You know what you want in a vacation, and so does Brian Head, Utah. There’s more to do there than you can shake a fishing pole at, including picturesque mountain vistas, lakes teeming with fish, sparkling streams, and miles of well-maintained trails. Enjoy year-round adventures, from hiking to cross-country skiing. Take in the trading posts, diners, and museums of the area to experience Native American and early American cultures. While you contemplate your itinerary, here’s a list of the top eight Brian Head vacation rental locations.
1. Brian Head, Utah
If your family loves snow, make Brian Head your personal winter vacation paradise. Hop on the snowmobiles at your cozy vacation rental cottage, and zoom across the snow to the ski resort. Enjoy as much skiing and snowboarding as you want, then huddle by your private fireplace for hot chocolate and great stories. The resort features summer activities too, including water park activities, disk golf, bike races, and music festivals. You choose the season, and Brian Head does the rest.
2. Panguitch, Utah
Ready to get outdoors? Store your fishing equipment at your Panguitch vacation rental cabin until you’re ready to hit Panguitch Lake, then teach your little anglers how to fly fish for trout. If you like winter vacations, the ice fishing on the lake is awesome, and you can take a snowmobile right from the doorstep of your cabin to the lake. Stop by the Bryce Canyon Trading Post to browse the Native American crafts and collectibles.
3. Duck Creek Village, Utah
Duck Creek Village feels like a galaxy far, far away, but it is close enough to some of the most beautiful sights in the state and plenty of family activities. Seek your solitude in a secluded vacation rental cabin where the only sounds you hear are the ones you make. You’re at the edge of a two-million-acre national forest that features lots of maintained trails for biking, hiking, and riding ATVs. In the winter, use those trails for cross-country skiing and riding snowmobiles. There are a couple of caves to visit, including Mammoth Cave on the Markagunt Plateau in the Dixie National Forest. Take a flashlight, a jacket, and some sturdy shoes. Check out Ice Cave just past the Duck Creek Visitor’s Center. This cave features icicles all year round.
4. Cedar City, Utah
Set the suitcases down in your cute vacation mountain villa in Cedar City, and get outside for a few deep breaths of fresh, pure mountain air. While you’re out there, just look at the picturesque mountain vistas that beckon you toward adventures limited only by your imagination. Explore the trails around you on mountain bikes, go hiking, and be sure to take pictures. Cedar City is known for its festivals: Shakespeare, livestock, music, classic cars, and films. In the winter, there’s even a holiday parade of storybook characters. Of course, if you prefer a winter vacation, the city is very close to the ski resort and people get around on snowmobiles quite freely. Whatever the time of year, consider scheduling a relaxing massage at one of the local spas to soothe your jangled nerves.
5. Hatch, Utah
Get away from it all in Hatch, where you can fish for trout in countless small lakes and streams. Show off your skills when you cook up your delicious lake trout at your vacation rental cabin and impress your family with your sportsmanship. Take the kids to look for wildlife, including deer, elk, and small mammals in a pristine landscape of aspen, spruce, fir, and pine forests. In summer months, enjoy the Bryce Canyon Rodeo and horseback riding. In the winter, cross-country skiing is very popular. Visit the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum year round for some indoor fun and learning opportunities.
6. Parowan, Utah
Shake off the stress of the daily grind and participate in some guided canyoneering, rock climbing, and hiking tours in the Dixie Forest, just minutes to the east of Parowan. Enjoy a comfy vacation rental house as the epicenter for your daily adventures and the place you return each evening to plan the next day’s activities. Check into Dark Ranger Telescope Tours that take the family into Bryce Canyon away from light pollution to see the night sky through powerful telescopes. If your kids are aged 6 and older, take them on a full moon hike, where you trust your instincts and your guide; no flashlights allowed.
7. Bryce, Utah
Image the fun of hearing your kids tell their friends about seeing the hoodoos in Bryce Canyon near Bryce. That’s the term used for the thousands of multi-colored rock pinnacles that line the canyon and shine in brilliant contrast to clear skies on sunny days and emit a mesmerizing glow at sunset. Enjoy exploring the hoodoos on horseback in warm weather, or go cross-country skiing in the winter. To put the whole family in the proper state of mind to enjoy daily adventures, leave your charming vacation rental cabin and participate in a yoga hike on the trails near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. The hike consists of about 30 minutes of hiking each way, integrating about 30 to 45 minutes of yoga practice.
8. Kanarraville, Utah
Set out from your rustic vacation rental cabin for a scenic hike along Kanarra Creek to the breathtaking waterfalls. A walk of just a couple of miles from town puts you in a colorful canyon with the cool, sparkling creek. There’s even a ladder beside the falls in case you and the kids want to take a dip in the crystal clear pool at the base. Explore the Hamilton ghost town, about a 10-minute drive to the south of town, where signs and plaques tell the story of the early settlers and the old fort that once existed there. A few structures remain that make great backdrops for photos. Have as much fun as you can stand fishing at nearby Quichapa Lake and horseback riding the many miles of the national forest all around.