Jewell Judy - Moon handbooks. Utah

HANDBOOKS

W. C. McRAE & JUDY JEWELL

The story goes that in 1847, when the trail-weary Mormon leader Brigham Young surveyed the Salt Lake Valley from Emigration Canyon high in the Wasatch Range, he declared, This is the place. Since the founding of Salt Lake City and the settlement of Utah, many other people have taken a look at this dramatic landscape and agreed: Yes, this is the place.

Few places on earth combine such spectacular terrain and unusual history. The state hosts the majestic splendor of the Wasatch Range, the colorful canyon lands of the Colorado Plateau, and the remote deserts and arid mountain ranges of the Great Basin. This region beckoned as the Promised Land to members of the struggling Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 1840sa place where those faithful to the Book of Mormon could survive and prosper in a land of their own. Today, this once insular state has put out the welcome matUtahs extravagant scenery and superlative recreational opportunities lure sightseers, mountain bikers, hikers, and skiers from around the world, many of whom stay on to make this beguiling state their home.

Utah presents some curious statistics: Although it ranks 34th among states in population, it is the sixth most urban state in the nation, a startling fact when you consider how utterly vacantthough dramatically beautifulmuch of the landscape is. The unyielding deserts, craggy mountains, and imposing slickrock formations that cover much of the state arent really fit for human habitation, and the majority of citizens live in a few large cities in the sprawling Wasatch Front metropolitan area.

A little more than 60 percent of the people living in Utah are practicing Mormons. To outsiders, the social homogeneity of smaller towns far from Salt Lake City, Park City, and Moab can seem off-putting, but the strong religious and cultural bonds that tie families and communities together in Utah are themselves noteworthy and increasingly rare in the fast-paced modern world. The uniformity of the population stands in stark contrast to the diversity of the landscape and the abundance of opportunities for outdoor recreation.

From incredibly varied canyon country, remote and rugged mountain ranges, and glistening salt flats to ancient Native American rock art and cliff dwellings, fossilized dinosaur footprints, and old mining towns, the many fascinating sights and experiences of Utah are waiting to be discovered.

Salt Lake City is the state capital, home to a major university and seat of a major religiona rare combination of attributes that makes for a certain amount of civic gravitas and self-focus. But to visitors, Salt Lake City presents a near-unique natural and built environment where all-seasons, big-as-all-outdoors recreation coexists with the sophisticated comforts of urban living. And as one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the nation, Salt Lake Citys population is increasingly diverse and cosmopolitan.

In the Wasatch Range, superb snow conditions and friendly ski resorts combine to offer some of the best skiing in North America. Each resort has its own distinct character, from folksy yet ski-crazy Alta to plush Deer Valley. In Park City, upscale amenities, fine dining, and events such as the Sundance Film Festival compete with stellar ski slopes for the attention of skiers and boarders. During summer, the mountain passes and ski areas offer hiking and mountain biking.

Ogden was once a thriving rail hub, and although the handsome rail station at the head of 25th Street no longer receives rail passengers, it now houses museums, a restaurant, and an art gallery. The citys old downtown area retains early-20th-century storefronts, now home to restaurants and shops. Logan is located in a fertile green valley and hedged by towering peaks. Summer festivals, including the nationally acclaimed Utah Festival Opera, make Logan a lively place. Pretty canyons lie east of both towns, escorting travelers to high valleys and lakes.

hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park

A WEEKEND: Visit Salt Lake City and Park City.

ONE WEEK: Add Zion and Bryce National Parks.

TEN DAYS: Add Arches, Canyonlands, and Moab.

TWO WEEKS: Add Ogden and Logan.

Great Basin Desert

This is the place to visit if you want to get away from it all. The Great Basin Desert alternates with arid mountain ranges, and only a few paved roads even cross this forlorn landscape. Many visitors travel through on I-80, getting a long look at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the states northwestern corner. West-central Utah is the best place in the state for rockhounding, and theres lots of history in the old mining ghost towns. The Pony Express crossed this lonely stretch of desert, and remnants of old stations and inns can still be seen.

Provo and Central Utah

Provo, home to Brigham Young University, is a good base for exploring the dramatic Wasatch peaks that rise directly behind the city. An especially nice back road is the Alpine Scenic Loop, which climbs up to 7,500 feet through dramatic mountain scenery. Along the way youll pass Sundance Resort, noted for its skiing and good restaurants, and Timpanogos Cave National Monument,