Salt Lake City, the capital city of Utah, offers the perfect base for day tours exploring the state’s remarkable natural landmarks and national parks.
Drive south of SLC for a few hours and you’ll access some of the most captivating landscapes in the world. Canyons, mountains, creeks and forests cover a landscape that seems to wind on forever. Home to wildlife and rock formations that showcase millennia of natural weathering, this region is simply unmissable. The good news is, there are a number of, primarily private, day tours from Salt Lake City that can take you right to the best bits. Here are five of the best.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Bryce Canyon National Park Tour
It takes around 3.5 hours to drive from Salt Lake City to the enigmatically beautiful Bryce Canyon National Park. Luckily on this tour, you’ll be able to do it in the comfort of a luxury SUV, with your driver-guide leading the way to the best spots. Pass through the Dixie National Forest to emerge above the clusters of stone pillars known as hoodoos. You’ll drive to various vantage points, with views for scores of miles on clear days. This is a private tour, with the price remaining the same for up to six people. From $600 per group.
Canyonlands Off-roading from Salt Lake City
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
At a similar distance from SLC as Bryce Canyon is Canyonlands National Park, a much more arid collection of impressive geological formations. These include Mesa Arch, the span of rock at a cliff’s edge forming a natural window to the red rock canyons beyond. You’ll also leave the tarmac behind for the thrilling Shafer Switchbacks that negotiate a way up the canyon wall. Hotel pick-up and drop-off is included, along with snacks and a picnic lunch. This tour will last around 14 hours in total, providing plenty of time in Canyonlands. From $600 per group.
Arches National Park Private Tour from SLC
With roughly 2,000 naturally occurring stone arches, formed over countless millennia, Arches National Park is yet another geological marvel in Utah. This 14-hour tour is, like the previous two options, designed to be a private trip for up to six people in a luxury SUV. Your driver will take you out to all the highlights of the area, including Landscape Arch and Double Arch. You can even tailor the activity to your fitness levels. A picnic lunch is included, as well as the use of hiking poles and all park entry fees. From $600 per group.
Private Day Trip to Zion National Park
Zion is the other world-renowned national park in this part of Utah. The main canyon is unlike any other, with its imposing, sheer cliffs closing in on all sides. You’ll also drive the stunning switchback road through the mountains and visit beautiful vistas to really appreciate the magnitude of the wilderness here. A lovely picnic lunch is provided and can be catered towards vegan and vegetarian diets on request in advance. This tour lasts around 14 hours. From $499 per person.
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From Salt Lake City: Private Day Tour
Have somewhere specific in mind within a few hours’ drive of Salt Lake City that you’d like to visit? Well, there’s a private tour available that gives you the chance to tailor-make your own perfect day trip itinerary. Visit any one of the four remarkable national parks listed above, or strike out on your own route. After all, there’s a broad list of other popular sites that are a little further from the beaten path, such as Goblin Valley State Park or Capitol Reef National Park, when the weather permits. From $677 per group.