My Top 5 Utah Hikes

Hi all! Utah is one of my favorites places to visit because of the gorgeous scenery and the amount of national parks and monuments. I’ve rounded up my top 5 must-do hikes in this beautiful state. I hope you enjoy them!

5. Observation Point Hike in Zion National Park – This is a strenuous 8 mile roundtrip hike in Zion with an elevation gain of over 2,100 feet! It takes about 4-6 hours to complete so be sure to pack snacks and plenty of water. I’ve done this hike several times now and it is one of my favorites. You get settled into the work of the hike and it can be very relaxing. The very end of the hike is an iconic view of Zion and you will be blown away by the beautiful views.

4. Spectra Point and Ramparts Overlook Trail in Canyon Breaks National Monument – This hike is 4-5 miles roundtrip and follows along the rim on the canyon. It is moderate to strenuous featuring spectacular views with many oranges and reds canyons. This hike has an elevation of 10,500. There are several overlooks you can take pictures at if you do not want to hike the entire way.

3. Angels Landing in Zion National Park – This hike is 5 miles roundtrip and a very popular (and dramatic!) hike in Utah. The viewpoints are stunning and it is a hike you will remember forever! The start of the hike has 20 something switchbacks and as soon as you get through those the views get amazing. At times during the hike you will have to hold on to chains, guard rails, and carved steps to get through the narrow, steep sections. I even crawled during parts! If you have zero mountain-climbing experience then this section of the hike can be very intimidating. Feel free to hang back and wait for the rest of your group if it is windy or you feel uneasy. The final viewpoint is stunning and you will get a 360 view of Zion. I promise your adrenaline will be pumping during this hike!

2. Peek-A-Boo trail in Bryce National Park – Park your car at Bryce Point and combine 2-3 hikes together depending on your endurance and zest for the day! We hiked Navajo and Peek-A-Boo then ended with Wall Street. Overall about 8-9 miles with some sections being steep with marvelous views. Peek-A-Boo features a collection of hoodoos, slot canyon styles, and narrows. I also recommend seeing a sunrise or sunset in Bryce National Park, as the sun reflection on the orange hoodoos is unlike any sunrise I’ve ever seen!

1. The Narrows in Zion National Park – One of the world’s best slot canyon hikes. The first mile is easy and not in water then the fun begins! You can hike up to 16 miles of canyons. This hike is not available year round so I highly suggest planning your trip around a time when the narrows should be open.. It was 100 degrees when we hiked this in July so the cool water felt great! Most people wear water shoes (you can rent them at the park) and bring a hiking stick. I felt okay in tennis shoes and a hiking stick was very helpful. Do not bring much with you, as water is up to your stomach at times. I packed my camera, phone, snacks, and a few layers in a water proof sack (I went back and forth between being hot and cold depending on how wet and deep in the canyon we were). There are three ways to hike the narrows.. bottom-up, top down as a strenuous day hike, and top down as a two day backpacking hike. If you are a first timer to river hiking then I suggest bottom up, as you can hike as far as you like and turn back. This will be one of my favorite hikes forever!