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Hiking
On a hike in Utah, you can stretch out at 13,000 feet above sea level and gaze out over alpine lakes and dense forests of pine and aspen thousands of feet below. Or, pull on shoes suitable for hiking in water and step into a stream for a journey through a mystical desert canyon with periodic swim breaks beneath beautiful waterfalls. Crane your neck as your pace slows, walk beneath natural bridges, and wonder what life must have been like for the Anasazi who lived here a thousand years ago.
Public Land
More than seventy percent of Utah is public land, which includes:
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Nine million acres of national forest
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Millions of acres belonging to the national monuments and national recreation areas (including the monumental Grand Staircase–Escalante and diverse Flaming Gorge)
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Forty-two percent of the state's land managed by the Bureau of Land Management
All of these locations add up to unbelievable choices for hiking trails that would take more than a lifetime to complete. So, it's time to get hiking.
Northern Utah
In Northern Utah, spend some time checking out trails in the Salt Lake City area. Then gain a little elevation in the High Uintas, Utah's highest mountain range, accessed from Kamas, Utah, only 20 minutes east of Park City, or 45 minutes from Salt Lake City.
Southern Utah
If your Utah trip takes you to Southern Utah, see our guide for hiking in Southern Utah, as well as our guide for hiking in Moab, for family and adventure hikes across that famous Utah red rock in Zion and other destinations.
Hiking Inspiration
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Arches National Park
Moab, UT
Arches National Park is one of the top national parks in America: it’s a 73,234-acre wonderland of eroded sandstone fins, towers, ribs, gargoyles, hoodoos, balanced rocks, and, of course, arches northwest of Moab.
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Bears Ears National Monument
Blanding, UT
A pair of towering buttes stand against beautiful scenery. The twin buttes are so distinctive that in each of the native languages of the region their name is the same: Hoon'Naqvut, Shash Jáa, Kwiyagatu Nukavachi, Ansh An Lashokdiwe, or in English: Bears Ears.
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Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce, UT
An alpine forest with as many red rock hoodoos as trees. At dawn and dusk, mule deer graze the forested plateau along the road into Bryce Canyon.
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Grand Staircase-Escalante
Escalante, UT
The allure of the Grand Staircase region — the bulk of which is contained in the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument — is phenomenal. Sun-drenched Utah backcountry spreads out well beyond the visible horizon from the road, whether you’re traveling along the The All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12, or on Highway 89.
"I was here, I saw this and it mattered to me."
– Alain de Botton, The Art of Travel
Tips
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Before setting out on any hike, check with local rangers or guidebooks about a hike's difficulty ratings, descriptions and cautionary advice.
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Observe the seasons. Trail conditions vary with each season and can determine whether you choose to head for the mountains or opt for a desert hiking trail.
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Never hike alone, always tell your friends and family where you are going and when you plan to return, and keep them updated on your location if possible.
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Always carry plenty of water in both the deserts and mountains. Each person should carry one liter of water for every two hours of hiking time. For a full day hike, that adds up to one full gallon per person. It's important to keep hydrated, even if you don't feel thirsty.
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Bring plenty of high-energy snacks that will help keep your energy up all the way back to your car.
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Practice Leave No Trace principles along the trail and respect nature’s desired and needed permanence.
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See these resources for traveling thoughtfully and experiencing Utah most fully.
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Most importantly, have a safe, fun and rewarding experience hiking in Utah — oh, and let us know your favorite hikes by posting on social media with the hashtag #VisitUtah.
Hiking in the National Parks
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Arches National Park
Moab, UT
Arches National Park is one of the top national parks in America: it’s a 73,234-acre wonderland of eroded sandstone fins, towers, ribs, gargoyles, hoodoos, balanced rocks, and, of course, arches northwest of Moab.
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Bears Ears National Monument
Blanding, UT
A pair of towering buttes stand against beautiful scenery. The twin buttes are so distinctive that in each of the native languages of the region their name is the same: Hoon'Naqvut, Shash Jáa, Kwiyagatu Nukavachi, Ansh An Lashokdiwe, or in English: Bears Ears.
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Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce, UT
An alpine forest with as many red rock hoodoos as trees. At dawn and dusk, mule deer graze the forested plateau along the road into Bryce Canyon.
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Canyonlands National Park
Moab, UT
Canyonlands is home to many different types of travel experiences, from sublime solitude in the more remote stretches of the park to moderate hikes through the Needles district to the opportunity to create your own version of one of the West's most photographed landforms, Mesa Arch.
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Capitol Reef National Park
Torrey, UT
Even considering Utah’s many impressive national parks and monuments, it is difficult to rival Capitol Reef National Park’s sense of expansiveness, of broad, sweeping vistas, of a tortured, twisted, seemingly endless landscape, or of limitless sky and desert rock.
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Grand Staircase-Escalante
Escalante, UT
The allure of the Grand Staircase region — the bulk of which is contained in the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument — is phenomenal. Sun-drenched Utah backcountry spreads out well beyond the visible horizon from the road, whether you’re traveling along the The All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12, or on Highway 89.
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Zion National Park
Springdale, UT
Whether you are trying to catch your breath while climbing the trail to Observation Point or watching the shadows constantly change the mood of the Court of the Patriarchs, Zion National Park is always ready to quench your appetite for outdoor wonder.