CAMPING AND HIKING IN UTAH

This is a guide to some government sources that just skim the surface of the hiking and camping opportunities in Utah. 80% of Utah's land is managed by government agencies for public use. Utah boasts 5 national parks, 49 state parks, and 8 national forests. In fact, many people feel that Utah offers the best hiking trails in the nation. Although the more popular spots become crowded in the summer, there are still plenty of opportunities for remote hikes.

Since Utah is the second driest state in the country, special considerations should be made for hiking. Always carry plenty of water with you. During the warmer months, the best times for hiking are at dawn and at dusk. Many of the trails are rugged and remote, requiring the use of hands to climb over the slickrock.

General Resources

• National Weather Service, Salt Lake City
  Before heading out to the trails, check to see what the weather is going to be like. This web site offers a clickable map to view weather warnings and advisories.

• Informative Publications, National Resources Map & Bookstore
  This is a good location to purchase maps and books for your trip created by the Utah Geological Survey. There are books and maps on the geology of different parks. Information about various hazards, such as earthquakes and rockslides, are available.

• Safety in Black Bear County
  Since black bears are prevalent in Utah, every hiker should read the information provided by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. There is a list of helpful guidelines that describe how to prevent a black bear encounter and what to do if you run into one.

• Official Site of the Utah Travel Council
  Click on "things to do," then "hike." This page gives you an introduction to hiking in Utah.
  Click on "places to see," then "top 25." Here you will find a clickable map of the popular nature spots.

Southwestern Utah

Southwest Utah is frequently referred to as "Color Country" due to the array of colors that are abundant in the rocks. Many people believe Color Country offers the most breathtaking scenery in the nation.

Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce is Utah's smallest national park. Most tourists visit Bryce to see its famous hoodoos, which is the term for the beautiful orange, white, and red rockspires. Bryce Canyon has 60 miles of trails. There are a variety of trail lengths. Almost 20 different short walks lead to spectacular overlooks.
Easy, popular trails: Queen's Garden Trail, Navajo Loop
Recommended trails: Fairyland trails, Sunset Point (view is best seen at sunset), Peekaboo Loop, Under the Rim Trail (22.6 miles), Riggs Spring Loop Trail (8.8 miles long)

• Bryce Canyon National Park, Kane County Office of Tourism
  This site provides a good description about the park and includes nice photographs. Climate information is also listed.

• Bryce Canyon National Park, National Park Service
  This web site gives camping and hiking information about the park, as well as park amenities and prices. There are also downloadable maps and a link to the park bookstore.

• Commercial campgrounds, Kane County Office of Tourism
  This web site provides listings for campgrounds near Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, and some of the state parks. Telephone numbers, addresses, and web site addresses are given when possible.

Escalante State Park
Recommended trail: Petrified Forest Trail

• Escalante State Park, Utah Department of Natural Resources
  This web site by the Division of Parks and Recreation includes a basic description of the park, campsite information, and pass prices.

Kodachrome State Park

• Kodachrome State Park, Kane County Office of Tourism
  This web site provides an introduction to the park. Pictures are also included to give you an idea of the environment.

• Kodachrome State Park, Utah Department of Natural Resources
  Basic park amenities and prices are listed, as well as a list of watchable wildlife.

Snow Canyon State Park
Recommended trail: Hidden Pinon Trail

• Snow Canyon State Park, Utah Department of Natural Resources
  This site, provided by the Division of Parks and Recreation, describes park amenities, fees, and campsite information.

Zion National Park
Zion National Park,"the Sandstone Yosemite," is one of the oldest national parks. Out of the Utah national parks, it contains the most diverse landscape. There are more than 100 trails, and most of the trails have water along the path.
Popular trail: the Riverside walk.
Recommended trail: Lower Emerald Pools Trail, Narrows River hike

• Zion National Park, Kane County Office of Tourism
  This web site gives a good description of Zion, and it also has some nice photographs.

• Zion National Park, National Park Service
  A park profile, pass prices, and directions are given at this web site. Detailed information about the park's campgrounds is also located here, along with some general hiking hints.

