All the United States Utah

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Utah

170 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Utah

Updated August 7, 2026
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Cities

State not visited
VISITED THIS STATE
Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Cedar City
  2. Corinne
  3. Delta
  4. Elberta
  5. Fairview
  6. Green River
  7. Hanksville
  8. Herriman
  9. Hurricane
  10. Kanab
  11. Lehi
  12. Moab
  13. Monticello
  14. Ogden
  15. Panguitch
  16. Provo
  17. Salt Lake City
  18. Sandy
  19. Spanish Fork
  20. Springdale
  21. St. George
  22. Vernal
  23. Wendover

Unusual Attractions in Utah

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See All 170 Things To Do in Utah

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Utah

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

6 Sweet and Savory Snacks Concocted in Utah

More than half of Utah’s population is Mormon, which translates to more than 1.5 million citizens who eschew coffee, alcohol, and cigarettes. Sugar, however, is not restricted. This may explain why the state’s candy-eating rate is twice the national average: Everyone needs a vice. Or perhaps it’s that Mormons’ proclivity for large families skews the demographics in favor of sweets and starches—more kids equals more unbridled sugar fiends.Couple the state's bounty of confectionary with its proximity to Idaho, and you've got a wealth of potato-based treats to contend with, as well. In some cases, potatoes and dessert become one. Our advice? Don't knock it until you try it.

View Itinerary

Explore Utah

Geology 28
Nature 20
Natural Wonders 17
Rocks 15
Geological Oddities 14
Rock Formations 14
Museums 12
Art 11

Utah Leaderboard

Recent Utah Activity

Stories About Utah

Turns out the Pacific Ocean and Utah desert have a lot in common.

How Cold War Spying From Space Connected the Galaxy to Utah

NASA and the private space sector are now turning to technology used for a top-secret 1960s mission.
by Danny Robb, Atlas Obscura
In the American West, preventing wildfires is becoming all the more crucial. Meet one of the helpers.

Why NASA Is Watching Where Idaho’s Parachuting Beavers Landed

The mini-paratroopers have a new role to play today.
by Danielle Hallock, Atlas Obscura
Eggnog, technically, comes from space.

Asteroid Collisions, Wandering Spacecraft, and Eggnog

Taking holiday a moment to appreciate how Earth got its water—and eggnog and mulled wine.
by Robin George Andrews, Atlas Obscura
Pando, called simply The Tree by those who know it best—and love it most—is a single organism that covers an area larger than 100 football fields.

Pando As You've Never Seen It Before

The Utah aspen grove is one of the world's oldest and largest living things. It's finally getting its close-up.
by Amiee Maxwell, Atlas Obscura
Iridescent green figeater beetles (Cotinis mutabilis) have long been used as adornments in cultures around the world.

Were These Beetles Once as Valuable as Gemstones?

Archaeologists believe jewelry made from the bugs was a coveted status symbol 2,000 years ago.
by Shoshi Parks, Atlas Obscura
A 171-foot-tall white stain, left by the retreating waters of Lake Powell, looms over a lone human as he strides across a sandstone fin in the heart of Glen Canyon.

The Return of Glen Canyon

As Lake Powell's water levels continue to drop, a stunning landscape resurfaces—along with questions about the future of the Colorado River and those who depend on it.
by Craig Childs, Atlas Obscura

Podcast: Goblin Valley State Park

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura
The quaking aspen known as Pando is one of the planet’s largest and oldest living organisms.

Pando, the World’s Largest Organism, Is Being Eaten by Deer

Utah's 106-acre stand of quaking aspen clones has survived for millennia, but faces threats large and small.
by Richard Elton Walton, Atlas Obscura

Lists Featuring Utah

Potash evaporation ponds
The Goblin (aka The Witch)
Pando, the Trembling Giant
An abandoned school bus under the Cisco sky.

26 Unusual Sites Worth Visiting in Utah

Sponsored By Visit Utah
26

Including Potash Evaporation Ponds, Fantasy Canyon, and Pando, the Trembling Giant

View from Hell’s Backbone Bridge overlooking Box-Death Hollow Wilderness Area
Looking down the Burr Trail Switchbacks
The Goblin (aka The Witch)

From Desert Waterfalls to Wind-Carved Hoodoos: Dive Into Utah’s Wild Dreamscapes

Sponsored By Visit Utah
8

Including Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument , Hell's Backbone Scenic Road, and Burr Trail Switchbacks

View westward from the trail, toward the Colorado River.
Oblique view of the west arch, looking southeast. The edge of the east arch is barely visible at the top of the photo.
Near the entrance to Tusher Tunnel, Moab Area, UT
Potash evaporation ponds

The Mysterious Petroglyphs and Twisted Towers Beyond Utah’s National Parks

Sponsored By Visit Utah
6

Including Fisher Towers, Gemini Bridges, and Tusher Tunnel

Devil’s Kitchen
Goblin Valley
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

You’ve Never Seen Stars Like This: Underneath Utah’s Mind-Blowing Night Skies

Sponsored By Visit Utah
6

Including Devil's Kitchen, Goblin Valley State Park, and Cedar Breaks National Monument

Winter Solstice 2019
The Spiral Jetty
Double Negative’s north trench

A Tour of Spectacular 1970s Art Made From the Landscape Itself

Eight places to witness the incredible ambition of the Southwest land art movement.

8

Including Sun Tunnels, The Spiral Jetty, and Complex City

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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