Best Day Hikes in Utah

Nick

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What do you guys think are the very best easy to moderate day hikes in Utah? Give me your top 5 or 10.

I haven't done Timpanogos or many of the hikes in The Wasatch Range so I know I'm leaving off some good ones. But my list is:

1. The Joint Trail + Chesler Park Loop, Canyonlands National Park
2. Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
3. Christmas Meadows to Amethyst Lake, High Uintas Wilderness
4. Little Wild Horse Canyon, San Rafael Swell
5. Moonshine Canyon, Robbers Roost
6. Bald Mountain, Uintas
7. Mount Naomi via Tony Grove Lake, Bear River Range
8. Clyde Lake Loop (via Wall Lake & Cliff Lake), Uintas
9. Colonnade Arch, Robbers Roost
10. False Kiva, Canyonlands National park

Maybe not in that exact order though. ;)
 
What do you guys think are the very best easy to moderate day hikes in Utah? Give me your top 5 or 10.


I didn't want to duplicate so here's five quick ones. In no particular order.
1. Horseshoe Canyon, Canyonlands
2. Catherine Pass/Sunset Peak, Little Cottonwood (evening or morning)
3. Fiery Furnace, Arches
4. Packard Lake, High Uintas
5. Lake Blanche, Big Cottonwood (a high moderate)
 
My top ten are all desert hikes (imagine that).:D These hikes kept me saying wow every time I looked around. Of course, these are hikes I've already done. Ask me again in a year and this list will probably be different. In no particular order:

1.Fairyland Loop, Bryce Canyon
2.Frying Pan Trail, Capitol Reef
3.Lower Calf Creek Falls, GSENM
4.Little Wild Horse Canyon, San Rafael Swell
5.Willis Creek, GSENM
6.False Kiva, Canyonlands
7.Middle Fork Of Taylor Creek, Zion
8.Fisher Towers, Moab
9.Bridge Loop, Natural Bridges NM
10.The Wave, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs NM (yeah, I know The Wave is technically in Arizona, but half the hike is in Utah so I'm using it).
 
One that I really like that hasn't been mentioned is Frary Peak on Antelope island. The views are amazing and it usually opens up sooner than most Wasatch peaks because of its lower elevation. Fish lake area in the Uintas is also another favorite of mine.

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1. Sulphur Creek Capitol Reef

Sulphur Creek by Summit42, on Flickr

2. False Kiva island in the sky

False Kiva Pano by Summit42, on Flickr

3. Timpanogos (as long as you NEVER do it on a holiday or saturday)

Upper Basin by Summit42, on Flickr

3. Chesler Park

The Needles by Summit42, on Flickr

4. Frying Pan Trail - Capitol Reef

Frying Pan Trail 2.18.2009 by Summit42, on Flickr

5. Willis Creek

Willis Creek by Summit42, on Flickr

6. Goblin Valley (hands down the best for kids)

Goblin Valley by Summit42, on Flickr

7. Maze over look trail

Desending by Summit42, on Flickr

8.Clyde Lake Loop

April near Clyde Lake by Summit42, on Flickr

9. Fairy Land Loop - Bryce

The Great Wall by Summit42, on Flickr

10. Kanarra Creek

Kanarra Creek Falls by Summit42, on Flickr
 
Some of my favorites, in no particular order:
Sulphur Creek
5th Water/Diamond Fork- be sure to stop by the sun face at the same time
South Fork of the Weber
West Fork of Blacks Fork
Goblin Valley/LWH/Ding&Dang/Crack Canyon- can't put up just one of them!
 
some good lists here. mine will duplicate some

in no particular order
1. sulphur creek
2. little wild horse canyon (i swear I've done this hike a million times, never gets old)
3. alexander basin/gobblers nob (mill creek side)
4. lake blanche...when its not too busy
5. white and/or red pine lakes
6. mt timp
7. mt. aire (mill creek for a short and steep trail)
8. bald mtn
9. sheets gulch (capitol reef)
10. lake desolation

I know I'm leaving some epic ones off the list but that's all I can think of right now.
 
In no order
1. Arch Trail (red cliffs national recreation area)
2. Left Fork of North Creek (the Subway, its moderate right?)
3. Spooky and Peekaboo
4. Calf Creek
5. Kanarra Creek (bang for you buck on of my favorite hikes)
6. Cable Mountain (ZNP)
7. Many of the trails in Arches!
 
some of my favorites in no special order

1. Willis Creek
2. Little Wild Horse Canyon
3. Delicate Arch
4. Lower Calf Creek Falls
5. Fisher Towers
6. Syncline Loop(okay, it's more medium)
7. Phipps Arch
8.Navajo Knobs in Capitol Reef
9.Broken Bow Arch
10.Devils Garden Trail, Arches
 
ok here's a few awesome ones!

Timpanogos
Big Springs/Cascade Saddle
Chesler Park
Lower Calf Creek Falls
West Rim Zion
Devil's Garden Loop
Stewart Falls via Aspen Grove
Silver Lake
Eardley Canyon
Maple Canyon Loop
 
Some of my favorite Utah Hikes:

Little Death Hollow
Angle's Landing
The Narrows
Little Wild Horse Canyon
Navajo Knobs
Upper Muley
Rattlesnake Canyon
Big Horn Canyon
Spooky/Peekaboo/Brimstone
 
Timp via Timpooneke
Stewart Falls via Sundance
Navajo Loop, Bryce Canyon (great loop with kids)
Silver Lake
Arches National Park, several short hikes to make a full day of hiking/exploring
 
Here are some of my choices:

Upper Muley Twist, Capitol Reef
Navajo Knobs, Capitol Reef
West Rim Trail, Zion
Upper Escalante River
Boulder Mail Trail
Fairyland Loop, Bryce Canyon
Elephant Canyon to Druid Arch, Canyonlands
Bridge Loop, Natural Bridges
Devils Garden with Primitive Loop, Arches
Bullet Canyon, Cedar Mesa
 
The hike to Green Mask Ruin downs Sheiks Canyon in Grand Gulch. Another one not far away is the hike via Government Trail to Big Man Panel.
South Mule Canyon ranks up there too. Hike to Baby Foot Pictograph via Collins Spring in the Lower gulch is great.
Eardley Canyon in the San Rafael Swell, along with Straight Wash nearby.
In Colorado: All of Dominguez Canyon, Rattlesnake Canyon near Grand Junction, Mt. Sopris climb with camping at Thomas Lakes, Crater Lake in Maroon Creek (best fall hike I have ever done, great short overnight for kids, bears permitting), Willow Lake up a little higher up an incredible valley. Castle peak is a great 14er for beginners. Wilson Peak near Telluride (a 14er that scared the shit out of me), the hike up into Bridal Veil Basin to the Lewis Mill.
 
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In no order:

Deseret Peak, Stansbury Range

Devil's Garden Loop, Arches (if you can go when there are no crowds)

Fairyland Loop, Bryce Canyon

Frying Pan to Cassidy Arch, Capitol Reef

Stansbury Island (not much of a trail after a mile or so)
 
I can't believe only one person listed Angel's Landing.
 

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