Moab, UT

Slickrock Thrills

The balancing boulders, natural stone bridges, and red-rock mazes of Moab look like a cowboy movie set. But they once hid real-life outlaws like Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. Today, Moab is still a backdrop for Wild West hijinks. But now, outdoor enthusiasts, not scoundrels, are the ones romping through its hide-and-seek scenery.

Mountain bikers discovered this remote outpost (a good four hours from Salt Lake City), when Moab's uranium industry went bust in the 1980s. Now, it's considered a slickrock riding mecca. But adventure seekers flock here too, for top-notch hiking, four-wheel driving, and river rafting. Even the athletically challenged come to ogle the scenery at not one, but two national parks.