Southwest Utah day hikes?

[b.stark]

I'll be heading toward Utah later this week, may try to finally make it to the far SW part of the state as I've never been there. Mainly looking for day hike suggestions, but I'll probably have backpacking gear for short trips if something gets my interest. Looking for some suggestions that might get me away from the masses a bit(especially for Zion). Wouldn't mind spending some time around the Kanab-ish area too. My plans are pretty open at this point, and all I really know is I'll be out there for about 10ish days.

Edit to add, I'd prefer to keep most hikes in the 5-10 mile range, though anything up to 15 is fair game if it's worth it.

 

[Yvonne]

Red Cliffs Desert Reserve has some pretty awesome hikes, short or long, depending on what you want. And I always did the Guacamole Trail near Virgin, with awesome views of Zion and tons of Petrified Wood. You can also camp for free at the trailhead.
I also love the Hurricane Canal Trail; you can do a loop or out-and-back.

IN The Red Cliffs area, I love Washington Hollow. You'll never see anyone on that trail. The Gila Trail runs along the outer edges of Snow Canyon, starting at Chuckwalla Trailhead and heading north through the Red Cliffs Reserve to Snow Canyon Overlook. Or only parts of it. But has some cool rock art in some joint cracks.

 

[b.stark]

@Yvonne thanks for the suggestions!

 

[zionsky]

Canaan mountain wilderness area is awesome. You can go up and back for long day hikes via water canyon or squirrel creek or camp up top and/or make a loop. Lots of places to explore (white domes, windlass ruins, lower mountain, beehive etc. ) . Best of all...no crowds like its northern neighbor.

 

[TrailScot]

Here are a few very scenic possibilities for you, not too far from Kanab (although access may be dependent on slippery road conditions):

1. Yellow Rock (highly recommended !) ; accessible from Cottonwood Canyon Road or the old Paria townsite. The exciting drive north along the Cottonwood Road is very scenic and takes you all the way to Grosvenor Arch, Kodachrome Basin SP, and finally Canonville on Highway 12, close to Bryce Canyon.

2. Wahweap Hoodoos, White Rock Hoodoos, Sidestep Canyon; accessible from Big Water and vicinity.

3. Edmaier's Secret; accessible from Buckskin Gulch TH on House Rock Valley Road (Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch hikes are in this area too, but I haven't done these)

In the Escalante area, The Boulder Mail Trail is a magnificent day-hike, and Pine Creek is really nice also, especially if the fall colors have arrived. Calf Creek Falls is usually quite busy, but the hike is glorious. The drive between Escalante and Boulder is just jaw-dropping.

There are obviously a myriad of great hikes and famous slot canyons to explore from the Hole-in-the-Rock road, close to Escalante.

Although the National Parks in the South West can get very busy, after walking more than a couple of miles from any trailhead into the backcountry, it's generally fairly quiet.