Utah hike roundup

Nov 07, 2024

Unstructured hike onto the flats | 3-ish miles: We went about three miles total, just meandering as there are no designated trails.
★3 | 🐾 Dog friendly (but we left Scout behind)

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Zebra Slot Canyon | 5-ish miles: The canyon was wet when we arrived, and we opted out of soaking ourselves, so we didn’t go as far as initially planned. The trek out and back was breathtaking all on its own, though!
★5 | 🐾 Dog friendly

Cassidy Arch via Grand Wash | 7.4 miles: Capitol Reef’s scenic road was closed when we were there, so we accessed this trail via Grand Wash. It added four (easy, flat) miles but was worth it!
★5

Chimney Point | 3.3 miles: I actually loved the back half of this hike—the part not looking at Chimney Point itself—best. So many wonderful rocks!
★4

Rim Overlook | 4.3 miles: This trail starts at the same place as Hickman Bridge and branches off. For a while it runs parallel, then goes up to overlook from the canyon rim. It was steeper than we thought—or maybe we just weren’t totally ready for the heat?—but still a fast out-and-back.
★4

Little Wild Horse Canyon to Bell Canyon | 8.1 miles: Little Wild Horse Canyon was the best part of this hike. We made it a loop with Bell Canyon, walking for a while along a back road—that part was less spectacular but full of solitude.
★4 | 🐾 Dog friendly (but we left Scout behind)

The Goblin’s Lair | 2.3 miles: Honestly cooler than I was expecting. It’s a flat, easy hike until you climb up to look upon the collapsed slot canyon.
★4 | 🐾 Dog friendly
Carmel Canyon Loop and Three Sisters | 1.6 miles: Easy loop with just a few steep rocky parts to admire the goblins.
★4 | 🐾 Dog friendly
Wandering in the First Valley: You can hike out far from here if you want, but we stayed in the first valley and brought books to read. Scout enjoyed leaping around.
★4 | 🐾 Dog friendly

Corona Arch | 2.3 miles: One of my favorite hikes. It’s easy until a short chain and ladder section (but even Scout managed just fine). We went before sunrise and didn’t see anyone until we turned around, but on the way back we passed dozens of people. A few weeks later we did it again on a much colder morning and only passed one other group.
★5 | 🐾 Dog friendly

Mill Creek Canyon | 6 miles: The main pool (the one noted as a 1.6 mile out-and-back on AllTrails) was super crowded, so we kept going to about three miles past the trailhead where there was another small waterfall with no one around. Very much enjoyed using the slippery rocks as a sort-of waterslide.
★4 | 🐾 Dog friendly (but we left Scout behind)

Fisher Towers | 4.2 miles: Beautiful the entire way. Excellent view-to-effort ratio because you can see the red rock formations the whole time! One tricky ladder for Scout to navigate, but Sean was able to carry her for that part.
★5 | 🐾 Dog friendly

Grandstaff Trail | 4.3 miles: Mostly flat and sandy with a few rocky parts, several shallow water crossings, and finally a large land bridge at the end.
★4 | 🐾 Dog friendly

Broken Arch to Sand Dune Arch | 2.8 miles: A simple, mostly flat hike from the Devil’s Garden Campground where we stayed. Nice for easy sunset exercise.
★3

Delicate Arch | 3.2 miles: Arches iconic hike for good reason! Easy five stars early in the morning when it isn’t too overrun (though even at 7 am it was getting busy).
★5

Windows Loop | 1.2 miles: An easy path through some of the park’s largest arches. We enjoyed it as a short excursion between work meetings.
★4
Devil’s Garden Primitive Loop | 7.9 miles: So much fun! I was a little worried about the primitive back part of the loop, but it actually didn’t seem any more difficult than the initial trek up to Double O Arch.
★5

Aztec Butte | 1.6 miles: Short but steep with great views at the top.
★4
Grand View Point | 1.8 miles: One of Sean’s all-time favorites (and mine, too). We’ve gone here twice for sunset now and both experiences were magical. It’s a flat, easy trail with excellent scenery the entire time.
★5

Mesa Arch | 0.7 miles: I’ll say it: I think Mesa Arch is a tiny bit overrated (and “hiking trail” is a generous term for what’s really a very short walk). But it is beautiful to see sunrise through the rock opening.
★4

Upheaval Dome | 1.3 miles: Short (but steep at points) trek to two overlooks.

Druid Arch | 11 miles: A long hike for us—but so worth it. Some fun scrambling at the very end to get up to the arch.
★5

Slickrock Trail | 2.4 miles: A short loop perfect for light exercise on a “rest day” after Druid.
★4
Pothole Point Trail | 0.6 miles: We did this one right after Slickrock. Even shorter! Arguably less beautiful, too, but it’s fun to see the rock texture.
★3
Cave Springs | 0.6 miles: The coolest of our three short hikes in The Needles District. There’s a fun little ladder section and so many plants.
★4
Big Springs Loop | 7 miles: This trail starts at the campground, which was perfect for us. Great views throughout, especially as you cross from one canyon area to the other.
★4

East and West Rim Loop | 5.2 miles: We walked this with Scout at sunset and then ran it just us humans the next morning. Mostly flat—some uneven rock surfaces but little actual elevation gain. My favorite easy way to see the park!
★5 | 🐾 Dog friendly