Best Day Trips from Salt Lake City, Utah’s state capital, Salt Lake City, is located on the Great Salt Lake’s shimmering shores, surrounded by craggy, snow-covered mountains.
The city of Salt Lake nevertheless has a small-town atmosphere, despite its reputation as a major metropolitan area.
Salt Lake City is a pleasant and family-friendly destination, with a strong focus on the local community.
The Mormon Church’s worldwide headquarters, the Salt Lake Temple, can be found on Temple Square, the city’s most recognizable monument.
When you’ve seen all the must-see attractions and museums, and have spent some time in the quieter parts of town, it’s time to set your sights on something new.
Best Day Trips from Salt Lake City
Gobblers Knob
Gobblers Knob, despite its humorous moniker, is a serious threat to the Wasatch Mountains and the city of Salt Lake.
The Alexander Basin Trail is the route of this challenging hike, which is meant for hikers with experience and a sense of adventure.
From the moment you leave the flower-filled meadows, you’ll have to hike uphill in order to reach the peak at an elevation of 10,246 feet.
Reaching the peak is well worth the effort because of the breathtaking panorama.
Reynolds Peak may be seen to the east, and Mt. Raymond can be seen to the southwest.
The vistas of Grandeur Peak and Salt Lake City to the southwest are nothing short of spectacular.
Mirror Lake Scenic Byway
The Mirror Lake Scenic Byway is perfect for those who like to cruise slowly through the countryside.
Mountains line this route, and it’s dotted with peaceful lakes.
The Mirror Lake Scenic Byway passes through some stunning landscape, including the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
With so many places to pull over and stretch your legs, a day may easily be spent driving slowly along the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway.
The Mirror Lake Scenic Byway winds its way through thick forests, out into open ranch area, and finally up into the mountains, where you can marvel at their snowy summits.
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Cedar City
Cedar Place, a city rich in history, lies hidden away in Iron County.
Cedar City is home to a vibrant pioneer and frontier culture that has been carefully preserved, giving visitors a taste of the authentic Wild West.
The Frontier Homestead State Museum is a great place for the whole family to spend the day learning and having a good time.
The Frontier Homestead State Museum is a must-see due to its classic stage coach trip, many interesting permanent displays, and hundreds of informative visiting exhibits.
You can spend the afternoon at Park Discovery, or you can venture out to the Southern Utah Museum of Art to see some of the finest works by Salvador Dali.
Eden
Eden, a small hamlet in Weber County, is the jumping-off point to some of Utah’s top ski resorts.
Eden, located close to Powder Mountain, Nordic Valley, and Snow Basin, is an excellent gateway to the Utah highlands.
Putting on your hiking boots in Eden is a fantastic idea, even if you’re not a fan of the more strenuous hikes.
It’s the best of both worlds; you can admire the somber mountains above while walking among the bright meadows and plains.
In Eden, you may dine at a number of locally owned and operated establishments serving you traditional American fare and warm, welcoming Utah hospitality.
Antelope Island
A day excursion to Antelope Island is the ultimate in animal viewing.
Antelope Island is home to its namesake species, the pronghorn, or antelope, as well as a large herd of free-ranging bison, bighorn sheep, and mule deer.
Thousands of different species of birds make the journey to Antelope Island each year.
There are many pathways for walking and trekking, and they all go by the native plants and animals.
It’s important to remember to show the local wildlife some respect by keeping your distance and never, ever feeding any of the animals you see.
While photography is allowed within the park, the use of drones is restricted to the weekdays between December and February.
Goblin Valley State Park
Tell me, have you ever heard of a hoodoo rock? Researchers call these mushroom-shaped outcrops of rock hoodoos, but people refer to them as “goblins” in Goblin Valley State Park. Not only is this rusty red landscape stunning to photograph, but it’s also very interesting to read about.
They originated from the erosion-resistant layer of rock that sits over Utah’s softer sandstone.
Although Bryce Canyon State Park is more well-known, Goblin Valley State Park is ideal for those who prefer to explore less-visited areas in search of genuine hidden treasures.
Bonneville Salt Flats
The Bonneville Salt Flats, located in Utah, are one of the state’s must-see attractions since they are home to the world-famous Bonneville Speedway.
More than 30,000 acres are covered by this massive stretch of natural salt.
When Lake Bonneville dried out completely in the Pleistocene era, the resulting flats were developed.
It’s a curious geographer’s dream come true, with depths ranging from six feet deep in some spots to only an inch in others.
