Updated at : 17 Sep, 2024

Utah is an excellent hiking destination with some of the most unique landscapes in the world. From rough slot canyons and snow-capped mountain peaks to dazzling lakes and five national parks, the greatest hikes in Utah have something for everyone.

Utah is one of the top hiking places in the US (and many would argue, the globe!). The highly unusual geology offers everything from slot canyons to natural arches to waterfalls, rough mountains, and more.

Year-round hiking affords tons of landscape variety and four distinct seasons. There’s also a bit of everything when it comes to difficulty, allowing everyone from novices to seasoned pros to enjoy the best hikes in Utah.

Best Time For Trekking In Utah

Summers in Utah are frequently brutally hot, and many (if not most) trails have little to no shade. It’s manageable, but try to start early! This time of year also brings out more tourists and desert creatures like rattlesnakes.

For those who adore snow, winter hiking is not only doable but popular. Dress accordingly and check the avalanche prediction in high-risk avalanche locations.

Best Hikes In Utah

While there are apparently unlimited hiking options with great views around every turn, we’ve picked up a handful of our all time faves in this list of finest hikes in Utah.

1. Mesa Arch Trail

• Distance: 0.7-mile loop

• Elevation gain: 88 ft

• Difficulty Rating: Easy

• View the trail guide

This iconic Canyonlands National Park hike is quick and straightforward, requiring just 30 minutes round-trip. It’s perfect for sunrise (and bonus, trekking so early helps dodge the crowds!), affording a stunning vista of the canyon below and the rising sun through the arch itself.

2. Cathedrals Trail

• Distance: 2.5 miles, out-and-back

• Elevation gain: 327 ft Difficulty Rating: Easy

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Tucked away in underappreciated Capitol Reef National Park, this is an easy hike with one tough stretch at the beginning. You’ll enjoy regular views of the monoliths that make up the Cathedrals, especially Cathedral Mountain, making it one of the top walks in Utah overall.

3. Zion Narrows Riverside Walk

• Distance: 1.9 miles, out-and-back

• Elevation gain: 193 ft Difficulty Rating: Easy

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The Narrows is undoubtedly Utah’s most iconic slot canyon – which is really saying something! Located in Zion National Park, it’s quite crowded, so don’t expect solitude. But it’s worth it, as the hike is amazing.

4. Gloria Falls

• Distance: 2.2 miles, out-and-back

• Elevation gain: 534 ft Difficulty Rating: Easy

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One of the best walks in Utah year-round, Gloria Falls is hidden into Little Cottonwood Canyon off the main trail to White Pine and Red Pine Lake. The waterfall flows year-round, but gets totally hidden in snow in the winter. Even then, the initial stretch is fantastic for snowshoeing!

5. Donut Falls Trail

• Distance: 3.3 miles, out-and-back

• Elevation gain: 538 ft Difficulty Rating: Easy

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A relatively easy hike just outside Salt Lake City with a large effort-to-reward ratio. The walk itself is magnificent, but those willing to climb up the wet, slippery rocks at the finish get to witness the unusual cascade coming through a hole in the rock (thus the name Donut Falls!).

6. Emerald Pools Trail

• Distance: 3-mile circle

• Elevation gain: 620 ft

• Difficulty Rating: Moderate

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Another popular climb in Zion, Emerald Pools located in picturesque Zion Canyon. It emphasizes the park’s red cliffs, waterfalls, and wildlife and while it’s busy every month of the year, it’s well worth seeing, especially for the very minimal effort involved.

7. Delicate Arch Trail

• Distance: 3.2 miles, out-and-back

• Elevation gain: 629 ft Difficulty Rating: Moderate

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Delicate Arch in Arches National Park is by far the most recognizable in Utah (it’s the arch on Utah’s license plates afterall!) and the trail there is one to remember. There’s no shade whatsoever and it gets busy. So hiking in spring or fall or at dawn or dark is preferable.

8. Hickman Bridge Trail

• Distance: 1.7 miles, out-and-back Elevation gain: 416 ft Difficulty Rating: Moderate

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This short Capitol Reef trip to a massive natural bridge is rich with historical significance. You’ll see numerous sites where the Fremont people lived for generations (get a pamphlet at the trailhead!). The hike isn’t particularly challenging, but can get rather busy.

9. Peekaboo Loop Trail

• Distance: 5.2-mile loop

• Elevation gain: 1,453 feet

• Difficulty Rating: Moderate

• View the trail notes

The Peekaboo path is a fan-favorite in Bryce Canyon National Park and undoubtedly one of the most interesting walks in Utah. It receives its name from the surprises found around every bend, including arches, ridges, peaks, valleys, and spires.

10. Kanarra Falls

• Distance: 3.7 miles, out-and-back

• Elevation gain: 649 ft Difficulty Rating: Moderate

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This is one of the top hikes in Utah for adventure seekers. You’ll trudge through water, climb a 20-foot ladder, and struggle over stones on this adventure. Hiking poles and water shoes are musts! You may also read this: Incredible Australian Sites Many Tourists Never See

11. Wall Street and Queens Garden Trail

• Distance: 3.2-mile circle

• Elevation gain: 643 feet

• Difficulty Rating: Moderate

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This walk leads you down into Bryce Canyon, through some of the coolest red rock formations in the park, before ascending back up. It’s undoubtedly one of the best walks in Bryce Canyon National Park!

12. Navajo Loop Trail

• Distance: 1.5-mile loop

• Elevation gain: 515 ft

• Difficulty Rating: Moderate

• View the trail guide

Another famous Bryce Canyon trek, the Navajo Loop Trail takes you down through a spectacular slot canyon and up to fantastic views. You’ll visit some of the park’s most iconic attractions including Thor’s Hammer and Temple of Osiris, making it one of the top hikes in Utah.

13. Figure 8 Loop

• Distance: 6.3-mile loop

• Elevation gain: 1,499 ft Difficulty Rating: Moderate

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This excellent trek incorporates Queens Garden, Peekaboo, and Navajo to create one extended circle. You’ll get the best of all worlds, hitting all of Bryce’s amazing highlights. Make careful to pack water, as the trails are exposed, and possibly hiking poles to navigate the steep areas.

14. Fairyland Loop Trail

• Distance: 7.8-mile circle

• Elevation gain: 1,545 ft Difficulty Rating: Moderate

• View the trail notes

Fairyland Loop is another wonderful walk in Bryce Canyon. It’ll take you past plenty of stunning beauty as you stroll along the rim of the canyon before descending down into it.

In the winter, the main park road to the trailhead closes but is still accessible to foot traffic. It adds around one mile and you’ll want snowshoes or crampons.

15. Aztec Butte Trail

• Distance: 1.6 miles, out-and-back

• Elevation gain: 249 ft Difficulty Rating: Moderate

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While this is a typically easy hike in Canyonlands, there are a few scrambles and cliffs to tackle. The sights from the summit of Aztec Butte are stunning, and hiking the smaller butte takes you below the rim to ancestral ruins.