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Telling anyone to bypass Zion National Park would be a disgrace, but with that comes the hassle of crowds, including traffic (yes, traffic!) when hopping from one fiery red landscape to the next.
I’ve been in the midst of it myself and was honestly quite disappointed with how limited the park felt, having brought my dog along with minimal pet-friendly trails and bumper-to-bumper traffic in certain regions of the park.
While there may be mixed reviews with such cases, one thing is for certain – adventure awaits in Utah.
A new report from local Utah news source KSL revealed 4 state parks have undergone a mass transformation for tourists and locals alike to enjoy new sites, including ever-so-trendy tiny homes, all without the headache of crowds that more notable parks may incur.
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
If you’ve never heard of Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, just know it lives up to the name.
Brimming with ancient trees and petrified remnants lining the maze of wide-open trails, this is one of Utah’s most unique parks.
Entry fees are $10 and well worth it for the astounding scenery and crowd-free nature, where, in many areas, you can embrace solitude on a hike, bike ride, or lakeside lounging.
Located essentially in the middle of nowhere, this State Park boasts a brand-new campground with fees starting at $30 per night, plus additional costs for water, electricity, and dump stations.
While here, don’t skimp out on nearby natural attractions perfect for photo-ops, such as Lower Calf Creek Falls and Phipps Arch.
Red Fleet State Park
Venturing even deeper into no man’s land lies Red Fleet State Park, where its claim to fame is 200 million-year-old dinosaur tracks, where it’s said the best times to view them are early morning and late afternoon.
While this is certainly no Jurassic Park, hold on to your butts because this park is no snoozer!
With plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy, such as hiking, dirt biking, and numerous water thrills like waterskiing and paddle boarding on the Red Fleet Reservoir, often considered a ‘mini Lake Powell’
You’ll likely want to make more than a day trip out of Red Fleet. If that’s the case, take advantage of the park’s revamped campgrounds with brand new tiny homes for rent, as well as other useful amenities to be named at a later date.
For further information and a full tour of the park’s new tiny homes and overall improvements, I highly recommend watching the insughtful YouTube video below from KSL Outdoors.
Red Fleet State Park costs $10 to enter.
Utahraptor State Park
And the winner for best State Park name goes to….
Full disclosure: Utahraptor State Park doesn’t have the best reputation. Formerly plagued with negative reviews as a barren wasteland with nothing to do, Utahraptor has undergone a much-needed glow-up.
Now, there are 67 modern campgrounds to liven the place in hopes of attracting more visitors than the measly 26,000 that were largely disappointed in 2024.
But hey, let’s give this place a chance. After all, it’s only been a designated State Park since 2021, with construction still ongoing for an official grand opening slated for Spring 2025.
Located near Moab, if this Utahraptor doesn’t turn out to be a dud, just 15 minutes away are more popular Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, plus ULUM, a luxurious ‘glamping’ resort.
Bear Lake State Park
Bear Lake State Park is certainly the most appealing to the eye at first glance out of these 4 State Parks. Bear Lake itself is mesmerizing with turquoise waters and surrounded by rolling hills in the distance.
So pretty, in fact, it’s been dubbed “the Caribbean of the Rockies”. Obviously, you’ll want to spend the majority of your trip in and around the fabulous waters here.
To do so, you’ll have to fork over at least $15 to enter. Fees vary based on season and residency, which you can view here.
Fishing, jet-skiing, and boating are very popular, as are hiking, picnicking, and camping out, which is the new hype surrounding Bear Lake as new campgrounds and day-use areas were recently built in the Rainbow Cove and North Eden regions of the park.
Bear Lake is shared with Wyoming, and there are also hotels dotted throughout the area, such as The Resort At Bear Lake and Sunrise Resort & Event Center.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