The Bonneville Salt Flats are most attractive at sunrise and dusk, but it can be unnerving to watch a seasonal storm move across the plains.
Midway
It’s possible that Midway, Utah, is the state’s best hidden secret.
Located in the middle of Heber Valley, Midway is a great jumping off point for adventures into the great outdoors or fun outings for the whole family.
Wasatch Mountain State Park and Cascade Springs are both great places to spend the morning hiking and exploring if you love the outdoors.
Come to Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir if you want to fish, kayak, or paddle board.
For a hearty meal before heading back to Salt Lake City, stop at one of Midway City’s dozens of traditional American diners.
Fishlake National Forest
You can locate the perfect postcard picture in Fishlake National Forest, Utah, which is home to some of the most gorgeous landscapes in the whole United States of America.
All around the mountain meadows and the prairies where wildflowers thrive, tall aspen trees stand sentry.
Named for its massive freshwater alpine lake, Fish Lake is widely regarded as Utah’s crown jewel.
There is always a new scenery and natural vista to discover in Fishlake National Forest, regardless of the season.
Heber Valley Railroad
The Heber Valley Railroad is an excellent day excursion from Salt Lake City for locomotive fans or families with train-obsessed kids.
Heber City and Vivian Park are connected by this historic rail line.
This 90-minute drive takes you through Deer Creek Reservoir, where you can see dozens of species of bird, through some of Utah’s most breathtaking countryside.
The crew at the Heber Valley Railroad does a fantastic job updating this historic railroad with weekly themed events and celebrations.
The comedy outings will be a hit with the adults, and the prince and princess events will be a hit with the kids.
Ogden Valley
Enjoyable times can be had in Ogden Valley in any season.
There’s something for everyone, whether you like to get moving or sit back and rest.
There are countless activities that may be done in the outdoors, from climbing steep mountains to gliding along rushing streams on a horse or bike.
Learn the ropes at Ogden Valley Canyon, then when you’re ready, there are two additional difficult rock faces to ascend.
If you want to get your ski legs in the winter, you should visit Utah’s greatest ski resort, Powder Mountain.
Crystal Hot Springs
You need not travel further than Utah’s Crystal Hot Springs if you are in need of some much-deserved pampering and a day of pure relaxation.
Amazingly, of all the hot springs in the world, Crystal Hot Springs in Honeyville boasts the highest mineral content.
When you get here, you’ll feel refreshed just by drinking the water, and if you want to extend your visit, you can rent a room at a bed and breakfast in Brigham City, where there are also many excellent dining options.
Expect to share the water with a large number of other people as this location is a popular destination for both residents and tourists.
However, because of the various pool sizes and temperatures, the place is never overly crowded.
Provo
Provo, Utah, a lively college town on the banks of Utah Lake.
The people of Provo are young, accepting, and easygoing, making it a great place to hang out in a cafe all day or go on an adventure.
The museum of art at Brigham Young university is an up-to-date space that displays a wide variety of artistic creations.
The BYU Museum of Palaeontology is a great place to get educated on prehistoric life, dinosaurs, and other fossilized relics.
In a similar vein, the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum features an excellent array of environmental exhibits and dozens of lifelike dioramas of different types of animals.
Solitude Mountain Resort
You can find snow without going too far from Salt Lake City.
Skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels are welcome at Solitude Mountain Resort, one of Utah’s most popular ski areas, year-round.
It’s easy to just show up, rent equipment for the day, and ride the ski lift or take a couple of lessons if you like.
The staff at Solitude Mountain Resort will treat you like a pro whether you’re an experienced skier or have never skied before.
The small size and sense of community at Solitude Mountain Resort are what draw visitors there, and it is here that you are sure to form lifelong bonds and treasured recollections.
Mount Timpanogos
One of Utah’s most recognizable and beautiful landmarks, Mount Timpanogos (or “Timp” for short) is a favorite nickname among locals.
Additionally, it is the second-highest peak in the Wasatch Mountains.
Mount Timpanogos is one of the most difficult and popular hiking trails in Utah, while being a well-trodden road that nevertheless feels remote and wild.
If you’re up for a challenge and want to hike the full 15 miles round trip to the peak, then kudos to you! However, there are lots of alternatives if you’d rather take it easy.
It’s possible to hike up to Timpooneke Trailhead and back at a leisurely pace.
You can either go all the way to the peak of Mt. Timpanogos, or you can turn around at the saddle of Timp.