bike ride, or one of the most unbelievable sunsets you’ll ever see. The red rock spires of Fisher Towers are a geological marvel you have to see to believe — or climb, if you’re so inclined. And if you’re starting to get hot, the nearby Colorado River is always there for a rafting trip through the meltwater-fueled rapids. Ah…refreshing.
Ogden
Utah often gets overshadowed by its Rocky Mountain neighbors when it comes to skiing, but winter sports enthusiasts who skip over the Beehive State are missing out. One especially overlooked place to do just that is the mountain town of Ogden, a base camp for visitors to the area’s three ski resorts. Two of its resorts, Snowbasin and Powder Mountain, went first and second on Ski Magazine’s “30 Best Ski Resorts in the West” list in 2023, but even for those who don’t fancy a day on the slopes, this beautiful area is perfect for cross-country skiing, sledding, and winter hikes (on snowshoes or not — take your pick).
Summer in Ogden brings elite-level stargazing in the Dark Sky Area of North Fork Park, as well as an easy drive to Antelope Island State Park in the Great Salt Lake — head out that way if you’re looking for wildlife, because it’s one of the best places in the state to spot bison. Mountain biking is a popular sport in the area as well, and trails like Waterfall Canyon and Hidden Valley make Ogden a prime hiking spot.
Park City
There are ski resorts, and then there are the mountains that hosted the alpine events of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Park City Mountain is the nation’s largest ski resort, one where you can hop on a lift right in the scenic center of town after brunch and be on the mountain in minutes. With 7,300 acres of skiable area and over 300 trails, there is something for all skill levels. Oh, and in the summertime, one such ski run is transformed into the Alpine Coaster, an attraction best described as a slide on steroids, with epic views of the surrounding mountains. Along with Deer Valley Resort, it’s one of the state’s best and most scenic places to enjoy winter sports.
Nearby, the Utah Olympic Park maintains the ski jumps and bobsled runs used during the 2002 Olympics, which are now a training facility for winter athletes. It’s a great place to try some unusual outdoor activities, such as ziplining or bobsledding. Thanks to the National Ability Center, a local institution that equips nature lovers of all abilities to enjoy the outdoors, even those with mobility difficulties can enjoy skiing, hiking, and biking.
Springdale
Most people wind up in Springdale for one reason only: it’s the gateway to Zion National Park, one of the most famous and visited in the National Park system. The park spans a whopping 145,000 acres, which is filled with mountains, buttes, mesas, and rivers. There are few hiking trails more iconic in the whole country than Zion’s notorious Angels Landing (be sure to get a permit well in advance), and in Springdale, you’ll be well-placed to wake up every morning of your visit and get right to exploring.
With an ecologically unique location at the intersection of three distinct desert ecosystems, Zion National Park’s unique scenery makes it obvious why this park receives over three million annual visitors. In addition to its countless iconic hikes, visitors to the park can enjoy backcountry canyoning (again, make sure you secure your permit in advance), stargazing, and the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
Torrey
The fifth and final of Utah’s Mighty Five is Capitol Reef National Park, and if you’re looking to stay under a roof while you explore, your best bet is the nearby town of Torrey. Less trafficked than Moab, Bryce Canyon City, or Springfield, Torrey offers the same can’t-be-beat scenery with fewer crowds. It’s an International Dark Sky Community with top-notch stargazing, and those looking for the most unspoiled daytime views of its dramatic, freestanding red rock spires should head for the underrated gem of the Cathedral Valley Scenic Backway that loops drivers through a stunning but less-visited part of Capitol Reef.
Further into Capitol Reef, you’ll find some of the slot canyons for which this area is world-famous. Burro Wash Slot Canyon may be the most popular, but you’ll still need to employ a local guide for safety reasons. If you’re more into hikes that don’t require you to squeeze through a gap barely wide enough for a single person to pass through, the Chimney Rock Loop Trail is a moderately strenuous but non-technical option. Looking for a real challenge? The 9.4-mile Hickman Bridge & Navajo Knobs Trail offers some of the park’s most wide-open vistas.
Finishing Thoughts
Straddling the great deserts of the Southwest and the mountainous north, Utah is a state uniquely blessed with diverse scenery. Just about any outdoor activity you could imagine is available in Utah. If you beat a path beyond the tourist trail, you’ll enjoy most of them in serenity that this sparsely populated state is uniquely qualified to offer. In any season, for any taste: count on a Utah town to deliver exactly the back-to-nature experience you were searching for.
