One of the biggest reasons people travel to Utah from all across the world is to enjoy all the beautiful scenery it has to offer. Utah has five national parks located within it, giving you countless beautiful places to choose to visit. If you want to enjoy a scenic hike while in Utah, be sure to consider these options.
Delicate Arch
One of the most notable natural beauties that Utah features is Arches National Park. This national park is filled with incredible natural formations that people come from all over the world to see. Perhaps the most famous of these formations is the Delicate Arch, which is featured on the Utah license plates. When you think of Arches National Park, this is likely the formation you are picturing. Hiking in this area allows you to see some of the best that Utah has to offer. You can take a picture, or just enjoy the sights of the red rocks with your loved ones. This trail is only about three miles, so it’s great for a family trip.
Angel’s Landing
If you want a scenic hike that is more challenging than the three miles of Delicate Arch, Angel’s Landing could be a great option for you. This hike is only for experienced hikers, as it has some difficult terrain to cross. However, if you make it to the end of the hike, the view is well worth it. This hike is largely completed along a narrow bridge of rock, with steep drops on either side. A chain allows you something to hold onto throughout the hike as well. When you get to the pinnacle of the hike, you can enjoy incredible views of the whole canyon that are inaccessible from any other part of Zion’s National Park. This hike is roughly five and a half miles.
The Narrows
Also located in Zion’s National Park, The Narrows is an incredibly unique hike that allows you to see incredible parts of the park. This hike follows the Virgin River through a narrow canyon with thousand-foot walls on either side. While you can see bits of this hike from a paved trail on the side, to truly experience the narrows, you’ll need to wade through the river. The difficulty of this hike is largely up to you. You can walk a mile or two and turn around, or go all the way through the canyon. You can go as far as Big Spring without a wilderness permit, which permits you to still enjoy a ten-mile hike. However, if you’d like to hike through the entire canyon, you can get a wilderness permit and complete the entire sixteen-mile hike from Chamberlain’s Ranch to the Temple of Sinawava. It should also be noted that this hike is only available during the spring and summer when the water levels permit.
Lower Calf Creek Falls
One of the natural occurrences that people most want to see when they hike is a waterfall. Even though Utah is a desert, it still has a few hikes that can show you these beautiful formations. Perhaps the most famous of these in Utah is Lower Calf Creek Falls located in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Especially on hot days, this hike is great because of the pool at the bottom of the waterfall, which your family can swim and play in. This hike is a fairly easy six and a half miles, with a stunning view at the end. This hike is also located near Calf Creek Campground, a BLM campsite where you and your family can turn this hike into an overnight adventure.
If you spend time in Utah, especially in the summer, there’s no better way to enjoy the scenery than through a hike. Hiking allows you to experience Utah in a new and exciting way, and see why this state has five national parks. If you want to make the most of your time in Utah, consider these hikes.
To make sure you’re as healthy as possible for your big hikes, make sure to see a doctor before completing any strenuous exercise. As one of the top health care clinics in Utah, Premier Family Medical can help you look and feel your best. Click here to learn more about how Premier Family Medical can help you!
