Delicate Arch is iconic and one of the best hikes for families.
The 8 best Utah family hikes have everything you could ask for. There are mountains, rivers, lakes, and of course the red rocks of Southern Utah.
Utah has an overabundance of hiking trails, which is awesome for someone like me that loves hiking. You can take a hike in big mountains along a river to a lake. Or you can wander around the red rock deserts of Southern Utah to slick rock, an arch, or ruins. It is hard to only pick a few trails because there are so many good ones. Despite that here is my list of the absolute best, not to be missed utah family hikes.
The 8 Best Utah Family Hikes
Delicate Arch in Arches National Park
This is the iconic arch from Arches National Park. Some hikes you do in Utah are crowded and this is one of those. Don’t worry though as the arch is totally worth it. You won’t mind the crowds once you get the amazing view and soak it in.
Having fun along the trail.
The Notch and Divide Lakes in High Uintas
I like the high mountains of the High Uintas and this hike is a wonderful one for the family. The trail is not too far and doesn’t have too much ascent or descent. It does pass by numerous lakes, where you can try some fishing.
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I’ve done this hike more than any other hike in the Uintas because there are variations you can take or you can stop and do some fishing. The views along much of this trail are special.
Cecret Lake is sweet, but not such a secret.
Cecret Lake in the Wasatch Mountains
Wow! That is about all that I can say about this hike. This hike is short, but super sweet. If you time it right you can see tons of wildflowers along the trail and then a beautiful lake at the end. Maybe you will even have a fun surprise by seeing some critters in the lake itself (some kind of amphibian…)?
Little Wildhorse Canyon is so fun!
Little Wildhorse Canyon in Central Utah
This is another absolutely amazing hike that I’ve done many times and it never fails to excite me. The trail is not too far, but it is fun as you slowly get into narrower and narrower spaces. This is a perfect introduction to slot canyons for the family. Just make sure the weather is good with no rain forecast.
The short climb into Spooky Canyon can challenge your family.
Spooky And Peekaboo Canyons in Grand Staircase Escalante NM
I’m saying it again, but wow. This is a short, but super fun hike to three different slot canyons. One of them requires a bit of a scramble to get into, but the other one is a walk into an unpleasantly narrow slot. Our kids loved running into the slot and laughing as us Dads got stuck a bit.
Fisher Towers is a fun family hike.
Fisher Towers near Moab
This hike wanders around and along these crazy sandstone spires that look like a giant made a drip castle on the beach. Rock climbers enjoy this area, but this is also a nice family hike. There are great views the entire walk.
Bonneville Shoreline Trail in Wasatch
The BST follows the contours of the Wasatch for a long way, from the foothills above downtown SLC all the way to the south towards the end of the valley. Personally, my favorite part is in the foothills above the Avenues. It is a nice walk with great views of the valley and the mountains.
So sweet…Lower Calf Creek Falls. The Upper falls is neat too, but not like this.
Lower Calf Creek Falls in Grand Staircase Escalante NM
This is another one of the must do hikes in southern Utah. The hike follows Calf Creek up a valley until the point that you are feeling hot then you arrive at the head of the valley and see this incredible waterfall in the desert. Super cool.