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With some of the most diverse and unique terrain in the US, Utah is truly a hiker’s dream. Chase waterfalls and climb towering peaks in the Wasatch Range, or head south to conquer the Mighty Five national parks, where you’ll discover both the greatest concentration of hoodoos and natural stone arches found anywhere on earth. Here are the trails you shouldn’t miss, for beginners and expert hikers alike.
Delicate Arch Trail
Where: Grand County, Utah
Length: 3.2 miles out-and-back
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
What to expect: A short hike to Utah’s most recognizable (and photographed) landmark, this trail in Arches National Park leads to a freestanding arch that’s so iconic it appears on the state license plate. Along the way you’ll pass smaller stone arches as well as red rock slabs and other unique geological features.
Pets permitted: Dogs are not allowed.
Landscape Arch Trail
Where: Grand County, Utah
Length: 1.9 miles out-and-back
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
What to expect: Delicate Arch isn’t the only highlight in Arches National Park. This easy trail brings you to Landscape Arch, which ranks among the world’s longest natural stones. Be sure to take the short detours to Tunnel and Pine Tree Arches as well.
Pets permitted: Dogs are not allowed.
Chesler Park Joint Trail Loop
Where: San Juan, Wayne, Garfield, and Grand Counties, Utah
Length: 10.7 miles loop
Time: 6 hours
Difficulty: Hard
What to expect: Located south of the popular Island in the Sky District, this trail in Canyonlands National Park loops through a variety of landscapes, such as narrow slot canyons, desert grasslands, and colorful stone spires, all while evading the crowds. Some hikers choose to spend two days on this trail, camping at the junction after Chesler Park Viewpoint.
Pets permitted: Dogs are not allowed.
Lake Blanche Trail
Where: Salt Lake County, Utah
Length: 6.8 miles out-and-back
Time: 5 hours
Difficulty: Hard
What to expect: A world apart from the rocky sandstone and deserts of southern Utah, Lake Blanche is a lush, mountainside retreat in the Wasatch Range. Meander through scrub oak and aspen forest and take in views of Great Salt Lake itself before arriving at Lake Blanche for a relaxing picnic.
Pets permitted: Dogs are not allowed.
Grand Wash Trail
Where: Wayne County, Utah
Length: 5 miles out-and-back
Time: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
What to expect: Marvel at Capitol Reef National Park’s most dramatic canyon on this leisurely hike. The real prize comes at the end: As you reach the Narrows, the 80-story canyon shrinks down to just 15-feet wide, offering an astounding and unusual view.
Pets permitted: Dogs are not allowed.
Lower Calf Creek Falls
Where: Garfield County, Utah
Length: 6.7 miles out-and-back
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
What to expect: Follow a bubbling creek at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to reach Lower Calf Creek Falls, one of the park’s most popular sites, which cascades 130 feet off an sandstone cliff. The trail isn’t half bad, either; you’ll see an 800-year-old Native American granary, prehistoric pictographs and Navajo sandstone domes.
Pets permitted: Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
Mt Timpanogos via Timpooneke Trail
Where: Utah County, Utah
Length: 14.3 miles out-and-back
Time: 9 hours
Difficulty: Hard
What to expect: The second highest peak in Salt Lake City’s Wasatch Range, Mount Timpanogos is known for its abundant wildflowers and resident mountain goats. Head to the summit on Timpooneke Trail, which passes the Grand Staircase, a breathtaking canyon.
Pets permitted: Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
Peekaboo Loop Trail
Where: Garfield County, Utah
Length: 5.2 miles loop
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Hard
What to expect: For a true workout, consider Bryce Canyon National Park’s Peekaboo Trail. Because the path climbs and falls along the way, you’ll experience 1,800 feet of elevation changes. It’s not for nothing though—catch your breath at the magical viewpoints of the Wall of Windows, the Silent City and the Fairy Castle.
Pets permitted: Dogs are not allowed.
The Narrows
Where: Washington County, Utah
Length: Varies
Time: Varies
Difficulty: Varies
What to expect: Perhaps the best hike in Zion National Park, the Narrows offers a totally unique experience: trekking up the Virgin River’s waters through Zion’s signature slot canyon. Many day trippers choose to take the 9.4-mile route to Big Spring, but it’s also possible to pick a shorter hike or embark on a 16-mile journey with a permit.
Pets permitted: Dogs are not allowed.
Angels Landing Trail
Where: Washington County, Utah
Length: 4.4 miles out-and-back
Time: 5 hours
Difficulty: Hard
What to expect: Perfect for the true thrillseekers, Zion National Park’s Angels Landing is packed with sheer cliff walls, massive drop-offs, and narrow ledges. Often ranked one of the most dangerous trails in the U.S., the panoramic views over Zion Canyon are well worth it for experienced hikers.
Pets permitted: Dogs are not allowed.
Fifth Water Hot Springs
Where: Utah County, Utah
Length: 4.5 miles out-and-back
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
What to expect: Need a little R&R? Follow this trail to Fifth Water Hot Springs (also known as Diamond Fork Hot Springs) in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest’s Diamond Fork Canyon. A waterfall marks the end of the route, where you’ll discover several natural rock pools with bright blue water, perfect for a winter soak.
Pets permitted: Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
Donut Falls Trail
Where: Salt Lake County, Utah
Length: 3.3 miles out-and-back
Time: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
What to expect: This family-friendly hike through an alpine forest near Salt Lake City ends in a crowd-pleasing highlight: a gorgeous waterfall with an unusual donut hole-shaped formation. The final part of the trail requires walking through a stream, so come prepared.
Pets permitted: Dogs are not allowed.
Dead Horse Point Rim Trail
Where: Grand County, Utah
Length: 5 miles loop
Time: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
What to expect: With 360-degree vista points, rugged canyons and colorful vertical cliffs aplenty, this trail in Dead Horse Point State Park (the filming location for the final scene of Thelma & Louise) provides some of the most jaw-dropping views in the state. Gaze over the Colorado River and into neighboring Canyonlands National Park.
Pets permitted: Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
Pfeifferhorn (via Red Pine Lakes Trail)
Where: Salt Lake County, Utah
Length: 11 miles out-and-back
Time: 9 hours
Difficulty: Hard
What to expect: Get two-for-one on this hike, which passes by Red Pine Lake, a stunning alpine lake in Little Cottonwood Canyon, on the way to the summit of Pfeifferhorn, the third tallest peak in Utah’s Wasatch Range. While reaching the top requires a bit of scrambling, much of the trail is fairly gentle, passing by streams and aspen forests.
Pets permitted: Dogs are not allowed.
Kanarra Falls
Where: Iron County, Utah
Length: 3.7 miles out-and-back
Time: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
What to expect: The secret is out on Kanarra Falls, located just outside Zion National Park. This lesser visited wonder requires hiking through a scenic slot canyon to the base of a waterfall. Climb up the ladder to continue to a second waterfall and a swimming hole with a natural rock slide.
Pets permitted: Dogs are not allowed.
