Filmed in Utah: 7 Itineraries Through Hollywood's Most Iconic Settings
Cinephiles and explorers wandering some of Utah's iconic landscapes for the first time may get the feeling that they've been here before. Discover what Hollywood already has: unique backdrops for your outdoor adventures like nowhere else. Whether hitting the Sundance Film Festival in Park City and Salt Lake City in January or visiting Utah throughout the year, you’ll find yourself near some of Utah’s most iconic and most filmed places.
Over the decades, the silver screen and television have featured Utah in thousands of films for the silver screen and television. While Utah’s striking, iconic and diverse landscapes make it a go-to destination for filmmakers, the state is also a must-visit for road-trippers and outdoor adventurers (Read: Movies Filmed in Utah: Plotting a Cinematic Drive-Through).
Here are a few film and television-themed trips and tips to consider for your Utah visit:
Sundance Mountain Resort was the setting of Robert Redford’s “Jeremiah Johnson."
Photo: @filmtourismus.de
Northern Utah
1. Star-Studded: The “Jeremiah Johnson” Itinerary
Extend your stay in Utah and explore the cities and mountains of the Wasatch Front. You’ll find big-screen settings and attractions near Park City, the center of the world-famous Sundance Film Festival. Head 45 minutes south to experience the Sundance Mountain Resort where you can hit the slopes in winter or have family-friendly adventures in the warmer months. This mountain escape is rich in film history from the setting of Robert Redford’s “Jeremiah Johnson” or the annual filmmaker workshops and events hosted by the Sundance Institute.
Highlight: Sundance Mountain Resort
Travel: Salt Lake City or Park City to Sundance: 30 miles | About 45 minutes
Stops Along the Way: Heber Valley
Related Itineraries: Explore the Settings of Sundance Movies, Robert Redford’s Sundance Scenes
"Whether hitting the Sundance Film Festival in Park City and Salt Lake City in January or visiting Utah throughout the year, you’ll find yourself near some of Utah’s most iconic and most filmed places."
At Sundance Mountain Resort, you can hit the slopes in winter or have family-friendly adventures in the warmer months.
You’ll find big-screen settings and attractions near Park City, the center of the world-famous Sundance Film Festival.
In the Kamas Valley, you’ll find rolling, sage-covered pastures and pine tree-covered mountainsides.
Photo: Austen Diamond
2. Rugged Route: The “Yellowstone” Itinerary
Along the edge of Park City, you can drive by the 70,000-square-foot Utah Film Studios complex where productions like “Hereditary” and “Yellowstone” have filmed. Nearby you can explore the town of Kamas where you can hit the slopes in winter or have family-friendly adventures in the warmer months.
Continue driving north through the rugged mountain terrain of small towns like Oakley and Coalville to see some filming locations used in seasons 1-3 of the critically acclaimed “Yellowstone” series. End your trip by strolling historic 25th Street in Ogden and visit The Outlaw Saloon or catch a rodeo at the Ogden Pioneer Stadium where “Yellowstone” filmed several scenes.
Highlight: Kamas Valley
Travel: Salt Lake City or Park City to Ogden: 115 miles | ~2 hours
Stops Along the Way: Samak Smoke House and Notch Pub in Kamas
Related Itineraries: Explore the Settings of Sundance Movies, Fresh Tracks in Kamas, Hike + Dine: Ogden
Utah ski trips can satiate any skier's or snowboarder's lust for powder.
Photo: Adam Clark
3. Worth Your Two Dollars: “Better Off Dead” — The Skiing On One Ski Itinerary
You know what the street value of these mountains is? It’s tough to put a number on The Greatest Snow on Earth®, but it’s just part of what makes skiing in Utah so special for the people who ski here — whether on one ski, or two. See, Salt Lake City isn't your regular ski town. It's the only Ski City. With big city, world-class amenities galore and 10 different resorts within an hour of Salt Lake City International Airport, Salt Lake City, Utah ski trips can satiate any skier's or snowboarder's lust for powder, quest for groomers, or race down the slope to determine who will be the captain of the ski team.
