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In Utah, hiking will bring you to some beautiful places-places you'll never see near the roads. It is a great environment for ultralight backpacking. If you know the terrain well, and the weather reports, you can even sleep under ledges or in caves, with no need to bring a tent. For safety, I'd bring a small tarp or bivy sack, just in case.
Below are links to the official park service pages for two of the most beautiful parks I have been in. They are great for hiking, both worth seeing even if you are just passing through on the way to somewhere else. (The "somewhere else" is covered below.)
Bryce Canyon National Park has incredible red rock formations, and great trails too. It is too crowded for my tastes, but I'd go again anyhow, just to drive through and enjoy the beauty. Visitor information: (435) 834-5322.
Zion National Park is incredible. Look closely at the spots on the walls five hundred feet above you. They are usually climbers. Again, it is a busy place, especially if you are only dayhiking the slot canyons, but it's worth seeing at least once in your life. Visitor information: (435) 772-3256.
Utah hiking is mostly desert hiking, at least in southern Utah. And it doesn't have to be crowded. In Escalante/Grand Staircase National Monument you can drive the back roads for hours without seeing a soul, so you know you'll have the trails to yourself. In fact, you won't even need trails in many areas, which is good, because you won't find trails in many areas (bring a good map). Information (435) 644-4300.
The rainy season is from July to September in southern Utah, and flash floods are a possibility. Temperatures can top 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. In the spring or fall, you can go hiking and backpacking light and comfortable. You can take a bivy or tarp, a lightweight sleeping bag, a 2-ounce
Canyoneering is probably as popular in Utah now as hiking (and Zion is a great place to start). Going down slot canyons, through water, and over cliffs is easier, of course, if you are traveling light. Another reason to do Utah the ultralight way. If you follow a stream, you can carry less water as well.
I love southern Utah, but have only been hiking there a couple times. I hope to return, and to improve this page soon.