Most Underrated Towns in Utah
One of America’s most unique places, the State of Utah, is a land of cultural and geographic wonder. With its most special ties to the Mormon Church, Utah’s rich historical heritage is only rivalled by its exquisite natural surroundings. From rocky canyons to beautiful lakes, and of course stunning snow capped mountaintops, the “Beehive State” is well worth a visit for tourists of all kinds.
Moab
Moab is a truly stunning location offering residents and visitors alike some of Utah’s best natural landscapes. Seat of Grand County, just over 5,000 people call this town home, which was first settled in 1878, and that continues to be a real hot spot for some of the very best in desert geology.
Visit the famed Arches and Canyonlands National Park, where extraordinary views of canyons, mesas, buttes, and other rock formations will truly take one’s breath away. A frequent location for the filming of Western movies, anyone who spends time in Moab will certainly gain a new respect for the true awesomeness of the rocky desert.
Garden City
Right on the banks of Bear Lake, Garden City is affectionately known as the “Caribbean of the Rockies”. Bear Lake which is estimated to be some 250,000 years old gives this town much of its character, where camping and other outdoors activities are always popular. Go fishing, hiking, camping, and sailing on the waterfront, while indulging in some very famous Garden City raspberries.
These fruits grown in the area are considered to be amongst the tastiest in the entire country, and visitors can enjoy the peak of their season at the Raspberry Days Festival in August. Enjoy arts and crafts, fireworks, a display, and of course plenty of raspberries to taste!
Brigham City
Brigham City shares its name with Mormon pioneer Brigham Young and was founded in 1851. Situated within the Westville Mountain range, this town of 17,000 inhabitants has one of Utah’s best skylines. In addition to being a great place to experience the beauty of the outdoors, visitors can also enjoy unique Mormon heritage here. Stroll through the historic Main Street where special Mormon style architecture can be observed or visit the Box Elder Stake Tabernacle constructed in 1897. And of course any person in Brigham City cannot go without some of its tasty, locally grown peaches. Among the activities devoted to this most wonderful fruit include the September Peach Days Festival, where great family fun and delicious treats are on hand.
Panguitch
The seat of Garfield County, the town of Panguitch derives its name from a Native American phrase meaning “Big Fish”. Located within the Sevier River Valley, this small town of nearly 1,800 residents is known for its mild winters and hot summers and is a hot spot for local fishing enthusiasts. With its beautiful mountain landscapes and beautiful lakes, outdoor lovers will surely enjoy time spent in Panguitch, and time spent on the nearby rivers and lakes is always a popular activity.
Panguitch also boasts a charming historic district and is another Mormon pioneer settlement first established in 1864. Admire the town’s unique Mormon architecture, featuring large stone facades, or simply tour though any of the great local restaurants, galleries, and boutique shops.
Kanab
Informally known as “Little Hollywood”, Kanab is located just north of Utah’s border with Arizona. Due to the great number of Western films and TV shows filmed in the area during the 1950s and 60s, this seat of Kane County does indeed some splendid desert geography.
Spend time at the majestic Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks respectively, the stunning Coral Spring Sand Dunes, or the very deep Buckskin Gulch. Here awesome opportunities for biking, hiking, and natural sightseeing make Kanab truly one of the most beautiful towns and surrounding area to experience in Utah.
Spring City
The town of Spring City is home to a modest population of just 1,000 residents but is a place any history lover will certainly want to explore. An early Mormon farming settlement, founded in 1852, Spring City is full of unique Mormon pioneer architecture. From the Spring City Chapel to the Old Schoolhouse (1899), the town in its entirety is so historically important that it added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Marvel at the symmetrical angles of the buildings and their large stone facades, the charming atmosphere is most evident in Spring City. Indeed for any traveller passing through Utah, this town is surely not one to pass by.
With stunning natural beauty and a most unique historic heritage, Utah is indeed one of the most beautiful places to visit in the United States. Whether its marvelling at its beautiful mountain ranges or rock canyons, or learning more about the State’s Mormon settlement history, these small towns in Utah represent some of the Beehive State’s best. While they may be overlooked in favor of centres like Salt Lake City, these towns are without a doubt places not to be missed when travelling through Utah.