Are you a hiker looking for your next trail? Haven't you ever wanted to escape from the mundane life to the pastoral unblemished surroundings of the Mountains or Desert? Do you ever get the itch to adventure out to some distant peak or explore a canyon you see as you drive down the road? Trust me I have been there. I have a passion for hiking. It doesn't matter what you see or what you do, anyone can enjoy the outdoors in one form or another. Whether you are rich or poor, young or old, every single one of us can enjoy what Utah has to offer. Utah Hiking offers hiking year round from the tops of the Uinta Mountains to the depths of Zion's Canyon.

This is all why I have created this site. Take a look what Utahhikinginfo.com has to offer:

• Hikes by Skill Level
  
  • Skill Level 1
    
  • Skill Level 2
    
  • Skill Level 3
    
  • Skill Level 4
    
  • Skill Level 5
    
    
• Hikes by Location
  
  • Northern Utah
    
  • Eastern Utah
    
  • Central Utah
    
  • South Eastern Utah
    
  • South Western Utah
    

Thanks for Dropping by and come back soon!

Navajo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park

Overview:
The Navajo Loop Trail is a relatively short, but very scenic hike. It's a fantastic way to explore the beauties of the Bryce Canyon National Park's hoodoos with your entire family, and see quite a lot of scenery in just a short distance. A short distance from the trailhead of Navajo Loop Trail, you will arrive at the hoodoo formation called Wall Street, which is an area of the canyon where the canyon walls and a few impressive Ponderosa Pine tower above you as if they were skyscrapers, hence the name.

Note: There is a park entrance fee of $25 to enter Bryce Canyon National Park.

Trailhead:

• From the I-15


• Take exit 95 for UT-20 toward US-89/Panguitch/Kanab


• After 20.5 miles, turn right at the T-junction of HWY 89


• After 10.1 miles, when you arrive at Pangutich, take a left on center street to continue on HWY 89


• After 6.9 miles, take a left on UT-12 towards Red Canyon


• After 13.5 miles, take a right on UT-63 towards Bryce Canyon National Park


• You'll receive a park map at the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park which will help you locate the Navajo Loop trailhead at Sunset Point

GPS: 37.623763, -112.167763
Distance: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: 2
Hike Time: 1-1.5 hours
Trail Condition: Well-maintained and easy to follow.
Season: Late Spring to Late Fall

Detailed Description:
From the entrance of Bryce National Park, head to Sunset Point, which is one of the first turn-outs of Bryce National Park. You can access the Navajo Loop Trailhead from the parking lot there. A very short distance after the trail begins, the trail forks as the loop begins. You can take either path, but Wall Street is to the right. Shortly after the fork, the trail begins to descend very steeply, through a series of many switchbacks, 521 feet into Bryce Canyon. The switchbacks are some of the steepest I've seen on a hike, but they're very short, so it's not so bad. In fact, on a normal day in the Spring/Summer, you're bound to see several families with children undertaking these switchbacks. Once you've descended, the next half-mile or so is a relatively flat, gentle walk until the trail starts heading back up towards Sunset Point. As you're coming back up out of the canyon (assuming you've come by way of Wall Street) you'll see another famous rock formation called Thor's Hammer, which is a prominent hoodoo with a large boulder on top (see photos).

Maps:






Pictures:






A gigantic Ponderosa pine towers above the trail in Wall Street.






The magnificent Thor's Hammer can be seen on the right side of this photo.

Double O Arch

Overview:
Less than a mile beyond Landscape Arch lies the second biggest Arch in Arches National Park, Double O Arch, with the larger of the two arches comprising this double arch at 71 feet, and the smaller at 21 feet. Double O Arch is a spectacular site along the Devil's Garden trail, as is the hike that takes you there. From Landscape Arch, the trail becomes less apparent and more primitive, and therefore, more fun. This hike is, of course, very crowded, and best undertaken in the morning hours when the lighting is good for photography, and the crowds haven't become overwhelming.

Note: There is a park entrance fee of $25 to enter Arches National Park.

