A vast and scenic landscape provides the timeless backdrop for the western United States. Mountains tower against big blue skies, geysers and hot springs bubble up from the ground, and wildlife abounds. Grateful residents live amongst it all in manageable yet exciting cities and towns. Near the center of the Western region, you’ll find Yellowstone National Park, one of the highlights of the US National Park system. An ideal way to experience all that the region has to offer is to take a road trip. through the states of Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho that showcases Yellowstone and offers the opportunity to explore much more of what the West has to offer. The gateway to your journey: the easily accessible capital of Utah, Salt Lake City.

First stop: Salt Lake City, Utah

Take note of two things when you arrive in Salt Lake City: first, it’s a large and busy city of nearly 200,000 people, but it’s nestled next to the breathtaking scenery of the Wasatch Mountains and its world-class ski and snowboard resorts; Second, the Salt Lake City International Airport is located just 12 kilometers from the city center. Begin your journey in the historic and spiritual heart of Salt Lake City, Temple Square. It’s where the city was founded in 1847. Nearby you’ll find a variety of restaurants and bars, and you can shop at City Creek Center, which has more than 100 stores and restaurants.

Spend a few days exploring the city or start your trip to Yellowstone earlier. To do so, head north on Interstate 15 toward your next stop.

Two: Ogden, Utah

In 1869, workers completed the transcontinental railroad, making Ogden a transportation hub. To get a sense of Ogden’s importance during that time, make 25th Street your first stop. The historic area features local shops, galleries, restaurants, and Union Station, home to the Utah State Railroad Museum.

Other attractions in and around the city cater to the adventurous. Take a scenic drive to the Upper Ogden Valley for a hike, or head to the Salomon Center, where you can skydive, rock climb, and even surf, all indoors.

When you’re done exploring Ogden, return to Interstate 15 and drive further north.

Stop Three: Brigham City, Utah

Where the Bear River empties into the Great Salt Lake is the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, a 32,000-plus-acre swath of marshland, open water, upland and alkaline marshland just 17 miles from Brigham City. The refuge is home to the largest colony of white-faced ibises in North America and many other birds that migrate along the continent’s Central and Pacific flyways. For a comfortable view of wildlife, take the self-guided kilometer tour.

On your way back to Brigham City, visit the Golden Spike National Historic Site, where the transcontinental railroad was completed, before continuing northeast around Box Elder Peak along US Highway 89/91.

Stop four: Logan, Utah

If you’re a 12-mile runner, make Logan Canyon the focus of your time in Logan. Camp here or just take a day trip to hike, mountain bike or horseback ride. The canyon’s terrain is varied, so beginners and experts alike can find challenges to match their skill levels. Or try fly fishing on the Logan River. During the winter months, ski the 335-acre Beaver Mountain Ski Resort or go snowmobiling on nearby trails.

If you don’t like the outdoors, visit during July or August for the Utah Opera and Musical Theater Festival season. When you’ve experienced all you can of Logan, continue north on Highway 89.

Stop Five: Bear Lake, Utah

Bear Lake stretches along the Utah border and into southern Idaho, offering plenty of opportunities to explore and play in its majestic blue waters. Stand-up paddle boarding and jet skiing are popular pastimes here, as is fishing. The lake is known for having four species of fish: Bonneville cisco, Bonneville whitefish, Bear Lake whitefish, and Bear Lake sculpin, found nowhere else in the world. If you’re not looking for trophy fishing here, hike the trails in the local mountains. From the top, you will find spectacular views of the lake.

To get a better idea of ​​how pioneers in the western and Pacific regions of the United States paddle the area’s trails, visit the Oregon/California National Trails Center in nearby Montpelier, Idaho. Take a simulated wagon ride, then thank modern technology for your car as you continue driving north on Highway 89.