6 Bizarrely Named Towns In Utah
Utah, one of the most scenic states in America, is synonymous with adventures. While the state motto is "Industry," its staples are the incredible red-rock scenery and top-notch ski resorts. But away from the obvious, little towns boast unique origins and some of the most bizarre names. Kamas is near Park City, while La Verkin is surrounded by other unique names.
See the snaking Colorado River at its finest along a mesa at Dead Horse Point State Park, just a short way from Moab. Being the Beehive State, it is not a stranger to strange names, with some real characters hiding between the Big Five National Parks. Beyond that sweeping scenery, these six small, bizarrely named towns blend culture into nature and connect the past to the present.
Duchesne
First called Dora, then Theodore, Duchesne is a natural paradise at the junction of the Strawberry and Duchesne rivers in the Indian Valley of northeastern Utah. After a town in the same sparsely populated county to the east became Roosevelt, this particular enclave went in a whole different direction. To avoid confusing travelers and the mailman, it was named Duchesne, like the river that runs through. The waterway was likely named to honor Mother Teresa Duchesne in the 1820s by fur trappers. Locals enjoy the Strawberry Riverwalk Park and Trailhead.
At the crossroads of two highways, Duchesne offers a convenient escape on a budget, with spectacular accommodation options like Harrison Inn and Duchesne Suites at the heart, plus great dining at Cowan's Cafe. Minutes northwest, Starvation State Park is a large wildlife area for recreation in the Uintah Basin on Starvation Reservoir. It is a dreamy getaway at the fingertips, with popular camping options, hiking, and water pursuits like fishing, boating, and windsurfing. Don't miss the Duchesne County Veterans Honor Wall.
Escalante
Once stumbled upon by a group of explorers with Franciscan missionary in lead, Silvestre Velez de Escalante was the first European journeying through the region in 1776. Between Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon national parks, there is no shortage of excitement for modern-day travelers around Southern Utah's best. Perched on the edge of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the scenery is all-dimensional, with insane beauty that can make you feel unhinged. The narrow, winding Peekaboo and Spooky Gulch are the most famous and fun slot canyons.
Hidden amongst red rocks, Escalante will never be bland or blend in along one of the US's most beautiful drives, the Scenic Byway 12. Lower Calf Creek Falls is a stunning hike to the 126-foot cascade, while Devil’s Garden is a rocky outcrop to scramble around unique formations posing as a backdrop for picnics and photoshoots. Escalante Petrified Forest State Park offers fossilized dinosaur bone sites and camping on Wide Hollow Reservoir. Many come back for seconds and thirds of the wild dessert, plus favorites of the town's cafes and inns, plus art galleries and outfitters.
Helper
Helper is a classic former mining town at the base of Price Canyon. It was curiously named following its bustling days as a coal mining hub, after the "helper" locomotives, which aided trains up to the steep Soldier Summit. The Salt Lake Tribune recognized it first as the "new town of Helper" in the spring of 1891. Since transformed with a thriving arts scene, the Carbon County town resurged as one of Utah's smallest yet most vibrant cultural hubs, with galleries, studios, and public murals. Drop by the Western Mining and Railroad Museum for local coal-mining heritage.
Nine Mile Canyon reveals thousands of millennia-old petroglyphs lining the "world’s longest art gallery." Historic markers dot the highway north to the Castle Gate, a landmark. Pack a picnic from R & A Market and Deli for a trail hike, Nature Price Canyon Recreation Area, or Ford Creek Waterfall, 11 minutes north. Gordon Creek Falls is 11 minutes southwest. Arts Festival will light up the historic Main Street this year in August with local creativity and talent, while the annual Christmas Light Parade promises to bring locals and tourists together over holiday cheer.
Kamas
Kamas, a bulbous plant in the area, was a diet staple for the Native Americans, as well as the word for the small grassy plain. The hilly Kamas Valley is a popular gateway into the Uinta Mountains, a remarkable Utah range. Samak Smoke House, a roadside country store (Kamas spelled backward), has become a destination in itself. It is a perfect complement to stock up on real house-smoked jerky to power your high-elevation adventures. Provo Riverwalk, SkyRidge North Trailhead, and Ross Creek Trailhead offer views for every level.
Find Kamas at the crossroad of Hwy 32 and Hwy 248, heading to Park City, just 20 minutes west. The high country town enjoys fresh mountain air and a quieter atmosphere with a ranch mentality. In addition to easy recreation access, its family-friendly atmosphere extends through local hotspots, like Hi-Mountain, a burger joint. Recharge after Jordanelle State Park and Reservoir, minutes west, with campsites and trails. High Star Ranch features manicured outdoor areas just north, plus an incredible system of mountain biking trails to the east.
La Verkin
Next to Hurricane, La Verkin is a quieter town embraced on three sides by the Virgin River, after which it was named. At least in theory. In Spanish, "The Virgin" sounds like "La Verkin." But the Spanish Escalante party called the Virgin River—Rio Sulfureo.
At the heart of Color Country, with Zion National Park-Grand Canyon some 40 minutes east, La Verkin is framed by stunning mountains and colorful canyons. Confluence Park at the heart is a kid- and dog-friendly level hike all the way down to the Virgin River. There are a few dinosaur tracks, plus the Painted Arch, which is only big enough to stand under. After a hike from Babylon Arch Trailhead, why not enjoy similar views over a game at Sky Mountain Golf Course, one of the most scenic in your life? For more unique names, Mollies Nipple is visible along the highway south of Hurricane.
Moab
The small-town ambiance and hospitality come naturally with the star status of this town. No other small town in Utah can inspire as much as Moab, the world-famous base south of Arches National Park. And what a fitting name to be surrounded by a mob of amazing red rock beauty. Dubbed Moab by Mormon settlers in the 1800s, Moab is a biblical name for just short of the Promised Land. The Moabites lived in a region that was emerald green amid a sandy desert. How apt for the world’s largest concentration of natural sandstone arches.
Moab delivers thrills day and night, from hiking and climbing to camping under clear night skies for stargazing. Delicate Arch is one of the most photographed, while the Windows reveal four arches after an easy hike. The colossal sandstone fins, balanced rocks, and soaring pinnacles inspire a memorable family getaway or a romantic escape. Enjoy sightseeing, mountain biking, hiking, 4WDs, and river trips. Mesa at Dead Horse Point State Park is the best vantage point in the US for the snaking of the Colorado River.
The state is incredibly photogenic. While winters are cold and summers can get hot and crowded, spring and fall offer perfect hiking and mountain biking conditions. Descend into mysterious slot canyons in Escalante and view colossal sandstone fins, balanced rocks, and soaring pinnacles at Arches National Park.
You will bring back photos of otherworldly landscapes. Visit in the summer for camping at Zion. Helper helps visitors relax in the vibrant arts scene and rich mining history of the Price Canyon. So get ready for the adventure of a lifetime, learning the unique story behind some of Utah's most scenic locations with bizarre names.
