If you’re looking for adventure, hiking Utah solo is an experience like no other. From its iconic national parks to its dramatic desert landscapes, Utah offers the perfect backdrop for solo hikers. In this guide, Hiking Utah Solo: A 7 Day Travel Guide & Itinerary, I’ll walk you through why hiking solo in Utah is so rewarding, tips for staying safe, and a full week-long itinerary to help you plan your adventure.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or new to solo hikes, this guide will give you everything you need to make the most of your Utah trip.
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Utah is one of the 50 U.S. states. Located in the West, it borders Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada.
WHY HIKE UTAH SOLO
I was first introduced to the possibility of visiting Utah when I started dating a Utahan native–things didn’t work out but it introduced me to a state that I’d never looked at twice. Once I did a bit of digging it was clear that this was a pretty incredible state, especially for hiking with ‘The Mighty 5’, Utah’s 5 incredible national parks.
In terms of why to hike Utah solo, every year when I plan a big trip (4 weeks or more), I push myself out of my comfort zone and make at least one of those weeks solo. In the past, it’s allowed me to meet new people, explore at my own pace and as corny as it sounds, learn more about myself. Utah is also one of the safest states, making it a perfect choice.
IS IT SAFE HIKING UTAH SOLO
Absolutely, as mentioned above, Utah is one of the safest states in the USA. There were no points in the trip where I felt unsafe. Everyone I met was super friendly and helpful, but I also put certain things in place that helped. Like choosing Airbnbs and hotels with excellent solo traveler reviews (you can select this as an option on booking.com), invested in a reliable vehicle, used the Find My app, and checked in with family daily. For more, I have a comprehensive list below.
BEST TIME TO VISIT UTAH
Utah was my second stop on a month-long USA trip and I arrived here mid-May. Even though a little warmer in the southern areas like Moab, it was a perfect time to visit. Spring bought cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and the weather overall was incredible. Especially when spending a lot of time outdoors, these were ideal conditions for hiking Utah solo.
If you’re planning your visit, I highly recommend choosing a time outside of peak season. You’ll avoid the intense heat and overwhelming crowds, making your experience more relaxed and allowing you to fully appreciate Utah’s stunning landscapes.
HOW TO GET THERE – TRANSPORT AND HIRING A CAR
There are several ways to get into Utah, with flying and driving being the most effective. Flying into Salt Lake City is your best option for a variety of flights, though smaller airports are dotted around the state if you have a specific destination in mind.
Getting around Utah is another story. Some areas are quite remote, so while this is great to explore, having your own vehicle is ideal. Otherwise there are guided tours or day trips as options.
Since I wanted to travel counterclockwise, I flew into Las Vegas and rented a car there. Vegas has a wide range of car rental companies, all in one location. With a shuttle from the airport it makes it easy to find what you need. I had booked in advance, but it turned out to be unnecessary. I recommend avoiding Alamo, especially if you’re an international traveler—they refused my well-known travel card, despite my advance booking. Fortunately, Avis was incredibly helpful, and they had a Jeep Wrangler available on the spot; a vehicle that I was thankful for having many times on the trip.
While there are other ways to explore Utah, renting a car is the best option for those who want the freedom and flexibility to explore at their own pace.
MOST IMPORTANT TIPS FOR HIKING UTAH SOLO
Traveling solo can be daunting, especially as a woman. This trip in particular felt very new and scary to me for many reasons. However, I’m so thankful I did it.
Here are some things that I learnt along the way that will be helpful when you’re hiking solo through Utah:
- Have an e-sim ready to go before you leave – I recommend Holafly.
- Take a water bladder and a reliable backpack – not only is it environmentally friendly, its also super convenient. And remember to pack plenty of water.
- Download the area you’re traveling on Google Maps for offline – there are so many spots without service in Utah.
- Wherever you go take a portable charger with you. You never know when you’ll be in a situation where you’ll need it.
- Take a portable clothes line – with hiking for a full week it was handy to clean smaller clothes along the way.
- Invest in apple tags or something similar.
- Even though I didn’t need it, pepper spray helped me feel safe – I kept it on me at all times.
- Be wary of your surroundings as there is plenty of active wildlife in Utah – if hiking alone I found it comforting to sing out loud.
