Hikes in Utah
From the famous southwestern deserts to the mountains and jagged peaks east of Salt Lake City, Utah is an outdoors lovers paradise. Utah is a great state to find adventure, with plenty of opportunities to hike, bike, ski, climb or canoe the most beautiful parts of this state. The best part is that there is a way to get outside any time of the year, thanks to the hot deserts in winter and the alpine peaks in summer.
Utah has to have the most variety of terrain out of any state in the US. We love the national parks in Utah, such as Zion, Canyonlands, Bryce and Arches National Parks. There are also great national forests, with our favourite being Uinta-Wasatch.
While Utah is known for their deserts and canyons, there are also stunning mountains throughout the state. Head east of Salt Lake City and up into the Little or Big Cottonwood Canyons and explore some of the best hiking, skiing and trekking in the US. Head farther east and you hit the remote and beautiful Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Largely undeveloped, the hikes from the highway are sublime.
And who can forget the mountain biking paradise of Moab. Regarded as the mecca for mountain bikers, this small-town oozes coolness, and is one of our favourite towns in the US.
20 Greatest Hikes in Utah
Immerse yourself into the varying terrain of Utah for an adventure of a lifetime. Hike through cavernous, dusty-red canyons, or perhaps hit the desert for an epic walk past towering cactuses and unique rock formations that will have you feeling like you’ve landed on another planet. For a more challenging day out in nature, why not try hiking up one of the surrounding mountain summits to get the legs burning? There are plenty of options, you just have to pick one and hit the trails!
- Fairyland Loop Trail: Take in some of the most unique clusters of hoodoo formations in Bryce Canyon park on the aptly named Fairyland Loop trail
- Cassidy Trail: This challenging, but seriously epic hike is a can’t miss in Little Bryce Canyon. Slowly increasing in elevation with an exposed ridgeline, take in incredible views over Mexican Peak Hat.
- Queens Garden to Navajo Loop Trail: While crowded at times, this popular trail is one of the best ways to explore Bryce Canyon’s famous hoodoos and stunning rock formations.
- Delicate Arch: If you’re visiting Moab National Park, you’re going to want to see the famed arches that are one of the most photographed spots in the world. This hike has extreme elevation grade, but it’s worth it to see the natural landmarks at the top.
- Dead Horse Point: Incredible views from start to finish, this hike in Moab National Park will knock your socks, err hiking boots, right off!
- Fisher Towers: This trail is loved by locals and travellers alike for its views over scenic sandstone towers, the expansive valley and the famous Colorado River.
- Devils Garden Loop: To take in all the breathtaking arches located within Moab National Park, you’ll want to hike this loop passing Pine Tree Arch, Landscape Arch, Tunnel Arch and more.
- Grandstaff Trail: This hike remains a classic for good reason, as hikers traverse a narrow canyon and end at Morning Glory Bridge–– this is a can’t miss experience. With little elevation gain, this makes for a great family-friendly hike.
- Red Pine Lake & Pfeifferhorn Ridge: For an epic, highly rewarding hike, climb the Pfeifferhorn Ridge, which involves some scrambling to reach the top! Once at the summit, enjoy 360-degree views as far as the eye can see.
- Box Elder Peak: With incredible elevation change, this hike is not for the faint of heart. Ascend up the ridge of Box Elder Peak to take in views over much of Salt Lake City and beyond.
- Silver Lake: To enjoy peace and tranquility near Salt Lake City, head to Silver Lake, which remains largely unexplored in part due to its 4.8 km dirt road access. Once you arrive, jump in for a refreshing dip to cool off!
- Sunset Peak: To experience the best of the alpine lakes Utah has to offer, try the Sunset Peak hike. Passing Dog Lake, Lake Mary, Lake Martha and Lake Catherine, you’re guaranteed a few photo-worthy moments!
- Bald Mountain Trail: For some of the best views of all of Utah, set out on the classic Bald Mountain hike. While short and grueling, you won’t regret it once you get to the top!
- The Narrows: Prepare to get soaked on this epic thru-canyon hike! This is more of a wade, but it's worth it to take the canyon from ground level.
- Angel's Landing: Set out on arguably the most popular hike in all of Zion National Park to take in some of the most incredible views. Don’t underestimate the climb, it’s a tough, but worthwhile pursuit!
- Hidden Canyon: This hike is perfect for those a little shorter on time, who want to pass some of the switchbacks to Observation Point. Take in all the best views of Zion National Park, without the challenging climbs.
