Utah State Archives |
|
|
The Beehive State
Utah, home to the 2002 Winter Olympics, is well known for its year-round recreational activities. Its striking southern desert terrain, sculpted by wind, rivers and rain, have drawn millions to its national parks. This group, including Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion, make up the Grand Circle parks in Utah. From Zion, Arizona's North Rim of the Grand Canyon lies just a few hours across the border.
One of Utah's defining characteristics is its variety of topography. The state's terrain is marked by high mountain ranges, plateaus, basins, national forests, deserts and canyonlands, with over 70 percent administered by Federal government. Since the Winter Olympics, the state has seen an increase in winter recreation. For years Deer Valley is ranked among the top ski resort in North America.
Utah is third in the country with the 17 national park sites, offering a variety of national monuments, historic sites, trails, recreation areas and 40 state parks. Utah’s incredible scenery may be enjoyed over backcountry and biking trails, birding corridors, dinosaurs sites and on the state's 39 scenic byways.
