Celebrate the Beehive State by Enjoying Public Lands Day

National Public Lands Day is held annually on the fourth Saturday of September, and it’s a prime opportunity to get out there and explore the natural spaces and places that make this land spectacular.

This land truly is your land, so let’s celebrate these public lands together!

There are so many beautiful parks in Utah, from sweeping desert landscapes to towering rock formations—it’s definitely going to take you more than a day to see them all.

Utah’s National Parks, Forests, Reserves, and Memorials

All national parks that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone on September 28, 2024 in celebration of National Public Lands Day, so if you don’t already have a Parks Pass, this is a prime opportunity to explore!

Utah is home to five national parks, the third highest number in the country. My family had the great pleasure of visiting two—Zion and Bryce Canyon—on our out west trip in 2022. Given that Utah has approximately 10.5 million acres of preserved national lands, we could have easily spent weeks exploring just what Utah alone has to offer:

• Zion National Park: Known for its stunning canyons, towering rock formations, and the scenic Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Popular hikes include Angels Landing and The Narrows.
• Bryce Canyon National Park: Famous for its unique hoodoo rock formations and beautiful sunrise and sunset views. The park offers scenic viewpoints and trails like the Queen’s Garden Trail.
• Arches National Park: Home to over 2,000 natural stone arches, including the iconic Delicate Arch. The park features spectacular rock formations and desert landscapes.
• Canyonlands National Park: Known for its dramatic canyons carved by the Colorado River. The park is divided into four districts, each offering unique views and hiking opportunities.
• Capitol Reef National Park: Features unique rock formations, including the Waterpocket Fold, and historic orchards. Popular for hiking and scenic drives.

In addition to these sprawling national parks, Utah has several national forests, each spectacular in their own right:

• Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest is located in Northern Utah and covers an astounding 2.1 million acres. The forest features the Uinta Mountains with rugged terrain, alpine lakes, and extensive hiking trails. It’s popular for outdoor activities like camping, fishing, and backpacking.
• My family stayed in a small part of the Dixie National Forest in Southern Utah. It is also impossibly vast at around 2 million acres of red rock formations and high plateaus that are ideal for scenic drives, hiking, and mountain biking.
• Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge is in Northwestern Utah and covers a measly 50,000 acres. Its unique desert wetland habitat supports diverse wildlife and migratory birds, which makes it a perfect place for birdwatching and observing desert ecosystems.
• Manti-La Sal National Forest in central and southeastern Utah spans approximately 1.4 million acres. The Manti and La Sal Mountains are known for hiking, camping, and fishing, and its forest features a mix of alpine environments and desert landscapes.
• Ashley National Forest across Northeastern Utah and a small portion of southwestern Wyoming covers about 1.2 million acres. Ashley’s diverse ecosystems are a big draw for outdoor enthusiasts who want to explore alpine and grassland areas, especially the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.

What’s that? Not enough national land for you yet? Well, here are several notable national monuments that call Utah home:

• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Southern Utah, extending from Bryce Canyon to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, is approximately 1.9 million acres (!). The appropriately named monument is known for its stunning geological formations, including colorful cliffs, canyons, and rock spires.
• Bears Ears National Monument is another huge expanse of land at about 1.35 million acres out there in southeastern Utah, near the town of Blanding. Bears Ears gets its name from its distinctive twin buttes, but it’s also a great place to visit for its rich cultural heritage, including numerous archaeological sites and Native American cultural landmarks.
• While you’re at Bears Ears, check out nearby Natural Bridges National Monument, which is also near Blanding. On a smaller scale (comparatively speaking), the 7,636-acre region features three major natural rock bridges all formed by erosion.
• Cedar Breaks National Monument’s 6,100 acres in Southern Utah features an amphitheater of colorful rock formations, known as the “Breaks,” surrounded by alpine meadows and scenic viewpoints from which you can capture the park’s unique geology.
• Timpanogos Cave National Monument in Northern Utah is known for its impressive limestone caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites you can explore.

Utah State and County Parks

Antelope Island overlooking The Great Salt Lake. Image: Paul Jewkes

Interspersed between and around national parks are the hidden gems of state and county parks. The parks system in our country isn’t like a sports league, where the national parks are somehow superior to local or state parks. The distinction indicates which government officials are responsible for managing that park. So don’t discount local and state parks as inferior to national parks—all of these parks are fantastic places to experience the unique wonders of God’s creation.

Even though so much land in Utah is already dedicated and managed by the federal parks systems, there’s even more to explore at the state and local level. As of 2024, Utah has more than 320,000 acres of land and water, spread out over approximately 45 state parks. Here are five you won’t want to miss:

• Antelope Island State Park: Located in the Great Salt Lake, this park is known for its views of the lake, hiking trails, and opportunities to see bison and other wildlife.
• Dead Horse Point State Park: If you want a breathtaking view of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park, this is the place.
• Red Cliffs Desert Reserve: Red Cliffs is a beautiful area near St. George featuring red rock formations, hiking trails, and opportunities to view desert wildlife.
• Goblin Valley State Park: Famous for its otherworldly rock formations, known as “goblins,” the park offers unique hiking experiences and a surreal landscape.
• Wasatch Mountain State Park: Located near Midway, this park offers scenic mountain views, hiking trails, and opportunities for fishing and camping.

But don’t overlook the local and county parks! No matter where you live, there’s a serene space to which you can retreat. There are certainly too many local parks to list and plenty more to explore beyond what is doable in one day, but here are several parks throughout Utah you might consider for your next day trip:

In Salt Lake County:

• Red Butte Garden and Arboretum: A botanical garden offering beautiful landscapes, walking trails, and seasonal plant exhibits.
• Jordan River Parkway: A multi-use trail system along the Jordan River, popular for biking, walking, and nature observation.

In Utah County:

• Provo Canyon Park: Offers scenic views, hiking trails, and picnic areas near Provo Canyon.
• Nebo Loop Scenic Byway: Includes several parks and recreation areas with stunning mountain views and outdoor activities.

In Davis County:

• Farmington Canyon: A popular spot for hiking and picnicking with beautiful views and trail access.

In Weber County:

• Ogden Canyon: Provides access to hiking trails and scenic views of the surrounding mountains.

Utah Municipal and Metro Parks

If you aren’t up for a wilderness adventure and want to stay within city limits, Utah has several beautiful municipal and metro parks that are perfect for day hikes, biking, picnics, and other recreational releases:

• Salt Lake City’s Liberty Park is one of the largest and most popular parks in Salt Lake City, featuring a large lake, walking paths, playgrounds, and sports facilities.
• Provo’s Rock Canyon Park is located near Brigham Young University and offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and access to the scenic Rock Canyon.
• Ogden’s Historic 25th Street Park is a central urban park that features recreational spaces, playgrounds, and is close to the historic 25th Street area.
• St. George’s Pioneer Park includes playgrounds, sports fields, and scenic views.
• West Valley City’s Centennial Park is a large park offering a variety of amenities including sports fields, playgrounds, and walking trails.

Volunteer Opportunities for National Public Lands Day in Utah

If you are looking for ways to give back, National Public Lands Day has been the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort since 1994. 

You can make a big difference for your parks by joining one of the volunteer efforts here in Utah. The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) lists at least 25 different volunteer opportunities across the state for National Public Lands Day. Here are just a few:

• Golden Spike National Historical Park (trail maintenance)
• Bear River State Park (river trail maintenance and improvement)
• Pariette Wetlands and John Jarvie Historic Ranch (mix and form seed capsules)
• North Peak Trailhead, Nebo Loop, Spanish Fork (post and rail fence)
• Arches National Park (litter pick-up)
• Sand Flats Recreation Area (clean-up)
• Capitol Reef National Park (dark sky monitoring)
• Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park (roadside clean-up)
• Zion National Park (battling invasive species)
• New Bearclaw Poppy Navajo Trailhead (poppy habitat preservation)
• Bryce Canyon National Park

For a complete list of volunteer opportunities and park details, visit NEEF’s event finder or your local park websites and get ready to make a difference!