With five national parks in Utah to visit, they can certainly get crowded during tourist season. It can be hard to enjoy natural wonders in Utah when you’re surrounded by screaming kids, tourists stopping in the middle of the trail with their cameras, and cars everywhere. There are a few solutions to this problem. First, visit during the off-season, when the tourists are all at Disney World. Second, visit the secret places in each park that tourists tend to avoid. Here are 11 secret places to check out in Utah’s national parks.

1. The Needles, Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park, Utah 84532, USA
monica.orchard/flickr
The Needles is one of the more remote districts of Canyonlands National Park. The area requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle or some backcountry hiking to access it. There’s a trail system that includes both day and multi-day hikes. This is Chesler Park. It's one of the best parks in Utah.

Take a look at the gorgeous scenery in Canyonlands:

2. Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park
Kolob Canyons Resident Road, Kolob Canyons Resident Rd, Utah 84757, USA
Jeff Fleming/flickr
Most tourists visit the Zion Canyon portion of the park, completely missing Kolob Canyons, which is 40 miles north. Find solitude and discover a much quieter beauty in the Kolob Canyons region. Stop at the Visitor Center to check in and get information about the 20 miles of trails in the area. And then take a hike to Kolob Arch! It's one of the best hiking trails in Utah.
3. The Fiery Furnace, Arches National Park
Moab, UT 84532, USA
PROMS-R / Michael S-R/flickr
The Fiery Furnace is tricky to navigate - visitors often get lost or stuck on cliffs due to inexperience. As a result, the park rangers offer two tours into the area. You can read more about the tours at NPS. It's one of the best things to do outside in Utah.

Get some tips for visiting Arches National Park:

4. Skull Arch, Arches National Park
Arches National Park Road, Arches Nat'l Pk Rd, Utah, USA
Mark Devries/flickr
Reserve a spot on the three-hour tour and see some amazing formations and Skull Arch. You can find out more about Arches National Park at NPS.
5. Waterpocket District, Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA
Ken Lund/Flickr
Capitol Reef National Park is the state’s least-visited park, probably because of its remote location, but it may be the best national park to visit in Utah. The Waterpocket Fold stretches for 100 miles and includes slot canyons, cliffs, and domes.

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6. Cathedral Valley, Capitol Reef National Park
Cathedral Valley, Utah, USA
Indrik Myneur/flickr
You’ll typically need a high-profile vehicle to reach Cathedral Valley - the road to access it is unpaved. You can drive the 57.6-mile Cathedral Valley Loop Tour, which offers plenty of scenery and is not crowded - in fact, you may not see another car all day. Check with the Visitor Center first; you’ll have to ford the Fremont River at one point, which is not usually a problem but is very dangerous during times of flooding. For even more solitude, stop along the way and take one of many hiking trails in the area.
7. Temples of the Sun and Moon, Capitol Reef National Park
Temple of the Sun, Utah, USA
au_ears/Wikimedia Commons
You'll see the Temples of the Sun and Moon when you drive the Cathedral Valley Loop. You can find out more about hiking Temples of the Sun and Moon. This is part of one of the best parks in Utah.
8. Upper Muley Twist Canyon
Upper Muley Twist Canyon Trail, Torrey, UT 84775, USA
Nancy and Randy/flickr
One of the most incredible hiking trails in Utah is to Upper Muley Twist Canyon. This hike is somewhat difficult and fairly remote, so few visitors bother. You’ll see some great views of the Waterpocket Fold and several arches along the way. Start at the Strike Valley Overlook parking lot, then hike nine miles.
9. Upper Muley Twist Arch
Upper Muley Twist Canyon Trail, Torrey, UT 84775, USA
Dru!/flickr
Just one of the natural arches you'll encounter on the Upper Muley Twist trail. It's quite the natural wonder in Utah!
10. Horseshoe Canyon, Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park, Utah 84532, USA
Ken Lund/Flickr
Horseshoe Canyon is one of the frequently missed parts of Canyonlands because it’s remote and not really connected with the rest of the park. To reach it, you’ll drive turn off SR 24 near Hanksville and drive 30 miles on a dirt road. The trail into the canyon is 6.5 miles round-trip; plan on about four hours.

See what it’s like to hike Horseshoe Canyon

11. The Great Gallery
Horseshoe Canyon, Utah 84050, USA
Geraldine Mihok Laidlaw/Google
Most Utahns don’t get to see this large panel of rock art; the figures are life-sized, highly detailed, and very well-preserved. You’ll find the Great Gallery along the Horseshoe Canyon trail.

What are your favorite spots in Utah’s national parks? What are your favorite national parks to visit in Utah? Let us know in the comments. Get all the details on the hiking trails at these secret places in Utah.

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Melissa M. | July 08, 2022

Where are some of the best hiking trails in Utah?

Some of the best hiking trails in Utah are in the five national parks.

Utah is an outdoor lover’s paradise between five national parks and countless miles of hiking trails. Some of the best hiking trails in Utah may bring you through canyons, waterfalls, caves, and scenic overlooks…you get the idea. Just getting outside to explore is one of the best things you can do in the state.

What are some of the most incredible natural wonders in Utah?

Some of the most incredible natural wonders in Utal include:

  • Bonneville Salt Flats
  • Escalante Natural Bridge

 

The Beehive State is home to some of the most jaw-dropping scenery and natural wonders in the country. If you haven’t yet seen the Bonneville Salt Flats, one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the state, you are missing out. Formed by 40 square miles of hard-packed salt, you’ve never seen anything quite like it. The 130-foot Escalante Natural Bridge is another awe-inspiring sight that can be found at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

What are the best parks in Utah?

One of the best parks in Utah is Piute State Park.

While the national parks found within the state are places everyone must visit, there are plenty of state parks that should not be overlooked. One state park, Piute State Park, is home to a stunning reservoir where visitors can go boating and fishing. This is one of many state parks in Utah that are wonderful places to spend an afternoon.

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