Heading upstream near the start of the Narrows, Zion National Park

The deserts of the American southwest, and southern Utah in particular, are probably my favorite hiking area. It’s just a day’s drive, or less, from my home in Boulder, Colorado, and I’ve lost count of the number of hiking trips I’ve made there. Although I’ve only seen a fraction of this vast region I reckon I’ve seen enough to offer some recommendations to my top day hikes. In that spirit, this post includes some (newly reprocessed!) photos, videos, and short descriptions of the hikes I’ve enjoyed most in the parks and wilderness areas of southern Utah.

Click on any of the photos for large versions

Overview of Utah’s desert hiking areas

Moab, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks – bring a bike