SALT LAKE CITY — If you're looking for a place in Utah where walking is described as a pleasure rather than a chore, you've got three options according to Assisted Living Magazine.
Editors surveyed more than 3,000 residents across the country and asked about the most walkable and lovable main streets.
Here are the streets in Utah that made the top 100.
Main Street, Park City, "gives your eyes a feast"
Park City's Main Street "gives your eyes a feast," the magazine editors wrote. They tip their hats to the town's "silver boom-era homes reborn as mountain bistros and boutique shops."
Because it ascends by 91 feet from the bottom to the top, it gives Park City's Main Street some cred with the editors who appreciate the "light workout" for your legs. Residents are likely acclimated to walking at the nearly 7,000-foot altitude, but for visitors, it may take some getting used to.
Overall, Main Street in Park City is a street where "the town's soul stays present — gritty, creative and proud of its alpine roots," wrote the Assisted Living editors. It came in at 17 in the survey.
Historic 25th Street, Ogden, is "a Wild West tale with a new plot twist"
Not too terribly far from Park City, Historic 25th Street in Ogden hits a little differently. It "walks like a Wild West tale with a new plot twist," the Assisted Living editors wrote.
The walk along Ogden's 25th Street is described as "easy, but never dull," and includes "train whistles, mountain views, and the scent of something savory on the grill." The editors note the colorful murals on alley walls and the tacit approval of the ghosts of cowboys and rail workers of the past.
By the way, 25th Street in Ogden isn't a stranger to accolades; it was nominated in USA Today's "Best Main Street" category in 2024.
Historic 25th Street in Ogden is ranked 26th in the survey.
N. Main Street, Cedar City, where "art and nature coexist"
With "literary quotes on lampposts and red rock cliffs in the distance," Cedar City's North Main Street is included in the survey at number 67. Imagine the scent of "rain on the desert," and "fresh-roasted coffee," and you get a sense for how some see this small-town gathering place.
"University buzz meets small-town rhythm as hikers plan canyon routes next to theatergoers discussing Hamlet," wrote the editors, giving a nod to Cedar City's strong association with Shakespeare and Utah's overall association with incredible outdoor scenery.
Described as "flat and welcoming, with plenty of space to think, wander, or stop and chat, " Cedar City's North Main Street came in at No. 67 in the Assisted Living Magazine survey.
Other tidbits from the walking survey
The word "Main" matters. Over half of the streets that made the list are named Main Street. It "signals community, character, and foot traffic," the editors said.
A great walk doesn't have to be in a beach town (even though famous beach towns like Fort Lauderdale are in the top 10).
"Very few large cities made the list," Assisted Living Magazine editors said. They said walkers are "more likely to make eye contact with strangers" in a smaller town.
By the way, the top five "healthiest for walking" streets are in:
- Lake Placid, New York
- Santa Barbara, California
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Nome, Alaska
- Gatlinburg, Tennessee
