About the USARA Card
In 2019, Utah search and rescue teams launched 582 total missions, aiding backcountry hikers, mountain bikers, snowmobilers and more. While most rescues are relatively straightforward, those involving ground and air searches can exceed tens of thousands of dollars. These high costs can severely affect the local budgets of Utah's small gateway communities.
The Utah Search and Rescue Assistance card is an annual subscription that offers backcountry recreationists the opportunity to contribute to search and rescue efforts. Revenue from the USARA card goes directly toward purchasing and maintaining search and rescue equipment as well as training search and rescue volunteers.USARA cards are a great way to show support for Utah's search and rescue teams. Cards are available to Utah residents and visitors alike, and can be purchased online at rescue.utah.gov.
"Revenue from the USARA card helps Utah's search and rescue teams with equipment costs and volunteer training. "
Always check the forecast and know the terrain where you'll be recreating.
When recreating in the backcountry, be sure to let someone know your itinerary and the time you expect to return.
Tips for Staying Safe in the Backcountry
Heading to the backcountry? Here are some basics you need to know.
- Know your route. Always carry a map or a GPS system, cell service can often fail in remote areas.
- Be sure to pack appropriately (extra clothes, food, water, emergency kit). Heading out in the winter? Here's some additional tips.
- Check the forecast and know that the weather can change quickly. If rain is in the forecast do not enter any slot canyons.
- Know the ability of every person in your party; turn back if terrain becomes too strenuous. And stay together — lone hikers are more likely to need rescuing.
- When you're boating or rafting, always have a life jacket for every person on board.
- Let someone know your itinerary and the time you expect to return.
- If you need a rescue, call 911 and stay put. It's best to shelter in place near a trail, a body of water or your disabled vehicle. Remember not to panic, but to S.T.O.P. (Sit, Think, Observe and Plan).
Learn more about how to prepare for the outdoors.
Forever Mighty
As you plan your travels, have you considered ways you can visit more thoughtfully? There are lots of ways to minimize your impact, while maximizing your experience. This is a shared travel ethos we call Forever Mighty.
How to Recreate Responsibly
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A Deep Dig into Utah’s Deep Time
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A Family Drive Through Utah’s Quiet Places
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A Grand Tour of the San Rafael Swell
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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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An Old Favorite Fishing Hole at the Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Visit Utah columnist Dan Potts takes us to his "secret" fishing hole on Utah's Flaming Gorge Reservoir, one of the world's most diverse fisheries set among the brilliant red rock walls of Red Canyon in the easternmost corner of the state. Along the way, Dan takes us through some of his favorite landscapes on the drive to and from Salt Lake City.
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AndShesDopeToo's Insider's Guide to Ogden
AndShesDopeToo is a worldwide adventure community of women run by Jennifer and Taylor Killian from Ogden, Utah. This insider's guide video highlights their unparalleled access to both the outdoors and the city's "fun counterculture vibe" at the foot of the mighty Wasatch Mountains.
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Digging Salt Lake City for 48 Hours
Looking for fun things to do in Salt Lake City? Check out our 48-hour guide to get the scoop on the most popular and under-the-radar attractions.
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Dinosaurland Top 5
Vernal, Utah, is an adventure base camp to the best of eastern Utah. Uintah County around Vernal — called Dinosaurland — is home to diverse outdoor recreation and natural history at three state parks, Dinosaur National Monument and countless trailheads to the Ashley National Forest.
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Following the Dinosaur Tracks of Red Fleet
Explore Red Fleet State Park's cleverly built trail that crosses sandy washes, ribs of exposed stone and a dinosaur trackway.
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Get Your Spook On: Northern Utah's Most Haunted Places
Looking for a different kind of adventure? One seemingly outside the realms of possibility? Here are some of Utah’s most haunted places.
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Hidden Secrets of the Jurassic National Monument's Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry
The Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry of Jurassic National Monument is an opportunity to learn about prehistoric animals and see a working paleontologist dig.
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How to Experience Utah's Dinosaur History at the Prehistoric Museum in Price
Central Utah’s Prehistoric Museum in Price houses fossils from more dinosaur species than any other museum in the country. World-class exhibits of the region’s unique paleontology, archaeology and geology can all be found under one roof.
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How to Maximize an Afternoon at the Natural History Museum of Utah
Spanning five floors and tucked along the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, the Natural History Museum of Utah is a must add to any Salt Lake City itinerary.
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Reef Walking, Petroglyphs and Bones
Check out the world’s densest concentration of dinosaur bones at Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry and explore other prehistoric wonders around Utah.
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Searching for Dinosaur Bones in Capitol Reef Country
The Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur Quarry dates back to the Jurassic Period and is approximately 150 feet wide by 600 feet long. Hundreds of dinosaur bones have been discovered here, including those of the Stegosaurus, Brontosaurus and Brachiosaurus.
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Seeing the Dinosaurs of Utah Valley
Tons of dinosaur fossils have been found in Utah, and plenty of them are on display in museums in the Utah Valley area. Ranging from smaller collections to one of the world’s largest collections of complete dinosaur skeletons, there’s something for every dinosaur lover to enjoy!
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The Real Story Behind the Dinosaur Quarry
What universal energy do you share with your terrestrial predecessors? At Dinosaur National Monument, you can touch 149-million-year-old fossils and feel for yourself.
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The Unknown & Otherworldly Near Vernal, Utah
UFOs, dinosaur bones, ghosts — there’s a chance to see all of them in the wild, weird and existential landscapes of Northeastern Utah.
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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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Touring the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Discover dinosaurs in Utah. The Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway is one of the best places to see dinosaurs in Utah.
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Tracing the Outlaw Trail
Cowboys and dinosaurs don’t always come to mind in tandem. At Dinosaur National Monument in northeastern Utah, however, they do share one thing: an incredible landscape as a backdrop. This landscape, as well as some wild history, make Dinosaur a must-visit part of the state.
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Vernal Equinox: A New Season in Vernal, Utah
Looking for things to do in Vernal, Utah? Read our guide to the town here for attractions, restaurants, breweries and more. Make plans to visit Vernal!
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View Millions of Years of Geologic History in an Afternoon
Unlock new levels of understanding about the land you are traveling through, around and on by learning about the geology in Utah.
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Why a Visit to the Blanding Dinosaur Museum is a Must
The Blanding Dinosaur Museum, off U.S. 191 in Southeastern Utah, is a hidden gem: The artifact collection here includes bones, dinosaur eggs, and even fossilized skin! The museum also has three wonderfully preserved petrified trees and unique movie memorabilia.
