The state of Utah is unique. It has an infinite variety of landscapes, geology, and recreational opportunities, and its national parks are considered treasures. Most of Utah lies on a plateau higher than 4,000 feet above sea level. The geology of this region takes on an amazing variety of shapes and colors. Elevations rise and fall dramatically in the shape of mountains, buttes, and plateaus, the highest reaching over 13,000 feet! Within this varied landscape are hidden experiences that appeal to everyone—from the rugged, solitude-seeking explorer to the family wanting a relaxing getaway. Utah has something for everyone.

Skiing & Snowmobiling
The mountains of northern Utah, as well as those near Beaver and Cedar City in southwestern Utah boast fourteen downhill ski resorts, and seven are less than an hour's drive from Salt Lake City. This proximity affords skiers a full range of lodging, dining, and entertainment to ensure that their days and nights off the slopes are as perfect as Utah's powder snow. Skiing begins statewide in early to mid-November and generally continues through April. Its spectacular lodging, un-crowded slopes, terrain for all skiing abilities and arresting alpine scenery make Utah a "diamond in the rough" ski destination. Advanced runs challenge the expert, and cruising runs make the novice feel like an expert. Outdoor heated pools and hot tubs, ice skating rinks, tubing hills, and non-snow activities can be found at most all of the resorts. They are also renowned for the high quality of diverse restaurants.

Utah has some of the greatest snow on earth and more than 850 miles of groomed snowmobile trails traversing from the red rock canyons of southern Utah to the rugged mountains of northern Utah. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or expert rider, there are plenty of groomed trails to match your riding skills. If you are not one for staying on trails, there are hundreds of thousands of acres of high mountain bowls of famous Utah powder snow. All can be accessed through Utah's extensive snowmobile trail system. Cross-country skiing on groomed trails is a favorite winter sport in Utah. In addition, the country has hundreds of roads and trails in its National Forests, which are ideal for cross-country skiing. Or climb aboard a comfortable, heated snow cat or open-air sled for a unique ride into Utah's mountains.

Rafting
Rafting on Utah’s major rivers is an experience of a lifetime. There are five of them - the Colorado, Dolores, Green, San Juan and Yampa. Utah also has several rapids that serve as day trips and/or canoe and kayak adventures. Utah's marvelous rivers have everything that makes for memorable rafting experiences. There is quiet, flowing water through strikingly beautiful canyons and breathtaking rapids providing thrilling adventures. Then comes the eerie silence from floating along a narrow passageway with sheer sandstone canyon walls rising 1500 feet above you.

Golf
Utah’s golf courses are best known for three characteristics: scenery, condition and variety. What do Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, and Bruce Summerhays know that you don’t? Other than a few swing tips, mainly that the state of Utah offers spectacular golf. With amazing scenery and great weather, the state boasts championship golf on courses designed by the pros. Traditionally recognized as a winter recreation retreat, summer sports in Utah are growing in popularity.

Biking
A Utah bike trip will color your thinking forever, whether it's a wide-open desert ride with spectacular red rock vistas or a lush green mountain trail lined with yellow wild flowers. Utah developed a world-class reputation from Moab's famous Slickrock Trail and is fast becoming known for wonderfully diverse alpine mountain biking. All you need is a love for beautiful scenery and invigorating outdoor activity. Whether your preference is road or mountain biking, you'll quickly discover Utah to be a bicyclist's paradise. Opportunities are widely varied and seemingly endless, limited perhaps only by your stamina.

Hiking
The best way to experience the diverse landscapes of Utah is by walking through them. Utah has some very remote areas that are accessible only to hearty backpackers, but routes to other stunningly beautiful scenes are merely pleasant walks. You'll find that once you get off the beaten path on foot, or even on horseback, Utah's mountains and deserts will "open up" for you in unexpected ways.

Fishing
Utah has over 1,000 fishable lakes and numerous fishing streams. Species range from the popular rainbow and cutthroat to large mackinaw and Brown trout to striped bass, walleye, bluegill, whitefish, the Bonneville cisco and many others. Fishing is open year-round in Utah.

