Whether you are visiting or lucky enough to call the Beehive State home, get ready for some of the best accommodations and adventures around. We’ve paired incredible lodging in Park City, Bryce, Alta and Zion with activities guided by hotels and their partners — so you can venture outdoors without planning a thing.
Full Moon Experience
Lodging: Take a 90-second funicular ride to reach The St. Regis Deer Valley, a luxurious slope-side resort in Park City. Let Executive Chef Pierson Shields and Chef de Cuisine Larry Abrams be the guides as your taste buds traverse the elevated dining experiences, demonstrating how incredible Utah’s food scene is with the right talent at the helm.
Take in mountain views on the patio bar with a legendary bloody mary, made with Alpine Distilling vodka and topped with wasabi-celery foam. Enjoy a meal on par with Utah’s world-class adventures at RIME, the resort’s signature fine-dining restaurant, featuring flown-in fresh seafood and locally sourced meats. When you’re ready to unwind, book a relaxing massage at the 14,000-square-foot St. Regis Spa. This calm oasis delivers a Zen experience with steam rooms, hot tubs, saunas and indulgent treatments.
Adventure: Wake up with a dose of adventure on daily guided hikes for all skill levels. Hikes depart from an on-property trailhead that connects with Park City’s incredible terrain. Full moon nights are extra special, with hikes led by Shields, an avid outdoorsman. “We want to give people an experience, and a full moon hike overlooking the Jordanelle at RIME on the mountain is kind of fun,” says Shields, “People want to be adventurous, and we want to offer that right out our back door.”
Available for hotel guests, other visitors and locals, the experience includes a one-hour hike followed by yoga, a sound bath and a cacao ceremony under the full moon.
Wildflower Treks
Lodging: Experience the perfect summer mountain getaway in Little Cottonwood Canyon at the historic yet rebuilt Snowpine Lodge in Alta. The hotel showcases Utah’s rich ski history while delivering a modern guest experience. Outdoors, soak in the outdoor pool and hot tub with incredible mountain views. Inside, play in the fully stocked game room, complete with a pool table, movie theater and arcade. Also, rejuvenate with a treatment at Stillwell Spa or taste fine American fare at Swen’s Restaurant. A complimentary guest shuttle to and from nearby Snowbird allows guests to enjoy the ski resort’s summer activities and events.
“Snowpine Lodge is the perfect place to reconnect with nature and experience wildlife sightings from our terrace,” says Marketing Manager Cassandra Lentz. “Little ones love to explore our game room, savor s’mores by the fire pit and stargaze. And from the exhilarating hikes and serene nature walks to tranquil spa treatments and time spent in our mountain-view pool, there is something for everyone to enjoy.”
Adventure: Utah’s best-known wildflower hiking is found in Alta’s Albion Basin — an easy walk from Snowpine Lodge. Plan a mid- to late-summer trip for guided hikes by Snowpine staff on trails leading to colorful blossoms and sometimes a moose or time it in tandem with the Wasatch Wildflower Festival in July. Continue hiking all the way to Cecret Lake for the full Albion Basin loop, without the hassle of parking on this bustling route.
Canyoneering
Lodging: Discover upscale tent accommodations 15 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park at Under Canvas Bryce Canyon in Widtsoe, a glamping property set amid 700 acres of high alpine juniper forest. With average summer temperatures in the 70s and 80s, it’s the perfect base camp for exploring the park. Sleep in comfort inside a canvas tent outfitted with an en suite bathroom, shower and plush, king-size bed. Beyond your tent, enjoy complimentary yoga classes, hiking trails and delicious on-site dining.
Adventure: Instead of wondering what to do, let Under Canvas’s digital adventure concierge arrange an adventure, with options ranging from guided national park tours to mountain biking and kayaking. If you’re exploring on your own, experience coordinators also can offer planning advice.
For an iconic Utah outing, have an experience coordinator book a guided canyoneering tour in nearby Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This thrilling day trip takes you hiking and rappelling up to 90 feet through a narrow, red rock slot canyon. Lunch and transportation to the trail are provided.
E-Bike Tours
Lodging: Drift off to sleep in a glamorous safari tent at Open Sky Zion, a locally owned glamping destination near Zion National Park in Springdale. “For anyone looking for glamping, this property is so unique,” says Director of Sales & Marketing Lori Beaty. “We are married to the idea of building into the landscape and are completely off-grid.”
The insulated safari tents are constructed with upscale amenities: heated bathroom floors, in-room fireplaces, outdoor showers, porch swings and private hot tubs. Guests also can enjoy fine dining miles from a paved road at Black Sage, Open Sky’s restaurant that focuses on fresh, seasonal cuisine. Reservations are open to the public and lodging guests.
Adventure: When it comes to adventure, skip the shuttle system and see Zion National Park on a guided e-bike tour with Ride Zion Adventures. As one of Open Sky’s premier activity partners, guests enjoy a private tour for their group. “One of the advantages of booking through us is lobby-to-lobby service. They pick you up at Open Sky and bring you back,” says Beaty. “You get to learn things you just won’t see in a shuttle bus or in a car.”
This pedal-assisted, e-bike tour takes you up Zion Canyon, where private cars cannot drive, and shows you landmarks like the Court of the Patriarchs and Angels Landing. Reservations include door-to-door transportation in a Mercedes Sprinter van, a seasoned guide, a GoPro video of the adventure, snacks, water and a gourmet breakfast and lunch (or dinner, depending on tour timing).
Horseback Riding
Lodging: Just beyond Park City in neighboring Wanship, find The Lodge at Blue Sky, an elevated mountain retreat built on a 3,500-acre working ranch. The unique property boasts diverse lodging styles and locally driven cuisine at Yuta, where lodging guests and the public can dine. Beyond the luxurious lodging, participate in yoga classes, breathing workshops and chakra balancing to calm your body and mind. Blue Sky is also home to High West Distillery and its restaurant, Refectory, where you can take a distillery tour and sample the craft whiskies.
Adventure: The best way to explore Blue Sky’s rugged terrain is on horseback. Schedule a lesson to learn the art of natural horsemanship, where human and horse communicate through nonverbal cues. Take what you’ve learned to the hills on a guided trail ride through mountains, meadows, valleys and creeks. The experience is tailored to every rider, from beginner to expert equestrians. Follow your ride with lunch and lawn games at Blue Sky’s stable for a full day spent with these majestic animals.
