Can I do Angels Landing without a permit?

Up to Scout Lookout, yes. Above that (the chains section), no — lottery-only since 2022.

Is The Narrows dangerous?

Flash flood risk is real. Check the ranger board before entering; if they say "probable flooding," don't go.

What shoes for Utah slickrock?

Trail runners or approach shoes. Sticky rubber grips sandstone better than boot lugs.

Sandstone arch standing on slickrock with snow-dusted mountains and desert canyons in the distance under a blue sky.

Best Hiking Trails in Utah

The Mighty Five plus the trails locals actually do. Our picks for Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands — and the quieter canyons nobody tags.

Utah is where everyone's first real scramble happens. Angels Landing for the chain photos, The Narrows for the ankle-deep wade — they earn the traffic. But the team's actual favourites lean quieter: Owen swears by Capitol Reef's Cohab Canyon loop, Jake did a 5-day traverse through the Waterpocket Fold last October that barely made it onto social, and Mia's Chesler Park backpack in Canyonlands is the trip she talks about at parties.

Our rule for Utah: come in the shoulder seasons. March–May and September–early November are the whole show. Summer is heatstroke, winter is slippery ice on slickrock.

Our top 2 hikes in Utah

1.Angels Landing
Permit-required, but still the signature Zion experience. We run early — first shuttle, back at the car before 11.
Zion National Park · hard · 8.70km · 488m elev
2.The Narrows (Bottom-Up)
Wade upriver until the canyon walls close in. Rent neoprene socks from Zion Outfitter unless you actively enjoy cold-foot blisters.
Zion National Park · moderate · 16.00km · 100m elev

By region

The Mighty Five

Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands. Easy to combine on one road trip (7–10 days does them all).

High Uintas

The only east-west range in North America. Alpine lakes, summer-only, underrated.

Grand Staircase / Escalante

Slot canyons, no crowds, lots of ways to die if you don't respect flash floods.

When to go

jan

feb

mar

apr

may

jun

jul

aug

sep

oct

nov

dec

best good ok poor

Plan a hike in Utah

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More hikes in Utah

Common questions

Can I do Angels Landing without a permit?: Up to Scout Lookout, yes. Above that (the chains section), no — lottery-only since 2022.
Is The Narrows dangerous?: Flash flood risk is real. Check the ranger board before entering; if they say "probable flooding," don't go.
What shoes for Utah slickrock?: Trail runners or approach shoes. Sticky rubber grips sandstone better than boot lugs.