Delta
Local Highlights
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Delta Snow Goose Festival
Every spring, watch thousands of snow geese fly over Delta on their annual 3,000-mile migration back to Canada. Delta is situated along the route from their California winter home and hosts the Delta Snow Goose Festival during the February migration. Attend to run the Wild Goose Chase 5K or 10K, observe the snow geese, and visit a craft and quilt fair put on by local artisans.
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Great Basin Museum
Learn about the area and Great Basin at this free museum that uses historic objects and photos to tell the stories of Delta’s past. A haven for rockhounders searching for geodes, trilobites, and rarer fossils, Great Basin Museum showcases many local rocks.
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Gunnison Bend Reservoir
Minutes from Delta, you’ll find this calm reservoir that’s perfect for water skiing, boating, and relaxing. A peninsula in the lake keeps large waves from forming so it’s never too choppy, and the shallow depth keeps the water warm. Entrance to Gunnison Bend Reservoir is free, and there are plenty of picnic tables, pavilions, and a boat dock.
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Sunset View Golf Course
Play a round at this oasis in the desert at Sunset View Golf Course, a challenging 18-hole, par-72 course with amazing views spread over 7,000 yards.
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Topaz Museum
The Central Utah Relocation Center — commonly referred to as “Topaz” because of its proximity to the Topaz mountain range — is one of 10 camps created in the United States during World War II to hold Americans of Japanese ancestry. The story of this event, including the eventual formal apology and monetary compensation to former internees in 1990, is preserved in stunning detail at the Topaz Museum in Delta, Utah.
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Van's Dance Hall
Once voted the best dance hall in America, Van’s Dance Hall is the place many World War II love stories began. Veterans met their wives here and people danced the night away until its closure in the 1960s. Famous more for what it was than what it is today, the dance hall sits empty but intact, with Delta residents hoping to restore it to its former glory.
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Grand Adventure in the Great Basin
In this five-day itinerary you won’t find many crowds. But take your time and you’ll find this desert geography isn’t so empty after all.
Highlights
- Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum
- Pahvant Valley Heritage Trail
- Topaz Incarceration Camp and Museum
- Sinbad Road / Hermit Cabin
- Great Basin National Park
- Cove Fort
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West Desert Ramble & The Pony Express
This itinerary is a three-day adventure along the Pony Express National Historic Trail in Utah's West Desert. Visit Simpson Springs, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Gold Hill and more.
Highlights
- Camp Floyd State Park Museum
- Fish Springs Wildlife Refuge
- Pony Express National Historic Trail
- Historic Wendover Airfield
What's Nearby
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Beehive Charcoal Kilns
Near Leamington, alongside on S.R. 132 northeast of Delta, look for two well-preserved charcoal kilns from the pioneer era. Built from stone and shaped like beehives, the kilns were likely built in 1871.
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Eureka Ghost Town
On state Route 6 from Salt Lake City to Delta, you’ll find the mining ghost town of Eureka. Founded in 1870 when gold and silver were discovered there, the population boomed in 1910 to nearly 4,000 inhabitants. Today, 600 folks still call Eureka home, and its historic buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. Explore its mining heyday at the old jail and the Tintic Mining Museum.
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Fort Deseret
Head over to the neighboring town of Deseret and see Utah’s last remaining adobe fort. Built in 1865 to protect settlers during the Black Hawk Indian War, the adobe mud and straw mixture used in Fort Deseret’s construction was “mixed by the feet of oxen,” and built in just 18 days by 98 men.
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Great Basin National Heritage Area
The federally-designated Great Basin National Heritage Area (branded locally as “Great Basin Territory”) covers all of the highlights for travelers between Delta and Great Basin National Park, which lies near the Utah and Nevada state border. If you like the sound of ghost towns, wild horses, rockhounding for ancient fossils and remote hot springs — this is the heritage area for you.
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Great Basin National Park
Delta is the gateway to Nevada’s Great Basin National Park, one of the country’s least-visited national parks due to its remote location. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit! Great Basin is home to 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak (the state’s second highest mountain), Lehman Caves and ancient bristlecone pine trees. Guided cave tours showcase Lehman’s limestone stalagmites, stalactites and rarer formations. See the world’s oldest known living trees on bristlecone pine trails to Wheeler Peak, Eagle Peak and Mount Washington.
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Little Sahara Sand Dunes
Explore the remnants of an ancient river delta at 60,000-acre Little Sahara Recreation Area, 38 miles from Delta. Off-highway-vehicle riding is the most popular pursuit for exploring the region’s sand dunes and trails, and it’s especially popular to climb Sand Mountain — a 700-foot wall of sand. Venture off from here and you’ll likely be all alone in this huge expanse of the Sevier Desert.
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Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum
The town of Fillmore briefly served as Utah’s territorial capital, and territory leader Brigham Young directed the building of the territorial statehouse in 1851 in anticipation of gaining statehood. Unfortunately, just one wing of the building was completed and one legislative session held there in 1855 before the capital moved to Salt Lake City. The building has since functioned as a dance hall, jail, school and library. Today it’s a pioneer history museum.