Trailhead:

• From Moab Main St (HWY 191) head North


• About 1.8 miles from the bridge over the Colorado River you'll come to the gate to Arches National Park


• Follow the National Park Road to the Devil's Garden trailhead


• You'll receive a park map upon entrance which will help you find this and other trails

GPS: 38.799257, -109.621136
Distance: 4 miles out and back
Difficulty: 3
Hike Time: 1-2 hours
Trail Condition: Well maintained and well marked until primitive trail, more rugged until destination
Season: Early Spring until late Fall

Detailed Description:
The Devil's Garden trail is very well-marked, well-maintained, and well-travelled until Landscape Arch where the Primitive Trail Loop begins. When you arrive at the Primitive Loop sign-post, take the left fork for the most direct route to Double O Arch. We arrived at the Primitive Loop at around 3:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon on a Saturday in June, and although the Devil's Garden parking lot was packed beyond capacity, we were one of the only groups we saw who ventured beyond Landscape Arch, and remained fairly isolated our entire voyage until we returned to Landscape.

After trekking over and around sandstone fin after sandstone fin, and seeing beautiful views of the valley to the north and the La Sal mountains to the east, you'll arrive at Double O Arch. Be sure to take plenty of water because you won't find any along the way, and during the right time of day it can get pretty hot. The trail itself is mostly flat, so the only uphill hiking you'll have to do is up and over the fins. Also, be on the lookout for cairns to mark the way when the trail leaves the sand and heads up and over the fins. You'll see signposts along the way, like the one shown in the pictures below, so it's easy to tell when you arrive.

Maps:








Pictures:















Title image taken by Flicka

Landscape Arch

Overview:
Landscape Arch was declared in 2004 as the largest national arch in the world at approximately 290 feet long. It can be accessed in Arches National Park from the Devil's Garden Trailhead, which is the furthest trailhead accessible by motorized vehicle from the park entrance. The trail is very well marked and well maintained, which makes this an excellent hike for families with children. Also, there are two other arches if interest on the way to Landscape Arch: Tunnel Arch and Pine Tree Arch, and two arches just after Landscape Arch: Navajo Arch and Partition Arch. Seeing all these arches in the same trip makes this hike very worthwhile.

Note: There is a park entrance fee of $25 to enter Arches National Park.

Trailhead:

• From Moab Main St (HWY 191) head North


• About 1.8 miles from the bridge over the Colorado River you'll come to the gate to Arches National Park


• Follow the National Park Road to the Devil's Garden trailhead


• You'll receive a park map upon entrance which will help you find this and other trails

GPS: 38.783166, -109.595171
Distance: 1.56 miles out and back
Difficulty: 1
Hike Time: 30-45 minutes
Trail Condition: Well maintained and well marked
Season: Early Spring until late Fall

Detailed Description:
There are two advantages to visiting Landscape Arch early in the morning - as early as you can stand. First, you beat the crowds, which usually hit the trails closest to the park entrance first. By arriving at the Devil's Garden Trailhead first and working your way towards the park entrance, you're working your way from the back of the park towards the front, when most people work their way from the entrance to the back of the park. Second, in the morning, the light from the sun shines behind you as you're facing Landscape Arch, which makes the lighting ideal for beautiful pictures.

As you can tell from the photos, be prepared to meet a lot of people on the trail as Arches is one of the most popular national parks in the country. Again, the trail is well maintained and well marked, and there are some slight inclines as the trail goes over some fairly hilly terrain. There are some remarkable views of sandstone "fins" stretching out across Arches National Park, and of the La Sal mountains to the east of Moab.

Maps:








Pictures:

Overview: A great less crowded but strenuous day hike or overnighter to the highest point in the Stansbury Mountains. This hike gives you outstanding views of The Great Salt Lake, Skull Valley, and both the Oquirrh and Wasatch Mountains. On a clear day you can even see Mt. Nebo to the South

• Trail Head: Take I-80 West from Salt Lake for about 20 miles. Take exit 99 (HWY 36) towards Tooele. After about 4 miles turn right (West) on HWY 138. Continue 10 miles to Grantsville. In the town center (West Street), find the Forest Service sign on the right side of the street stating "South Willow Canyon". Turn left and drive about 5 miles to the South Willow Canyon fork. Take the right fork and go past the campgrounds to the trailhead (about 7 miles).
  
