For Utah, it doesn’t matter how many shiny structures (the state’s tallest building, Astra Tower, opened in Salt Lake City in May) or new sports franchises (NHL’s Utah Mammoth) come to town, the state can’t seem to shake its outdoorsy persona. And that’s fine. If your hometown had Zion National Park’s steep cliffs or Canyonland’s majestic mesas, it would probably flaunt them, too.
But the interesting thing that Forbes Travel Guide found out during a recent visit to Southern Utah is that, even though you’re surrounded by awe-inspiring red rocks and pink-tinted canyon rims, there’s plenty to do for guests who can’t tell the difference between a carabiner and a canteen.
So, if you’re a hiker, a foodie, a country music fan or just about any other brand of traveler in between, the 280-mile drive from the big city down to Bryce Canyon County proves worth it.
For The Glampers
The Disney+ series Andor filmed much of its second season in the United Kingdom. Had the creative team wanted a closer location for its far-out scenes, the recently opened Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon could have worked brilliantly. With 60-plus glass domes dotted across a craggy 80-acre canyon, the property feels like it’s on another planet. There are stargazing tours, horseback rides and an out-of-this-world yoga dome is opening this summer.
There’s no roughing it like some Death Star maintenance worker here, either. The breathtaking domes with panoramic views have rainforest showers, loft spaces and kitchenettes. The main dome where you check in doubles as a meeting area with games, and it houses Sky Nova Café Bar & Grill. While the Jameson Lavender Lemonade is refreshing, it’s the food that’s heavenly. The kitchen brought out pan-seared ribeye and Guinness stout-soaked mussels — all of it flavored so well that you forget you’re a galaxy away from the nearest grocery store.
Ofland Escalante’s accommodations are only slightly more conventional. With vintage Airstreams and custom-designed cabins spread about the graveled property, it feels like a high-end summer camp. In keeping with that theme, rooms have outdoor showers (with heaters for those chilly Utah mornings), a communal patio with Uno cards, a drive-in theater and a food truck dishing out burgers and fries almost every night. This is the sort of place where avid campers might detour before an epic trek or where a couple simply wanting to unplug from the world would hide out for a while.
For the Foodies
Salt Lake City and Park City’s dining scenes have been buzzy for years. Though Southern Utah’s kitchens may be void of all the hoopla, they’ve got the tastes down pat. Iron your favorite cargo shorts and head on over to 4th West Pub in Escalante. As the name suggests, the food here covers the bar fare favorites (sandwiches, onion rings, tacos), but it does so with style. The wings are doused in a housemade honey chipotle sauce while the burgers are hand-pressed with local beef and have the restaurant’s logo branded into the bun. Pair either with the Salt Lake-based Desolation Prickly Pear Hard Cider to complete the meal.
And what’s a Utah visit without some pizza? Okay, so the state may not be known for its pies, but The Pizza Place has been on a mission since its 1990 opening to change that way of thinking one delicious margherita slice at a time. With a crust sitting comfortably between thin and thick, the pizza allows you to take bites without toppings tumbling all over. The generously stuffed calzones and Uinta Brewing Co.’s crisp Hoodoo beer also make impressive statements.
For the Music Lovers
A massive grill and cabin-like façade tell you just about everything you need to know about what’s going on inside Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill. This is a Nashville-influenced dinner experience where locals come to listen to local and national musicians and have a good ole time. When we stopped by, country act Due West was the headliner, weaving stories of the group’s musical journey between songs like “When the Smoke Clears” and “I Get That All the Time” that bounced off the beamed ceilings.
Of course, all the boot tapping takes a lot out of you. It’s a good thing that the kitchen has flat-iron steak, chicken, baked salmon and all the fixings to get revelers re-energized. If it weren’t for miles of red rock pinnacles off in the distance, you’d think you were deep in the heart of Texas.
For the Adventurers
Nearly 2.5 million people visited Bryce Canyon National Park in 2024. The attraction is obvious. The hoodoos (distinctive rock formations for which the park is renowned) reach to the clouds. Paths carve through archways that have seemingly been around forever. Every 10 feet presents another photo opportunity. Even the chipmunks pose for quick snaps.
As you’d expect from a park that stretches more than 35,000 acres, there are short trails, long trails, trails for experts and trails for those don’t want to exert anything. The latter can just walk the rim and be awed by Inspiration Point, Sunset Point and other spots from afar. If you can make the 2.9-mile route, though, the Queen’s/Navajo Combination Loop is highly suggested. With the hoodoos, stunning switchbacks and impressive canyon walls, it’s Bryce Canyon’s most popular stretch for good reason.
If you want an even more hands-on canyon experience, reserve an outing with Excursions of Escalante. Rick Green and Amie Fortin have helped folks go canyoneering (i.e., exploring a canyon) on some of Utah’s prettiest sedimentary rock for years. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is their backyard, so they know all the best spots to explore.
Once you’ve been fitted for your gear and grab lunch at their office, hop in an SUV and have the guides take you deep into the bowels of the vast park. Your level of canyoneering skill and comfort will determine where you go from there. If you’re a beginner, try an intro experience that familiarizes you with the canyon and teaches you the first things about skills like rappelling.
Should you feel confident under your helmet, go on a canyoneering adventure that’s much more physically demanding. You’ll jump, pull and squeeze through crevices you didn’t know you were capable of. But whichever trail you venture, it’ll eventually lead to a pleasant spot on a rock where you can eat your hard-earned sandwich while basking in all the rugged beauty that Southern Utah has to offer.
