The 10 Best Hikes in Utah
Utah is made for hikers. From snow-capped peaks to desert canyons, the state offers a variety of incredible terrain. Utah has thousands of trails to explore, but the endless list makes it difficult to narrow down how to spend your time here. So to help you out, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best hikes in Utah.
Delicate Arch
Distance: 3 miles
Elevation gain: 610 ft
You’ve likely seen a photo of Utah’s most famous arch, Delicate Arch. It’s the crowning jewel of Arches National Park, and absolutely stunning at sunrise and sunset. So make sure to pack a headlamp and layers so you can sit and enjoy it lit up by the sun.
Lower Calf Creek Falls
Distance: 6.2 miles
Elevation gain: 200 ft
One of the best places to get off the beaten trail in Utah is in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. A good introductory hike to the Escalante National Monument is the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail, which travels up a scenic canyon and leads to a beautiful 126-ft. tall waterfall.
Timpanogos Peak
Distance: 15 miles
Elevation gain: 4,425 ft
The Wasatch is often talked about for its incredible skiing, but come summer, it also boasts amazing hiking! Mount Timpanogos is one of Utah’s most recognizable mountains, and certainly one of Utah’s most popular mountain hiking destinations. At 11,749 feet, it is the second-highest summit of the Wasatch Mountains. It’s a long and strenuous hike to the top, but the feeling of summiting is one of pure satisfaction.
The Narrows
Distance: One mile - 10 miles
Elevation gain: 206 - 1,017 feet
No list of the best hikes in Utah is complete without a Zion classic: the Narrows. On this hike, you will be walking upstream in the Virgin River with cliffs that reach 2,000 ft on either side of you. There are dozens of beautiful swimming holes and at the narrowest point the canyon is just a few feet wide.
Spooky Gulch and Peek-A-Boo Canyon
Distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation gain: 100 ft
On most Southern Utah bucket lists, you’ll find the local favorite one-two punch of Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons. And for good reason - hiking through a slot canyon is an incredible experience! Located in Grand Staircase Escalante, these two hikes can be done individually, or connected into one killer loop for an afternoon of adventure.
Diamond Fork Hot Springs
Distance: 4.5 miles
Elevation gain: 700 feet
A hike to the Diamond Fork Hot Springs is undoubtedly one of the best hikes in Utah because of the reward at the end: hot spring lagoons! Sit and soak in these naturally heated pools surrounded by stunning canyon walls.
Angels Landing
Distance: 4.1 miles
Elevation gain: 1,617 ft
Another Zion classic is the Angels Landing hike. The trail ends with a steep and narrow path with chains to hold onto as it drops off on either side before reaching a summit with 360 degrees of the canyon. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, but all the more rewarding for those who conquer it!
Navajo and Queen’s Garden Loop
Distance: 2.9 miles
Elevation gain: 646 ft
While some might say the Fairyland loop is the best hike in Bryce Canyon National Park, we beg to differ. The Navajo and Queen’s Garden Loop will take you down among the famous hoodoos, and you’ll pass through doorways carved into the rock.
The Fiery Furnace
Distance: 2.16 miles
Elevation gain: 315 ft
While this hike is short, it packs an absolute punch. The Fiery Furnace is a playground of slick rock, where you have to scramble up and down, squeeze through, and sometimes even move like a crab along. The only trail markers are tiny, brown arrows, turning the hike into a fun scavenger hunt.
Kanarraville Falls
Distance: 4.4 miles
Kanarra Creek is a fun slot canyon hike just outside the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park. The trail begins on a dusty mill road, but quickly reaches the river you’ll be walking though. The best part is when you reach the iconic - and photogenic - ladders that will take you up and over small waterfalls.
There you have it: 10 of the best hikes in Utah! If you’re thinking of traveling to this incredible state, be sure to check out the adventures we offer there. We’ll book your unique accommodations, and create a personalized itinerary tailored to your needs!
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