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If You Like

Hiking

Hiking is easily the least expensive and most accessible recreational pursuit. Sure, you could spend a few hundred dollars on high-tech hiking boots, a so-called "personal hydration system," and a collapsible walking staff made of space-age materials, but there's no need for such expenditure. All that's really essential are sturdy athletic shoes, water, and the desire to see the landscape under your own power.

Hiking in the Rockies is a three-season sport that basically lasts as long as you're willing to tromp through snow, though in the arid desert regions of Southern Utah and Southwestern Colorado it is possible to hike year-round without the need to attach snowshoes to your boots. (You could look at snowshoeing as winter hiking, for the trails are often the same.) One of the greatest aspects of this region is the wide range of hiking terrain, from high-alpine scrambles that require stamina, to flowered meadows that invite a relaxed pace, to confining slot canyons where flash floods are a real danger and can be fatal to the unwary adventurer.

There are few real hazards to hiking, but a little preparedness goes a long way. Know your limits, and make sure the terrain you are about to embark on does not exceed your abilities. It's a good idea to check the elevation change on a trail before you set out—a 1-mi trail might sound easy, until you realize how steep it is—and be careful not to get caught on exposed trails at elevation during afternoon thunderstorms in the summer. Dress appropriately, bringing layers to address changing weather conditions, and always carry enough drinking water. Also, make sure someone knows where you are going and when to expect your return.

Angels Landing Trail, Zion National Park. One of the park's most popular hikes also happens to be one of the most spectacular. Stop at Scout's Lookout for a breathtaking view. This isn't the trail to take, though, if you are afraid of heights.

Hickman Bridge Trail, Capitol Reef National Park. Just 2 mi long, this trail is a perfect introduction to Capital Reef. You'll walk past a great natural bridge as well as Fremont Indian ruins.

Horseshoe Canyon Trail, Canyonlands National Park: Every weekend from April through October, a park ranger guides hikers on this trail through one of the wilder section of Canyonlands. The highlight is one of the largest rock-art panels in North America.

The Narrows Trail, Zion National Park: When you take the trail through this narrow desert canyon, you're actually walking in the riverbed—and you might have to wade or even swim for part of the way—but you get to see parts of the park that are visible nowhere else.

Paria CanyonVermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Paria: The "Wave" may be the most sought-after hiking permit in all of Utah. These waves near Paria, in southwestern Utah, are made of sandstone, though.

Mount Timpanogas: One hour south of Salt Lake Valley, "Timp" is one of the tallest and most striking of the Wasatch Mountains. Trails rate moderate to difficult.

Biking

The Rockies are a favorite destination for bikers. Wide-open roads with great gains and losses in elevation test (and form) the stamina for road cyclists, while riders who prefer pedaling fat tires have plenty of mountain and desert trails to test their skills. Unmatched views often make it difficult to keep your eyes on the road.

Thanks to the popularity of the sport here, it's usually easy to find a place that rents bicycles if you'd prefer to leave yours at home. Shops often rent a variety of bikes from entry-level to high-end, though the latter come at a premium, and if you're in the market for a used bike, good deals can often be found when shops unload one season's rentals to make room for next year's models. Bike shops are also a good bet for information on local rides and group tours.

The rules of the road are the same here as elsewhere, though some areas are less biker-friendly than others. On the road, watch for trucks and stay as close as possible to the side of the road, in single file. On the trail, ride within your limits and keep your eyes peeled for hikers and horses (both of which have the right of way), as well as dogs. Always wear a helmet and carry plenty of water.

Antelope Island State Park: It's cheaper to enter Antelope on two wheels, and much more enjoyable. After crossing the 7-mi causeway, there are miles of rolling and empty trails to choose from. Watch out for bison and people on horseback.

Bonneville Shoreline Trail: Partway up and along the Wasatch Front on the Northeast side of Salt Lake City, this trail offers expansive views of the entire Salt Lake Valley, plus points west and south. Its easy to moderate in difficulty, with challenging stretches near the University of Utah Hospital.

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area: Because it mixes high-desert vegetation—blooming sage, rabbit brush, cactus, and wildflowers—and red rock terrain with a cool climate, Flaming Gorge is an ideal destination for road and trail biking. The 3-mi round-trip Bear CanyonBootleg ride begins south of the dam off U.S. 191 at the Firefighters' Memorial Campground and runs west to an overlook of the reservoir.

Klondike Bluffs Trail, Moab: Though the trailhead is about 15 mi north of Moab, this trail offers the less-experienced mountain biker a relatively easy introduction to why Moab is esteemed with off-road cyclists. The climb to Klondike Bluffs is not difficult, and the reward is a fantastic view into Arches National Park. And how many bike rides can boast dinosaur footprints?