Hunting
Species commonly hunted in Utah are deer, elk, antelope, pheasant, duck, goose, sage grouse, forest grouse, partridge, mourning dove, wild turkey, cottontail rabbit and snowshoe rabbit. The application period to hunt bear, mountain lion and bobcat is mid-October to mid-November. Most species of wildlife are protected in Utah. Hunting is allowed in most public areas of the state, except in national parks, monuments and state parks.

Wildlife Watching
Over 630 species of mammals, birds, fishes, reptiles, and amphibians make their homes in Utah's diverse habitat. Many excellent viewing sites are available. Helpful in this pursuit is the 'Utah Wildlife Viewing Guide', part of the national Watchable Wildlife Series, featuring 92 of the best wildlife viewing sites in the state.

Scenic Byways
Utah is well known for it's spectacular National Parks. The red rock wonders of Canyonlands, the spires of Bryce, the monuments of Zion, the battlements of Capitol Reef, and the sweeping natural bridges of Arches are legendary. What isn't as well known is that Utah's National Parks cover less than 2.8% of the state's 85,000 square miles-which leaves a lot of territory to explore! Easily accessible roads will allow you to see some of Utah's most spectacular, but lesser known, scenic beauty.

Bonneville Salt Flats
Imagine a place so flat you seem to see the curvature of the planet, so barren not even the simplest life forms can exist. Imagine the passing thunder of strange vehicles hurtling by on a vast dazzling white plain. This is not an alien world far from earth; it is Utah's famous Bonneville Salt Flats. The Bonneville Salt Flats is one of the most unique natural features in Utah. Stretching over 30,000 acres, the Bonneville Salt Flats is a fragile resource administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Thousands of visitors, commercial filmmakers, and of course, high-speed auto racers, make the Bonneville Salt Flats a world famous destination. Since the first speed record attempts in 1914, hundreds of records have been set and broken in a variety of automotive and motorcycle classes.

The Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake is actually the remainder of prehistoric Lake Bonneville, which covered some 20,000 square miles of land in what is now Utah, Nevada and Idaho some 10,000 to 30,000 years ago. The present lake is 92 miles long and 48 miles wide, with an average depth of 20 feet and a maximum depth of 42 feet. Four rivers and numerous streams empty into the Great Salt Lake carrying large amounts of dissolved minerals. The lake has no outlet so these minerals are trapped. In addition, continual evaporation reduces the amount of water in the lake. The lake is inhabited by blue-green algae and microscopic brine shrimp, which provide abundant food for the many waterfowl that nest on its shores and islands or stop off on their migratory routes between Northern Canada and South America. The Great Salt Lake is a bird watcher's paradise.

St. George
Centrally located in some of nature's finest scenery, St. George has become a winter resort for snowbirds and retirees, as well as a key gateway to the greatest concentration of national parks and natural wonders on earth. Within easy driving distances are such world-renowned destinations as Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon National Parks; Cedar Breaks and Pipe Springs National Monuments, Snow Canyon State Park, the Virgin River Gorge, Kolob Canyons, Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The St. George area is a historical gold mine, full of 19th century homes, buildings and old dirt roads leading to fascinating ghost towns and prehistoric dinosaur footprints. Off the beaten path, you'll find remarkable sites that are unique to our southwest landscape.

Zion National Park
Zion National Park is of the nation's oldest national parks and Utah's oldest, designated in 1919. Zion's soaring towers and monoliths offer a quiet grandeur. With nearly three million visitors per year, Zion is Utah's most heavily used park. Here you can find lofty formations such as The Great White Throne, The Watchman, Grotto Picnic Area, Angels Landing, and Weeping Rock with nothing to obstruct their view. Visitors can experience Zion's massive canyons, deserts, streams, waterfalls and hanging gardens of ferns and moss from the paved road that runs through the park.

