Utah · best-of list
The 15 Best Outdoor Spots in Utah
All 15 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Utah, across 7 destinations, gathered in one list. 13 come with an insider tip, and 13 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
15 outdoor spots in Utah, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Bryce Canyon 3 picks
Fairyland Loop Trail
Bryce Canyon · On our Las Vegas & National Parks route + 1 more
8-mile loop through quieter hoodoos and Tower Bridge, fewer crowds than the main trails.
Tip: Start at Fairyland Point; carry plenty of water.
Photo: Roman AnLoz · Google
Mossy Cave Trail
Bryce Canyon · On our Las Vegas & National Parks route
Short walk off Hwy 12 to a seasonal waterfall and a dripping alcove.
Photo: Dennis van de Pol · Google
Queen's Garden Trail
Bryce Canyon · On our Utah Mighty Five route
Gentlest trail into the hoodoos, down from Sunrise Point.
Tip: Combine with Navajo Loop for a 3-mile loop.
Photo: William McPhail · Google
Zion 3 picks
Canyon Overlook Trail
Zion · On our Utah Mighty Five route
One-mile hike on the east side to a view down Pine Creek and switchbacks.
Tip: Parking is tiny; arrive early or late.
Photo: Sujeeth P · Google
Emerald Pools Trail
Zion · On our Utah Mighty Five route
Short hikes to pools and seasonal waterfalls below cliffs, starting at Zion Lodge.
Tip: Lower pool is easy; continue to Upper for fewer people.
Photo: Alison Carter · Google
Pa'rus Trail
Zion · On our Utah Mighty Five route
Easy paved riverside path from the visitor center with views of the Watchman.
Tip: Good sunset walk; bikes allowed.
Photo: Violet Olivo · Google
Arches 2 picks
Park Avenue Trail
Arches · On our Utah Mighty Five route
Short walk between tall fins that look like a city skyline.
Tip: Do it one-way if someone can meet you with the car.
Photo: Holly Bailey · Google
Windows Section
Arches · On our Utah Mighty Five route
North and South Windows and Turret Arch on short trails; Double Arch is next door.
Tip: Great for stargazing; it's an International Dark Sky Park.
Photo: Shannon E · Google
Big Cottonwood Canyon 2 picks
Donut Falls
Big Cottonwood Canyon · On our Salt Lake City New Year's Eve route
Short trail to a waterfall that drops through a hole in the rock, popular for snowshoeing in winter.
Tip: In winter the road to the upper lot is closed, so the walk is longer; bring traction.
Silver Lake
Big Cottonwood Canyon · On our Salt Lake City New Year's Eve route
Small frozen lake at the canyon's top, with a flat boardwalk loop and groomed trails from the Nordic center.
Tip: Rent snowshoes at the Solitude Nordic Center by the lake.
Photo: Nils Rasmusson nilsynils · CC0
Canyonlands 2 picks
Dead Horse Point State Park
Canyonlands · On our Utah Mighty Five route
Overlook 2,000 ft above a gooseneck bend of the Colorado River.
Tip: Separate state-park fee; great sunset.
Photo: Mike Nielsen · CC BY-SA 2.0
Upheaval Dome
Canyonlands · On our Utah Mighty Five route
Short hike to a strange crater whose origin (salt dome or meteor) is still debated.
Tip: First overlook is 0.8 mile; the second adds a mile.
Photo: Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA · CC BY 2.0
Capitol Reef 2 picks
Capitol Gorge Trail
Capitol Reef · On our Utah Mighty Five route
Flat walk through a narrow canyon to the Pioneer Register and natural water tanks.
Tip: Dirt access road closes after rain.
Photo: Jesse Chappell · Google
Hickman Bridge Trail
Capitol Reef · On our Utah Mighty Five route
Two-mile round trip to a 133-ft natural bridge with views of Capitol Dome.
Tip: Little shade; go early in summer.
Photo: Alex Garin · Google
Zion NP 1 pick
Watchman Trail
Zion NP · On our Las Vegas & National Parks route
Moderate 3-mile loop from the visitor center to a viewpoint over Springdale and the Watchman.
Photo: BJL · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Utah?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 15 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Utah has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Bryce Canyon and Zion lead with 3 each; the other picks are spread across 5 more destinations.
Are any of these free?
13 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Fairyland Loop Trail, Queen's Garden Trail, Canyon Overlook Trail, Park Avenue Trail, Donut Falls, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Utah
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Bryce Canyon 3 on this list
- Zion 3 on this list
- Arches 2 on this list
- Big Cottonwood Canyon 2 on this list
- Canyonlands 2 on this list
- Capitol Reef 2 on this list
- Zion NP 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.