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Visitors by the millions trek to Utah to experience the state’s grand majesty by G A R Y D A U G H T E R S
Utah’s Arches National Park is a wonderland of exotic landforms. Photo: iStock
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ith its vast mountain ranges, other-worldly National Parks, pristine lakes and rivers and the “Greatest Snow On Earth,” Utah is worth an adventure unto itself. That’s the estimation of the famed Michelin Green Guide, which has bestowed upon Utah a singular designation: In 2018, the Michelin Guide awarded Utah three stars, the first-ever such ranking conferred upon a state by the esteemed bible of travel. Citing Utah’s “high quality of service” and “the beauty of its world class landscapes,” the Guide identified Utah as a state “worth making a special trip for American and international visitors.” In ever greater numbers, tourists are voting with their feet. In 2017, the last year for which records are available, visitors to Utah spent a record $9.15 billion, which supported 148,000 jobs and resulted in $1.34 billion in state and local tax revenue, according to the Utah Office of Tourism in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Travelers also purchased more hotel rooms and spent more money on arts, entertainment, recreation and restaurants in Utah than ever before. From a visitor’s standpoint, outdoor Utah is a feast for all seasons. The warmer months mean hiking, climbing, biking, hunting and fishing among prodigious mountains, deep desert canyons, stunning rock formations, and virgin forests, lakes and streams. For winter sports, Utah offers 14 ski resorts, 10 of which are less than an hour from Salt Lake City International Airport. According to Ski Utah, the state’s average “snow density” of 8.5% yields a mix of dry, fluffy powder and wet, heavy flakes, perfect for skiing and boarding. Only Alaska and California feature more National Parks than Utah. Known as the Mighty 5, Utah’s Bryce Canyon, Zion, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands and Arches National Parks cover a combined 1,300 square miles and host more than 10 million visitors each year. Zion National Park in extreme southern Utah is the state’s most visited park and the third-most popular in the country. Zion welcomed 4.32 million visitors in 2018, slightly down from its record of
