Utah

Utah has five national parks within its borders, more than almost any other state, all built around red rock canyons and arches carved over millions of years.

Moab serves as the base for both Arches and Canyonlands, and its slickrock trails draw mountain bikers as much as hikers. Salt Lake City, the capital, sits close enough to the Wasatch Mountains that world-class powder skiing is a thirty-minute drive from downtown. Zion and Bryce Canyon, further south, round out the state's national park loop.

A rental car is close to essential for seeing more than one park.