Great Basin Desert Hiking Guide
Trail guides for the Great Basin Desert: Great Basin National Park, Wheeler Peak, and the high desert of Nevada and western Utah.
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Arches Timed Entry Guide 2026: What Requires a Reservation
A practical guide to Arches timed entry in 2026, who needs a reservation, who is exempt, and how to avoid getting turned around at the gate.
Angels Landing Permit Strategy: Better Odds and Smart Backup Plans
How to improve your Angels Landing permit odds using seasonal and day-before lotteries, and what to hike if you do not win.
Zion Narrows Hiking Guide: Wading the Virgin River Through Slot Canyon
The Zion Narrows is a 9.4-mile one-way or shorter out-and-back wading hike through the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. No permit needed for day hike from the bottom
Windows Section: Arches' Easiest Walk to Massive Arches
The Windows Section in Arches National Park has a 1-mile loop to North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch plus a primitive trail for a different view, all walkable in under 2 hours
Watchman Trail: Zion's Best Sunset Hike With No Permit
Watchman Trail is a 3.3-mile loop near Zion's south entrance with a viewpoint overlooking the canyon, the Watchman formation, and the Virgin River. No permit required
Upheaval Dome: Canyonlands' Geological Mystery Hike
Upheaval Dome is a 1.8-mile round trip hike in Canyonlands Island in the Sky to the rim of a 3-mile wide geological structure that scientists still debate , meteor crater or salt dome collapse
Riverside Walk: Zion's Paved Path to the Narrows
Riverside Walk is a 2.2-mile paved round trip along the Virgin River at the end of Zion Canyon. The trail ends where the Narrows begin and is accessible to strollers and wheelchairs
Peekaboo Loop: Bryce Canyon's Horse Trail Through Dense Hoodoo Country
Peekaboo Loop is a 5.5-mile loop in the Bryce Amphitheater descending to the canyon floor past the Wall of Windows, Cathedral, and the densest concentration of hoodoos in the park
Park Avenue Trail: Arches' First Hike After the Entrance
Park Avenue Trail is a 2-mile one-way hike through massive sandstone fins in Arches National Park, named for its resemblance to New York's skyline, just inside the park entrance
Pa'rus Trail: Zion's Only Paved, Dog-Friendly Canyon Walk
Pa'rus Trail is a 3.5-mile paved round trip walk along the Virgin River in Zion Canyon, the only trail open to dogs and bikes, with canyon views and canyon entrance shuttle stop access
Observation Point Trail: Zion's Best View (Without the Permit Crowd)
Observation Point is a 8-mile round trip hike to Zion's highest viewpoint at 6,508 feet, looking down on Angels Landing and the full sweep of Zion Canyon
Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden: Bryce Canyon's Classic Hike
Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden is a 2.9-mile loop through Bryce Canyon's hoodoo amphitheater. The best introduction to hiking below the rim at Bryce
Mesa Arch Trail: Canyonlands' Sunrise Photography Destination
Mesa Arch is a 0.5-mile round trip trail in Canyonlands Island in the Sky that reaches a sandstone arch framing a 1,000-foot canyon drop. One of the most photographed sunrise spots in Utah
Landscape Arch: The Longest Natural Arch Span in the World
Landscape Arch Trail is a 1.9-mile round trip easy walk in Arches National Park to the world's longest natural arch span at 306 feet, the first destination on the Devil's Garden trail system
Kolob Canyons: Zion's Less-Visited Finger Canyon Section
Kolob Canyons is the northwest section of Zion National Park accessed from I-15, with dramatic finger canyon formations, the Taylor Creek Trail, and a fraction of the main canyon crowds
Hidden Canyon Trail Guide: Zion's Underrated Slot Canyon Hike
Hidden Canyon is a 2.4-mile round trip hike at Zion with chains and an exposed ledge section leading to a narrow slot canyon. Less crowded than Angels Landing with a unique destination
Hickman Bridge Trail: Capitol Reef's Best Short Hike
Hickman Bridge Trail is a 1.8-mile round trip hike in Capitol Reef National Park to a 133-foot natural bridge, one of the largest in Utah, with canyon wash approach and Waterpocket Fold views
Grand Wash Trail: Capitol Reef's Easy Canyon Walk
Grand Wash Trail is a 4.4-mile one-way hike through a narrow canyon wash in Capitol Reef National Park between the Scenic Drive and Highway 24, with towering sandstone walls and no significant elevation change