Skiing/Snowboarding

Utah's Greatest Snow on Earth can be a revelation for skiers and snowboarders familiar only with the slopes of other regions. Forget treacherous sheets of rock-hard ice, single-note hills where the bottom can be seen from the top, and mountains that offer only one kind of terrain from every angle. In Utah the snow builds up quickly, leaving a solid base at each resort that hangs tough all season, only to be layered upon by thick, fluffy powder that holds an edge, ready to be groomed into rippling corduroy or left in giddy stashes along the sides and through the trees. Moguls and half-pipe-studded terrain parks are the norm, not the special attractions, at Utah resorts.

Skiing Utah means preparing for all kinds of weather, because the high altitudes can start a day off sunny and bright but kick in a blizzard by afternoon. Layers help, as well as plenty of polypropylene to wick away sweat in the sun and a water-resistant outer layer to keep off the powdery wetness that's sure to accumulate, especially if you're a beginner snowboarder certain to spend time on the ground. Must-haves: Plenty of sunscreen, because the sun is closer than you think, and a helmet, because so are the trees.

The added bonus of Utah terrain is that there's something for everyoneoften in the same ski resort, since so many of the areas have a wide variety of beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert slopes. Turn yourself over to the rental shops, which are specialized enough at each resort to offer experts in helping you plan your day and the types of equipment you'll need.

Alta Ski Resort/Snowbird Resort: These Little Cottonwood Canyon neighbors, within 40 minutes of downtown Salt Lake City, are regularly ranked the top ski resorts in the United States. Seasons with 500 to 600 and more inches of Utah's famous powder are at the root of the accolades. The AltaSnowbird pass lets you ski both mountains on one ticket, but snowboarders take heed: you're still not allowed at Alta.

Brian Head Ski Resort, Brian Head: The closest Utah ski resort to the Las Vegas airport, it's worth checking out for the novelty of skiing in Southern Utah. The red-orange rock formations of nearby Cedar Breaks National Monument form a backdrop to many trails, which tend to focus on beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Experts can ski off the 11,000 foot summit.

Deer Valley, Park City: This posh resort is known for its groomers, fine dining, and accommodations: the skiing is excellent, but for many it's the whole experienceincluding the midday feast at Silver Lake Lodge and suntanning on the snow-covered meadowthat keeps them coming back.

Utah Olympic Park, Park City: At the site of the 2002 Olympic bobsled, luge, and ski-jumping events, you can take recreational ski-jumping lessons or strap in behind a professional driver for a bobsled ride down the actual Olympic course.

Rafting

Rafting combines a sea of emotions ranging from the calming effects of flat waters surrounded by backcountry beauty and wildlife to the thrill and excitement of charging a raging torrent of foam.

Seasoned outfitters know their routes and their waters as well as you know the road between home and work. Beginners and novices are encouraged to use guides, while more experienced rafters may rent watercraft. Many guides offer multi-day trips in which they do everything, including searing your steak in a beach barbecue, setting up your tent, and rolling out your sleeping bag.

Select an outfitter based on recommendations from the local chamber of commerce, experience-level, Web sites, and word of mouth. The International Scale of River Difficulty is a widely accepted rating system that ranges from Class I (the easiest) to Class VI (the most difficultthink Niagara Falls). When in doubt, ask your guide about the rating on your route before you book. Remember, ratings can vary greatly throughout the season due to run-off and weather events.

Numerous outfitters and guide services offer rafting trips in Utah, and the journey can vary from relaxing family outings to white-knuckled runs through raging waters. In all cases, you'll discover scenery, wildlife, and an off-the-road experience that you'll never get looking through a windshield.

Colorado River, Moab: The Grand Poobah of river rafting in Utah. There are numerous outfitters in the Moab area with a wide assortment of half-, full-, and multi-day trips of the river. Even in periods of low water, the infamous Cataract Canyon section still provides plenty of thrills and spills.

Green River: Before it meets up with the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park, the Green River offers plenty of stunning scenery and fast water through canyons such as Desolation and Gray. Sign on with an outfitter in the town of Green River, about 45 minutes north and west of Moab.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding options in Utah run the gamut, from hour-long rides on a well-worn trail to multi-day excursions out into the wilderness. A short trek is a great way to get acquainted with the landscapeand with horseback riding if you're a beginner. Longer horse-pack trips are great ways to visit the backcountry, since horses can travel distances and carry supplies that would be impossible for hikers. Although horsemanship isn't required for most trips, it is helpful, and even an experienced rider can expect to be a little sore for the first few days. June through August is the peak period for horse-packing trips; before signing up with an outfitter, inquire about the skills they expect.

