17 Epic Trails in Utah You Have to Hike Because Photos Don’t Do Them Justice

Who doesn’t love a unique hike? Many of the coolest hikes in Utah involve climbing up buttes and scrambling through fiery red slot canyons. After spending two years living the van life and road-tripping through almost 40 states, Utah is one place that keeps calling me back.

Although many of the state’s best are in its national parks, there are many on this list where you don’t have to fight the crowds or apply for an impossible-to-get permit. From desert oasis waterfalls to reaching the world’s largest natural arches, these 17 best hikes in Utah will have you craving jaw-dropping vistas any chance you get.

1. Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park

• Length: 4.3 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: ~1,500 feet
• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Highlights: Best views of Zion Canyon, narrow ridgeline sections
• Mandatory Permits: Here
• Recommended Tours: Guided Hike Permit Included

Angels Landing is one of the toughest hikes in the country! If you dare and can get a permit, this exhilarating hike will take you to some of the most jaw-dropping views you can find in Zion National Park.

The trail itself is an adventure, with a series of switchbacks, a narrow ridge, and chains bolted into the rock to hold onto. It’s a challenge, but reaching the summit is like earning a badge of honor.

Start early to avoid the heat and crowds, and bring plenty of water. I would also bring lunch, as there’s nothing like eating a sandwich and snapping open a soda can at 1,500 feet above the canyon floor.

 📖 Read Also: 10 of the US National Parks’ Most Iconic Landmarks.

2. The Narrows, Zion National Park

• Length: Up to 16 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous, depending on distance
• Highlights: Wading through the Virgin River, imposing canyon walls
• Recommended Tours: Private Guided Hike

The Narrows is one of those bucket list hikes that everyone should experience at least once. You’ll be wading through the Virgin River, sometimes up to your waist, flanked by towering canyon walls that seem to close in around you. When the sun hits at certain angles, the water glows a beautiful turquoise color, and the fiery red walls engulf you.

The hike can be as long or short as you want, but if you’re up for it, the full 16-mile trek is something else.

Depending on the time of year, you may want to rent specialized gear from Springdale. I went in January, and it was definitely dry suit weather; otherwise, it’s guaranteed hypothermia.

 📖 Read Also: Top 10 Jam-Packed National Parks to Avoid in Peak Season

3. Navajo Garden and Queen’s Garden Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park

• Length: 2.9 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Highlights: Hoodoos, Bryce Amphitheatre
• Recommended Tours: Scenic Tour of Bryce Canyon

A day hike to Bryce Canyon’s Navajo Loop Trail and Queens Garden Trail gives you a front-row seat to the park’s famous hoodoos: those crazy, spiky rock formations that look straight out of a Dr. Seuss book. The trail takes you down into the canyon, weaving through tunnels along the base of massive rock walls.

It’s a relatively short hike, but the beauty packed into those three miles is off the charts. The best times to hike are early morning or late afternoon to catch the best light for photos. If you’re looking to add another nearby, Fairyland Loop Trail is another great option.

 📖 Read Also: 11 American Places So Surreal, You’ll Think They’re Photoshopped

4. Delicate Arch, Arches National Park

• Length: 3 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Highlights: Iconic arch, panoramic desert views
• Recommended Tours: Best Of Moab In A Day

Delicate Arch is practically the poster child for Utah hikes, and it’s literally on the state license plates. This natural arch stands alone against the sky in an empty sandstone bowl surrounded by the La Sal Mountain range.

This is the most popular hike in the national park. It’s generally straightforward but does include a bit of a climb. Although it’s great any time of the day, reaching the arch just as the sun sets makes the landscape glow a golden hue. And be careful if you’re walking around the arch; it’s actually really steep on the other side.

 📖 Read Also: Perfect One Day in Arches National Park Itinerary for First-Timers

5. Reflection Canyon, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

• Length: 15.3 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Highlights: Peaceful Lake Powell reflections, solitude

Reflection Canyon is a remote, off-the-beaten-path gem with a long trek to test your endurance. However, the sight waiting for you at the end is worth every step. The mirrored waters of Lake Powell create picture-perfect reflections of the dramatic canyon walls.

This hike is for seasoned adventurers, as you’ll need to navigate without a defined trail. You also won’t be bumping into crowds here; in fact, you might not see another soul. Prep well with a GPS and an offline map, and maybe even plan to spend the night under the stars.

