While hordes of skiers descend upon the legendary powder-packed slopes of Park City and Deer Valley in northern Utah, the otherworldly, merely snow-dusted desert geology of the southern half of the state—with its towering hoodoos, massive sandstone formations, and deep slot canyons—remains largely overlooked by tourists.

Amangiri in Canyon Point (from $1,200 per night) is a secluded architectural marvel by modernist masterminds Rick Joy, Marwan Al-Sayed, and Wendell Burnette. The resort, which successfully merges nirvanic indulgence with pure minimalism, deftly blends into the landscape via its natural materials (the pool was built around an ancient rock formation) and exposed spaces: The Girijaala suite, seen here, features a private terrace and walls that seem to disappear, and the spa’s Water Pavilion, where color-enhanced flotation therapy takes place, is open to the sky.

Within two hours’ drive, national parks are ready for intrepid exploration, from the massive cliffs of Zion to the skinny rock spires of Bryce Canyon, which can be nicely surveyed on foot or horseback.

This article was published in 7x7's February 2015 issue. Click here to subscribe.