Utah

From its expanses of iconic desert playgrounds to its towering Wasatch Range, Utah is home to every type of outdoor adventure you can imagine. Locals and visitors alike are spoiled with convenient access to world-class winter and summer time activities and lodging.

Top Spots in and near Utah

  • Hurricane, Utah

    West Rim Trail, Zion NP

    5.0
    14.41 mi / 1407 ft gain
    This 14.5 mile (one-way) trek is a multi-functional trail. The trail can serve as standalone trail allowing hikers to get in either a solid in-and-out day hike or as a leg to a much bigger and epic Trans-Zion Trek. For those interested in the later, the West Rim Trail is the leg of the journey th...
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  • Hurricane, Utah

    Camp Under Zion's Watchman

    4.3
    Watchman Campground is one of the most popular campgrounds at Zion National Park. With a prime location only a ¼ mile away from the South entrance and gorgeous scenery right outside of your tent, including the tall sandstone cliffs that surround it, it’s easy to see why this campground is everyon...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Camping at Granstaff Campground

    5.0
    Granstaff Campground has 17 campsites available, which are first come, first served. The sites are $15 a night per vehicle. The campground is a little limited and doesn't have running water, so bring your filter or head into town and pick up supplies.During the day, you can easily make your way t...
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  • Provo, Utah

    Sunrise over Mt. Timpanogos via Pine Hollow

    4.8
    Pull into the Pine Hollow parking lot, just before the winter closure gate and watch the show. If you get there early enough you can watch Timpanogos go from the tones of soft alpenglow to the harsh vibrance of sunrise. In the winter make sure you remember enough blankets.
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  • New Harmony, Utah

    Timber Creek Overlook

    5.0
    1.15 mi / 102 ft gain
    The Timber Creek Overlook trail is located at the end of the Kolob Canyon drive in Zion National Park. This hike is very family friendly and offers restrooms, picnic tables, and a well maintained trail. Bring your camera and hike the trail around sunset to get beautiful sunset shots of the valle...
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  • Alta, Utah

    Cecret Lake

    4.4
    1.78 mi / 509 ft gain
    Cecret Lake is reached by driving up Little Cottonwood Canyon to Albion Basin above Alta Ski Resort. The hike is just under 1 mile to the lake and should take about 30 minutes. The hike goes through fields full of wildflowers and wildlife is abundant. Moose, deer, and various wildlife can be s...
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  • Brighton, Utah

    Lakes Mary, Martha, and Catherine (Brighton Lakes)

    4.6
    4.41 mi / 1253 ft gain
    This trail is a local favorite because you can make it as hard or as easy as you want it to be! You can stop at the first lake which is only 1 mile from the parkinglot, or you can go to the top of one or more of the 5 peaks that are surrounding the lakes for an added challenge. It is 3.5 miles ro...
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  • Pleasant Grove, Utah

    Battlecreek Falls

    4.7
    1.09 mi / 486 ft gain
    Battlecreek Falls is a great place to get away after a long day of work—or if you're looking for a great hike but are short on time. It's a great way to get the dog or your family out to enjoy some nature. The falls are about a 15-25 minute walk from the parking lot. The waterfall is enormous an...
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  • Salt Lake County, Utah

    Hidden Falls

    4.4
    0.16 mi / 138 ft gain
    Hidden Falls is a beautiful little waterfall with minimal crowds. When I say minimal, I mean I've only seen another person there 1 of the 5 or 6 times that I have been. Take it in. Stay a while. Scramble around the small canyon for different perspectives of the falls or the creek. If you don't ha...
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  • Evanston, Utah

    Backpack to Dead Horse Lake

    5.0
    21 mi / 1400 ft gain
    Dead Horse Lake is a lightly trafficked and highly scenic route in the High Uintas Wilderness.  The trail is easy enough to do overnight but I recommend taking an extra day to explore the area around Dead Horse Lake.  From the trailhead you will hike south on the West Fork Blacks Fork trail.  The...
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  • Paria Canyon, Utah

    Paria Canyon

    5.0
    14.94 mi / 846 ft gain
    No matter how far you plan on hiking, it is ideal to get an early start so you aren’t hiking too long under the desert sun. There is no shade on this hike except for the shadows offered from the steep walls of the canyon, so make sure you bring sunscreen! From the very start, you’ll get your fee...
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  • Emery County, Utah

    Camp at the Little Grand Canyon

    4.6
    The Wedge and The Little Grand Canyon are located in Eastern Utah and despite their amazing beauty are relatively unknown and overlooked partly due to their close proximity to national parks like Arches and Canyonlands. With it's massive size, The San Rafael Swell, where The Little Grand Canyon i...
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  • Evanston, Utah

    Red Castle and Red Castle Lakes

    4.6
    23.13 mi / 2149 ft gain
    The Red Castle is a stunning formation of crumbling red rock that rises around several small lakes, high in the Uinta Mountains. The trail begins at the China Meadows Trailhead. From there, it heads south for about 8 miles, winding through lodgepole pine forests and skirting vast alpine meadows, ...
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  • Boulder, Utah

    Lower Calf Creek Falls

    4.6
    5.74 mi / 515 ft gain
    The trailhead for lower calf creek falls begins at the Calf Creek Campground. There is a small fee to park in the campground and a larger fee if you plan on camping in the campground. There is potable water and outhouses at the trailhead but parking can be difficult to find during the spring and ...
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  • Provo, Utah

    Hike to Buckley's Abandoned Mine

    4.6
    3 mi / 200 ft gain
    Once you reach the mine it's gated but you can slide in. Follow the main tunnel a hundred or so feet back and climb the 75 foot ladder up to the second level. You can then make your way back out to the cliff face where there is another gate to the outside. That gate is a little trickier to squeez...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Dead Horse Point

    5.0
    Dead Horse Point State Park sits next to Canyonlands National Park with expansive views of the canyons carved by the Colorado River. The park can be accessed year-round and the best views are within feet of the parking lot. To capture the warm light of sunrise on the red rocks, head for the wes...
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