Follow the film’s tracks at Alta Ski Area (skiers only) and Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort in Little Cottonwood Canyon or Brighton Ski Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Highlight: The view from the Snowbird Tram and Hidden Peak
Travel: Salt Lake City to Alta/Snowbird: 30 miles | 45 minutes; From Park City: 1 hour
Stops Along the Way: Downtown Salt Lake City
Related Itineraries: Powder Dreams, Downhill to Downtown
"You know what the street value of these mountains is? It’s tough to put a number on The Greatest Snow on Earth®, but it’s just part of what makes skiing in Utah so special..."
Horizon: An American Saga –– Chapter 1 © 2024 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. Rated R.
Photo: Richard Foreman/Warner Bros. Pictures
Journey Through Utah's Iconic Western Film Settings
When you picture the American West, chances are you are picturing Utah. So it’s no surprise that Hollywood has relied on the state’s remarkable scenery for more than a 100 years, most recently in Kevin Costner’s epic western, “Horizon: An American Saga.” Filmed in the La Sal Mountains near Moab, along the San Rafael River in Emery County, Warner Valley in Washington County and other locations, “Horizon: An American Saga” is a multi-faceted chronicle covering the Civil War expansion and settlement of the American West. And Utah’s landscapes play no minor role. You can bring your favorite movie scenes to life when you make a stop at these and other iconic film locations.
Southern Utah
4. Cult-classic: “The Galaxy Quest” Itinerary
A visit to Goblin Valley State Park could be a quick day trip or an extended journey through the rugged and whimsical landscapes of Utah’s San Rafael Swell. Fans of Dean Parisot’s “Galaxy Quest” will immediately recognize the setting for Mars.
The Valley of Goblins, the park’s main attraction, is located at its heart. Here there are three established trails, which are suitable for almost anyone. The trails lead hikers to overlooks, views of the surroundings, and deep within the maze of weird sandstone formations. But the best thing about the valley is that you are allowed to hike freely, off trail, to explore the hoodoos, mushrooms, or goblins on your own, offering up unlimited options for exploration.
Highlight: Valley of the Goblins at Gobin Valley
Travel: Park City or Salt Lake City to Goblin Valley: 225 miles | ~3.5 hours
Stops Along the Way: Helper, San Rafael Swell
Related Itinerary: Southern Dinos and Goblins
"The best thing about Goblin Valley is that you are allowed to hike freely, off trail, to explore the hoodoos, mushrooms, or goblins on your own, offering up unlimited options for exploration."
Fans of Dean Parisot’s “Galaxy Quest” will immediately recognize Goblin Valley as the setting for Mars.
The 'Goblins' and the other odd shapes in the park are made of Entrada sandstone deposited during the Jurassic period 180-140 million years ago.
"Westworld" filming in Castle Valley outside of Moab.
Photo: HBO
5. In the Know: “Westworld,” the Western Fantasy Itinerary
When it came time to shoot the HBO futurist drama “Westworld,” the production team had one clear vision of the West: Castle Valley. As The Salt Lake Tribune reports, “there's no way to mock up the vistas in Castle Valley. Shooting there wasn't just like stepping back into old-time Hollywood, it was like stepping back into the Old West.” Your visit to Castle Valley can include a hike to Fisher Towers, a scenic drive up the Upper Colorado Scenic Byway (S.R. 128), and rafting on the Colorado River. Of course, when in Castle Valley, you’re not far from Moab, Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands National Park — also featured in Westworld. (Season two filming locations added Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area)
Highlight: Standing beneath Fisher Towers
Travel: Salt Lake City to Castle Valley: 250 miles | About 4.5 hours
Stops Along the Way: Helper, Prehistoric Museum in Price, John Wesley Powell Museum in Green River
Related Itinerary: Iconic Classics Southeast, Footsteps of Explorers, Thelma & Louise
"When it came time to shoot the HBO futurist drama “Westworld,” the production team had one clear vision of the West: Castle Valley."
Season one of "Westworld" included sweeping place-setting camera shots of Castle Valley and Canyon Country.
A visit to Castle Valley can include a hike to Fisher Towers.
John Wayne's "The Searchers" was filmed in Monument Valley.
