On Location: From crater soaks & canyon climbs to dino daytrips, Utah delivers

“This is the place.”

It's reportedly what Mormon leader Brigham Young declared upon arriving in Utah's Salt Lake Valley in 1847 after a 2,100-kilometre journey from Nauvoo, Illinois.

Nearly 180 years later, a trio of Canadian travel advisors had the chance to decide for themselves whether Utah still lives up to that reputation.

Vanessa Barone of Sportscorp Travel in Toronto, ON; Kristina Ziegler of Stonetown Travel in Kitchener, ON; and Brett Tabor of Revolution Travel in Charlottetown, P.E.I  earned spots on a June 3-9 familiarization trip through Northern Utah after winning the Sell Your Way to the USA incentive campaign.

PAX joined the journey, which showcased a side of Utah that many Canadian travellers may not know.

While Southern Utah's national parks tend to dominate attention, the northern part of the state is making a case for itself as a destination rich in outdoor adventure, history, wellness experiences and small-town charm.

Heber Valley makes a four-season pitch

The trip kicked off in Salt Lake City before heading to Midway in Heber Valley, about an hour away.

While the area is often associated with winter sports and nearby Park City, local tourism officials are working to broaden that perception.

"There's actually more to do year-round in Heber Valley," said Jana Brown, destination sales manager at Heber Valley Tourism. "We have three state parks, two of them have water, so there's a lot of water activities. We also have golf courses all throughout over 90 holes of golf within a mile and a half of each other, and of course, we have different events, especially in the spring, summer, and fall."

The advisors stayed at the historic Homestead Resort, a property dating back to 1886 that is currently undergoing renovations following its addition to Marriott's Autograph Collection.

One of the resort's most distinctive attractions is The Crater, a geothermal spring housed inside a limestone dome formed over thousands of years. Visitors can swim in naturally heated mineral water year-round.

"It's really great for your skin, it's very unique," explained Brown. "It's the only indoor thermal springs in the United States so a lot of people come here."

The experience was a standout for the travel advisors.

"Floating in the crater was unique, especially being in the United States. There's nowhere like it in the country," said advisor Vanessa Barone. "It made you feel like you were not in Utah, which made it really unique. I would totally recommend it to anyone."

The two-day stay in Heber Valley also included a hike up Memorial Hill and a visit to Heber Valley Milk and Artisan Cheese, a nearly 100-year-old family owned dairy farm.

For Ziegler, the region was an unexpected discovery.

"It's a new area for me to learn about," she said.

Dinosaurs, petroglyphs & river adventures

The next stop was Vernal, located in Uintah County near Utah's eastern border.

Known as "the heart of Utah's Dinosaurland," the area is home to Dinosaur National Monument and the famous Wall of Bones, an impressive display featuring more than 1,500 preserved Jurassic-era fossils.

The dinosaur theme is impossible to miss. Dinah, a 40-foot-tall, 4,200 pound pink dinosaur statue, greets visitors on Main Street and has become one of Vernal's most recognizable landmarks.

Dinah dates back to 1958 and once held a sign welcoming visitors to the Dine-A-Ville Motel until the property was demolished.

She now holds a sign reading “Vernal. Utah’s Dinosaur Land.” To keep on theme, the FAM participants stayed at Vernal’s locally-owned and operated Dinosaur Inn & Suites.

"We're always excited to show and roll out the red carpet for our guests," said Bridget Lake, tourism coordinator for Uintah County. "We have so much in one little area. We can be in the mountains in just a few minutes, or go to the desert. We can go fishing. It's definitely an outdoor paradise."

One of the highlights was an afternoon rafting excursion on the Green River through Split Mountain Gorge.

"The river rafting was probably the highlight for me," said Brett Tabor, one of the trio of travel advisors. "It was not difficult. Basically, anyone can do it, and it just made me more interested in giving other adventure activities a try."

For advisor Vanessa Barone, the Green River rafting was a "personal highlight."

"That's something that I've never done before so it was outside of my comfort zone, and just a really great, a really great day," Barone said.

Before hitting the water, the group visited McConkie Ranch, home to ancient Fremont petroglyphs etched into towering cliff faces.

Later, they explored Fantasy Canyon, a landscape of unusual sandstone formations sculpted by millions of years of erosion.

"Once you come, then you're like, okay, that was the coolest thing ever," said Lesha Caltharp, tourism director for Uintah County. "My favourite time to visit is in the evening, when the sun is setting, just because of the way that the canyon is located. It's beautiful, and the lighting is amazing."

