Rafting Cataract Canyon in Canyonlands national park
When it comes to epic white-water adventures across the world, few compare with the daunting, but highly rated, Cataract Canyon stretch of the Colorado river. Outfitters and private groups typically take five days to float the 100 miles of river through Canyonlands and into Glen Canyon national recreation area. Whether it is high water – anything more than 30,000 cubic-feet per second – or late in the summer with low flows, rapids like Satan's Gut and Big Drops I, II and III pose a problem for the best captains. Camping along the river is part of the unique desert experience which also includes hiking to petroglyphs and dwellings created by the ancient peoples of the south-west.
• +1 435 719 2100, nps.gov. Permits required. Camping year-round
Hike to Angels Landing in Zion national park
The view from Angels Landing will take your breath away; if you didn't lose it on the way up the 440m climb from the floor of Zion Canyon. Hikers use the West Rim Trail for two miles to access the 1/2-mile trail to Angels Landing. The strenuous hike is not for those afraid of heights. The final stretch is a narrow spine of rock lined with chains at hand level for hikers to hold while trying not to look down the nearly 30m drop on either side of their feet. The view, as you may guess, is worth the effort. Once on top, hikers quickly understand how Angels Landing earned its name.
• +1 435 772 3256, nps.gov/zion. Open year-round. Park entrance fee $12 individual or $25 per vehicle; valid for seven days
Greatest Snow on Earth
It only takes one run on Utah's famous powder to understand why it is called the "Greatest Snow on Earth". The light and fluffy snow frequently comes in dumps measured by feet rather than inches. Skiers float through turns, their bodies out of sight as the snow creates a wake. Some years there is enough lift-served snow to allow skiing on America's birthday – the Fourth of July. People come from across the planet to ski and snowboard Utah's 14 resorts, or the countless miles of backcountry. Don't forget, several Utah resorts hosted ski and snowboard events during the 2002 Winter Olympics.
• +1 801 534 1779, skiutah.com. Lift tickets required at resorts
Hiking to Delicate Arch in Arches national park
This is the Utah landmark most citizens of the world recognise. Delicate Arch is a three-mile round trip up and back on a slickrock trail categorised by park officials as moderate in difficulty. Upon closer inspection, the arch is probably not as delicate as its name. The first words – uttered in many languages –people say are typically: "It's so much bigger than I thought." An easier hike to view Delicate Arch from a distance is available, however.
• +1 435 719 2299,nps.gov/arch. Park entrance fee $5 for individuals and $10 for vehicles; good for seven days
Mountain biking the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands national park
If powering yourself through a national park at a little faster pace is more your thing, consider a mountain bike trip on the 100-mile White Rim Trail in Canyonlands national park. The jeep trail in the scenic Island in the Sky district of the park has become a popular mountain biking destination. Some hardcore riders do it in one day, but most take three or four, allowing time to stop and appreciate the beauty of erosion at its finest. Riders will get a chance to view both the Colorado and Green rivers, as well as explore slot canyons, view wildlife, and see what the ancient people of the area left behind.
• +1 435 719 2100, nps.gov. Permit required. Park entrance fee $5 for individuals and $10 for vehicles; good for seven days
Canyoneering in the Grand Staircase-Escalante national monument
Desert landscapes are not always about slickrock, sand dunes and mirages. Some of Utah's most unique outdoor adventures come in the plethora of narrow and deep canyons of the desert. The area around Escalante has one of the greatest collections of slot canyons on earth. Many canyons can be casual day hikes, but the really exciting ones require technical climbing equipment for rappelling down the steepest portions. Water may also be obstacle in some canyons. Guides can be hired to get you in and out without a lot of homework or a call to search and rescue.
• blm.gov
Fly fishing on the Green river in north-eastern Utah
There is a saying among anglers that "trout live in beautiful places". It is really just a way of saying that even if the fishing isn't great the trip is still worth the scenery. That is certainly true on the Green river below Flaming Gorge Dam in north-eastern Utah. Fly fishers flock to the Green for the chance to catch big trout, and a lot of them. But be warned, the fishing can be frustrating if the trout are not biting because so many can be spotted in the clear water. First-time fly fishers will find plenty of opportunities with guides to land their first trout and they couldn't find a more beautiful place to make it happen.
• fs.usda.gov
Sailing on the Great Salt Lake
It is the largest body of water west of the Great Lakes, but the Great Salt Lake is often overlooked by locals as a recreation destination. Members of the Great Salt Lake Yacht Club, also known as the "World's Sailtiest Sailors", have learned that the sunsets on the lake are among the best anywhere in the world and the sailing isn't so bad either. Some believe the density of the salt water and the other minerals of the lake intensify the sunset in the reflection. For those curious, the south end of the Great Salt Lake has a salt content of 15% while water on the north end of the lake is 27% salt. The ocean is about 3% salt.
• +1 801 538 7220stateparks.utah.gov. Guided sailing trips are available out of the marina. Great Salt Lake State Marina entry fee $2 per vehicle
Astronomy at Bryce Canyon national park
How many stars can you see from your backyard? Maybe a hundred? The "Dark" Rangers of Bryce Canyon are proud to report that on clear and moonless nights roughly 7,500 stars can be seen from Utah's highest elevation national park. The dark skies over Bryce can be attributed to the park's distance from the light pollution produced in major cities. The rangers lead more than 140 night sky programmes each year and all include time to view the universe from telescopes when conditions allow. The annual Bryce Canyon Astronomy festival is popular, drawing astronomy experts and galaxy geeks from across the globe.
• +1 435 834 5322, nps.gov. Park entrance fee is $12 per person or $25 per vehicle; good for seven days
Birding on the Bear river Migratory Bird Refuge
The freshwater marshes along the Great Salt Lake attract countless shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors throughout the year. The Bear river Migratory Bird Refuge on the north end of the lake is one of the best places to cross species off your birding life list. More than 270 species have been documented and roughly 75 nest at the refuge. Many birders enjoy the influx of new birds during the spring and fall migrations. As many as 440,000 ducks move through the Bear river Migratory Bird Refuge in late March. A 12-mile self-guided auto tour, which is open from dawn to dusk every day, includes plenty of pull outs making it easy to explore the refuge. Some birders enjoy riding bicycles on the auto-tour loop.
• +1 435 734 6425, fws.gov/refuge/bear_river_migratory_bird_refuge. Free
Brett Prettyman is outdoor editor for the Salt Lake Tribune
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