Utah's seven wonders

Ever since the concept of designating the wonders of the world became a reality in the fifth century B.C., making such a list has no doubt been controversial and arbitrary. Do you include all the wonders or separate them into natural wonders and those constructed by people? Who is the final arbiter? And what makes a wonder of the world?
    While Antipater of Sidon gets credit for the original list of seven wonders in the second century B.C., that concept was revised in 2007 by the group New7Wonders, which announced them on July 7 (07/07/07).
    At that time, The Salt Lake Tribune asked readers to nominate Utah's seven wonders, a vote that came up with only five consensus picks - Zion National Park, the Delicate Arch, Bryce Canyon National Park, the Great Salt Lake and Nine-Mile Canyon.
    There was a tie for sixth place that included the Goosenecks of the San Juan, Temple Square, Capitol Reef National Park, the Salt Lake City Library and the Bonneville Salt Flats.
    Contributing to the tradition of arbitrary selection of the seven wonders, I assembled my list based on more than 35 years of writing about Utah as an outdoor and travel writer and guidebook author.
    Here, in no particular order, is my list of Utah's seven wonders.
   
   
    DELICATE ARCH:
    The first time I made the short but steep hike to this arch in the early 1970s, I had no idea what to expect. The trail is set up so hikers do not see the iconic arch until the last possible second. Coming around the corner and being confronted by the massive sandstone feature literally took my breath away. Delicate Arch is so massive and in such an unlikely place that it would have to rate high on any list of the world's natural wonders.
   
    GREAT SALT LAKE:
    It was gratifying to me that so many readers put this often-ignored and even disdained natural wonder on their list of Utah wonders. As a site of hemispheric importance for shorebirds, the huge lake plays host to millions of migrating birds each year. It is possible to float like a cork in its unique salty waters. Taking a sailboat ride, visiting a salt marsh along its edge, enjoying a drive to Antelope Island or studying the lake's interesting natural and human history should be a must for people who consider themselves Utahns.
   
    ZION NATIONAL PARK:
    There is a reason this is the most heavily visited of Utah's five national parks. Zion Canyon is easily accessible. A shuttle system that keeps cars out of the canyon much of the year has improved the quality of the experience and hiking to the Zion Narrows, Angels Landing and Observation Point. Add shaded campgrounds, the Zion Lodge, a new visitor center and natural-history museum and abundant wildlife in the scenic canyon, and Zion is a world-class wonder.
   
    HIGH UINTAS:
    One of the great things about Utah is that the state features expansive deserts, redrock and alpine scenery. The High Uintas, unusual in the U.S. because they run east and west, offer alpine meadows, the state's highest peaks, Utah's largest wilderness area at 456,705 acres, and hundreds of scenic lakes. Whether you drive the Mirror Lake Highway, take a backpacking trip into the wilderness, camp in developed sites surrounding the wilderness area, go fishing on lakes and streams, snowmobile or cross-country ski in the winter or just take in the scenery, the Uintas offer the best of wild alpine Utah.
   
    RAINBOW BRIDGE:
    The creation of Lake Powell means that what was once a difficult hike or boating trip to see the world's largest natural bridge now requires a long boat ride and a short walk. Still, this massive sandstone structure, which has a span of 275 feet and, at 290 feet tall, is about the height of the Statue of Liberty, has often been on lists of the world's seven natural wonders for good reason. It was deemed a national monument in 1910.
   
    THE MAZE:
    It would be easy to include all of Canyonlands National Park in a list of seven Utah wonders, but the remoteness of The Maze District combined with a strict National Park Service permitting process makes it one of the most difficult places to visit in the lower 48 states. Those who brave a frightening four-wheel-drive trip on the Flint Trail or a long backpack hike are rewarded with solitude and amazing scenic formations with intriguing names such as the Chocolate Drops, Lands End, Chimney Rock, the Doll's House and, of course, the aptly named Maze.
   
    BRYCE CANYON:
    Sitting at the top of the Grand Staircase of the Colorado Plateau, this national park possesses a unique look. A mixture of limestone and sandstone almost emits a fluorescent glow for those who choose to look off the rim or hike into places such as the Queen's Garden. It is unusual in Utah's redrock country because of lower temperatures, snow most winters and an alpine feel. Add to that a historic lodge and shaded campgrounds, and Bryce certainly qualifies.
   
    The rest
    Limiting yourself to just seven Utah wonders is difficult. Places such as Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the Bonneville Salt Flats, Temple Square, Bear Lake, Little Sahara, Goblin Valley, Nine-Mile Canyon, the Spiral Jetty, Capitol Reef National Park, Desolation Canyon, Dinosaur National Monument, the Mt. Timpanogos Wilderness Area, Navajo Mountain, Grand Gulch, Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monument could easily make any list.
    ---
    * TOM WHARTON can be contacted at wharton@sltrib.com. His phone number is 801-257-8909. Send comments about this story to livingeditor@sltrib.com.
   
   
   
   New Seven Wonders of the World
    1. Chichén Itzá, Mexico
    2. Christ Redeemer, Brazil
    3. Colosseum, Italy
    4. Taj Mahal, India
    5. Great Wall of China
    6. Petra, Jordan
    7. Machu Picchu, Peru
    SOURCE: New7Wonders Organization
   
   
    Original Seven Wonders of the World
    1. Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
    2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Iraq
    3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece
    4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Greece
    5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Turkey
    6. Colossus of Rhodes, Macedonia
    7. Lighthouse of Alexandria, Greece
    SOURCE: History.com
   
   
    Readers pick their favorite seven wonders in Utah
    In order of most votes:
    1. Zion National Park
    2. Delicate Arch
    3. tie: Bryce Canyon, Great Salt Lake, Nine Mile Canyon
    6. tie: Goosenecks of the San Juan, Temple Square, Capitol Reef National Park, Salt Lake City Library, Bonneville Salt Flats.
    * Others receiving votes: Rainbow Bridge, Kennecott Copper Mine, Upheaval Dome, Split Mountain, Hovenweep, Grand Gulch, Cedar Breaks, University of Utah Art Museum, Mirror Lake, Great Gallery Horseshoe Canyon, Desolation Canyon, Alpine Loop, Brighton to Lake Catherine Trail, Spooky Gulch, Jordan River Parkway, Olympic Museum and Park, Olympic Museum at University of Utah, Olympic Fountain at Gateway, Olympic Oval, Snowbird tunnel, Alta Ski Area, City Creek Canyon.