Caltharp hopes visitors leave with a new appreciation for the area.

"Vernal is a hidden gem," she said. "From high adventure to family travel with Dinosaur National Monument to these super cool places like Fantasy Canyon that you just can't see anywhere else in the world."

A hidden gem for Canadians

Canadian travellers represent an important market for Uintah County.

"Canada is one of our top three markets internationally. It's fairly easy to get to Utah from Canada and Canada is pretty family oriented as well, and so is Utah," said Caltharp.

For Canadians who may be hesitant about travelling south of the border because of today’s political tensions, she offered reassurance.

"This is a really friendly place, and while politics seems scary, and may detract people from wanting to come to the United States, not when you come to a small town like Vernal or Heber, or any of those places that you've visited on this road trip," she said.

"I think we're more sheltered and you can just come and have a genuine vacation."

Taking on Utah's newest via ferrata

The final stop in Uintah County was to the Ashley Gorge Via Ferrata – Utah’s first public via ferrata and the longest in the United States.

Via ferrata, Italian for “iron path” is a protected rock-climbing route that bridges the gap between hiking and technical rock climbing.

The Ashley Gorge via ferrata is relatively new, first soft opening in 2025 before a grand opening earlier this year.

People with proper gear can access it free of charge, gear can be rented, or participants both rent gear and hire a trained guide to lead them.

Either way, it’s decidedly not an activity for those with a fear of heights as the excursion can take climbers up to 650 feet above the canyon bottom.

The route uses fixed steel cables, ladders, rungs, and bridges to traverse the steep terrain while they’re clipped in for safety.

For those brave enough, the activity offers spectacular views that are nothing short of breathtaking.

Salt Lake City shines beyond its gateway role

The final stop brought the advisors back to Salt Lake City.

"Salt Lake City is definitely not just a gateway, it's a destination in itself," said Oakley Swint, travel trade coordinator at Visit Salt Lake.

Swint pointed to the city's growing culinary reputation.

"We officially launched the Michelin Star in the Salt Lake and Wasatch Range, and we had a bunch of our chefs be nominated for James Beard nominations," said Swint.

A visit to Salt Lake City would not be complete without checking out the Salt Lake Temple, the worldwide headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It’s an impressive piece of architecture.

First announced in 1847 by Brigham Young and officially dedicated in 1853, the temple is currently undergoing renovation and will be accessible to the public in 2027 from April to October as part of a rare open house (normally membership or a temple recommendation is required to enter).

During the FAM, the travel advisors were treated to a private performance at the Tabernacle Choir – formerly The Mormon Tabernacle Choir – a 100-year-old American choir affiliated with the LDS Church.

Richard Elliot, lead organist of the choir for more than 30 years, performed for us inside the historic location.

Speaking of historic locations, travel advisors also checked out This Is the Place Heritage Park.

Named after Brigham Young’s 1847 declaration, the park includes restored and replicated historical buildings from Utah’s storied history along with interactive exhibits and activities for all ages.

"They have blacksmiths, pottery barns, restaurants, and old Brigham Donuts. It's a full hands-on interactive 450 acres of kid-friendly and family-friendly activities to really experience the old pioneer days," said Swint.

A sunset cruise on the Great Salt Lake offered another memorable experience.

"You can bring your own alcohol and food. It's an amazing experience to get out on the Great Salt Lake. A lot of people don't know that you can do that,” Swint said.

The advisors also gathered in Red Butte Garden and Arboretum in the foothills of the Wasatch Range in Salt Lake City for some mindful moments, breathwork, and a tea ceremony.

Leaving with a new perspective

For the advisors, one of the biggest takeaways was the variety of landscapes and experiences packed into Northern Utah.

"It was actually breathtaking," said Barone. "Even just the drive between each of the destinations or cities that we've been to was very picturesque. I think just that alone is a worthy reason to come visit Utah."

Ziegler believes the region remains largely undiscovered by many Canadians.

"The Canadian market knows about the southern part of Utah, but they don't know as much about this area," she said. "I was blown away by the amount of different things and activities for adventurers."

According to Swint, that's exactly the message Utah hopes visitors take home.

"There's everything from hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, paddle boarding," she said. "We also have our farmers markets, art museums, restaurants, and shops.”

“There's so much to do in summer, spring, and fall. That's why I truly think it is a four-season destination."

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