To truly Understand the beauty of the place we call home you need to get out onto a trail. From the scenic alpine wonders of the Wasatch Front and Back to the otherworldly landscapes of Southern Utah’s Red Rock desert, the Utah landscape captures the imagination like no other place on Earth. Utahns are fortunate to have many public lands within our borders which include National Parks and National Monuments, the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service lands and wilderness areas. The through line here is that Utah is full of well-managed and well-marked trails that allow both beginners and experts to get into a wide range of terrain and solitude. As always, know before you go, bring plenty of water and, please, pick up after yourself. Enjoy these six essential Utah hikes!
1. The Great Chamber (Cutler Point)
Kanab
More of a drive than a hike (unless you are up for a 17-mile exposed slog) so you’ll need a 4WD and experience driving in soft sand. How ever you get there, the reward is one of the most beautiful sights in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
2. Grand Wash + Cassidy Arch
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is not easily appreciated from the road. You need to get into it. Grand Wash is a good way in. Take an easy stroll below the towering walls above the Cassidy Arch Trail. A stern climb that is rewarded with a top-down view of one of Utah’s most magnificent arches.
3. Bonneville Shoreline Trail
Salt Lake and Davis County
A Wasatch Front treasure, the shoreline trail runs along the “bathtub ring” of ancient Lake Bonneville in the foothills from North Salt Lake to Parley’s Canyon (pictured here above Davis County). It’s a trail runner’s and hiker’s dream for both short and long excursions with rewarding views.
4. Catherine’s Pass
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Starting above Albion Basin, near Alta Ski Resort and connecting Little to Big Cottonwood Canyon, offers better views than the popular Cecret Lake Trail. Best during summer, this trail is ideal for peeping the wildflowers in late June and July. You also may encounter wildlife including moose.
5. Fisher Towers
Moab
This red rock ramble from the banks of the Colorado River outside of Moab is rewarded with the journey through the Martian landscape of Southern Utah—a maze of fins, pinnacles and bizarre formations—and the destination beneath the towering spires that are Fisher Towers.
6. Antelope Island
Antelope Island State Park
To truly experience The Great Salt Lake, there is no better vantage for observation than from the western shoreline trail on Antelope Island. The island hides the city lights of the Wasatch Front behind you and offers an otherworldly view of the ancient salty sea stretching out to the horizon.
The Gear
Hiking in Utah really only requires good sturdy hiking shoes and water. But being comfortable hiking in Utah is another thing. Here’s some picks to make the trail easier.
Kühl’s Renegade Rock hiking pants look good but more importantly they are tough, really tough. A lighter version of Kühls soft shell winter models, these pants are built to move, dry quickly and can survive scraping scrambles through narrow slot canyons. $99, kuhl.com
Spring hiking means carrying a variety of layers for variable conditions. The Kühl Eskape 20 liter is the ‘goldilocks’ of hiking packs. Not too big to slow you down but roomy enough for water, snacks and peeling layers. $249, kuhl.com
Rheos’ Lanier navigator and Stono shades are stylish, yes, but also durable—built to survive throwing into the top of your pack and the inevitable drops onto the trail. Plus they float! $65, rheosgear.com