- Portal Overlook: Often overlooked for other trails in Moab, this hike offers serine, well-graded paths, while still hitting the highlights of the park.
- Devil's Garden: If you’re short on time, this hike runs down an incredible narrow canyon, passing picturesque sandstone cliffs and desert towers on the way.
- Balanced Rock: No trip is complete to Moab without spotting the unique balanced rock. This odd rock formation is a quick jaunt from the parking lot if you’re short on time.
- Mossy Cave Trail: Short and sweet, this trail runs past dozens of hoodoos and ends at the stunning Tropic Ditch Falls, perfect for a family-friendly afternoon.
When is the Best Time to Hike in Utah
Our favourite time to hike in Utah is the shoulder seasons: spring and fall. The months of April-May and September-October offer incredible weather, with sunny, moderate temperatures. You can expect the occasional cool spell or rainy day during the shoulder seasons, but it’s far too hot to hike during the summer months without breaking a major sweat and risking heat stroke.
Best Regions to Hike in Utah
There are endless opportunities for hiking in the great Utah wilderness! But to help you out, we’ve narrowed it down to our absolute favourite regions within the state. Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its incredible desert scenery, ranging from hoodoos to canyons to cactuses. Moab and Arches National Park is much-loved among the mountain biking community and incredible natural arches scattered throughout the parks. Salt Lake City is the perfect destination where urban meets the outdoors, with plenty to see and do in and around the city. Just 120.7 km east of Salt Lake, lies another incredible mountain town that often lies under the radar. Uintas Mountains offers plenty of epic mountains to conquer, as well as pristine lakes perfect for a dip. Perhaps one of the most notable regions, Zion National Park is high on the bucket list for its sandstone rocks, the stunning Virgin River and verdant plant life.
Other Activities in Utah
Utah is an outdoor lovers paradise. There are few places quite like it in the world, nevermind the U.S. You can accomplish any outdoor adventure calling your name, whether it be mountain biking, scrambling, skiing, rock climbing, kayaking, white water rafting, or even horseback riding. You name it, they got it.
How to Plan a Trip to Utah
Dreaming of planning your dream hiking vacation in Utah? We’ve got you covered with our complete guides on planning a trip to the red rocky state, outlining the best spots far and wide for food and a cold beer, cozy hotels, and fun activities to fill your day. From Bryce Canyon National Park, to Zion National Park, to Moab and Arches National Park, to Salt Lake City, to Uintas Mountains—we took out all the guesswork, leaving more time for hitting the trails.
Hiking regions in Utah
Best Hikes in Utah
Sylvester Trail
The Sylvester Trail is a moderately challenging route with beautiful views of the Utah desert. This hike gets relatively low traffic, so it’s a great place to go to escape the crowds of Arches National Park and still see some incredible rock formations.
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Klondike Bluff Outer Loop
The Klondike Bluffs Outer Loop is a great low-traffic trail just outside of Arches National Park. This route is primarily a mountain biking trail, so be sure to let bikes zip past you as you hike along. This trail is dog-friendly and a great way to explore the beauty of the desert with your four-legged friends. If you are looking for a great opportunity for exploration—The Klondike Bluffs Outer loop passes by the Dinosaur Stomping Grounds: a 2 acre expanse with over 2000 well-preserved dinosaur footprints!
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Jewell Tibbets Arch
The Jewell Tibbets Arch Trail is a short, relatively flat hike to an impressive sandstone formation. This trail can be done as an out-and-back or as a loop. The Jewell Tibbets Arch sits on BLM land, so there is no Park fee required to access this beautiful trail.
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Mustang Loop Trail
The Mustang Loop is a fantastic, little-hiked trail nestled between Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. This trail is shared by hikers and mountain bikers, and features fantastic overlooks with sweeping desert vistas. The Mustang Loop is a dog-friendly trail, however, pups must be kept on leash for the duration of their hike.
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Dead Horse Rim Loop and Big Horn Overlook Trail
The Dead Horse Rim Loop and Big Horn Overlook Trail is a fantastic day-hike in the southern section of Dead Horse Point State Park. This hike gets relatively low traffic and offers hikers some incredible views along a well-maintained trail. This hike is dog-friendly, but pups must be kept on a maximum of 2 m-long leash for the duration of their hike.
