Utah has 46 State Parks, and we have visited almost all of them. These parks focus on history, water activities, camping, and scenic beauty. We wanted to compile a list of our Top 5 Favorite State Parks in Utah. These are all state parks that we have been to multiple times, and we recommend to everyone. If you are looking for a great local adventure, try these 5 Utah State Parks.
Bear Lake
Our clear choice for water sports is Bear Lake State Park. Bear Lake is called the “Caribbean of Rockies,” and it is easy to see why. The water is a gorgeous turquoise blue. We take a trip to this state park each summer, and it is such a beautiful place to cool off. The beach has the most shallow water along the edge, so it is great for all ages, especially toddlers. Bear Lake is definitely a top state park in Utah. (Hint: try the Idaho side, too!)
Antelope Island
The all-around best state park is Antelope Island because it has so much to do. You can float in the Great Salt Lake, hike, enjoy the bison and other animals, walk through the historic ranch, and enjoy the Visitor Center. We love packing lunch and spending the day out on Antelope Island.
Snow Canyon
The state park that could be a national park is Snow Canyon because it reminds us of mini Zion National Park. There are towering walls, sand dunes, slot canyons, lava tubes, and more. You can spend a full day exploring all of the different rock formations and enjoying the family-friendly trails in Snow Canyon. Definitely plan to explore this state park when you are in the St. George area.
This is the Place Heritage Park
The best historical park in Utah is This is the Place Heritage Park. Entrance to the grounds is free, so families can walk through and enjoy the pioneer homes and grounds. But you will want to pay for some of the fun activities because panning for gold, riding the ponies, doing pioneer chores, and more are so much fun. You can easily spend a whole day with the playground and splash pad. And don’t forget to grab some Brigham’s Donuts.
Goblin Valley
Our favorite state park for camping is Goblin Valley State Park. The rock formations in Goblin Valley are so unique and worth a visit. Our boys love playing hide and seek among the hoodoo formations, and we love to spend hours walking through them. There are plenty of trails and a great campground with yurts, too. This is one of the best parks in Utah, and it is in a great location for you to enjoy lots of other beautiful places, too.
These are the 5 best state parks that we have visited many times. Do you agree or disagree? What’s your favorite state park in Utah?
Runner Ups
These are 10 other state parks that we really enjoy, too. They are the runner ups to our favorites, and all of them are definitely worth a visit!
- Utah Field House of Natural History: Vernal
- Fremont Indian: Sevier
- Kodachrome Basin: Escalante
- Escalante Petrified Forest: Escalante
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes: Kanab
- Frontier Homestead: Cedar City
- Camp Floyd: Cedar Fort
- Territorial Statehouse: Fillmore
- Sand Hollow: Hurricane
- Great Salt Lake: Salt Lake