Bear Lake
Known as the "Caribbean of the Rockies," Bear Lake is an incredible turquoise-colored lake surrounded by white sandy beaches. The unique color is caused by limestone particles suspended in the lake. Bear Lake is a paradise for water sport activities: sailing, boating, swimming, jet-skiing, water-skiing, fishing, sail boarding and scuba diving. The hard surface road around the lake is excellent for biking. In the winter snowmobilers and ice anglers are drawn to the area. Bear Lake is famous for its annual January cisco run. Three state-owned facilities provide boating, camping and picnicking.

Salt Lake City
Surrounded by mountains that rise to more than 10,000 feet, Salt Lake City reflects a remarkable combination of history, culture and recreation. Settled in 1847 by pioneers seeking an escape from persecution, the city is the worldwide center of the as the Mormon religion. Salt Lake City's Temple Square is the center of the Mormon universe, where the first Mormon Temple, the Tabernacle (home of the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir) and the nearby Family History Library, Museum of History and Art and Beehive House are living symbols of the industriousness and commitment of the original pioneers.

Salt Lake City reveals a strong western heritage at every turn of the road. Mountain vistas, snow-capped peaks, seven year-round resorts less than an hour's drive from the city's international airport (and four more a little more than an hour's drive) provide non-stop recreation. In the winter, you can ski and snowboard at world-class destination resorts. In the summer, the city offers splendid lodging, outdoor dining, and fields lush with wild flowers. At the Utah Winter Sports Park, you can ride the bobsled and luge track and imagine yourself as an Olympic competitor. Wonderful dining, symphony, opera, ballet, museums, professional sports teams and the University of Utah—indeed, all the comforts of home—await you in Salt Lake City.

Dinosaurs
The largest quarry of Jurassic Period dinosaur bones ever discovered is the source of Dinosaur National Monument's name. On August 17, 1909, 20 miles east of Vernal, Utah, paleontologist Earl Douglass discovered a 200-foot long sandbar of sorts, which was layered with prehistoric plant and animal fossils. About 350 million tons of fossils, including full skeletons and remains of some dinosaur species that were previously unknown, were excavated by Douglass and his crew. A quarry was built on the site and it was designated a national monument in 1915. A year-round visitor center has been built over the quarry to protect the fossilized dinosaur bones and skeletons.

Area: 84904 sq.mi, Land 82168 sq. mi., Water 2736 sq.mi.

State Capital: Salt Lake City.

Location: 40.77726 N, 111.92992 W.

Border States: Arizona - Colorado - Idaho - Nevada - New Mexico - Wyoming.

Agriculture: Cattle, dairy products, hay, turkeys.

Industry: Machinery, aerospace, mining, food processing, electric equipment, tourism.

Flag: On a blue field, appears the state seal. In the center of the seal is a beehive, the state emblem, with a sego lily growing on either side. The sego lily stands for peace. The state motto "Industry" means steady effort. A national flag shows that Utah supports the United States. The eagle stands for protection in peace and war. The date 1847 represents the year that Brigham Young led a group of people to the Salt Lake Valley to reestablish in Utah, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, also know as The Mormons. The date 1896 represents the year that Utah gained admission to the Union of the United States.

State Motto: Industry.

Origin of state's name: Taken from the name of the Ute Indians, whose name means "people of the mountains".

Population: 2,129,836; 34th, 12/99.

Statehood: January 4, 1896.

Topography: High Colorado plateau cut by brilliantly colored canyons in the southeast; broad, flat, desert like Great Basin of the west; the Great Salt Lake and Bonneville Salt Flats in the northwest; Middle Rockies in the northeast running east-west; valleys and plateaus of the Wasatch Front.

Largest Cities: Salt Lake City, Provo, West Valley City, Sandy, and Orem.

Geographic Center: Sanpete, 3 miles north of Manti.

Highest Point: Kings Peak; 13,528 feet, 7th.

Lowest Point: Beaverdam Creek; 2000 feet, 47th.

State Bird: American Seagull.

State Flower: Sego lily - Calochortus nuttalli.

State Nickname: The Beehive State.

State Song: Utah, We Love Thee.

State Tree: Blue Spruce - Picea pungens.