• Campgrounds, Zion Canyon Chamber of Commerce
  This web site lists the phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses of commercial campgrounds near Zion National Park.

• Trip planner for Zion National Park
  This web page provides possible hiking itinerary, including trail mileage and the amount of hiking time to expect a trail to take. It is provided by the Zion Canyon Chamber of Commerce.

• Maps of Zion National Park
  This site has downloadable maps of the Zion National Park by the National Park Service.

• Bookstore, Zion National History Association
  This web site has a helpful collection of books, maps, videos, and posters available at the Zion National Park Bookstore.

Southeastern Utah

• MOAB Area Hiking Trails, Grand County Travel Council
  This page includes a good hiking equipment checklist. It also has detailed information for at least seven day hikes.

Arches National Park
Arches National Park contains over 2,000 natural stone arches.
Easy Trail: Sand Dune Arch trail
Recommended trails: Devil's Garden trail system (6 miles), Fiery Furnace Guided Hike, Delicate Arch trail (the Delicate Arch is depicted on the Utah centennial license plate)

• Arches National Park, National Park Service
  At this web site you will find camping information and a downloadable topographic map. Under "activites," there is an excellent hiking section. The trails are divided into three groups; easy, moderate, and long. Mileage and travel time are listed too.

• Bookstore, Canyonlands Natural History Association
  This site includes publications for both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. There are over fifteen hiking guides available, as well as maps.

Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands is the largest national park in the state, and it is the hardest park to reach. It is divided into three districts; the Island in the Sky district, the Needles district, and the Canyonlands District. Most visitors go on day hikes, although camping is available. The Needles Distric has the greatest number of trails.
Easy Trails: Mesa Arch trail, Grand View trail
Recommended Trail: Druid Arch Hike

• Canyonlands National Park, National Park Service
  This web site has general park and camping information. Under "activities," there are hiking descriptions for each district. There is also a downloadable map for each district. Under "publications," there are a few downloadable documents about the park's trails.

• MOAB Area Campgrounds, Grand County Travel Council
  This page has in-depth charts of public and private campgrounds near Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse State Park.

Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park offers good desert hiking. Make sure you bring plenty of water!
Easy Trails: Red Canyon, Muley Twist Canyon, Halls Creek
Recommended Trails: Gorge Trail (2 miles), Cassidy Arch Trail (3 1/2 miles)

• Capitol Reef National Park, National Park Service
  In addition to camping information for the three park campgrounds and downloadable maps, there is an excellent hiking section. There is a chart of trails for day hikes. It includes the mileage, level of difficulty, and a brief description. There are also long descriptions about the backpacking routes.

• Capitol Reef Country, Wayne County Travel Council
  Click on "where to stay and eat," then select "where to camp." Here you will find a list of public and private campgrounds.
  Click on "what to see and do," then select "what to do." Finally, click on "hike." There are over fourteen trails listed with simple descriptions.

Dead Horse Point State Park

• Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah Division of Parks and Recreation
  This web site provides you with a simple description of the park. There is also information about the park's campsites and amenities.

Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley is named for the orange and white sandstone hoodoos, which have eroded to form stone creatures that resemble goblins and gargoyles.

• Goblin Valley State Park, Utah Division of Parks and Recreation
  At this web site, you will find some pictures of the "goblins." There is also general park and camping information.

Manti-La Sal National Forest
The La Sal Mountains, which are the second highest range in Utah, are a backdrop for the 160,000 acres of woodlands that comprise this national forest.

• Manti-La Sal National Forest, USDA Forest Service
  This web site consists of general rules and camping information. There are brief summaries of recreation activites.

Northeastern Utah

Dinousaur National Monument
Recommended trail: Harpers Corner Trail

• Dinouaur National Monumment, National Park Service
  Besides general park information, there is a park map and a photo gallery. There are also helpful descriptions available for the nature trails and hiking trails.

Rozalynd McConnaughy
University of South Carolina
College of Library and Information Science
CLIS734-Fall 2000