Hidden Gem
Hidden gem is a phrase we'd rather not use, so take it plainly: these are the good places that stay uncrowded, usually because they're a little far, a little unmarked, or overshadowed by something famous next door. No secret handshake, no gatekeeping — just stops that reward the small extra effort of reaching them. Go on a weekday, keep them nice for whoever comes after, and remember that hidden is mostly a measure of how many people turned off the highway.
US-61
Scenic Byway 128
Boulder
One of the last places in America to receive paved road access
Boulder Mountain
A 50-mile forested plateau at 11,000 feet with 80 alpine lakes
Escalante
The town that gave Grand Staircase-Escalante its name
Hells Backbone Grill
A farm-to-table pioneer in the middle of nowhere
Kiva Koffeehouse
A hand-built cliffside coffee shop with canyon views
Lower Calf Creek Falls
A 126-foot waterfall hidden in a desert canyon
Tropic
A quiet pioneer town in the shadow of Bryce Canyon
Upper Calf Creek Falls
A remote 88-foot cascade reached by a rugged trail
I-152
UT-241
UT-251
I-401
UT-441
US-501
US-60 / US-1801
I-701
SR-731
SR-801
SR-89A2
US-896
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
The largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the United States
Jardine Juniper
One of the oldest living trees in the world at over 1,500 years old
Manti-La Sal National Forest
Alpine peaks rising above red rock desert
Panguitch
A well-preserved pioneer town and gateway to Bryce Canyon
Wind Cave Trail
A short hike to a triple-arched limestone cave overlooking the canyon
Wupatki National Monument
The red pueblo the volcano built — remembered, not abandoned
US-89/911
US-931
UT-1011
UT-1481
UT-1504
Bald Mountain Pass
The highest point on the Mirror Lake Highway at 10,715 feet
Ruth Lake
A hidden alpine gem reached by a short trail through wildflower meadows
Samak Smokehouse
A rustic roadside smokehouse serving legendary smoked meats
Trial Lake
A popular high-alpine fishing lake surrounded by granite peaks