On the road in the ancient and untouched nature of Utah

Who doesn't remember the final scene of one of the most iconic films in the history of cinema, Thelma & Luisa? When the two protagonists take a leap into the void, the setting chosen by Ridley Scott is Dead Horse Point in Utah, a place where nature is wild, primordial and the walls of the red canyons alternate with the immensity of the desert. The sense of freedom that inspires the film could not have found a better representation. The extraordinary landscapes of Utah have always inspired great stories. Like those engraved in the diaries of its first explorers, of the Mormons who chose it as a new land and in the hearts of the travellers who discovered it. It is therefore not surprising that Hollywood has repeatedly chosen its landscapes as the setting for films. If you are looking for an alternative journey in the American West, you can be inspired by the proposals of Utah Film Trail and America's Film Set.®, making a stop in one of its varied landscapes.

A view of Bryce Canyon National Park, famous for its pinnacles

The real treasure of a trip to Utah is nature. The entire country is an outdoor playground with the Mighty Five, the spectacular 5 national parks, and 46 state parks, perhaps less crowded than the first. They all offer easy accessibility, a variety of contexts and the possibility of practicing different activities. Utah is the mecca of lovers of mountain biking and the easier e-bikes, of river runners, of climbing, of hiking, of off-road vehicles, of horseback riding. But also of a relaxing family trip in which the little ones can capture with their own camera the rugged landscape tinged with red by walking along easy paths on foot. It is certainly the ideal destination to organize a slow trip on the road by car because with those views and on those roads driving is part of the adventure. Among the itineraries you can choose to reach Moab from Salt Lake towards the south east and then go west towards Bryce Canyon Park on UT-12, traveling along one of the most panoramic roads in the States that has become famous for the variety of views and magnificent stops in just 200km.

Dead Horse Point State Park

In July 1847, Mormon leader Brigham Young, with the famous expression “This is the place”, chose the valley of the Great Salt Lake as the area where his religious community would settle after fleeing from Missouri. From there, Salt Lake City (the city of the salt lake) was born. If Temple Square, dominated by the imposing temple, reminds us that we are in Mormon Country, the embrace of the mountains around us that we are at the entrance to the great west and the most famous ski resorts in the country. It is no coincidence that Salt Lake City will host the 2034 Winter Olympics. Just over four hours by car there is Moab with its past rich in history. Here the first Native Americans carved petroglyphs in the imposing canyons of the desert, then came the fame linked to the numerous film sets (from the aforementioned Telma & Luise to “Rio Grande”, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, “Star Trek”, “Wagon Master” and “Geronimo). It is a green oasis in the heart of the desert, surrounded by high red mountains, the gateway to Arches National Park and Canyonlands, passing through Goblin Valley and Dead Horse Point State Park, as well as a substantial list of itineraries, walking trails and excursions in the rich surroundings. Arches is a park that gathers around two thousand stone arches, some of which have partially collapsed due to erosion by the wind and rain. Delicate Arch, made famous by the Utah license plate, is among the panoramic points not to be missed as well as Devils Garden, a wonderland of red-hued rock forms that emerge from the living cryptobiotic soil. While in Canyonland, the largest national park in Utah (1400 km² divided into 4 areas), there is Island in the Sky, a steep-sided mesa that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding area, including the rugged canyons carved out by the Colorado and Green rivers. The desert climate here makes a trip pleasant all year round except during the height of summer and the darkest days of winter. For accommodation, you can camp in Arches National Park, rent a room at the nearby Red Cliffs Lodge or try glamping under the stars, also because Utah is first in the world for the conservation of the night sky, with 26 Dark Sky International-accredited sites. One option is offered by Under Canvas Moab, an eco-friendly campground that runs on solar energy, 13 km from Arches National Park and 35 km from Canyonlands National Park.

You enter UT-12 after passing Capitol Reef National Park with its warm shades of red earth but also mountain habitats made of ranches, green pastures and enchanting views. You can't leave Utah without visiting its most iconic park, among the 59 places protected by the American state administration that already at the end of the 19th century began to plan how to safeguard the most fragile ecosystems of the country. Bryce Canyon's fame is due to its largest concentration of hoodoos, rock pinnacles with a singular shape sculpted by natural erosion phenomena. Wind and rain have carved this friable rock for millions of years, forming canyons, spires, arches, pinnacles, gullies, giving life to the typical landscape of the West. An unmissable spectacle is offered by the panoramic point of Bryce Point. At dawn as soon as the light rises the hoodoos shine offering splendid shades of orange and the spectacle repays the early rising. But even during the day the view and the emotions remain extraordinary. And for a final immersion in the history of the country, all that remains is to reach nearby Panguitch, founded in 1864 by the Mormons. According to the Utah Historical Society, it hosts the highest concentration of historic houses built in red brick in the style in vogue between 1880 and 1940, another example of how the Mormon community has evolved. To visit the Parks, you can get the Interagency Annual Pass that allows you to visit several American national parks. (Before planning a stop, it is always a good idea to check whether a reservation is required; just access the websites of the individual parks for information, hours and other details).