The Most Charming River Towns In Utah
Water is the rarest thing in the Utah desert, and a handful of towns sit right on it. In Utah, rafters put in on the Green River and float its namesake channel past sandy beaches and a bubbling geyser. La Verkin sits above a park where the Virgin River meets Ash and La Verkin Creeks. Moab stands between two national parks, with the Colorado River along one edge. In Helper, a riverwalk and a suspension bridge run beside the Price. Each town below trades desert heat for a stretch of moving water.
Bluff
Bluff is a tiny town situated along the San Juan River in southeastern Utah, surrounded by beautiful sandstone bluffs. Utah's Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway runs through Bluff, and many pretty destinations lie an hour or less away. The town is famous for its San Juan River rafting trips. You can book a half-day, one-day, or five-day trip through Wild Expeditions, the local river company. While in town, you may also want to visit Bluff Fort to learn more about the first Anglos who settled in the region.
A trip to nearby Sand Island lets you check out the Sand Island Petroglyph Panel, which contains both ancient (dating back as far as 2,500 years) and more recent Native American glyphs. Plenty of shopping, dining, and lodging options exist in town. Consider booking a stay at Desert Rose Resort and Cabins, chow down on some southwestern barbecue at Canyon Smokehouse, and find awesome souvenirs at Cow Canyon Trading Post.
Green River
The town of Green River lies along a section of I-70 in eastern Utah. Its namesake, the Green River, runs north to south through the heart of town and is closely tied to its identity. Visitors and locals alike love heading out on the river in a boat or raft, and river running excursions are common. Green River State Park, right in town, sits on the riverbank and offers a green oasis surrounded by sandstone bluffs. A nine-hole golf course at the park lets visitors test their skills in an open setting between the river and the brown desert landscape beyond. Just north of Green River, Swasey's Beach has soft white sands, cottonwood trees for shade, and shallow waters where families can swim and splash around. South of town, the Crystal Geyser bubbles up and flows into the river, leaving behind bright orange travertine deposits that make for a unique viewing experience.
If you visit Green River in September, you can take part in the annual Melon Days festival, a fun tradition that includes a parade, seed-spitting and watermelon eating contests, and other activities. Before leaving town, be sure to check out the John Wesley Powell River History Museum, where you can learn more about the early explorers who first came to the Green River area.
Hatch
Visitors traveling between Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park will most likely pass through Hatch. This tiny town sits in a flat, grassy valley watered by the Sevier River. It makes a quiet home base if you're looking for the small town experience while remaining within easy driving distance of various scenic destinations. Visitors can fish for various types of trout in the river. Local lodging options, such as The Riverside Ranch RV Park Motel & Campground and the Sevier River Retreat, often have good views of the river.
Hatch lies just 12 miles from Red Canyon, 14 miles from Mammoth Cave, and 24 miles from Bryce Canyon, so it is easy to explore each of these natural wonders while staying in town. Within Hatch itself, you can visit the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP) Museum to learn more about the area's history. Start your day off right with coffee and breakfast at the Sevier Coffee Co. and Cafe, then grab a tasty dinner or drink at the Outlaw Saloon and Restaurant to top off a fun day of exploration.
Helper
A town with a name like Helper is sure to be worth visiting, and Helper, Utah, does not disappoint. The Price River runs alongside Highway 6 through town, and the pretty Helper Riverwalk has a suspension bridge and several accesses to the water. It is lined with young aspen and cottonwood trees, along with water-loving shrubs for shade and greenery. Several parks throughout town, including Helper City Park and the Historic Helper Main Street Park, provide green spaces for public gathering, nature viewing, and relaxing.
An official Dark Sky Community, Helper is a great place for viewing stars, constellations, and planets at night. The Helper Museum covers the town's history of coal mining and the early railroad's strong influence on the region. The Rio Theatre stages live concerts, performances, and events. For those visiting Helper during the holidays, Christmas Town is an annual event featuring a craft show, town lighting ceremony, light parade, fireworks show, and more.
La Verkin
La Verkin, sometimes called La Verkin City, sits on the west side of Zion National Park, just north of Hurricane. The Virgin River flows along its southern border and offers opportunities for boating, fishing, and picnicking at the water's edge. Confluence Park, where the river meets Ash and La Verkin Creeks, holds a scenic blend of red cliffs, towering cottonwood trees, and plenty of flowing water. Several trails run throughout the park so visitors can enjoy the scenery on foot or via bicycle. La Verkin Overlook has a hiking trail with wide ridgeline views of the town down in the valley and the nearby Virgin River Gorge. Those hiking along the ridge also get pretty views of the national park to the east and the Pine Valley Mountains further west.
A top attraction in town is Zion Canyon Hot Springs, fed by the mineral-dense Pah Tempe Hot Springs. This water-intensive resort has 32 mineral hot springs pools, along with a large freshwater swimming pool, three cold-plunge pools, and 16 "WorldSprings" soaking pools designed to simulate famous bodies of water throughout the world. Aside from the hot springs, various state parks, as well as Zion National Park, are all within easy driving distance of La Verkin, making the town a great starting point for all of your outdoor adventures in the area.
Moab
Moab is a beautiful town sandwiched between Canyonlands and Arches National Parks in eastern Utah. The Colorado River flows along its northwestern edge, and tall red cliffs rise over the surrounding landscape. The town is a hotspot for recreational opportunities like hiking, biking, off-roading, fishing, rafting, and bird-watching. The colorful landscape blends undulating sandstone and green areas fed by the river, along with the winding river itself, home to a variety of wildlife species such as birds and fish.
While in town, consider taking a drive along any of Moab's three scenic byways: the Upper Colorado River (US 128), the Dead Horse Point Mesa (US 313), and the Potash-Lower Colorado River (US 279). Explore Moab Giants Dinosaur Park and Museum, which features life-sized dinosaur replicas, interactive exhibits, and a 3-D theater. Check out the scenery from the air by booking a hot air balloon ride through Canyonland Ballooning. Stay at any of the plentiful lodging options, such as Big Horn Lodge or Wolfe's Hotel Moab. Enjoy a tasty dinner at Rooted Vine, which serves adventurous food and drink options for curious diners.
Morgan
Morgan, also known as Morgan City, is a small town less than an hour northeast of Salt Lake City. Its principal feature is the Weber River, which flows through the center of town. Rafting, kayaking, paddleboarding, and tubing are all popular activities on the water. Riverside Park, in the heart of town, has a walking path along the river as well as a playground, splash pad, skate park, and several athletic fields and courts.
While in town, check out the Morgan Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum, which features a preserved pioneer cabin. Take a horse-drawn wagon ride through pretty mountain meadow scenery with Dragonfly Carriages. Stick around for the Morgan County Fair, which runs for a week each summer and features a rodeo and junior rodeo, barrel racing competitions, pet show, parade, pickleball tournament, and much more.
Utah's River Towns
What these towns share is a working relationship with their rivers. In Bluff, outfitters run rafts down the San Juan, and in Morgan, paddlers fill the Weber with kayaks and tubes every summer. Helper is an official Dark Sky Community, and the Price threads through the middle of town. The rivers are why people come, and why each town sits where it does. That is the thread running through every stop on this list.
