Utah is the 13th largest state in the United States and home to some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the West. Bordered by Idaho and Wyoming to the north, Colorado to the east, Arizona to the south, and Nevada to the west. Utah is a great place to explore, offering stunning deserts and canyons, snowy peaks, and forests of evergreen trees. Utah is best known for its five national parks: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Zion, and Capitol Reef, which attract millions of visitors each year. Utah is also home to seven national monuments, dozens of state parks, and countless other outdoor recreational opportunities. Home to several major cities and towns, Utah is a great place to live and explore. Cedar Valley is no exception.
The topic of the ‘best’ time to visit any state is quite complex because every season has something unique to it. In light of this, we’ve prepared a thorough guide to answer the question: when is the best time to visit Utah?
What makes fall the best time to visit Utah
Okay, let’s start this whole debate by stating the following: if you want to see the beauty that will blow you away and maybe even convince you to move to Utah, fall is when you should visit.
There are few things more beautiful than fall in Utah. The colors are enhancing, and the rich reds, yellows, and oranges will seem more like they came out of a painting than anything that you should be able to spot in nature. Few get to see fall in Utah and remain untouched by the experience.
It also helps that fall in Utah comes with a bit of the benefit you’d get every other season. Nature is beautiful and bustling, you might see snow and get some unique photos that combine beautiful fall colors with contrasting white, and the temperatures are still very temperate. That means that if you aren’t sure what places you want to visit and see, fall will ensure you enjoy yourself regardless.
Now, is this time of year flawless? Well, no. And that’s because almost everyone knows just how nice fall in Utah is. That leads to an increase in the number of tourists, and for people who dislike dealing with crowds, it can be a significant minus.
The charms of Utah winter
Moving on to what makes winter the best time to visit Utah, we have one word for you: snow. Yep, you are almost guaranteed to enjoy everything snow offers if you see Utah during this season, especially during January when ski season in Utah peaks.
Speaking of skiing, Utah has a ton of resorts and mountain trails to offer to everyone who enjoys this activity. The organization and trail maintenance level ensures you can have fun throughout the snowy season. It also helps that Utah is not mainly geared toward any level of skiing. Both beginners and advanced skiing enthusiasts can find slopes perfect for their skill level. In abundance, at that!
We may have already sold you the idea of visiting Utah in winter. However, we would be remiss, not to mention the other wonders of this season. First, the winter landscape only enhances much of Utah’s natural beauty. Seeing the famous Utah sunrises surrounded by snow and the chill of winter is a unique experience you should go through at least once.
We should also mention that Utah is home to many beautiful and exciting bird species. Winter birding in Utah may not be as popular as in other seasons due to the cold. But it is not for the lack of exciting birds to see and note down!
The beauty of Utah’s spring
Considering how famous Utah is for its hiking trails and destinations best enjoyed on foot, plenty of people claim that spring is the best time to visit.
To an extent, they are right! Utah gets pretty cold during winter, and its summer heat is nothing to joke around with. So, if you are planning to enjoy strenuous physical activity outside under the burning gaze of the sun, spring’s the season to do it.
It also helps that this is the season when Utah blooms at its most beautiful. The wide array of flowers and plants you can spot during spring on your hikes and walks can be overwhelming.
Finally, as the experts from the Best Cross Country Movers database note, spring is also the season when all kinds of services in Utah are very affordable. Now, they might be a tad more expensive than during winter, but you would be able to avoid the cold, so it’s well worth the tradeoff!
Everything going for Utah’s summer
Coming in next as a contestant for the best time to visit Utah is summer, and while it is objectively worse than the other options on the list, that’s only the case if you’re not visiting this state with one thing in mind: swimming.
Utah is chock full of picturesque lakes you can swim in. And, unfortunately, if you decide to visit, other seasons are almost always too cold to go for a swim. Winter is, obviously, right out. However, even fall, when cold weather is creeping in, especially spring since snow can linger well into February, are not good choices either.
The oppressive summer heat and the exquisite chill of lake water make summer in Utah uniquely enjoyable. You can’t claim you’ve managed to get to know Utah until you’ve taken full advantage of its lakes at least once!
Picking out the best time to visit Utah for you
So, is it possible to pin down the best time to visit Utah? Yes, but it depends entirely on why you want to visit!
If you want to see some exquisite natural sights, fall is best. Winter is the obvious winner if you want to ski and play in the snow. Spring is here for outside activities. And summer’s the season to laze around, bask in the sun, and take the occasional swim.
While this is the basic breakdown, there’s more to consider if you plan to move here. For instance, if you are moving to Utah from another state and looking for interstate movers, find a reliable moving team to help you. In this case, the best time to visit would be summer or fall, so you can plan for a move in winter or spring since the costs are the lowest.
The perfect visit to Utah for you and your family
Once you’ve found your answer to ‘when is the best time to visit Utah?’, you should take the time to prepare! Utah has a lot to offer, but its often extreme weather means you need some prep before enjoying it fully.
This article was written by a Ghost Writer. On occasion, we ask others to write articles for the Cedar Valley Sentinel. In some cases, they do not wish to be identified. If you would like to write for the Cedar Valley Sentinel, as either a ghost writer or as a regular writer, please use the contact-us form and let us know.