Utah is one of the most popular mountain states in America. It shares the Four Corners area with Colorado, Arizona, as well as New Mexico. Home to over 3.4 million people, the Beehive State is widely known for being the epicentre of the Mormon community. It’s said that more than half of all Utahns are Mormons.
However, if you’re a budding hiker with a thirst for dramatic scenery and action-packed trails, you’ll be pleased to know Utah is also home to some spectacular hikes that are up there with anything else in the U.S.
Whether it’s jaw-dropping red rock formations, towering cliffs, or expansive desert landscapes, Utah is a hidden gem for hikers. We’ve done the hard yards for you to dish the dirt on a trio of locations best suited to stretch your legs and soak up Utah’s magnificent landscape.
Snow Canyon State Park
The chances are you’ve probably clapped eyes on Snow Canyon State Park without even realising it. That’s because it was used for filming part of the hit 1994 Hollywood movie The Flintstones, starring John Goodman, Halle Berry and Elizabeth Perkins.
The Hanna-Barbera franchise grossed over $342m worldwide, with a prequel, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, released six years later. The franchise remains a firm favourite decades later. That’s thanks largely to its officially licensed games and slots, the latter of which have become one of the most popular titles at online bingo rooms in the UK. The ten-payline game with Cash Collect features, brings a bedrock spectacle that’s reminiscent of Snow Canyon State Park.
Positioned in the southern half of the state, a stone’s throw from St. George, the park has everything from lava tubes and red sandstone cliffs to atmospheric sand dunes. The Petrified Dunes Trail will take you across some of the sandstone hills, while the Lava Flow Trail showcases the ancient lava tubes and eye-catching black rock.
Zion National Park
This place is one of the go-to national parks in the entire U.S. There’s plenty of reasons why and some of them relate to hiking and scenery. The Narrows is a great place to start, with a meandering river walk, working your way through babbling brooks in between towering clifftops.
The toughest hike of all at Zion National Park is Angels Landing, pictured above. Believe us, this is not for the faint-of-heart. You must stick to a narrow ridge, which is one of the most thrilling yet terrifying hikes in all of America. The trail itself was cut into solid rock back in 1926. The top of Angels Landing provides 180-degree views of Zion Canyon. It isn’t a hike for the inexperienced though – 18 deaths have been registered at or near Angels Landing as of 2024.
Bryce Canyon National Park
When it comes to unique rock formations, Bryce Canyon National Park is a must-see. It’s famed for its ‘hoodoos’ – long and thin spires of rock which create a landscape that wouldn’t look out of place on an alien planet.
This park also sits at a higher elevation than some of Utah’s other parks. This mean temperatures are that much cooler for hiking.
The most popular hikes at Bryce Canyon include the Navajo Loop and the Queen’s Garden Trail. Both of which are ideal for getting up close and personal to the hoodoo formations. The Peekaboo Loop is a longer option which rewards you with majestic amphitheatre views at the end.
Hopefully you’re now fully aware of Utah’s status as one of the most underrated U.S. states for hiking. So, what are you waiting for? Lace up those hiking boots and enjoy the feast for your eyes.