 📖 Read Also: 11 Unbelievably Beautiful Lakes in the US That Feel Like Paradise

6. The Wave, Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness

• Length: 6.7 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Highlights: Swirling sandstone patterns
• Mandatory Permits (So Difficult to Get): Here

Ever seen those surreal, undulating wave-like rock formations in photos? That’s The Wave. This great hike takes you through a landscape that looks like you’re walking through a piece of art. The 6.7-mile round-trip trail is moderate but has some sandy terrain and lacks a well-marked trail.

With only 64 permits (or 16 groups) issued per day, getting one is like winning the lottery. I’ve tried twice to get it back when you had to show up in person in Kanab and failed both times. Nowadays, you just have to apply online, but there’s a lot more competition.

 📖 Read Also: 7 Coveted National Park Experiences that Require Entering a Lottery

7. The Subway, Zion National Park

• Length: 9 miles round trip (bottom-up route)
• Elevation Gain: 1,300 feet
• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Highlights: Slot canyons, emerald pools and waterfalls
• Mandatory Permits: Here

Zion is so impressive that I’m featuring three of its hikes on this list. The Subway is another of the national park’s iconic hikes, but this one is very challenging and includes climbing skills. This slot canyon hike takes you through narrow passages, past waterfalls, and into emerald-green pools.

The bottom-up route is a 9-mile round-trip adventure that includes a bit of everything, scrambling over rocks, wading through water, and even some basic rappelling. Permits are required, and a guide is highly recommended for first-timers.

8. Fifth’s Hot Springs, Diamond Fork Canyon (near Spanish Fork)

• Length: 4.5 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate (Harder in winter)
• Highlights: Undeveloped river hot springs

Diamond Fork Hot Springs, also known as Fifth Water Hot Springs, is a hidden oasis in the woods just outside Salt Lake City in northern Utah. Imagine soaking in warm, mineral-rich waters surrounded by beautiful forest scenery. Even though it’s popular among locals, there are so many pools you’re sure to find one for yourself.

The hike itself is a pleasant trip along a creek, with the reward being the series of hot springs at the end. In the wintertime, the road shuts down, so it becomes a 7-mile round-trip hike, and it is very icy in some parts.

9. Buckskin Gulch via Wirepass, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness

• Length: 21 miles round trip (5.6 miles for Wire Pass Shortcut)
• Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
• Highlights: Longest slot canyon in the world, narrow passages
• Recommended Tours: Private Buckskin Gulch Tour

Buckskin Gulch is the granddaddy of all slot canyons and one of my favorite hikes in the state. Located in southern Utah, it stretches over 21 miles and is the longest and arguably one of the most impressive in the world. It’s actually right around the corner from the Wave hike, in case you didn’t get a permit for that.

Although you can do the whole thing, the shortcut via Wirepass Trailhead plunges you immediately into narrow corridors, where the rock walls tower above you, sometimes only a few feet apart. It’s a strenuous trek, especially if you do the entire length, but even shorter sections give you incredible views.

Tip! You also have to check the weather conditions as even a little rain here can cause flash floods.

 📖 Read Also: 7 Heart-Stopping Canyons in the US, And Why They Beat the Grand Canyon

10. Kanarra Creek, Kanarraville

• Length: 3.6 miles round trip (But you can turn back after the first waterfall)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Highlights: Waterfalls, slot canyon, creek crossings
• Mandatory Permits: Here

Often likened to a Mini-Narrows of Zion, Kanarra Creek is a slot canyon river that wades to waterfalls. This hike has you wading through streams, climbing ladders, and scrambling over rocks. The highlight? A series of beautiful waterfalls cascading through the narrow canyon.

Permits are required but easily obtainable online, or you can buy walk-up ones at the park’s entrance. Bring water shoes and prepare for your feet to get wet.

 📖 Read Also: 14 Must-See Waterfalls in West US You Didn’t Know About

11. Spooky Gulch & Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyons, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

• Length: 3.5 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Moderate (narrow passages)
• Highlights: Tight squeezes, photogenic canyons
• Recommended Tours: Triple Slot Canyons Trip

Spooky and Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyons are two of the most fun and unique hikes you’ll find in Escalante. Spooky is a tight squeeze, with sections so narrow you’ll have to shimmy through sideways, while Peek-a-Boo offers playful arches and twists. Combined, these canyons make for a maze that’s as much about exploring as it is about hiking.

You will need a high-clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead, as deep sand might cause you to get stuck.

