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The COVID-19 pandemic that has affected nearly everyone on planet Earth has given us the same gift—the gift of time. We have more time at home because we’re no longer commuting to work; we have more time to spend with immediate family members; and for some willing to capitalize on this unique period—more time to spend in nature.
While we’ve been told to distance ourselves at least six feet from other people, and to avoid gatherings of any kind, there are myriad places in Utah where you may not encounter another individual on your entire adventure.
1. Parowan Gap Petroglyphs, Parowan
Petroglyphs etched by Native Americans over long periods of time are visible right off the road, giving you easy access to this 1,000-year-old art exhibit. While archaeologists don’t know the exact meaning of the petroglyphs, you might be able to deduce your own meanings from the dozens of images of lizards, snakes, mountain sheep, bear claws, and human figures.
From I-15, take exit 62 to UT 130. Continue north for 13.5 miles, then turn east and travel 2.5 miles to arrive at Parowan Gap.
2. Pando, Fish Lake
Pando is said to be the largest organism ever found, weighing around 13 million pounds. This group of 40,000 aspen trees is connected through the intertwined root system. While some of the trees are over 130 years old, the aspen grove is estimated to have started at the end of the last ice age. Visitors spanning the globe have come to visit this incredible 106-acre piece of land, with the U.S. Postal Service honoring the Pando Clone as one of the “40 Wonders of America” in 2006.
Pando is located in central Utah in the Fishlake National Forest, about a mile southwest of Fish Lake on State Highway 25. If you’re going to or coming from Fish Lake, you can’t miss it.
3. Singing Canyon, Boulder
If you think your voice sounds good while singing in the shower, take yourself to Boulder for a free acoustical adventure you won’t soon forget. Simply hike a few minutes on a flat trail and stop when you start hearing your voice sound like Pavoratti’s. The acoustics in this canyon are incredible, letting you hear sounds the way nature intended.
To get there, drive from Boulder about 11 miles east on the Burr Trail Road to a small, unmarked paved pullout on the left side of the road. Parking is free, though space is limited. The walk will take you about 15-minutes roundtrip.
4. Grafton Ghost Town, Rockville
This abandoned town, located just a few miles from Zion National Park, was originally formed by five Mormon families who were asked by Brigham Young to grow cotton crops, but who ended up growing food crops instead. Just a few years after settlement, the Virgin River flooded and washed away the tiny town. Starting over again about a mile from the original site, farmers came back to plant and care for crops, though local conflicts led to the eventual abandonment of the town.
A few years later, settlers returned to the town yet again and established a schoolhouse, which is still standing today. Grafton’s buildings have been featured in films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and In Old Arizona, making it a must-see stop for ghost-town enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.
To get there, take I-15 exit 27 in Toquerville for UT-17 S/UT-228. After about 25 miles, you will arrive at the Grafton Ghost Town in Rockville.
5. Sun Tunnels, Wendover
While Utah may be known for its stunning Spiral Jetty art installation, the Sun Tunnels offer a similar wow-factor for those willing to travel there. Nancy Holt completed the Sun Tunnels in 1976 after setting a series of massive hole-ridden concrete tunnels into an open X configuration. These above-ground tunnels might seem mildly intriguing to the layman but offer so much more than meets the eye. The holes in the tunnels actually imitate the constellation of Capricorn, Draco, Columbia, and Perseus. What’s more, the Sun Tunnels have been divided into pairs to align with the setting and rising of the sun during the summer and winter solstice, respectively.
To get there, drive I-80 to the Wendover area and take Exit 4 for the Bonneville Salt Flats Speedway. Follow it for about a half mile until the main road takes a sharp turn to the right. Follow the TL Bar Ranch Road north for 45.5 miles. You will traverse pavement, gravel, and dirt, though the terrain is usually fine to drive in a regular vehicle.
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