Photo: @filmtourismus.de
6. Time-tested Classic: “The Searchers” Itinerary
This is the destination that put Utah on the Hollywood map. John Ford fell in love with Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park but the big screen doesn’t do it full justice. In some ways, Monument Valley is the definitive West. Ancestral spirits infuse the rugged, disruptive landscapes that feel foreign, yet distinctly familiar thanks to Hollywood's long love affair with this land. Enjoy hiking, jeep tours, horseback riding and stargazing in Monument Valley, some on your own, some escorted and narrated by local Navajo guides. Forrest Gump Point is another popular visitor stop. Add this area to your itinerary if you love westerns, but please be aware this iconic photo-op is located along a highly-trafficked road. Due to the road’s traffic leading to past injuries and fatalities, we urge you to take your safety seriously and refrain from taking photos from the middle of the road. Visitors are welcome to pull off safely on the side of the road and take photos from the shoulder only.
Highlight: John Ford Point
Travel: Park City or Salt Lake City to Monument Valley: 375 miles | ~6 hours
Stops Along the Way: Dead Horse Point State Park, Arches National Park, Moab
Related Itinerary: Native Spirit, Easy Riding
"Ancestral spirits infuse the rugged, disruptive landscapes that feel foreign, yet distinctly familiar thanks to Hollywood's long love affair with this land."
Located at the edge of the Mojave Desert, Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, Snow Canyon State Park explodes with dramatic geology perfect for your outdoor adventure — and photo opportunities.
Photo: Matt Morgan
7. The Western Outlaw — The "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" Itinerary
Many travelers visit southwestern Utah to see the soaring cliffs of Zion National Park and to hike, climb and mountain bike the incredible red rock landscapes. For movie buffs, this scenic corner of the state of Utah comes alive with nostalgia for Robert Redford’s iconic film, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” The complete list of filming locations includes the ghost town of Grafton, Snow Canyon State Park, the city of St. George and Zion National Park. (Read: Utah’s Unexpected Pit Stops)
Highlight: Snow Canyon State Park
Travel: Salt Lake City or Park City to Zion National Park: 310 miles | ~4.75 hours
Stops Along the Way: Kolob Canyons, Parowan Gap, Kanarraville Falls, Circleville
Related Itineraries: Family Frontier, Unexpected Southwest, Butch Cassidy’s West
01
Filmed in Utah: Explore the Settings of Sundance Movies
It’s a film buff’s dream — a three-day northern Utah road trip through the mountains, desert flats and cityscapes featured in Sundance standouts such as “Brigsby Bear,” “SLC Punk!,” “Nine Days,” “Hereditary” and “Frozen."
Highlights
- “Hereditary” film location in Park City
- "Deidra & Laney Rob a Train" film location in Heber
- "Brigsby Bear" film location in Uintas
- A grand film tour of Salt Lake: "SLC Punk!," "Hereditary," "Nine Days"
- "Wind River" film locations at Weber Canyon and Coalville
- "Frozen" film location at Snowbasin
02
Thelma & Louise: A Tribute Road Trip Through the Classic Film’s Utah Settings
Perfect for fans of the beloved film “Thelma & Louise,” tour the exact places where the movie was shot, and make some memories of your own exploring the beauty of this exquisite desert.
Highlights
- Moab
- Arches National Park
- Dead Horse Point Overlook
- Cisco and Thompson Springs Ghost Towns
- La Sal Mountains
Read the stories
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Explore Utah Through the Lens of "Horizon: An American Saga"
It's no surprise that Hollywood has turned to Utah's stunning and untouched terrain time and again.
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HBO's Westworld. See it now, in Utah.
Where is Westworld filmed? Much of Castle Valley is actually located in Utah. Learn more about the setting of your favorite television series.
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Kanab's Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival
Kanab's Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival is filled with round-the-clock Western-themed entertainment — think: music, cowboys and history.
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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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On the Trail of Utah's Classic Movies
Germany-based film enthusiast Andrea David is back in Utah, embarking on a road trip to explore 100 years of Utah film history.
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Robert Redford Sets the Sundance Scene
Watch the story behind Robert Redford's founding of Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah, and learn what makes this Provo ski resort stand out.
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Selfie at Forrest Gump Point
Take a selfie where Forrest Gump decided he was done running near Monument Valley in Utah.
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Sundance, Full Circle
When visiting the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, movies are only part of the experience.
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Sundance: The Story is Utah
For Sundance audiences and filmmakers, the Story is Utah, one with many visions and interpretations and where revolutions are encouraged.
