If Utah had nothing more than the trails of the High Uinta Mountains and the Wasatch Range right outside Salt Lake City, it would still be a great destination for outdoor recreation. Add to that the countless trails of its many National Parks, National Forests, National Monuments, National Recreation Areas, and State Parks, and Utah becomes one of the finest outdoor adventure playgrounds in the world.

Utah is rightly known for its skiing, with the slopes and trails of world-famous ski resorts like Alta, Park City, and Deer Valley minutes from downtown Salt Lake. Lesser-known but equally blessed with the same dry powder snow are the many backcountry skiing and snowboarding routes nearby, in places like Mount Timpanogos, Lone Peak, and Deseret Peak, and the Abajo (Blue) and La Sal Mountains to the south.

As gateway to the southern Canyon Country, Moab is a mountain biking mecca for fat-tire enthusiasts from around the globe who flock to the slickrock of The Colorado Plateau. Epic rides like Poison Spider Mesa, Porcupine Rim Trail, and the famous Slickrock Trail start right out of town, and the Arches Loop and White Rim Road provide the unusual opportunity for mountain biking in spectacular Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Hikers will love the region as well, as great trails explore Capitol Reef National Park, Rainbow Bridge National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park, including the spectacular Narrows of Zion Canyon and the Fairyland Loop in Bryce Canyon. And backpackers will find countless miles of the remote canyons and mesas of the red-rock country to explore in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

It’s not even necessary to get out of your car to enjoy the region, as great scenic drives can be found throughout Utah’s corner of the Four Corners Region. And even though Utah is generally dry, it still has its fair share of water. Canoeists and kayakers can explore Lake Powell on the Colorado River in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and fly-fishing enthusiasts can enjoy the Green River near Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and the many lakes of the High Uintas Wilderness.