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Utah's top 10: For little or no cost, Utahns can enjoy wealth of recreation

Utah splendor | 3:19 p.m. July 8, 2009

This is a magnificent list. Utah is truly blessed.

We need to take care of these blessings for future generations.

Matomand | 3:49 p.m. July 8, 2009

Just spent a week's vacation from San Diego in Southern Utah. My soul is refreshed from the peace and beauty I experienced in Zion, North Rim of the Grand Canyon (I know - not Utah), and Bryce Canyon. The people are friendly and laid back, and the scenery can't be beat.

Runners' Paradise | 4:52 p.m. July 8, 2009

And don't forget that Utah is a runner's paradise.
One of the greatest running trails in America (I've run in almost all the major metropolitan areas in the U.S.) is the Provo River Parway Trail from the top of South Fork of Provo Canyon all the way to Utah Lake, 20 miles. The St. George Marathon is one of the top marathons in the nation. Hundreds of other cross-country and road races throughout the state (thankfully held on Saturdays for us Mormons!) are available throughout the year. What a state!

Comments continue below

Ernest T. Bass | 5:57 p.m. July 8, 2009

backcountry skiing & snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, road biking, running.....the list goes on and on.
I really believe the in regards to outdoor recreation, there isn't a State in the Union that can beat Utah.

Ralph | 6:03 p.m. July 8, 2009

Utah is a unique paradise with all kinds of diverse recreational opportunity. I have tried them all, throughout the state. The only one on the list that I would disagree with, however, is the fishing. As a kid, I could be on five different rivers or impoundments withing 10 minutes of my home and could catch fish anytime I wanted. Today, with such a bulging population, everything is over-fished. If you can even get on the river or lake, your chances of catching anything decent are pretty remote. And I am an expert fisherman. I choose to visit Idaho, Montana, or Colorado when the fishing bug hits!!

Photos | 7:15 p.m. July 8, 2009

The photos to this story are gorgeous, (but most of the captions seem cut off).

too many | 7:21 p.m. July 8, 2009

Too many people in Utah today. Too many. Who ever is backing this population disaster should quit it.
Now!!!!!

You idiots. You have taken a beautiful state and trashed it with over population Trashed it!!! Look outside... see the pollution? It isn't caused by squirrels and birds, you know.

Stupid policy this population thing. Agrarian, not modern. Everyone outside Utah knows this...

I cry for my beloved Utah.

Re: too many | 8:24 p.m. July 8, 2009

Interesting point of view. If I'm counting right, you affect the population "problem" as much as any other individual in the state.

Scott | 8:56 p.m. July 8, 2009

I'm a BYU student and I'm always hearing complaints from fellow (out of state) students about how boring Utah is. I think it's so ridiculous. Utah is incredible. Just minutes from any point on the Wasatch front are beautiful canyons for hiking, biking, camping, boating or even just a picnic. Honestly, the only thing boring in Utah are boring people who don't get out to enjoy it.

It's important to remember though to take good care of what we have; which means no-trace camping and really being responsible when you're out in mother nature. It astonishes me the number of negligent people who shoot off fireworks and thereby risk forest fires. It also troubles me when I see how much litter can be found at some of the more popular recreational areas. Just last weekend I picked up several plastic bottles and other bits of trash people had carelessly left around the Donut Falls trail up Big Cottonwood Canyon.

I don't want to complain too much though, because we truly have a beautiful state. Let's just remember the responsibility that comes with that privilege.

RE: Scott | 9:05 p.m. July 8, 2009

Thats cause they don't leave Provo.

re: Ernest T. Bass | 10:56 p.m. July 8, 2009

"I really believe the in regards to outdoor recreation, there isn't a State in the Union that can beat Utah."

I love Utah, but Montana can my friend. Montana can.

Ah Montana | 11:33 p.m. July 8, 2009

An incredible place in its own right. But, my friend, it has no where near the varied scenery and environment of Utah. Look at the 13,000 foot peaks just outside of Moab. And the giant rivers cutting through 13 million acres of incomparable desert? To top it off, the Wasatch got 24 feet of snow in 18 days in March/April, of which I gleefully partook. The only thing we're missing is the ocean. I could live anywhere in the world in my line of work and I live here for a reason.

Ray Grass | 7:59 a.m. July 9, 2009

Utah Division of Travel Development and utah.com???