- As mentioned above invest in a reliable vehicle especially if you plan on visiting some remote places.
- Used Find My app (or something similar) so your friends and family know where you are.
- And even further than that check in with family/friends regularly. Have a set time that you’ll get in touch.
- Send your itinerary to your friends or family and let them know if anything changes.
- Wherever you can, have a flexible itinerary – I planned out my 7 days quite meticulously but still had wiggle room, just in case.
- Be aware of how much you are traveling in both hours and miles. I travelled over 1,685 miles | 2710 km in 7 days – these long drives with no one to share the load definitely took their toll but having that mental preparation beforehand definitely helps.
- Being a solo female traveller I wore a wedding ring and had a story in my mind just in case I was hassled.
- Always check trail conditions and weather forecasts.
- Most importantly trust your instincts—if something doesn’t feel right, adjust your plans.
All of these things I did in preparation and kept in mind whilst travelling, and would do the same on any other solo trip in the future. Even though it’s a scary thing to put yourself out there like this the rewards are unmatched. Having the independence of hiking Utah solo is worth every effort.
7 DAY UTAH TRAVEL ITINERARY
Thankfully I was able to check off most of what I had planned for my trip. There were just a few things I didn’t get to but when I have the chance, would love to go back to. I’ve marked these in italics below, just in case you’d like to add them to your itinerary.
Here’s how my solo Utah hiking itinerary unfolded:
Land, collect vehicle, stay in St George.
Remember to purchase a National Park Pass. I opted for the America the Beautiful Pass as I knew I would easily spend over $80USD on park entrance fees.
Zion National Park – 2 Nights:
Day One:
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- Stock up on groceries and drive from St George. Check into accommodation in or near Zion National Park.
- Drive to Observation Point Trailhead and hike via East Mesa Trail to the lookout for sunset.
Day Two:
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- Hike Angels Landing–my permit was issued from 12pm (for everything you need to know, check out my post on tips for Hiking Angels Landing).
- From here, drive to Bryce National Park.
You could fit one a smaller hike on the morning of Day Two – I would highly suggest the Narrows whilst in Zion NP.
Bryce National Park and Bentonite Hills – 1 Night:
Day Three:
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- Experience sunrise at Sunset Point, and hike the Navajo Trail Loop. It’s well worth doing this first thing in the morning when there are minimal crowds. Make sure to take a walk along the Ridgeline, too.
- Drive to Hanksville or your accommodation, relax for the afternoon.
- Drive to Bentonite Hills and experience this incredible place for sunset.
Canyonlands National Park & Moonscape Overlook – 1 Night:
Day Four:
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- Up early to explore Moonscape Overlook for sunrise.
- From here, drive to Canyonlands – Island in the Sky. Walk/visit Mesa Arch, Shafer Canyon Overlook and Green River Overlook for sunset.
Arches National Park & Dead Horse State Park – 1 Night:
Day Five:
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- Hike to Delicate Arch for sunrise and before the crowds roll in, walk to Double Arch.
By Day five my body needed rest, so I chose to do relax for the evening. My original plan had been to drive to and explore Dead Horse State Park for sunset.
Salt Lake City – 1 Night:
Day Six:
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- Drive to Salt Lake City, enjoy sunset at Antelope Island.
Alternatively, if you don’t mind an extra drive or have more time in Salt Lake City, I would highly suggest visiting the Pink Lake for sunrise or sunset.
Bonneville Salt Flats – 1 Night:
Day Seven:
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- Drive to Bonneville Salt Flats for sunrise, then it was onto the next state.
As you can see this is a pretty full itinerary but I can confidently say that it was well worth it!
CONCLUSION
In this post, Hiking Utah Solo: A 7 Day Travel Guide & Itinerary, I’ve shared how to explore Utah’s stunning landscapes on a solo adventure. From essential safety tips to a detailed day-by-day itinerary, this guide is designed to help you plan an unforgettable solo trip. Whether you’re seeking solitude in Utah’s national parks or looking for a personal challenge, hiking Utah solo is an empowering and rewarding experience.
Explore my comprehensive travel guides for even more must-see places around the USA.