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Trilobite Fossils & Rockhounding
Find ancient fossils at U-Dig Fossils, a private trilobite quarry an hour west of Delta. It has one of the world’s richest collections of trilobites, and it’s finders keepers—take home whatever you unearth.
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Yuba Lake State Park
Sandy beaches, warm water, and excellent fishing draw visitors to Yuba Lake State Park, just one hour east of Delta. Yuba Reservoir welcomes every type of water recreationist, and there’s even boat-camping along its shores.
Discover More
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11 Classy Ski Experiences That are Uniquely Utah
From sheer proximity and the biggest mountains to a ski-in distillery and a celebrity-built resort, these are the reasons to ski Utah now.
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11 Utah Scenic Byways for Leaf Peeping
Explore 11 Scenic Drives in Utah for some serious leaf peeping. Utah is one of the best places to see fall foliage, visit great attractions, events and festivals.
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5 Best Ways to View Wild Horses in Utah
There are plenty of opportunities for viewing wild horses in Utah. Here are five things you need to do and plan on to increase the likelihood you will spot these majestic creatures and get the most of your adventure.
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A Matter of Geological Consent
A billion years of geological history surrounds Salt Lake City, where a modern landscape reflects ancient constraints.
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A Quick Guide to the Bonneville Salt Flats
Here's everything you need to know to visit and plan for Salt Lake City's nearby Bonneville Salt Flats.
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An Insider’s Guide to Torrey
Look no further than Capitol Reef National Park and nearby Torrey for lesser-traveled red-rock hikes, plenty of lodging options, satisfying dining and night sky as our ancestors knew it.
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Dog-Friendly Utah: The Road to Mighty
Want to bring your furry friend on your next vacation? Utah is home to several great dog-friendly national parks and other fun destinations. Check it out and plan your trip!
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Explore the Tushars on Snowshoe
Ready to experience snowshoeing in Utah? Eagle Point is a Utah favorite location. Check out this snowshoe excursion then plan yours today for fun and adventure.
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Exploring Utah's Little Sahara
Little Sahara Recreation Area is an unforgettable destination for sand dunes in Utah and ATV, camping, hiking, and sand-boarding enthusiasts.
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Fishing Fish Lake
The largest natural mountain lake in Utah, Fish Lake sits at more than 8,800 feet of elevation, which makes for pleasant weather all summer long. Located near Richfield, Utah, the lake has everything you need for a relaxing summer getaway.
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Frisco: West Desert Ghost Town
Standing in the Basin and Range topography of Utah's West Desert at ghost town Frisco, you'll feel the solitude of the space
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Historical Sites in Utah
Explore Utah's fascinating past with our guide to historical sites and hidden gems. Uncover pioneer and indigenous stories at these Utah heritage hot spots.
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How to Take a Kayak & Camping Trip at Yuba State Park
Pristine sandy beaches, warm water temperatures all summer long and serene mountain views make Yuba State Park an appealing destination for campers and kayakers in sunny Central Utah.
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Ice and rock, snow and splendor: Winter in Southern Utah
Come along on a five-day expedition to see Southern Utah’s wintry face, explore national parks, ski its mountains and find ways to play in the snow.
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Marysvale: Miners Park and ATV
Close to the expansive Paiute ATV Trail, Miners’ Park, and the self-guided driving tour on the road that leads to it, shows the heyday of activity in Utah’s “Canyon of Gold.”
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Max Reid and the Max Reid ATV Trail
Meet an Icon of Utah's Renowned ATV Trail System
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Meet the Fremonts: Unearthing an Ancient Civilization
Did you know that interstate highway construction created Fremont Indian State Park? Visit the park and Museum for a peek into Utah’s past, plus hiking and ATV trails.
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Movies Filmed in Utah: Plotting a Cinematic Drive-Through
Follow a Germany-based film enthusiast on an extended road trip to discover the rich history of Utah cinematography.
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Mystic Hot Springs and Music Festival
Explore on of the best hot springs in Utah, the Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe.
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Northern Utah Adventure Gateway Towns
Looking for outdoor adventures in The Beehive State? These northern Utah cities are perfect spots to set up base camp. Start planning today!
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Planning Your Big Snow Trip
Let’s plan a powder ski trip to Utah and even help you save some time and money while you’re there. Just answer these three questions: Who? When? How much?
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Tooele? Tuilla? The Fascinating History of this Utah Town
While the town of Tooele has a fascinating story to its name, the best part about one of Utah’s original counties is its history.
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Utah Female Artists Explore the Sublime Through Art
See how Utah women artists are creatively interpreting a dramatic landscape into art.
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Utah’s Unexpected Pit Stops
You’re doing it wrong if you think road trip pit stops are boring layovers on your way to more exciting destinations. How many of these hidden gems have you been to? Here are 11 mini-adventures to check off your list next time you’re road-tripping through Utah.
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Your Guide to Utah's Best Hot Springs
Here’s a quick guide to planning your visit to Utah’s best hot springs. The fun goes beyond sitting and soaking — you’ll find waterslides, paddleboard yoga, camping and music festivals that turn a quick visit into a weekend worth of fun.
