7 Utah Canyon Hikes Better Than Zion (2024)

Zion National Park is the crown jewel of Utah's national park system. While there is a lot to know about Utah's national parks, one thing is clear, Zion is the most famous of them all. With more than 4.5 million visitors in 2023, as many as 10,000 guests walk into Zion every day during peak months.

What draws such massive crowds day after day? The biggest draw is the amazing canyon views. Red rock walls and a winding river, framed by green vegetation, make Zion an oasis in the arid Southwest. Along the rim lie some of the scariest hikes in Zion National Park, challenging hikers mentally and physically and adding to the park's allure.

Canyons, however, are nothing new in Utah. All across the state, there are canyon formations, created by various natural forces and offering a wide variety of environments and views. Many of the hikes in these canyons are potentially even more scenic, offer more outdoor activities, and are far less crowded than Zion.

Here are just seven of Utah's best canyon hikes. They may even be better than Zion Canyon itself.

7 Peekaboo Slot Canyon and Spooky Slot Canyon Loop

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

With some of the best underrated hiking alternatives to Zion National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante is no stranger to being compared with the heavyweight national park.

Zion Canyon is stunning, and it has some seriously challenging hikes, but for canyoneering enthusiasts, the far more remote Peekaboo Slot Canyon (and nearby Spooky Slot Canyon) in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is far superior. These slot canyons, found along Hole-in-the-Rock Road, can be experienced separately or as a combined loop.

Unlike the deadly Keyhole Canyon in Zion, the difficult Peekaboo Canyon is accessible to those who have at least some experience, are in good physical condition, and are comfortable with rock scrambling.

The color of these canyons, magnified by the soft curves of the walls, is shockingly vibrant and creates an immersive experience for visitors (without 9,000 other sweaty bodies to rub shoulders with).

6 Timpanogos Cave Trail

American Fork Canyon, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Northern Utah's canyons are totally different from Zion Canyon, so much so that trying to compare them is nearly impossible. However, for this Utahn, American Fork Canyon is one of the best in Utah.

The scenic Alpine Loop, which connects American Fork Canyon to Provo Canyon (home of Bridalveil Falls) is beautiful any time of year and has countless turnouts for hiking or simple wandering.

The entire canyon is full of evergreens and aspens, making it lush green even when the rest of Utah is barren. In Fall, American Fork Canyon is one of the best places in Utah to enjoy Fall foliage, with brilliant displays of aspen, oak, and maple.

The hike to Timpanogos Cave is particularly dramatic, with views of everything that makes American Fork Canyon beautiful.

At the end of the trail is the namesake Timpanogos Cave, which travelers can also explore as part of a guided tour. The view inside the caves is something that even Zion Canyon can't compete with. With so much color and variety to experience, American Fork Canyon is even better than Zion Canyon.

5 Little Wild Horse Canyon Trail

Public Land near Goblin Valley State Park

Zion National Park has a lot of wonderful things, but when it comes to slot canyons, options are rather limited. In Zion Canyon itself, the Narrows is the major in-canyon hike and is therefore constantly full of people.

Other slot canyons can be found in the park's backcountry and throughout the rarely-visited Kolob Canyons side of Zion National Park. These hikes are technically challenging, and rank among the most dangerous hikes in Zion National Park.

For those who want that slot canyon experience with fewer crowds (and less danger), the beginner-friendly Little Wild Horse Canyon trail is better than Zion Canyon. Unlike most slot canyon mazes, Little Wild Horse Canyon is a simple loop trail that provides just enough of a squeeze to be exciting but does not require canyoneering experience, special gear, or route-finding.

What Little Wild Horse Canyon does have, however, is stunning red-orange walls and a classic Utah desert backdrop in a far less busy setting.

4 Little Cottonwood Creek Trail

Little Cottonwood Canyon, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Utah, and particularly Zion Canyon, is well known for its colorful sandstone that is easily eroded by the wind and water. Little Cottonwood Canyon, near Salt Lake City, is a completely different landscape.

Instead of soft sandstone, Little Cottonwood Canyon is formed by strong granite, creating a different, but equally colorful display. The lush forest also allows much larger wildlife to roam freely, including moose, elks, and black bears.

The Canyon is full of scenic hikes for all abilities, and unlike Zion National Park, there is plenty of parking. The Little Cottonwood Creek Trail is particularly fitting for those who want an alternative to the Zion Narrows Riverside Walk.

Following along the river, the Little Cottonwood Creek Trail is lush and scenic, with a great deal of history relating back to the early pioneers in the area. A more accessible and less crowded version of the riverside walk, Little Cottonwood Canyon is a far more relaxing alternative to Zion Canyon.

3 The Maze

Canyonlands National Park

Angels Landing in Zion Canyon is one of the most dangerous hikes in the US, and the most famous trail in Zion National Park. It is not, however, even the most dangerous hike in Utah. The Maze District, a remote network of slot canyons, is far more deadly, thanks to its remote location and total lack of resources.

For hikers looking to test their physical and mental fortitude, the Maze slot canyons may be unbeatable. It takes a two-hour drive along dirt roads to even reach these canyons, and once inside, hikers are on their own.

Unlike a casual day being shuttled around Zion, hikers in The Maze usually backpack for several days, using route-finding to navigate their way through the district. When it comes to challenging canyon hikes, even Zion National Park can't compete with the Maze in Canyonlands National Park.

2 Broads Fork Trail

Big Cottonwood Canyon, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

So, Utah doesn't get any points for naming, but thankfully Big Cottonwood Canyon (not to be confused with Little Cottonwood Canyon) is much more than a name.

Big Cottonwood Canyon is big on adventure. There are plenty of standard hikes, much like Zion Canyon, that appeal to every ability level. Big Cottonwood Canyon also has dramatic backcountry areas, including some of the best rock climbing routes in the state (yes, even better than Zion).

For a quiet trail that highlights the beauty of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Broads Fork Trail is the way to go. Starting in the same area as the Lake Blanche Trail, the Broads Fork Trail shows off the canyon formations just outside the big city.

1 Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail

Bryce Canyon National Park

Ask most native Utahns about their favorite national park and guests may be surprised to find Bryce Canyon is the resounding favorite. A relatively large site, Bryce Canyon National Park combines the wonders of the canyon walls with the beauty of Utah's unusual formations.

Even for Utahns, who are consistently spoiled by the iconic parks all around them, Bryce Canyon and its exceptional hiking trails stand out as something truly unique. Despite being the second-most-visited national park in Utah, Bryce Canyon sees just half the visitors of Zion Canyon, making it a far more relaxing experience.

Locals and tourists alike love hiking down into the "canyon," which is more like a series of amphitheaters, among the alien hoodoo formations, particularly in Bryce Amphitheater. Hiking in and through the hoodoos, the Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail, which leads visitors through the largest concentration of hoodoos, is everything that makes Utah unique.

Even in the gorgeous, canyon-rich landscape that is Utah, the Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail through Bryce Canyon Amphitheater is genuinely exceptional, and arguably even better than Zion Canyon.