Utah is a paradise for hikers. It offers some of the most scenic landscapes in the United States. From towering red rock formations to lush mountain trails, these 11 scenic hiking trails in Utah promise adventure and breathtaking views at every turn.
If rock formations and canyons are your favorite geographical landscape, then, Utah, and Arizona States must be on your bucket list of places to see in the United States.
Nonetheless, even if such a barren territory is not your idea of beauty, it throws the most challenging trails to ardent hikers, and adventure enthusiasts that include rock climbers, and rappelers.
I once read that though Arizona and Utah have almost similar wilderness, the wildlife in the Utah region is more diverse.
In addition, adventure seekers go wild with delight when they see buttes, a kind of steep vertical rock wall whose crown is rather flat than conical summits.
There are spectacular vistas that give you the ultimate pleasure to walk through. Moreover, you can hike to the top of the waterfalls and try to see the water source.
For your information, hikers will stumble onto 11 jaw-dropping waterfalls that are hidden amidst some, terrific canyons.
In this post, you will come to know the 10 Scenic hiking trails in Utah.
Oh, yes, there are rock arches that lure you to climb.
Man, isn’t this natural wonder, utterly mind-boggling? Even if you are not permitted to climb on an arch, you can still take selfies in their backdrop, wearing your hiking dress, and boots.
Discover 11 Scenic Hiking Trails in Utah (Perfect for Adventure Lovers!)
Let us peruse the list of 11 Scenic hiking trails in Utah.
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Arches National Park
So, let us straightaway begin to explore the Arches National Park, Utah. You will raise your eyebrows when you read that there are as many 2000 natural arches made of sandstone rocks.
Moab is the nearest city to this fantastic national park that is said to offer, breathtaking scenic trails that suit both beginners, and veterans.
Apart from arches, hikers come across tall spires that may lead you to assume, a new arch formation is in progress.
The lengthiest hiking trail stretches up to a big 1300 km! It is the highly popular “Hayduke Trail”. Its length even enters the neighboring state of Arizona, another land of the canyons in the U.S.
I think this one hike alone will keep passionate hikers eternally happy, and they need not try to shift to any other trail because of the following different geographical regions in Utah.
- Bruce Canyon National Park
- Canyon Lands National Park
- Capital Reef National Park
- Zion National Park
The arch’s name is Delicate Arch
This is the most popular hike in the national park. The trail is flat and does not rise. However, the other side of the arch leads to a slope.
We will move on to the next hiking trail in Utah.
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Bonneville Shoreline Trail
This is a scenic route that crawls along the Bonneville Lake. Both the walkers and the bikers use this trail in Utah.
Bonneville Trail is nearly 250 km long, and it ends in the neighboring state of Idaho.
For long hikers, it’s a perfect trail as it winds through a few smaller canyons and gorges formed out of the Wasatch Mountain Range.
Some more adventurous trekkers climb up to this mountain’s summit, which sits at an elevation of approximately 2,000 feet!
Smaller peaks at lesser altitudes allow the hikers, the freedom to roam around. The views vary as they trudge along, and all of them compel the adventurers to stay within these mountains.
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Unita Highline Trail
The trail’s length is 167 km. You can enter the trail also from Colarado, and Wyoming. I think that will give hope for change in geography slightly but nonetheless, different.
Almost throughout the year, you can spot backpackers trudging along, giving company to the mountain bikers, and older people who enjoy riding horseback.Incidentally, this trail leads you to see the summit called Kings Peak, situated at a staggering altitude of a little over 13,500 feet!
The mountain is bald, and barren, suggesting a thick, snowy surface in the winter.
One more terrific path on the trail that changes dramatically into the rocky mountains is High Uintas Wilderness.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Naturalist_Basin.jpg/640px-Naturalist_Basin.jpg
I think this kind of terrain turns the veteran hikers to sleep under the stars and resume their hiking, early the next day.
The trail goes through a few high-altitude passes, from where, the panorama changes into spectacular vistas.
Utah is the most ideal state for passionate hikers in the United States. I wonder whether hikers from other parts of the world come here.
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Great Western Trail
Ah, this looks like the trans-Canada trail to me when I read its length is a whopping 7100 km!
Yes, in fact, the Great Western Trail starts from Canada and terminates in Mexico.
Enroute, it passes through the following states of the United States:
- Arizona
- Utah
- Idhao
- Wyoming
- Montana
This means, there are several entrances, and exits, thus making it convenient for more number of hikers, and bikers.
