2024's 8 Most Beautiful Small Towns in Utah

You thought your adventures were over? Not in the Beehive State of Utah, a land that still remembers the ferocities and heroics of the Wild West. Beyond familiar and more renowned attractions like Salt Lake City’s Great Salt Lake—seven times saltier than the saltiest parts of the ocean—you will admire 2024’s most beautiful small towns in Utah. From the historic town of Moab, you can delve into the naturally artistic marvels of the Arches National Park. From Panguitch, you can get lost and amazed by the Dixie National Forest and Bryce Canyon. And from Springdale, you will be stupefied by the sheer beauty of the Zion National Park. Though the bootprints of some of the most famous outlaws in the Wild West have been swept by the winds, their legacy endures as you now relive the past in these many beautiful small towns in Utah.

Mount Pleasant

Have a pleasant time on your journey through Utah by visiting Mount Pleasant on the Sanpitch River. Before and during the Black Hawk War in the 1800s, the original Mormon pioneers and settlers from Manti abandoned the settlement due to increased incursions by the warring Native American tribes. They eventually returned in the late 1800s and established Wasatch Academy, Utah's oldest continually operating secondary school. These days, Mount Pleasant is an adorable and quaint abode sandwiched by a few mountains in the region. Candland Mountain, South Tent Mountain, and Horse Heaven Mountain are among these mountainous landscapes. Additionally, tourists can go camping and hiking through the Manti-La Sal National Forest. Only an hour and 30 minutes south of Salt Lake City, cherish your experiences in Mount Pleasant.

Moab

Want a grand experience of the Wild West's beauty and ferocity? Then, journey to “Nature’s Masterpiece,” the small town of Moab about 54 minutes and miles away from Monticello. There is a reason why it is called “Nature’s Masterpiece” since Moab is located near aesthetic landmarks like the Arches National Park—5.2 miles of red rock landscapes—and Canyonlands National Park—30-mile-area of terrain reminiscent of the Wild West where old cowboys corralled wild mustangs. The Colorado River knifed through these Wild West regions, where iconic films like The Lone Ranger, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Galaxy Quest were shot.

Get a 2,000-foot view of the Canyonlands’ buttes and columns from Dead Horse Point State Park. Since Moab is one of the few places whose skies are unpolluted by light and particles, you can gaze and marvel at the starry backbone of the Milky Way galaxy at night. More astonishing features await in Moab, especially the millennia-old petroglyphs from the Navajo, Hopi, Pueblo, and other indigenous peoples who lived in these harsh ecosystems for thousands of years. So, if you are not interested in gazing longingly at the night sky, you can always retreat to Moab’s fine establishments, such as Moab Springs Ranch, Aarchway Inn, or Gravity Haus Moab.

Panguitch

Pack some sandwiches for the serene town of Panguitch. Approximately 67 miles from Kanab, Panguitch serves as a gateway to the dynamic Dixie National Forest, where Lake Panguitch lulls people into a tranquil oasis in Utah’s often arid and jagged reality. Bryce Canyon, on the other hand, is a powerful mesa of jagged pillars of red stones called hoodoos. It has been a geological wonder due to its unique formation and a historical mystery because of ancient artifacts possibly left by the Anasazi (the Ancient Ones), the Fremont, and the Paiute.

There is also the Kodachrome Basin—a great area for recreational horseback rides to feel like a cowboy—and the distant Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, over 1.7 million acres of untamed and unconquered Wild West land. Every year from June 5 - 8, the townsfolk celebrate the Quilt Walk Festival to commemorate the individuals who used quilts to cross the deep snows of the nearby mountains and acquire flour to feed the hungry people of Panguitch in 1864. If you pack a sandwich in Panguitch, you can relish your snack and your time in splendid establishments like The Golden Spur, Panguitch Countryside Cabins, or Color Country.

Kanab

One cannot get enough of Kanab, the “Little Hollywood” of Utah midway between St. George and Lake Powell. Named after the Paiute word for “place of the willows,” it was in this place that many old movies were filmed such as The Outlaw Josey Wales, Sergeants 3, and Desperate Hours—all of which can be explored at the Little Hollywood Museum. In addition, amidst the Navajo sandstone cliffs and sagebrush vistas, you can journey through the famous Grand Canyon and swim or kayak across Lake Powell.

You can explore the Bryce Canyon Grand Staircase Escalante and uncover ancient treasures in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monuments. You might even come across the remnants of old base camps that inspired author Zane Gray to write his magnum opus, Riders of the Purple Sage in 1912. Immerse yourself in the cowboy lifestyle during the Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival every year in the third Friday and Saturday of August. Let the soothing accommodations of the Grand Plateau Lodge and other lodgings keep you happy and content in Kanab.

