Recently, I had the opportunity to take a groups of youth from Salt Lake City into the mountains for hiking day trips.
Watching them experience alpine lakes, towering peaks, and peaceful forests reminded me why I fell in love with hiking in Utah in the first place.
Sharing the outdoors with people who are seeing these incredible landscapes for the first time is something I’ll never forget.
Utah is a state of dramatic contrasts. In just a few hours, you can travel from lush evergreen forests and alpine meadows to towering sandstone cliffs, colorful hoodoos, narrow slot canyons, and some of the most breathtaking desert scenery in the world.
Whether you’re looking for an easy day hike or a challenging backcountry adventure, Utah has something for every outdoor enthusiast!
NORTHERN UTAH
Northern Utah: The Wasatch Mountains
The Wasatch Mountains are one of Utah’s greatest treasures. Just outside Salt Lake City, Little Cottonwood Canyon and Big Cottonwood Canyon provide easy access to stunning alpine scenery, making them perfect for day hikes or weekend adventures.
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Just 30 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, Little Cottonwood Canyon is filled with granite peaks, wildflower meadows, sparkling alpine lakes, and breathtaking mountain views.
Favorite Hike: Alta to Brighton Trail
This is my favorite hike in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The trail connects Alta Ski Area to Brighton Resort, climbing through beautiful alpine terrain and passing several stunning mountain lakes.
- Distance: Approximately 7 miles one way
- Elevation Gain: About 1,300 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best Time: Late June through early October
The hike begins near Alta Ski Area and gradually climbs toward Catherine Pass. Along the way you’ll pass beautiful alpine lakes like Lake Catherine, walk through colorful wildflower meadows during the summer, and enjoy incredible panoramic views of the surrounding Wasatch peaks.
The trail finishes at Brighton Resort after winding through some of the most scenic high-country terrain in northern Utah.
Where to Stay
If you’re hiking Little Cottonwood Canyon, consider staying at:
- Hotels in Salt Lake City
- Snowpine Lodge at Alta Resort
- The Cliff Lodge at Snowbird Resort
- Albion Basin Campground (seasonal)
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Just over the ridge from Little Cottonwood Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon offers beautiful forests, peaceful lakes, and excellent hiking opportunities.
Favorite Hike: Brighton Resort to Lake Mary
This is my favorite hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon and one I would recommend to hikers of nearly every experience level.
- Distance: Approximately 2.4 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: About 850 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best Time: June through September
Starting from Brighton Resort, the trail climbs steadily through pine forests before opening into spectacular alpine scenery.
Lake Mary sits beneath rugged mountain peaks and provides a peaceful place to relax, enjoy lunch, or simply soak in the incredible surroundings. During summer, wildflowers line much of the trail, making this hike especially beautiful.
For hikers looking to continue, the trail also connects to Lake Martha and Lake Catherine for an even longer alpine adventure.
Where to Stay
If you’re exploring Big Cottonwood Canyon, good lodging options include:
- Hotels in Salt Lake City
- Brighton Chalets
- Spruces Campground
- Big Cottonwood Canyon campgrounds (seasonal)
SOUTHERN UTAH
Southern Utah showcases some of the most incredible desert landscapes on Earth. Every national park has its own unique personality.
Zion National Park
Massive sandstone cliffs tower above the Virgin River, creating one of America’s most iconic national parks.
Favorite Hikes
Angels Landing
- Distance: 5.4 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Permit Required
One of the most famous hikes in the world, Angels Landing rewards hikers with unforgettable views after climbing steep switchbacks and a narrow ridgeline equipped with chains.
The Narrows
- Distance: Up to 10 miles round trip from the bottom-up route
- Elevation Gain: Minimal
- Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous depending on water conditions
Walking directly through the Virgin River between towering canyon walls is unlike any other hiking experience.
Best Time to Visit
Spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) offer pleasant temperatures and smaller crowds than summer.
Where to Stay
- Springdale hotels
- Zion Canyon Campground
- Watchman Campground
- South Campground
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce feels like walking through another planet. Thousands of colorful hoodoos rise from the canyon floor, creating incredible scenery.