Due to the trail’s diverse terrain, it was included in the National Millennium Trail.
The Trans America Trail (I coined this name) also allows horses to carry people on their backs.
In addition, since the trail is paved at several places, you can contemplate hiring an ATV (All Terrain Vehicles) and enjoying a ride through unique terrains.
When the trail is covered in snow, I think it is still seen through its borders clearly. At such period, snowmobiles can be taken through giving scope to spot a range of snowbirds, and wild animals.
You may be interested to know how this trail came to be. A man named Lyle Gomm was the creator of this long-distance trail, and hence he is considered as the Father of the Great Western Trail.
A big salute to this man by the worldwide hikers.
The first-ever full hike through the entire, 7000+ km was completed in about 135 days in 1988.
I am sure there are numerous travelogues authored by actual users of the GWT. It will be very useful for prospective hikers.
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Wills Creek
What a breathtaking scene in the lands of canyons! This one particular place will be on everyone’s wish list to visit, once they see this photo of Willis Creek.
Haven’t we all seen such a place in the all-time great movie McKenna’s Gold!?
The beautiful Willis Creek is part of the gorgeous Bryce Canyon that passes through Garfield, and Kane counties in Utah.
The actual length of this train in Utah is only 8 km. In spite of such a short distance, the trail is laid in such a way that it passes through:
- Dixie National Forest
- Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
The geographical terrain through which the Willis Creek trail runs through is also called, “Willis Creek Slot Canyon”.
Due to the stunning beauty of the Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, thousands of hikers seek out this beautiful piece of rocky land in Utah.
Surprisingly, the creek (stream) is only 2 inches deep!
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Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
My God! Isn’t this really grand? This extraordinary national monument is located near the city of Kanab, Utah.
Starting from Bryce Canyon, the series of layers, and layers of rocks that stretch into the Zion National Park, and finally ending with the world-famous Grand Canyon, form the Grand Staircase.
Escalante is the name of a city in Utah’s Garfield County.
The trails are several but not too long. You can expect to hike for about 60 km through incredible wilderness. This area alone attracts nearly 900 thousand visitors every year.
Two trails are the most used here, out of a total of 8 trails. One is called the White House Trail, and the other one, which is short, is known as Boulder Mail Trail.
Wire Pass Trail is the shortest of all, measuring just five and a half km.
I am surprised that such a whopping 2 million acres have only 8 trails that are earmarked for hiking.
Camping areas are well patronized. Numerous companies in Kanab offer motor homes for rent.
Hikers turn into trekkers and rock climbers when they near the following towering cliffs:
- Chocolate Cliff
- Vermilion Cliff
- Grey Cliff
- Pink Cliff
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/USA_10654_Bryce_Canyon_Luca_Galuzzi_2007.jpg/440px-USA_10654_Bryce_Canyon_Luca_Galuzzi_2007.jpg
- White Cliff
7. Cedar Brakes Amphitheater
Yes, it’s actually canyon wilderness that resembles an amphitheater. The trail’s length is 4.8 km.
If you happen to reach the top of the canyon and look down, you will certainly feel dizzy because the earth is way down below at 2000 feet!
The amphitheater is only a fond name. It is actually a U.S. National Monument in Cedar city, Utah.
Avoid planning a trip after October and until May first week when the canyons’ trails are covered in snow.
July is a good month to see a range of flora and fauna. The flora needs special mention due to several species of attractively-colored wildflowers.
Too many forms of rock formations will make the hikers go wild with joy.
8.Calf Creek Falls Hiking Trails in Utah
The walking trail encircling the Calf Creek Falls and the rocky forest measures a little less than 10 km.
As a matter of fact, there are two falls, the upper, and lower, sporting different volumes of water. Nevertheless, and surprisingly too, you can see water right through the year.
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Harris Wash
It’s the name of a river, which itself is a tributary of Escalante River. Though it is not an earmarked trail, the often-trodden path serves as a scenic hiking trail, measuring 64 km in length.
Haris Wash trail is part of the Grand Staircase National Monument terrain.
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Angels Landing
At 1500 feet above the ground, this 7 km trail is one of the picturesque ones in Zion National Park, Utah.
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The Narrows
The Narrows is one of the picturesque places in the Zion National Park.
We are again in the territory of Zion National Park. As the name suggests, the 25 km hiking trail is one of the most visited places in the Zion NP.
The trail winds its way along the course of the Virgin River which gets narrow in this part of the Zion Canyon.
The state of Utah is truly a haven for adventure travelers.
