Utah offers some of the most spectacular hiking in the world. The state's extraordinary landscape — red rock canyons, slot canyons, hoodoo forests, natural arches, and alpine mountains — creates a hiking environment of extraordinary variety and beauty. Whether you're looking for an easy walk to a natural arch or a challenging multi-day backpacking trip through the wilderness, Utah has a trail for you.

Here's your guide to Utah's best hiking trails, organized by region and difficulty.

The most famous hike in Utah — a dramatic trail that climbs to a narrow sandstone fin with 1,500-foot drops on both sides. The final section requires holding onto chains bolted into the rock. The views from the summit are extraordinary.

Permit Required: Angels Landing requires a permit, available through a lottery system at recreation.gov.

Best Time: Spring and fall for the best weather; avoid summer afternoons when the heat is intense.

A hike through the Virgin River itself — wading through the river in a narrow slot canyon with walls rising hundreds of feet above. One of the most unique hiking experiences in America.

What to Bring: Waterproof boots or neoprene socks, a walking stick, and dry bags for your gear. The water is cold even in summer.

Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up: The bottom-up route (starting from the Temple of Sinawava) is the most accessible. The top-down route (starting from Chamberlain's Ranch) is a full-day or overnight trip that requires a permit.

A challenging trail to the highest viewpoint in Zion Canyon, with extraordinary views of Angels Landing and the surrounding canyon. Less crowded than Angels Landing.

The most popular trail in Bryce Canyon, descending into the amphitheater through a forest of hoodoos. The combination of the Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden trails creates a beautiful loop with excellent views throughout.

Wall Street: The most dramatic section of the Navajo Loop, descending through a narrow slot between towering hoodoos.

A longer, more challenging loop through the park's most dramatic hoodoo formations. Less crowded than the Navajo Loop, with excellent views throughout.

A beautiful loop through the park's most colorful hoodoo formations, with excellent views of the surrounding landscape.

The most famous hike in Utah — a trail to the iconic Delicate Arch, the symbol of Utah. The trail climbs through slickrock to the arch, which stands alone on the edge of a slickrock bowl with the La Sal Mountains as a backdrop.

Best Time: Sunrise and sunset for the most dramatic light on the arch.

A trail through the park's most dramatic arch formations, including Landscape Arch (the longest natural arch in the world), Double O Arch, and Dark Angel.

A guided hike through a labyrinth of narrow sandstone fins and canyons. The Fiery Furnace requires a permit or a guided tour — the terrain is complex and easy to get lost in.

A short, easy trail to Mesa Arch — a beautiful arch on the rim of the canyon, with extraordinary views of the canyon system below. One of the most photographed hikes in Utah.

Best Time: Sunrise, when the arch glows orange in the first light of day.

A flat trail to the Grand View Point overlook, with panoramic views of the Canyonlands canyon system.

A challenging loop through the Needles district, with excellent views of the colorful sandstone spires.

Utah's slot canyons — narrow, winding canyons carved by water through sandstone — are among the most extraordinary natural features in the world.

The most famous slot canyon in the world — a narrow, winding canyon with extraordinary light beams that penetrate the canyon at midday. Accessible only by guided tour.

The longest slot canyon in the world — a 12-mile slot canyon that is one of the great hiking experiences in the American Southwest.

A beautiful slot canyon in Zion's backcountry, with a distinctive subway-shaped passage carved by the Left Fork of North Creek. Requires a permit and some route-finding ability.

The Uinta Mountains — in northeastern Utah — offer a completely different hiking experience from the red rock country of southern Utah. The range's alpine lakes, meadows, and peaks provide excellent hiking in a beautiful mountain setting.

Kings Peak (13,528 feet) — the highest peak in Utah, accessible via a challenging 28-mile round trip hike through the Uinta wilderness.

Mirror Lake Area — excellent day hiking around the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, with beautiful alpine lakes and meadows.

Many of Utah's most popular hikes require permits:

• Angels Landing — lottery permit through recreation.gov
• The Narrows (top-down) — permit through Zion National Park
• Fiery Furnace — permit or guided tour through Arches National Park
• The Subway — permit through Zion National Park

Spring (March–May): Excellent weather in the lower elevations. Wildflowers in April and May.

Fall (September–November): The best overall season — excellent weather, smaller crowds, and beautiful fall colors.

Summer (June–August): Very hot in the lower elevations. Hike early in the morning and avoid afternoon sun. The Uinta Mountains are excellent in summer.

Winter (December–February): Beautiful snow-covered landscapes, but some trails may be icy or closed.

For more Utah adventures, see our Utah National Parks Guide, Utah Scenic Drives Guide, and Moab Utah Adventure Guide. Also see our Best National Parks for First-Time Visitors and Colorado Hiking Guide.