12. Devils Garden Primitive Loop, Arches National Park

• Length: 7.9 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Highlights: Seven major arches
• Recommended Tours: Private Devil’s Garden Tour

The Devil’s Garden Primitive Loop is another famous area in Arches National Park that is generally much less crowded than the Delicate Arch hike. This loop takes you past seven—yes, seven!—of the park’s famous arches, including Landscape Arch, which is among the longest natural stone spans in the world.

The trail is moderately challenging, with a few scrambles and some sandy sections, but the variety of scenery keeps things interesting.

13. Mesa Arch Trail, Canyonlands National Park

• Length: 0.7 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Easy stroll
• Highlights: Sunrise arch glow through canyon landscapes
• Recommended Tours: Best Of Moab In A Day

Mesa Arch might be one of the shortest hikes on this list, but this 0.7-mile round-trip trail leads you to an iconic arch that frames the spectacular landscape of Canyonlands National Park. It’s particularly famous for sunrise when the light hits the underside of the arch.

It’s an early wake-up call, and while most people think it’s a sunrise hike, it’s actually best a few hours after sunrise. Be prepared for plenty of photographers with tripods waiting around.

 📖 Read Also: Perfect One Day in Canyonlands Itinerary for First-Timers

14. Mount Timpanogos, Wasatch Mountain Range

• Length: 14 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 4,700 feet
• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Highlights: Glacier, panoramic summit views
• Recommended Tours: Private Half-Day Scenic Drive

Mount Timpanogos is the crown jewel of the Wasatch Mountain Range. This strenuous 14-mile round-trip hike takes you through lush alpine meadows and up to a glacier. At the summit, you’ll have panoramic views that stretch as far as the eye can see.

 📖 Read Also: 9 of the Toughest Mountains in America You Can Shockingly Actually Summit

15. Yant Flat, St. George

• Length: 3.4 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Highlights: Colorful rock formations with bizarre checkerboard patterns

Yant Flat, also known as the Candy Cliffs, is a lesser-known spot near St. George, Utah. This relatively easy trail takes you to an area where the rocks are striped with colors, unique patterns, and textures. The sweeping desert views from the top are also breathtaking.

The trail is not well-marked, so a GPS can be handy.

 📖 Read Also: 14 Western US State Parks That Rival Any National Park

16. Hickman Bridge, Capitol Reef National Park

• Length: 1.8 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Highlights: Natural bridge, historic petroglyphs

Hickman Bridge is a relatively short hike at just 1.8 miles round trip, but it’s a great option for a quick adventure in Capitol Reef National Park. The trail takes you to a natural bridge with expansive views of the surrounding canyon. Along the way, you’ll pass some remnents of ancient Fremont culture, including petroglyphs.

 📖 Read Also: The Best Way to Tour Capitol Reef National Park in a Day

17. Lower Calf Creek Falls, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

• Length: 6 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Easy
• Highlights: Waterfall in green canyon, Native American petroglyphs

It’s always crazy to me when you find a watery oasis in the middle of the desert. Lower Calf Creek Falls is a 6-mile round-trip hike that leads you through a beautiful canyon with a 126-foot waterfall that plunges into a clear pool. Along the way, you’ll pass by Native American petroglyphs and pictographs. Bring a picnic and take a dip in the cool waters.

Final Thoughts: Coolest Hikes in Utah

Go squeezing through narrow slots, gazing up at towering arches, or cooling off under a waterfall, Utah’s hiking trails really are unforgettable adventures. I hope this list of some of the best hikes in Utah has inspired you to get out and explore these beautiful destinations.

Before you Close That Tab…Where to Next in Utah?

Utah may very well be one of the most underrated, beautiful places in the world. I’ve traveled all through this great state, snowboarding down some of the best resorts and hiking through godly monoliths. If you’re heading elsewhere in Utah, check out these posts.

• One Day in Zion National Park Itinerary for Adventurers
• One Day in Arches National Park Itinerary for First-Timers
• Perfect One Day in Canyonlands Itinerary for First-Timers
• Perfect One Day In Salt Lake City Itinerary For First Timers 
• Perfect One Day In Bryce Canyon Itinerary For First-Timers

MY FAVORITE TRAVEL RESOURCES

✈️ Find amazing guided tours and experiences with Viator to maximize your time! 🏘️ Plan ahead and secure your accommodation with Booking.com in advance. 🧾 Rent a car with Discovercars in advance and get the best prices for your day trip adventures.