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Colorado River Overlook Trail
The Colorado River Overlook Trail is a short and easy route that affords hikers stunning views of the Utah desert. This hike is relatively flat and a great option for families with young children who want to get out and explore in Dead Horse Point State Park. This trail is also dog-friendly, however, dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
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Dead Horse Visitors Center Loop
The Dead Horse Visitor Center Loop is a great way to stretch your legs and see some incredible views of the Utah desert. This hike is fun for all ages and all members of the family, including the pup. The Dead Horse Visitor Center Loop takes you past three overlooks where you’ll be able to look out at the Solar Evaporation Ponds and the canyon below.
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Big Horn Overlook Trail
The Big Horn Overlook Trail is a family-friendly hike in Dead Horse Point State Park. This trail takes you to a fantastic viewpoint overlooking Shafer Canyon. Dogs are allowed on the Big Horn Overlook Trail as well as any trail within Dead Horse Point State Park, however, they must be kept on leash for the duration of their visit.
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Big Spring Canyon Overlook Trail
The Big Spring Canyon Overlook Trail is a short hike to two beautiful viewpoints. This family-friendly hike is a great way to stretch your legs and do some exploring around the multi-colored sandstone spires. This area is unique to Canyonlands National Park as the nourishment of the Big Spring allows large trees and desert plants to flourish.
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Squaw Flat and Big Spring Canyon Loop
The Squaw Flat and Big Spring Canyon Loop is a moderate hiking trail through ponderosa pine forest, desert sagebrush, and over sandstone slabs. This hike is a great place to get away from the crowds and see desert flora and fauna. When hiking keep an eye out for critters such as jackrabbits, spiny lizards, mule deer, and more.
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The Great Gallery Trail
The Great Gallery Trail is an incredible hike to and through Horseshoe Canyon. Horseshoe Canyon contains some of the most incredible and well-known petroglyphs and pictographs in North America. This hike passes by three galleries and ends at the Great Gallery—a 61 m panel of over 20 breathtaking drawings.
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Gooseneck Overlook
The Gooseneck Overlook Trail is a short hike with unparalleled views of Canyonlands National Park. This hike is a great addition to your off-highway-vehicle trip around the Utah desert. For an especially spectacular view, try this hike at dusk or dawn.
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Neck Spring Trail
The Neck Spring Trail is a lovely little hiking loop over diverse terrain in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. With shady forest, hot desert sandstone, and a short scramble—the Neck Spring Trail has so much to offer. This hike is low-traffic and a great opportunity to get some alone time enjoying the beauty that the Utah desert has to offer.
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Confluence Overlook Trail
The Confluence Overlook Trail is an adventurous hike with varying desert terrain. This trail has slickrock, scrambles, and sand. If you are looking for a fun way to spend the afternoon playing around Canyonlands National Park- this trail is a fantastic route for you.
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Pothole Point Trail
The Pothole Point trail is a short and easy hike over a trail with unique potholes that turn into little pools after a rare desert rain. This hike is kid-friendly and a great place to go to get some family photos. Try this trail in the springtime to see the desert cacti in full bloom.
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Chocolate Drops Trail
The Chocolate Drops Trail is a relatively flat out-and-back route to some of the most prominent landmarks in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park. The Chocolate Drops are 61 m tall columns of Organ Shale that rise above the rest of the Maze District landscape. This hike sees relatively low traffic and is a great way to spend the day exploring a unique section of the Park.
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Murphy Loop
The Murphy Trail is a beautiful, long hike down to and through a canyon in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. This trail is moderately challenging with sections of steep switchbacks, so make sure you arrive prepared. The Murphy Trail sees little traffic, so it's a great place to go for a long, peaceful hike in the Utah desert.
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Zeus and Moses Trail
The Zeus and Moses Trail is a short, out-and-back hike to the Zeus and Moses Sandstone towers. This hike can be accessed via the Taylor Canyon OHV trail or the Alcove Spring Trail. No matter how you get there, this hike is worth it—this trail is truly a hidden gem in Canyonlands National Park.
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The Harvest Scene Trail
The Harvest Scene Trail is a challenging hiking loop to the World-renowned pictograph panel known as The Harvest Scene. This panel, depicting animal and human forms, is between 2000 to 3000 years old and in incredible condition. The trail to get there is rugged with steep scramble sections, but we promise that the challenge is worth it.
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The Lathrop Trail
The Lathrop Trail is an incredible route for experienced hikers. This trail features steep switchbacks, beautiful buttes, and outstanding overlooks. The challenge and reward of this trail are equally matched to make this the perfect hike for intrepid adventurers.