6 Most Eccentric Towns In Utah
While Utah is of course famous for its towering red rock formations and vast desert landscapes, there’s another side to this Western state that’s worth getting to know. And that’s its most eccentric small towns. These communities have worked hard to cultivate their quirky appeal, something that’s usually evident in their fascinating blend of historic charm, offbeat events, and curious attractions.
From vintage main streets lined with eclectic shops to festivals that celebrate oddball traditions, Utah’s most eccentric towns bring a playful side to a state that’s usually visited specifically for its outstanding natural beauty. Together, these character-filled places offer travelers the perfect backdrop not just for outdoor adventures but also for unique encounters that simply won’t be found elsewhere in the United States. Find out more with our take on the six most eccentric towns in Utah.
Helper
Helper was established in 1881 as a coal-mining hub and has reinvented itself as an eccentric artist’s haven. Located along the Price River, an hour by car from the larger city of Provo, Helper’s old brick storefronts and restored buildings are now home to quirky businesses as well as attractions like the Helper Arts, Music, and Film Festival, held each August since 1994. You’ll also want to check out the Western Mining and Railroad Museum for its in-depth look at Helper’s coal mining history through artifacts and exhibits dating back to the late 19th century.
Helper’s quirks don’t stop at its artistic community. The town has a paranormal side with reports of ghostly sightings at several locations, the best-known of which is the haunted Historic Balance Rock Motel. Adventurous visitors can join ghost tours offered by local guides, which include visits to the motel and other purportedly haunted sites around town. Be sure to also check out the town’s giant "HELPER" sign on the hillside, reminiscent of Hollywood’s iconic sign.
Kanab
Dubbed "Little Hollywood," Kanab sits just north of the Arizona border and is renowned for its dramatic red-rock landscapes as well as its cowboy culture and Hollywood glamour. Since the 1920s, over 100 movies and television shows have been filmed here, giving rise to the annual Kanab Western Legends Round-Up each August. This fun festival celebrates the town’s cinematic roots with parades, film screenings, and reenactments of Wild West scenes, including chuckwagons, cookouts, and roundups.
Movie buffs can also get their flix-fix at the Little Hollywood Museum, which houses movie sets and props from classic Western movies shot in the area. Kanab is also famous for the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the largest no-kill shelter in the country. Spanning 3,700 acres, this sprawling sanctuary provides a unique experience for animal lovers who can tour the grounds or even volunteer to help out. Nature enthusiasts also flock to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes nearby, where vivid orange sands create an entirely otherworldly landscape.
Moab
Moab is very well known for its proximity to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, as well as for having a touch of eccentricity. The town hosts the Moab Easter Jeep Safari each spring, where 4x4 enthusiasts from across the country head to town to navigate the surrounding rugged terrain. In March it’s the turn of cyclists to have fun at Moab’s Skinny Tire Festival. This challenging biking event brings cyclists together for a charity ride through the area’s stunning red rock landscapes, all while raising funds for cancer research.
Into the arts? The Moab Music Festival each September takes music out of traditional venues and into natural settings, including concerts held in secluded red rock grottos. The town also offers intriguing historic attractions like the Moab Rock Shop, filled with fossils and geological oddities, and the Moab Museum of Film and Western Heritage, which celebrates the area’s role as a set for iconic Westerns.
Springdale
Considered the gateway town to Zion National Park, Springdale has so much more to offer than just being a stopover for park visitors. This fun small town embraces its quirky side with events like the Zion Chalk & Earth Fest, which brings an environmental twist to town with educational exhibits, live music, and demonstrations aimed at raising awareness about sustainability and conservation.
But what makes Springdale especially eccentric is its commitment to art and community expression. Local artisans showcase work inspired by the surrounding cliffs, and you can see their work and even buy distinctive pieces at the Zion Canyon Arts and Crafts Fair each November. Springdale’s town center is also fun to wander and is dotted with whimsical sculptures and murals that reflect the communities deep connection to its natural surroundings. For a quieter but equally unusual experience, the Ghost Town of Grafton is a 15-minute drive away and provides a fascinating glimpse into Utah’s early pioneer history through its preserved 19th-century structures.
Bluff
Situated along the San Juan River near the Four Corners, where the states of Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona meet, Bluff is a tiny town that combines Native American heritage with a modern offbeat charm. The Bluff Arts Festival in October celebrates this fascinating fusion with workshops, installations, and performances that highlight local Navajo and Hopi traditions alongside contemporary art forms. Visitors can also stop by the Twin Rocks Trading Post, where artisans showcase and sell traditional Navajo jewelry, pottery, and baskets.
Bluff’s history as a settlement of the Mormon Hole-in-the-Rock Expedition in 1880 gives it a pioneering spirit, and remnants of this epic journey of more than 250 wagons can be seen in the Bluff Fort Historic Site. The nearby Valley of the Gods is a must-see and offers a mystical landscape of isolated rock formations that rival Monument Valley, making it a popular spot for photographers and film crews.
Escalante
Located along Scenic Byway 12, Escalante has earned a reputation for attracting artists, adventurers, and conservationists alike. While its close proximity to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument attracts hikers and explorers, the town certainly has its own quirks. Each October, the Escalante Canyons Art Festival brings together artists to capture the region’s landscapes with workshops, exhibits, and plein-air (open-air) painting competitions.
Escalante’s quirkiest attraction might well be the Hole-in-the-Rock Heritage Center, commemorating the challenging journey of Mormon pioneers who blasted a route through the cliffs to reach their final destination. Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, filled with petrified wood dating back millions of years, offers a fossil-laden landscape unlike any other in the region and is well worth a visit, too.
The Final Word
However you slice it, Utah’s most eccentric towns definitely offer a distinctive dose of the unusual, providing travelers with experiences far removed from the usual tourist spots. Each of these towns not only reflects its residents’ creativity and commitment to preserving local traditions but they’re also infused with a touch of the bizarre. Whether it’s attending a festival rooted in Western film nostalgia, exploring ghostly inns, or wandering through bustling art fairs, these six most eccentric towns in Utah certainly present an invitation to experience the state’s offbeat side.