Monticello

Monticello sits 7,000 feet on the eastern slopes of the Abajo Mountains. Its awesome height and vantage allow travelers all over to witness the Colorado Plateau, where over twelve national parks and monuments are in full and unspoiled view. Among many examples are the Canyonlands National Park, the Manti-La Sal National Forest, Monticello Lake, Indian Creek, and more. At the Bear Ears National Monument—so-called due to a pair of buttes that look like a bear’s ears—history buffs will be enamored by the ruins of the Anasazi, the Ancient Ones.

There is also the Hovenweep National Monument, where the ancestral Puebloan people once lived from the period of 500 BCE to 1300 CE. You might fancy a historic visit to Newspaper Rock, a dark and large sandstone panel in Indian Creek where many Native American cultures—from Fremont and Archaic to enigmatic Utes—carved gigantic petroglyphs on the rocks. Let your curiosity take you everywhere and anywhere, and let your weary feet lead you to the splendid beds of Monticello Inn, The Atomic Blue Motor Inn, or Rodeway Inn & Suites.

Bluff

It is no bluff that the town of Bluff happens to be one of the most beautiful small towns in Utah. Due to its ferocious sandstone bluffs that gave the town its name, Bluff has remained a humble and laidback town on the banks of the San Juan River. Along this river, you can find “goosenecks” or tight loops in an area appropriately called Gooseneck State Park, with more towering bluffs and other titanic features characterizing the landscape. Similar to Monticello, you can savor the feet-sweeping masterpieces of the Bears Ear National Monument and Hovenweep National Monument.

Aside from these majestic landmarks, there is also the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway—over 116 miles of unyielding and mesmerizing terrain where the Puebloan people carved ancient artworks such as the Sand Island Petroglyph Panel. You might fancy touring Fort Bluff, an old barracks and waystation for Mormon pioneers after their harrowing sojourn through the Hole-in-the-Rock trail. Only 50 minutes from Monticello, enjoy your visit to Bluff while staying safe and comfortable in Kokopelli Inn, La Posada Pintada, or Bluff Dwellings Resort & Spa.

Springdale

Feel the sweet touch of spring all year in the town of Springdale. Around 75 miles from Panguitch, Springdale entertains travelers with many amusing attractions. Among them is the Zion National Park, one of the most beautiful and breathtaking landmarks in Utah, replete with humungous features like the Court of the Patriarchs, the towering Greatheart Mesa, and a lush and relaxing camping ground called The Subway.

Suppose you desire more destinations with scenic and serene atmospheres. In that case, you can head over to the Temple of Sinawava, a natural amphitheater whose waters from the Virgin River lead to the canyon-flanked waterway called the Narrows. This, in turn, trickles to the Big Springs, a placid series of falls that will certainly satisfy those who love the outdoors. Before you go on your grand adventure through the Zion National Park via Springdale, you might want to head to the Zion Human History Museum to learn all about the indigenous cultures that have made the Zion National Park their home. And if you should ever return to Springdale for a break, the Zion Canyon Lodge, Canyon Vista Lodge, Driftwood Lodge, and many more lodgings will await you in town.

Huntsville

Huntsville is a cool and comfortable oasis in Utah’s often searing heat. Only about 15 miles east of Ogden, one can enjoy the frigid mountain breeze from the snowy summits surrounding Ogden Valley. On September 21, you can watch or participate in the Huntsville Marathon for an adrenaline-pumping job and race through Ogden Valley. You might also fancy the Cyclekart Race every May, where you can ride homemade cycles and other contraptions to win the Grand Prix.

The regions around Huntsville are filled with treasures and experiences to savor. Go swimming or kayaking on Lake Pineview or the Pineview Reservoir, a man-made lake that perfectly captures the reflections of the snowy mountains. Pitch your tent or charter a boat at the Anderson Cove Campground. Climb the mountains and explore the many enchanting amenities in the Ogden Valley, like the Weber Memorial Park and Snowbasin Resort. Last but not least, book a room at the Atomic Chalet Bed & Breakfast for a luxurious time in Huntsville.

Before Mormon settlers made Utah the most homogenous state in terms of religion, Utah was once a land populated by many Native American tribes. Indeed, the name Utah likely derives from the Ute tribe, meaning “people of the mountains,” or from the Native American word yuttahih meaning “higher up.” It alludes to the dynamic region's massive mesas, foreboding canyons, and snow-hatted mountains. Most importantly, there are some of the most beautiful small towns in the Beehive State to keep your interests buzzing with enthusiasm. Whether you are traipsing through the snow in Huntsville, admiring historical artifacts in Bluff and Monticello, or knowing about archaic films in Kanab, you will not be disappointed by a land that has inspired many a tale of daring bravados and legendary gunslingers. So follow the tumbleweeds towards the dusty streets of Utah’s most beautiful small towns.