Cmon bud it is the Utah Office of Tourism (since 2004) and utah.travel

Just for the record | 8:15 a.m. July 9, 2009

Montana has some beautiful areas but all it has are mountains and plains. Utah is much more diverse. It has everything Montana has and much more. As for out of state students being bored here. I agree with Scott. They are boring people waiting for something to come along and entertain them. Having known several of these people myself, I guarantee that they are even more bored when they are home. If you can't find something interesting to do in a town that has 25,000 students from all over the world, you have got some real problems.

one old guy | 8:38 a.m. July 9, 2009

re: Too Many's comments: "You idiots. You have taken a beautiful state and trashed it with over population.
I cry for my beloved Utah. "

Yeah, whatever. I see that the "I Got Mine" crowd is alive and well in Utah.

By the way, your lament of "I cry for my beloved Utah" was exactly what my Ute and Shoshone ancestors were thinking when you and your crowd moved in.

There's room enough for all of us here if we take care of it so lay off the selfish overpopulation arguments.

Nebraska | 8:42 a.m. July 9, 2009

Both my wife and I grew up in Utah and never really appreciated how wonderful it was. Yes, we enjoyed all the outdoors stuff, but we took it for granted. Be grateful you have public land.

Here in Nebraska, any public land we have has been developed into wonderful state parks that are like resort areas - not what you want for solitude and relaxation. Other public lands for hunting and hiking are few and often smaller than one square mile.

The thing we miss most is all the public land in Utah We won't ever take it for granted again.

barbara | 9:21 a.m. July 9, 2009

I live three miles from the Pacific ocean. It's big and beautiful, but in May I enjoyed the serenity and gorgeous sights of Lake Powell. For my money, Powell is far more wonderful. The canyons evoke images of past generations and present to us those wonderful wind and abrasion carvings. Goblin Valley has prompted a story for my grandchildren, and the everchanging landscape sparks the imagination. The ocean just pretty much makes me seasick.

love ut | 9:51 a.m. July 9, 2009

i just moved back to ut from socal and wow i really forgot how great this state was for the outdoors and beaty

Wanderer | 10:04 a.m. July 9, 2009

I love Montana ... and most of our Western states (including Nevada!). But Utah does indeed have much more variety. The state that probably beats Utah in variety is California, which has the seacoasts, too. But it truly does have too many people, native, immigrant and visiting. It is very difficult to find the luxurious solitude and peace that Utah has. I enjoy visiting all of these other places (and, when I can, the wonders of the world), but my home and my heart are in Utah, where beauty is everywhere and of virtually every kind.

ATV | 2:48 p.m. July 9, 2009

I woulda liked to see fourwheeling on that list! San Juan county alone has like 10,000 miles worth of trails. All the mountains around provide perfect riding areas

Ernest T. Bass | 6:15 p.m. July 9, 2009

re: Montana
I love Montana. That is one State I would love to live, but there is no Canyonlands (ever been to the Maze?), there is no Arches (Fiery Furnace), there is no Westwater or Cataract Canyon, there is not Thunder Mountain trail to mountain bike on, there is no Zion with all the slot canyons.
Yes Montana is spectacular, but without Big & Little Cottonwood or canyon country, it still doesn't beat Utah.

Chuckles55 | 8:24 p.m. July 9, 2009

Hopefully some of the kindergarteners who go camping and hiking in the wilds learn how to protect the environment and leave it clean and safe for others. My wife and I camped on the Alpine Loop and filled a large trash bag with beer cans, discarded food and just plain garbage before we could enjoy our favorite camping site. Maybe we should require anyone who goes camping in Utah to take a class and pay a refundable deposit before going out. Of course, that would be un-American to require such a thing...

You forgot BYU | 8:30 p.m. July 9, 2009

BYU has a museum of paleontology with some great dinosaur exhibits and, unlike the U and CEU museums, BYU's doesn't charge anything. In fact, none of the BYU museums charge an entrance fee except for special exhibitions.

Ernest T. Bass | 10:56 a.m. July 10, 2009

re: forgot byu,
Trouble is, they say dinosaurs are only 6,000 years old.

really? | 12:17 p.m. July 11, 2009

Ernest, when was the last time you enrolled in a paleontology course at BYU?

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