As the weather warms up, it’s time to dust off your hiking boots and hit the trails! After a long winter of couch-surfing, it’s always smart to take it easy for the first few weeks. Here are nine easy hikes in Utah to ease you into hiking season this spring.
- Cascade Springs Interpretive Boardwalk Trail, Provo
Weston Sorenson/Alltrails Located along the Alpine Loop, Cascade Springs is a pretty place to visit in the springtime. The little waterfalls, lush greenery, and charming bridges make this a hike the whole family will love.
- Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Multiple Access Points
Sabrina Baltic/Alltrails The Bonneville Shoreline Trail has many access points along the Wasatch Front. One of the most popular is the stretch of trail from Emigration Canyon to City Creek. The nice, level trail offers up stunning views of the Salt Lake Valley. Hop on at any of the trailheads and go as far as you’d like!
- Riverside Walk, Zion National Park
Steph Croff/Alltrails Riverside Walk is a great first hike when you first arrive at Zion National Park. It’s paved, flat, and easily accessible to all, and it’s surrounded by those iconic red cliffs that draws visitors to southern Utah all year long. At the end of the trail, you’ll reach The Narrows, and you can wade through the Virgin River for a bit.
- Silver Lake Loop Trail, Big Cottonwood Canyon
U.S. Forest Service When the snow melts in Big Cottonwood Canyon, you’ll want to pay Silver Lake a visit. The short, easy loop trail makes its way around the lake, and is a combination of ADA-accessible boardwalk and a more rough (but fairly level) dirt path. Keep an eye out for moose; they’re plentiful here!
- Tony Grove Lake, Logan
GasEngineer/Tripadvisor The pretty, 1.5-mile-long loop trail around Tony Grove Lake is popular with families because it combines an easy trail with gorgeous scenery. The kids will love watching for chipmunks, squirrels, and birds while strolling.
- Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park
lightphoto/iStock via Getty Images The Mesa Arch trail is short and sweet, and it leads to this gorgeous arch. The arch provides a window to some stunning scenery, and a sunrise shot here is coveted by photographers all over the world. The trail is just .7 miles, out and back.
- Snowbird Observation Point Trail, Little Cottonwood Canyon
Breck Tuttle/Alltrails This easy-peasy paved trail at Snowbird is just a mile long, and it takes you to an observation deck with stunning canyon views. The trail is stroller and wheelchair-accessible.
- Grotto Falls Trail, Near Payson
Jose Marines/Alltrails This is one of the easiest waterfall trails in the state, and it’s just .6-mile out and back. Kids love crossing the creek on the narrow boardwalk bridges, and the waterfall is a sweet reward at the end of the trail.
- Grosvenor Arch, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
pspechtenhauser/flickr Here’s a boardwalk trail that’s ADA-accessible and leads you right to a split arch that has two windows! The trail is less than a half mile, out and back. It’s sun-exposed, so slather on that sunscreen, and bring a hat and some water.
What are your favorite easy hikes in the Beehive State?
Weston Sorenson/Alltrails
Located along the Alpine Loop, Cascade Springs is a pretty place to visit in the springtime. The little waterfalls, lush greenery, and charming bridges make this a hike the whole family will love.
Sabrina Baltic/Alltrails
The Bonneville Shoreline Trail has many access points along the Wasatch Front. One of the most popular is the stretch of trail from Emigration Canyon to City Creek. The nice, level trail offers up stunning views of the Salt Lake Valley. Hop on at any of the trailheads and go as far as you’d like!
Steph Croff/Alltrails
Riverside Walk is a great first hike when you first arrive at Zion National Park. It’s paved, flat, and easily accessible to all, and it’s surrounded by those iconic red cliffs that draws visitors to southern Utah all year long. At the end of the trail, you’ll reach The Narrows, and you can wade through the Virgin River for a bit.
U.S. Forest Service
When the snow melts in Big Cottonwood Canyon, you’ll want to pay Silver Lake a visit. The short, easy loop trail makes its way around the lake, and is a combination of ADA-accessible boardwalk and a more rough (but fairly level) dirt path. Keep an eye out for moose; they’re plentiful here!
GasEngineer/Tripadvisor
The pretty, 1.5-mile-long loop trail around Tony Grove Lake is popular with families because it combines an easy trail with gorgeous scenery. The kids will love watching for chipmunks, squirrels, and birds while strolling.
lightphoto/iStock via Getty Images
The Mesa Arch trail is short and sweet, and it leads to this gorgeous arch. The arch provides a window to some stunning scenery, and a sunrise shot here is coveted by photographers all over the world. The trail is just .7 miles, out and back.
Breck Tuttle/Alltrails
This easy-peasy paved trail at Snowbird is just a mile long, and it takes you to an observation deck with stunning canyon views. The trail is stroller and wheelchair-accessible.
Jose Marines/Alltrails
This is one of the easiest waterfall trails in the state, and it’s just .6-mile out and back. Kids love crossing the creek on the narrow boardwalk bridges, and the waterfall is a sweet reward at the end of the trail.
pspechtenhauser/flickr
Here’s a boardwalk trail that’s ADA-accessible and leads you right to a split arch that has two windows! The trail is less than a half mile, out and back. It’s sun-exposed, so slather on that sunscreen, and bring a hat and some water.
If you’re looking for more outdoor fun in Utah this spring, check out the Baby Animal Festival at Cross E Ranch.
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Address: Cascade Springs, Cascade Scenic Dr, Provo, UT 84604, USAAddress: Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Salt Lake City, UT, USAAddress: Riverside Walk Trailhead, Riverside Walk, Springdale, UT 84767, USAAddress: Silver Lake - Big Cottonwood Canyon, 8073 S Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Brighton, UT 84121, USAAddress: Tony Grove Lake, Utah 84333, USAAddress: Moab, UT 84532, USAAddress: 9385 S, Snowbird Center Dr, Snowbird, UT 84092, USAAddress: Grotto Falls Trail, Utah 84651, USAAddress: Grosvenor Arch, Utah 84718, USA
