CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK

This ruggedly stunning park is just a stone’s throw from Cougar Ridge Resort where Fort Desolation Fest takes place. From colorful cliffs to deep slot canyons, you’ll find breathtaking landscapes in every direction. Take a scenic drive or make a day of hiking around the area. More about Capitol Reef

GOBLIN VALLEY STATE PARK

Thousands of spectacular sandstone goblins give this park a distinct otherworldly effect. Hike amidst the hoodoos, mountain bike the nearby trails and explore rock art that has been around for thousands of years. If you get an early start, you can visit Goblin Valley and get back in time for the music to start. More about Goblin Valley

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Edward Abbey called it “the most weird, wonderful, magical place on earth.” Canyonlands is a bit further away from the festival, so add a couple days before or after the event to check out this mind-blowing park and soak up the stunning red rock arches, canyons, hoodoos, mesas and buttes that have been formed over millions of years. More about Canyonlands

FISHLAKE NATIONAL FOREST

The largest natural mountain lake in Utah, Fish Lake is an ideal backdrop for fishing, of course, as well as kayaking and stand-up-paddleboarding, and even hiking and mountain biking. It’s also home to the world’s heaviest living organism made up of 40,000 individual aspen trees sharing one massive underground root system.  More about Fish Lake