The Route of the Utah Trail
The Utah Trail is still in its early planning stages, but we have identified four potential route options, each offering a unique long-distance hiking experience. The proposed routes range from 644.5 miles (1,037.8 km) to 830 miles (1,336.2 km), with additional options spanning 706.8 miles (1,137.5 km) and 760.7 miles (1,223.7 km). While the final route has yet to be approved, our goal is to create a stunning, diverse, and immersive hiking experience that showcases Utah’s most breathtaking landscapes.
If approved, the Utah Trail could traverse some of the state’s most iconic and ecologically diverse areas. Potential routes may pass through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, and multiple wilderness study areas. Hikers might navigate Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, the rugged terrain of the Manti-La Sal National Forest, or the high peaks of the Mount Timpanogos Wilderness, among many other spectacular locations. These areas offer a diverse mix of desert, canyon, alpine, and forested environments, ensuring that the Utah Trail will be one of the most unique long-distance hiking experiences in the country.
The landscapes hikers will traverse will be nothing short of extraordinary. Depending on the final route, they may wind through towering red rock canyons, cross vast desert plateaus, climb into lush alpine forests, and traverse rolling highlands with sweeping views. Adventurers could find themselves standing among the wind-carved hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, exploring the deep slot canyons of Escalante, or walking through meadows bursting with wildflowers in the Wasatch Range. Each section of the Utah Trail will offer a new and unforgettable experience, leaving hikers in awe of the land’s sheer beauty.
The trail will introduce hikers to an incredible variety of plant life and ecosystems. If the route includes high-elevation sections, hikers may find themselves surrounded by quaking aspens, Douglas firs, and towering ponderosa pines, while lower elevations could take them through sagebrush flats, juniper forests, and riparian corridors lined with cottonwoods and willows. In the spring and summer, the trail will come alive with lupine, Indian paintbrush, columbine, and other vibrant wildflowers, adding bursts of color to the dramatic landscape.
Wildlife encounters will likely be a highlight of the Utah Trail. Depending on the final route, hikers may come across mule deer, elk, or even a mountain lion in the remote backcountry. The alpine regions may provide opportunities to see mountain goats scaling sheer cliffs or moose grazing near high-altitude lakes and wetlands. The vast forests and canyons could also be home to black bears, coyotes, and foxes, while the more remote and rugged areas may offer rare glimpses of gray wolves, which are beginning to reestablish themselves in parts of Utah. In the desert and canyonlands, hikers may spot bighorn sheep navigating rocky ledges or jackrabbits darting through the brush. Overhead, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, and red-tailed hawks will soar against the vast Utah skies, while clear mountain streams and lakes could reveal beavers, river otters, and native trout.
Though still in development, the Utah Trail is being designed with a commitment to sustainability and conservation. Permits will be required to protect both the land and the hikers, ensuring that the trail remains a place of beauty and adventure for generations to come. We also plan to work closely with land agencies, conservation groups, and local communities to ensure that the trail is developed responsibly, with minimal environmental impact and a focus on long-term preservation.
As we move forward, our goal is to establish a world-class long-distance trail that connects hikers to Utah’s most remarkable landscapes. Whether the final route stretches 644 miles or 830 miles, the experience will be one of adventure, discovery, and deep appreciation for the wild spaces of Utah. We can’t wait for you to experience it.
