Why Your Kids Need a Utah Trip
Discover where adventure and learning converge across iconic rivers and ancient canyons.
Planning an outdoor adventure for kids is a daunting endeavor for any parent. The packing alone can be a hero's feat (Read: Planning Ahead for Your Utah Adventure). But the benefits of exploring wild lands always outweigh the disappointment of a forgotten swimsuit (shorts and a t-shirt will do) or a missing hiking boot (sneakers are just fine). And when you reach that glorious vista view or red rock reservoir, everyone seems to forget that their shoes got dirty, there’s no cell phone reception, or that they’d rather be doing something else. (Read: A Mom’s Take On Sharing Skiing With the Next Generation)
The outdoors is inspiring. But if you as the parent planner could use some inspiration for where to go, what to do and how to do it, consider going with a guide. More than just recreation experts, like Utah's park rangers, guides and outfitters can evoke both adventure and learning across the state’s spectacular landscapes.
Parents and kids are equally amazed by Utah's towering red rock canyons.
Part of preserving wilderness for future generations is teaching children to appreciate and enjoy nature.
Few other rivers offer as a robust collection of world-class rapids, amazing vistas and unique places to explore as the San Juan River.
"More than just recreation experts, guides and outfitters can evoke both adventure and learning across the state’s spectacular landscapes."
Where Adventure Meets Education
Utah is well-known for its natural beauty and dramatic outdoor spaces, but take a closer look and you’ll discover the signs and stories left behind by its ancient people — whose descendants make up the state's major Native Nations. And with each sedimentary layer of the great rock canyons, you’ll see millions of years of geological history. Exploring these regions invites kids and adults alike to adventure and to learn. (Read: A Family Drive Through Utah’s Quiet Places)
Guide organizations like the Canyonlands Field Institute (CFI) in Moab have gained national prominence in adventure education, offering multi-day youth programs that traverse Southern Utah’s iconic rivers, ancient canyons and cultural landmarks.
On a recent San Juan River expedition from the southeastern Utah town of Bluff to Mexican Hat, CFI’s marketing and communications director Brennan Patrick Gillis explains, “There's some incredibly strong history in this canyon. And this area has been experiencing human habitation for more than 2,000 years…and a lot of the cultures that lived here are still actively living here, which makes this area even more special because that history is still alive.” (Read: The Voices of Bears Ears)
“A big, huge part of our educational technique is to create opportunities for the kids to experience this area firsthand on their own terms…” says Gillis. And experiencing it firsthand can also mean hearing directly from the diverse and local voices that inhabit the land.
“I just love working with CFI,” says Brandi Atene, a CFI program guide who is also Navajo of the Bitter Water clan and grew up on Navajo Mountain in Navajo Nation. “Because it's education-based and we follow a lot of cultural aspects, land acknowledgment…over left [of the river] is the Navajo Nation.”
“I just like to let kids know when they're out in nature, for me, it means a lot to me,” says Atene. “I'm grateful for my creator and I believe my creator is Mother Earth.”
In Utah, you’ll find a range of native-owned guide companies and outfitters across the state, each offering unique opportunities for deep cultural and regional exploration. (Read: Following the Markings of Native American History)
Navajo guide, Brandi Atene, prepares to share a demonstration of traditional Navajo string games with the participants.
Photo: Michelle Craig
"Utah is well-known for its natural beauty and dramatic outdoor spaces, but take a closer look and you’ll discover the signs and stories left behind by its ancient people — whose descendants make up the state's major Native Nations."
Inspiring Care of Wild Places
In addition to adventure and active learning, guided outdoor expeditions can also help kids gain an appreciation for sustainable visitation and respecting the land (Read: Perks of Going with a Guide). “I believe that in order to be an advocate or a steward of an area, you've got to care about it,” says CFI’s Gillis. “And so what we're trying to do out here is we're trying to give kids the tools to create this connection. And we do that through science. We do it through art. And our hope is that once the kids build this emotional connection, they're going to be able to then come back and experience the area on their own terms.” (Read: How to Visit Rock Imagery Sites Like an Archaeologist)
As your considering guides and outfitters for your trip, look for those that prioritize responsible travel and practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife and be considerate of others. Ranger-led programs at Utah’s state and national parks are also a great way for kids to learn about protecting and preserving our natural world and keeping it Forever Mighty.
"I believe that in order to be an advocate or a steward of an area, you've got to care about it. And so what we're trying to do out here is we're trying to give kids the tools to create this connection."
– Brennan Patrick Gillis, Marketing and Communications Director at Canyonlands Field Institute
Ranger-led programs at Utah’s state and national parks are also a great way for kids to learn about protecting and preserving our natural world.
Guided outdoor expeditions can help kids gain an appreciation for sustainable visitation and respecting the land.
"While the options for outdoor adventure may be endless, Utah really offers a unique opportunity to pair that adventure with learning and connection."
Shared adventure with friends and family is an experience your kids won't soon forget.
Photo: Michelle Craig
Connections to Last a Lifetime
Discovering Utah’s spectacular landscapes is sure to leave anyone inspired (Read: Finding Strength and Inspiration Deep in the Utah Desert). But deepening connections with family or peers on a shared adventure may very well be what your child remembers for years to come. “We usually have these closing ceremonies where we give kids an opportunity to tell each other bits and pieces about how they've grown to respect each other over the course of the trip” says CFI’s Gillis. “Being able to see your best friend succeeding in a totally different context can definitely increase that respect and build and deepen that connection.“
Traveling to outlying and quiet places also provides a unique opportunity to connect with one’s self. “The canyon walls are so big and it's so remote. And what I really crave when I am outdoors is finding places that put my existence as a human being in perspective. It's just the scale of the Earth and sharing that with other people. Because we are so small, but we don't often get to experience that smallness,” says CFI program guide Mollye Zahler.
While the options for outdoor adventure may be endless, Utah really offers a unique opportunity to pair that adventure with learning and connection. So the next time you find yourself needing the inspiration to get the kids outdoors, just remember that Utah’s wild lands and expert guides are here to help.
01
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
02
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
03
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
Read the Stories
-
12 Family-Friendly Activities Near SLC
From roller coasters to ski slopes, discover 12 fun family activities in and around Salt Lake City.
-
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.
-
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.
-
A Family Drive Through Utah’s Quiet Places
A vacation where reservoirs and rocks, sagebrush and fossils provide wisdom along the way.
-
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.
-
Field Notes: Backpacking With Children
Author Tim Sullivan shares his tips and tricks on backpacking with his young children.
-
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!
-
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!
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Wheeling It: An RV Primer for Utah Family Trips
With 28-feet of vehicle space, one traveling family discovers the RV community.
-
Why Your Kids Need a Utah Trip
Discover where adventure and learning converge across iconic rivers and ancient canyons.