Grand View Point Trail: Canyonlands' Best Rim Walk
Grand View Point Trail is a 2-mile round trip rim walk in Canyonlands Island in the Sky with the widest canyon views in Utah, reaching the southernmost point above the Green and Colorado River confluence
Grand Staircase-Escalante Hiking: Slot Canyons, Arches, and Remote Desert
Grand Staircase-Escalante hiking covers 1.87 million acres of Utah slot canyons, arches, and remote backcountry. No permits, no entrance fee, no crowds
Fiery Furnace: Arches' Permit-Required Sandstone Maze
Fiery Furnace is a 2-3 mile permit-required route through a dense maze of sandstone fins in Arches National Park, requiring a ranger tour or self-guided permit and navigation skills
Fairyland Loop: Bryce Canyon's Best Hike for Avoiding Crowds
Fairyland Loop is a 8-mile loop in Bryce Canyon through dense hoodoo formations, China Wall, and Tower Bridge arch with a fraction of the Navajo Loop crowds
Emerald Pools Trails: Zion's Waterfall Hikes for All Fitness Levels
Zion's Emerald Pools trails reach three pools with waterfalls and hanging gardens. Lower Pool is easy, Upper Pool adds elevation and solitude. No permit required
East Rim Trail: Zion's Slickrock Plateau Walk Above the Canyon
East Rim Trail is a 10-mile round trip hike from Zion's east entrance to Echo Canyon and the canyon rim, through open slickrock and pine forest above the main canyon crowds
Double Arch Trail: Stand Under Two Arches at Once in Arches National Park
Double Arch Trail is a 0.5-mile round trip walk in Arches National Park to two massive arches that share a common abutment, one of the few formations you can walk under and see the sky framed above
Devil's Garden Trail Guide: Arches National Park's Longest Hike
Devil's Garden is a 7.2-mile loop in Arches National Park passing eight named arches through primitive fin country. The most demanding and rewarding day hike in Arches
Delicate Arch Trail Guide: Utah's Most Iconic Hike
Delicate Arch is a 3.2-mile round trip hike across open slickrock in Arches National Park. The arch appears suddenly at the trail's end above a natural amphitheater
Death Valley Day Hikes: Best Trails for Every Fitness Level
Death Valley hiking spans salt flats to summit peaks. The best Death Valley day hikes run Nov-Mar. Summer kills people. Here's how to plan it right
Cohab Canyon Trail: Capitol Reef's Hidden Slot Canyon Route
Cohab Canyon is a 3.4-mile round trip hike in Capitol Reef that climbs through a narrow canyon slot, past two side-canyon overlooks, to reach Fruita Historic District from above
Cassidy Arch Trail: Capitol Reef's Most Dramatic Arch Hike
Cassidy Arch Trail is a 3.4-mile round trip hike in Capitol Reef National Park that climbs above Grand Wash to reach a natural arch named for Butch Cassidy who hid in the area
Capitol Reef National Park Hiking: Trails Through the Waterpocket Fold
Capitol Reef hiking guide covering Cassidy Arch, Grand Wash, and Hickman Bridge, the least crowded of Utah's Mighty Five national parks
Canyonlands National Park Hiking: Trails in Island in the Sky and the Needles
Canyonlands hiking guide covering Island in the Sky and the Needles trails. Plan your Canyonlands National Park trails day with district overviews and permits info
Canyon Overlook Trail: Zion's Best Short Hike
Canyon Overlook Trail is a 1-mile round trip hike at the east entrance of Zion that reaches a viewpoint above Zion Canyon without the shuttle or permit requirements
Bryce Canyon Hiking: Best Trails Through the Hoodoos
Bryce Canyon hiking guide covering the best trails through hoodoos, permits, and why October beats summer for every hike in the park
Bristlecone Loop: Bryce Canyon's Easy Rim Walk Through Ancient Pines
Bristlecone Loop is a 1-mile rim trail at Bryce Canyon's Rainbow Point past ancient bristlecone pines with hoodoo views and no significant elevation gain
Best Hikes in Zion National Park: The Trails Worth the Permit Hassle
The best hikes Zion National Park offers range from free walks to lottery permits. Here's which Zion hiking experiences are worth planning around
Arches National Park Hiking: Best Trails to Delicate Arch and Beyond
Arches National Park hiking guide covering Delicate Arch, the Windows, Fiery Furnace, and what the timed entry system means for your visit
Angels Landing Trail Guide: Zion's Most Famous Hike
Angels Landing is a 5.4-mile round trip hike with 1,488 feet of gain and an exposed chain-assisted summit. Permit required March through November