  • Coordinates: 40°28'58.26"N 112°36'25.55"W
    
    
• Distance: 8 Mile Loop
  
• Difficulty: 4
  
• Hike Time: 7-8 Hours
  
• Trail Condition: Well maintained until ridge, rocky and steep to summit
  
• Season: Summer to early Autumn
  

  
  

Detailed Description: The Deseret Peak loop starts with a 3600 foot ascent through a lush stand of aspen trees with runoff fed streams that last through the beginning of summer. After about half a mile the trail will fork. When you come to the Mill Fork Trail fork, take the left trail (you will come back via the Dry Fork Trail on the right). As you follow the fork you will climb to an elevation of 9500 feet in about 1 ½ miles. While hiking, you will pass some beautiful mountain meadows but will also cross some rockslides from the occasional winter avalanches. As the trail wanders up you will cross over a northwest facing cirque and start to see the Great Salt Lake to the north. On top of the ridge you will continue north and climb the last 1,000 feet over ½ mile to reach the summit.

On a clear day at the summit you will see The Great Salt Lake, Stansbury Island, and the Salt Flats to the North. To the East you will see the Tooele Valley, and the Oquirrh and Wasatch Ranges. To the West you will see Skull Valley and even Pilot Peak in Nevada. To the South you will see Mt. Nebo in the distance.

After you have spent time at the summit, follow the trail down to the North which will turn west after about half a mile which overlooks South Lost Creek and Big Creek Canyons. The trail is not as used and can easily be lost at this point, especially in the early season where there is still standing snow. After a little over 1 ½ miles from the top, the trail drops down over the ridge into Pockets Fork. From here, head down the upper bowl and then follow the streambed to the east. After another half mile you will intersect the Willow Lakes Trail near a stand of aspen trees and then on through a meadow with a stream that has water most of the year. You will see the same fork you passed on the way up after another 1 ½ miles. Follow the trail another ¾ mile to the trailhead.

Additional information: Though this is considered a Desert Mountain range, this peak gets quite a lot of snow during the winter. After getting information that there was no snow on this trail from the Forest Service, one family with small kids encountered waist deep snow and nearly froze trying to get back down.

Maps:

©Google Earth

Pictures:

Overview:
The Butterfly Trail is a gentle, kid-friendly hike with some gorgeous views of Snow Canyon and of the Petrified Dunes. The trail itself starts at the parking lot off of the main road in Snow Canyon (SR 300) and 2 miles later ends at the Lava Flow Trail. If you're looking for a nice walk in a park, and a chance to experience the beauties of sandstone canyons, this trail is for you.

Note: there is a $6 per vehicle per day fee to enter Snow Canyon.

Distance: 2 miles

Difficulty: 1

Hike Time: 1-2 hours

Directions from the I-15:

• Take exit 8, and head west on St. George Blvd.


• Go 1.9 miles, and turn right on Bluff Street.


• Go 1.7 miles, and turn left on Snow Canyon Pkwy.


• Go 4.6 miles, and turn right on Snow Canyon Dr.


• Continue into the park, and look for the trailhead after 2.7 miles on your left. You will be given a map of Snow Canyon, which will help you locate this trailhead and other trails of interest.

Detailed Description:
From the parking lot you can head left to the Petrified Dunes or head right to the Butterfly Trail. This trail is very well marked and well signed. Just follow the signs and you can't go wrong.

The Butterfly Trail starts off leading through a patch of red/pink sand until you reach a large mound of slickrock. After passing over the slickrock, the terrain starts to become more volcanic, and eventually T's at the Lava Flow Trail. Along the way, you may see lizards, chipmunks, and plenty of wildflowers.

Maps:




Pictures: