"It seems imperative that we take our children to the forgotten corners of Utah so they know not just how big the world is, but how incredibly old and wise."
– Ashley Mae Hoiland, Local Writer and Artist
Outdoor Activities with Kids
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Camping
The camping is nearly boundless in Utah — find free camping, campgrounds near national parks, or browse by state region to start planning your trip.
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Hiking
From quick jaunts to stunning formations to rugged, multi-day backpacking, there are thousands of miles of great hiking trails throughout Utah.
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Mountain Biking
Explore Utah mountain biking on the state’s most popular trails including Slickrock, Gooseberry Mesa, Thunder Mountain and Good Water Rim.
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Nature and Wildlife
Utah is a land of contrast and variety in landscapes, in color, in precipitation, and of abundant natural, undeveloped space necessary for a healthy ecosystem full of wildlife.
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Rafting
Plan your adventure through the whitewater rivers in Utah where you will enjoy river rafting, kayaking and boating. Find river information and trip ideas.
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Skiing
Skiing in Utah? Choose from 15 resorts — 10 within an hour of the airport. Discover lively ski towns, best times to visit and tips for booking lessons and rentals.
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Snow Tubing & Sledding
The classic, winter tradition of finding the perfect hill from which to launch a tube or sled is alive and well in Utah. Whether you’re looking for commercial parks with structured lanes or a local hill and your own thermos of hot cocoa, we’ve got it all.
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Snowboarding
To put it simply, the riding in Utah is epic. Thirteen snowboarding resorts are positioned perfectly for dumps of fluffy powder all winter long.
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Stargazing
Utah offers many stellar stargazing opportunities in its state parks, national parks and national monuments. Find a certified dark sky viewing location in Utah.
Why Your Kids Need a Utah Trip
Discover where adventure and learning converge across iconic rivers and ancient canyons.
If you're heading outdoors, consider hiring a guide. Guides get you somewhere safely, and they often take you and your family to places only accessible with a permit and the right gear.
Utah resorts offer plenty of deals to get kids of all ages up on skis or snowboards.
Utah offers some other-worldly destinations for family exploration, just make sure you're prepared to keep these lands Forever Mighty.
History & Culture for Families
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Arts & Museums
Utah has many arts and cultural museums, as well as regular performing arts festivals.
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Dinosaurs & Paleontology
Explore Utah’s rich dinosaur history through its many museums and archeological dig sites dedicated to the prehistoric creatures.
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Filmed in Utah
Add a touch of film history to your Utah itinerary, or plan your trip around these iconic cinema locations. You'll soon discover why we say Utah. America's Film Set.®
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Native Nations
Learn about the Native Nations influenced and shaped Utah. Find information about ancient habitation sites, art panels and museums.
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Olympic Legacy
Utah Olympic Legacy includes the many Olympic facilities; Utah Olympic Park, Utah Olympic Oval, Soldier Hollow, Peaks Ice Sheet and Ogden Ice Sheet.
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Sporting Events
College, minor-league and professional sports teams in Utah provide year-round entertainment.
Indoor Activities
See indoor activities in Utah to keep the family entertained during the hottest, coldest or rainiest days of the year.
Places to Go
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Cities & Towns
Cities located in Northern Utah offer access to ski areas, mountain adventures, urban lifestyle and excellent amenities. Heading a few hundred miles south opens up a completely different landscape, where you can disconnect in outdoor basecamps surrounded by redrock scenery and unforgettable vistas (and some skiing, too).
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Dark Sky Parks
Head to one of Utah’s many Certified International Dark Sky Parks for the best celestial views on earth. You can find a dark sky experience that fits every itinerary.
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Parks & Outdoors
Utah's national parks feature some of the most astonishing landscapes in the world. But other lands in Utah promise just as much allure, including state parks, and national monuments and recreations areas. It's safe to call these our hidden gems.
Read the Stories
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A Sensory-friendly and Adaptive Survival Guide to Traveling in Urban Utah
Helpful suggestions for families of disabled and neurodiverse kiddos to help plan a trip with minimal meltdowns and maximum enjoyment.
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6 Steps to a Family MTB Trip on Canyonlands' White Rim
Want to take the family mountain biking on the White Rim Trail? Tackle 100 miles of biking and three days of backcountry camping in Canyonlands with the kids.
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11 Family-Friendly Activities Near SLC
From roller coasters to ski slopes, discover 11 fun family activities in and around Salt Lake City.
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A Family Bike Tour of Salt Lake’s East Canyon
East Canyon has always been a path for travelers, from the Donner Party to Brigham Young to the Pony Express. In this modern-day tale of travel, a family of three takes on East Canyon by bicycle for a weekend camping trip. They discover historical markers, swimming spots, and lots of ice cream.
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Backpacking: Start 'Em Early
Follow a father and his seven-year-old daughter on her first-ever backpacking trip at the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.
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A Family Drive Through Utah’s Quiet Places
A vacation where reservoirs and rocks, sagebrush and fossils provide wisdom along the way.
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Top 10 Family-Friendly Hikes in Utah National Parks
With so many destinations, and so many trails, it can be difficult to decide where to begin in Utah's Mighty 5® national parks. Here are 10 family-friendly hikes, two per national park, you cannot miss.
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At Lagoon, a Utah-grown Amusement Park where the Fun Never Ends
As the Farmington park marks the 100th-anniversary of its wooden roller coaster, Lagoon continues to attract crowds with its nostalgic rides and novel thrills.
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Endless Utah Ski Options for Families: Four Itineraries to Get You Started
Here are some pointers for planning your Utah family ski vacation, including where to make homebase and why.
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Together They Climb
Utah’s most unlikely adventure family shows America that you don’t have to fit into the outdoors stereotypes to find your place on the trail.
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Family and Budget Guide to the One and Only Ski City: Salt Lake
With 11 family-friendly resorts nearby, Salt Lake City skiing, dining and entertainment options make Utah one of the best ski destinations in the western U.S.
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Journey Through Utah's History at This Is the Place Heritage State Park
This Is the Place Heritage State Park has a major place in Utah’s history — quite literally.
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Field Notes: Backpacking With Children
Author Tim Sullivan shares his tips and tricks on backpacking with his young children.
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Hiking Southern Utah with Younger Children: Tips for Family Friendly Adventure
Find safety tips, side activities and kid-friendly hikes in Utah with our special guide to hiking Southern Utah with children. Read now!
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Taking Your Family Adventure Cycling
Want to know how to go bike touring with kids? Check out our guide to family adventure cycling in Utah and plan your trip today!
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Two Trips, Two Worlds, Two Years Apart: Returning to Raft in Dinosaur National Monument
Nushin and her family of four returned to Utah's Dinosaurland for the "best four days ever!" of guided rafting on the Green River. Explore their journey today!
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Time Traveling at Ogden's George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park
Many have dreamed of exploring jungles and forests only to discover a land filled with dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes? The George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park is the place to bring that dream to life, with 100-plus exhibits and realistic, full-sized dinosaur replicas, capturing the imagination of young and old alike.
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Best Utah Ski Resorts for Families
Utah boasts some of the best ski resorts for families. Get a first-hand parent perspective on skiing with kids at Alta, Snowbird, Snowbasin and Powder Mountain.
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Utah’s Scenery Offers A Backdrop for Inclusive Family Camping
While Utah is known for its amazing outdoors, it also has resources that ensure that families and individuals of all abilities can access these places.
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Utah's Kid Ski Culture
Utah is happy to help you support your future skier or rider, and make things fun for parents, too. Read our guide to teaching kids to ski and plan a trip.
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Wheeling It: An RV Primer for Utah Family Trips
With 28-feet of vehicle space, one traveling family discovers the RV community.
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Sandstone Spires & Swimming Holes
Walk the paths of dinosaurs and descend through 200 million years of geologic history in this six-day road trip from Vernal to Kodachrome Basin. It’s a kid-friendly desert drive in search of dino tracks, slot canyons and swimming,
Highlights
- Dinosaur Tracks in Vernal
- Crystal Geyser in Green River
- Hoodoos & Slots of Goblin Valley
- The Red Cliffs of Capitol Reef
- The White Cliffs of Grand Staircase
- Sandstone Spires in Kodachrome Basin
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Ski City Downhill + Downtown
Big city amenities support 10 different resorts within an hour of SLC International, which means the best in downhill meets the best in downtown.
Highlights
- Craft coffee, dining and spirits
- Alta Ski Area or Snowbird Ski Resort
- Solitude Mountain Resort or Brighton Ski Resort
- Performing arts, après-ski and live music
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A Family Road Trip From Las Vegas to Zion National Park
A three-day weekend is a perfect start in exploring the Wild West of Zion National Park and Southern Utah. This family-friendly road trip pairs a big helping of adventure with new discoveries in Southern Utah’s frontier for a weekend you and the kids won’t soon forget.
Highlights
- Zion National Park
- Kanarraville Falls
- Cedar Breaks National Monument
- Snow Canyon
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Southern Dinos and Goblins
From fossils and petroglyphs to slot canyons and goblins, you’ll have four days of “oohs” and “ahhs” for the whole adventuring family.
Highlights
- Moab Adventures
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
- Natural Bridges National Monument
- Goblin Valley State Park
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Yellowstone Loop
Everyone must go to Yellowstone once in his or her lifetime, and using Northern Utah as your gateway makes it that much greater.
Highlights
- Antelope Island State Park
- Bear Lake State Park
- Grand Teton and Yellowstone
- Park City
