The state of Utah is home to five U.S National Parks, and there are thousands of great Utah hiking trails to enjoy inside and outside of the parks. This guide is a brief summary of our favorite Utah hikes. In my opinion, these are some of the very best hikes in Utah!
The southern part of Utah state has much of the wonderful desert scenery and slot canyons this state is famous for, while the Salt Lake City area has mountains and alpine lakes that might remind you of Colorado.
There are even a bunch of nice waterfalls scattered across Utah. We’ve spent months exploring this state and it never disappoints. Regardless of where you go while hiking in Utah, you’re sure to find some unique and fantastic scenery around every corner.
From the canyons of Escalante to the lakes of the Wasatch Range, here’s our complete Utah hiking guide!
Best Hikes In Utah
1. Angels Landing Hike (Zion)
Angels Landing is the king of Utah hikes. If you only do one hike in the national parks, make it this one.
It’s an epic and scary trail that takes you up the side of a steep sandstone mountain, with chains to grab onto for safety, and amazing views of Zion National Park surrounding you on all sides. Permits are required since 2022.
The Angels Landing chain section is especially noted for being hair-raising and hazardous, and there have been a number of falling deaths on this hike over the years, although it’s plenty safe if you stick to the trail.
At times, the trail will only be a few feet wide, and you’ll have to hug the side of the mountain. Not all of this section has chains, but the most sketchy parts do for your safety.
Best Hikes In Utah
1. Angels Landing Hike (Zion)
Angels Landing is the king of Utah hikes. If you only do one hike in the national parks, make it this one.
It’s an epic and scary trail that takes you up the side of a steep sandstone mountain, with chains to grab onto for safety, and amazing views of Zion National Park surrounding you on all sides. Permits are required since 2022.
The Angels Landing chain section is especially noted for being hair-raising and hazardous, and there have been a number of falling deaths on this hike over the years, although it’s plenty safe if you stick to the trail.
At times, the trail will only be a few feet wide, and you’ll have to hug the side of the mountain. Not all of this section has chains, but the most sketchy parts do for your safety.
3. The Narrows (Zion)
Of course I have to mention the mother of all slot canyons, the Zion Narrows!
This is a giant gorge with walls a thousand feet tall, and the Virgin River flows through it. Hiking the Narrows involves walking in water, and if you go the full length it’s 16 miles total.
The good news is that the Narrows is open to all fitness levels because you don’t have to hike to the end of the gorge. You can stop and turn around whenever you want.
It’s possible to hike the entire Narrows from the top down in one full day if you get a permit in advance, but most people just go partway and then turn back (no permit required for that).
The bad news is that the Narrows is getting extremely popular. The crowds kind of ruined it for us. If you’re really intent on seeing the Narrows without crowds, I’d recommend getting a permit and hiking it from the top down. Otherwise, you may want to go to one of the other places in this Utah hiking guide instead.
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