You should check out north eastern and central Utah where there are beautiful forested mountains with lots of water.
Very true. I have backpacked and climbed across a lot of it. Notably the Henrys, Abajos and La Sals. Also parts of the Book Cliffs.
I was speaking specifically of the country Clinton converted into the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Some of which I’ve also backpacked in and which is unbelievably remote, rugged and dry.