Since this is the West, jeans and cowboy boots are still the preferred attire for horseback, although hiking boots and Gore-Tex have long since become fashionable, especially in colder months and at higher altitudes. Long pants are a must either way. And as with most Utah activities, layering is key; plan to have some kind of fleece or heavier outer layer no matter what time of year since the mountains will be cooler the higher you go. Generally, outfitters provide most or all of the gear you'll need for extended trips, including a pack animal to carry it all for you and plenty of food for the sometimes surprisingly lavish dinners that they whip up in the middle of nowhere.

You can also find ranch-like resorts in Utah, that offer a wide range of activities in addition to horseback riding, including fishing, four-wheeling, spa services, and cooking classes. For winter, many ranches also have added such snow-oriented amenities as sleigh rides, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

Some of our favorite places in Utah for horseback riding include:

Bryce Canyon National Park: The park's namesake claimed it was a "Hell of a place to lose a cow," but failed to say anything about how great a place it is to explore on horseback. Sign up for a guided tour at Ruby's Red Canyon Horseback Rides near the park entrance. Orange-pink spires and hoodoos offer a ride unmatched anywhere else.

Capitol Reef National Park: Much of this park is accessible only by foot or horseback, which promises an experience of wide-open western spaces that harken back to the time of cowboys. Indeed, some of the trails may have been used by herdsman and Native Americans. Sandstone, canyons, mesa, buttesthey're all here. Sign up with Hondoo Rivers & Trails or Wild Hare Expeditions for an unforgettable experience.

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort: Located just east of Zion National Park at the site of a former pioneer logging camp, this multi-pursuit resort offers plenty of things to do after time spent in the saddle meandering along the multitude of pioneer-era trails. Horseback riding options run from beginner to experienced (and even include a cattle round-up), and when you're not in the saddle you can ride an ATV, rent a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, or learn how to rappel and rock climb on the only man-made climbing wall in the Zion National Park area.

Fishing

Trout do not live in ugly places. And, so it is in the American West where you'll discover unbridled beauty, towering pines, rippling mountain streams, and bottomless pools. It is here that blue-ribbon trout streams remain much as they were when Native American tribes, French fur trappers, and a few thousand faceless miners, muleskinners, and sodbusters first placed a muddy footprint along their banks.

However, those early-day settlers had one advantage that you won't: time. If you're going to make best use of that limited vacation in which fishing is a preferred activity, you'll want to follow some basic observations.

Hire a guide. You could spend days locating a great fishing spot, learning the water currents and fish behavior, and determining what flies, lures, or bait the fish are following. A good guide will cut through the clutter, get you into fish, and turn your excursion into an adventure complete with a full creel.

If you're comfortable with your fishing gear, bring it along, though most guides loan or rent equipment. Bring a rod and reel, waders, vest, hat, sunglasses, net, tackle, hemostats, and sunscreen. Always buy a fishing license.

If you're not inclined to fork over the $250-plus that most quality guides charge per day for two fishermen and a boat, your best bet is a stop at a reputable fly shop. They'll shorten your learning curve, tell you where the fish are, what they're biting on, and whether you should be "skittering" your dry-fly on top of the water or "dead-drifting" a nymph.

Famed fisherman Lee Wolff wrote "catching fish is a sport. Eating fish is not a sport." Consequently, you'll find most fishermen practicing "catch and release" in an effort to maintain productive fisheries and protect native species.

Seasonality is always a concern when fishing. Spring run-offs can cloud the waters. Summer droughts may reduce stream flows. Fall weather can be unpredictable in the West. But, as many fishing guides will attest, the best time to come and wet a line is whenever you can make it.

Flaming Gorge: For some of the finest river fishing, try the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam, where rainbow and brown trout are plentiful and big. Fed by cold water from the bottom of the lake, this stretch has been identified as one of the best trout fisheries in the world.

Lake Powell: Formed by the construction of Glen Canyon Dam, this popular recreational attraction in Southern Utah is home to a wide variety of fish, including striped, smallmouth, and largemouth bass; bluegill; and channel catfish. Ask the locals about night fishing for stripers.

Provo River: One of Utah's world-class fly fishing rivers, the Provo is divided into three sections, starting in the High Uintas Wilderness about 90 minutes east of Salt Lake City and ending in Utah Lake in Provo. Brown and rainbow trout are the big draw here, and Utah.com claims that in some sections upward of 7,500 fish per square mile can be sought.