Favorite Hike
Navajo Loop + Queen’s Garden
- Distance: 3 miles
- Elevation Gain: 650 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
This classic loop descends among towering hoodoos before climbing back to the rim.
Best Time
May through October, with September being especially beautiful.
Camping
- North Campground
- Sunset Campground
- Bryce Canyon City hotels
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef remains one of Utah’s hidden gems, with towering cliffs, colorful rock layers, peaceful orchards, and far fewer crowds than many other parks.
Favorite Hikes
Cassidy Arch
- Distance: 3.4 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 670 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
The hike offers spectacular canyon views and finishes atop a massive natural arch.
Hickman Bridge
- Distance: 1.8 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 400 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
A perfect introduction to Capitol Reef’s beautiful geology.
Best Time
Spring and fall.
Where to Stay
- Fruita Campground
- Torrey hotels and cabins
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands feels endless. Massive mesas, deep canyons, and the Colorado and Green Rivers create one of the grandest landscapes in America.
Favorite Hike
Mesa Arch
- Distance: 0.7 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: Minimal
- Difficulty: Easy
Sunrise here is legendary as the morning light illuminates the underside of the arch.
Grand View Point Trail
- Distance: 1.8 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 200 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
This trail delivers breathtaking overlooks of hundreds of square miles of canyon country.
Best Time
April through May and September through October.
Camping
- Willow Flat Campground
- Numerous BLM campgrounds outside the park
- Moab hotels
Arches National Park
No place on Earth has more natural sandstone arches than Arches National Park.
Favorite Hikes
Delicate Arch
- Distance: 3.2 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 630 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
Utah’s most famous arch is well worth the climb, especially at sunrise or sunset.
Devils Garden Trail
- Distance: Up to 7.9 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
This trail visits multiple spectacular arches including Landscape Arch, Double O Arch, and Navajo Arch.
Best Time
Spring and fall provide the most comfortable hiking weather.
Camping
- Devils Garden Campground
- Moab campgrounds
- Hotels in Moab
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase-Escalante is an adventurer’s paradise. Its remote landscapes hide some of the world’s most beautiful slot canyons, waterfalls, arches, and desert scenery.
Favorite Slot Canyon Hikes
Peek-a-Boo & Spooky Gulch
- Distance: 6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 600 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
These incredibly narrow slot canyons offer twisting sandstone passages that feel like a natural maze.
Zebra Slot Canyon
- Distance: 5.3 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 300 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
Known for its stunning striped sandstone walls, Zebra Slot Canyon is one of the area’s most photogenic hikes.
Best Time
March through May and September through October. Summer temperatures can be extreme, and flash flood forecasts should always be checked before entering any slot canyon.
Camping
- Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
- Calf Creek Campground
- Numerous dispersed BLM campsites
- Hotels and lodges in Escalante
Planning Your Utah Hiking Adventure
If you’re hoping to experience the best of Utah, I recommend visiting in late September or early October.
The weather is comfortable across both northern mountains and southern deserts, crowds begin to thin, and the fall colors in the Wasatch Mountains are spectacular.
For hikers wanting to see both alpine and desert landscapes in one trip, consider spending two or three days around Salt Lake City before heading south through Capitol Reef and continuing to Moab or Zion.
Every region offers something completely different, and together they showcase why Utah is one of the greatest hiking destinations in the world.
My recent trip into the mountains with a group of youth reminded me that hiking is about more than reaching a summit or checking a trail off a list. It’s about slowing down, appreciating the beauty around us, and sharing unforgettable experiences with others.
Utah has given me countless memories… from quiet alpine lakes high in the Wasatch to towering red rock cliffs in the desert. And every visit leaves me eager to come back.
If you’ve never explored Utah’s trails, I hope this inspires you to lace up your boots, pack plenty of water, and discover one of the most beautiful hiking destinations in North America.
I have a feeling you’ll fall in love with Utah too.
