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Continuing our series of the best beaches & luxury hotels in the world, I am now looking at the best wilderness retreats and resorts in Utah. Imagine being one with nature, stargazing into the limitless expanse of the night sky, far away from the hustle and bustle of the big city life. Imagine exploring nature’s architecture, scintillating waterfalls and vertigo-inducing cliffs, and watching wildlife roam freely, as it always had. And now imagine that you can do all that without giving up the small luxuries that you are used to. In this article we pick the most spectacular ways to experience Utah’s great outdoors.
1. Wild West Wilderness in Utah
Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa in Utah, an authentic, 100% Old West hideaway with all the trimmings of a stylish, boutique resort. This red rock resort doesn’t just look like a scene from the movies, it is a scene from the movies with multiple Hollywood blockbusters being filmed in the area since 1949, resulting in silver screen epics like: Rio Grande, The Comancheros and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Hidden in the heart of the gorgeous, red rock wilderness and nestled against the banks of the Colorado River, this upscale 240 acre retreat lies just 17 miles from Moab, Utah and slap bang in the middle of the adventure capital of the West. The accommodation at the resort is not what you’d expect from being in Canyon Country, rather than a standard room, you stay in charming log cabins which offer a mixture of rustic style and luxury with opulent pine beds complete with handcrafted four-posts, cattle horn wall hangings; artsy barbed wire chandeliers and more oak than you would see in a forest along with all the modern amenities you would expect in this level of resort.
The Ranch offers river rafting right on your doorstep as well as morning yoga, hiking and biking trails, limitless photographic opportunities and it’s also close to many Moab attractions like Canyonlands, Arches National Park and many other state parks and off-road terrains. Depending on the season of your visit you can also enjoy ATV rides, horseback riding with authentic, friendly wranglers (the resort even has ponies for younger children), rock art tours, hot air ballooning, scenic road cycling and golf at the scenic Moab Golf Course.
With its excellent one-of-a-kind cabins, spectacular views, therapeutic spa, gourmet dining and riverside pool, this resort really is the point at which luxury meets adventure. Join the likes of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet who chose Sorrel River Ranch as a base to explore this beautiful red rock country.
Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa also features in our top 5 best wilderness lodges in North America.
2. Glamping In Utah
Imagine waking up to the sounds and smells of nature in one of the most spectacular places on earth while having all the luxuries you could wish for at your fingertips (including bathrooms!). Moab Under Canvas gives you an opportunity to experience all the natural beauty of America’s most popular camping destinations in settings so lavish, you will be wondering what took you so long to try this nomad-inspired lifestyle.
This accommodation is within a short distance from the entrance of not one, but two parks. It offers secluded luxury suites with en-suite bathrooms, separate living rooms, bedrooms and a proper king-size bed. Deluxe tents have raised wooden floors and an en-suite bathrooms with towels and spa toiletries. Once you’ve experienced the National Parks in all their glory, you can return to our Luxury Tent Camp and unwind while enjoying amazing views, luxury bathrooms and gourmet meals in the on-site restaurant.
Arches National Park is home to the famous Balanced Rock, La Sal Mountains and the Delicate Arch Overlook. Spend an afternoon admiring these natural rock formations, lit up by the warm setting sun. Otherwise, why not explore the Canyonlands National Park from a bird’s eye view, cruising over the breath-taking Colorado River, as it weaves its way through the largest of the five National Parks in Utah. Dubbed ‘the Mecca of mountain biking’, Utah’s red rock terrain holds a lot of appeal for every traveller.
3. The Ultimate Luxury Resort In Utah
Experience the earth’s beauty at its most basic form in this red-rock, rugged desert-scape. Beyond the few pine-clad mountains, there’s little vegetation in this vast arid region. The unique rock formations have been sculpted by time, water and wind. Visit thered-rock spans in Arches National Park, the sheer-walled river gorges in the Canyonlands and the stunning buttes and mesas of Monument Valley.
Amangiri resort (pictured above) is your second reason to visit this stunning region. Tucked into a protected valley with sweeping views towards the Grand Staircase, The resort is built around a central swimming pool with spectacular views. Blending with its dramatic surrounds of deep canyons and towering plateaus, this wilderness escape could not be more rugged. Amangiri’s Aman Spa features a floatation therapy pavilion, water pavilion with sauna, steam room, cold plunge and step pool, fitness centre and yoga pavilion. Amangiri’s trail system allow guests to explore the region’s striking desert scenery on foot. Aman resorts are one of our favourite luxury hotel brands and you can read about a recent trip to Aman Grand Canal in Venice.
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