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This winter instead of making a yearly state to-do list, I decided to just make a bigger state bucket list. Then I decided to turn this into a little series. I wanted to do specific states that I spend a lot of time in, want to spend a lot of time in, or am close to a lot.
I also wanted to do more general regional bucket lists for all the other things I want to do, which is a lot. They are all pretty outdoor focused with a few non-outdoorsy things, too.
Next up in my series is my outdoor Utah Bucket list. As I do things and write posts for them, I’ll update this to link back to those. If I do something and don’t have a post, I’ll just cross it out. I would like to do one a month with 12 total. These bucket lists are partially to help me keep track of things, but also to inspire you to get out there, too.
I have done a Utah bucket list before, but it was much more general and a great way to help plan a road trip. This Utah bucket list was going to be a lot more specific with actual hikes, not just parks or drives and a few hikes. So instead of getting rid of the old one and making a new one, I combined them into this awesome list.
Utah bucket list-worthy State Parks
- Sand Hollow
- East Canyon
- Goblin Valley
- Kodachrome Basin
- Antelope Island
- Snow Canyon
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Dead Horse PointGoosenecks- Escalante Petrified Forest
- Edge of the Cedars
- Anasazi Museum
National Park hikes for your Utah bucket list
Zion
- Brave Angel’s Landing
- Overlook Angel’s Landing from Observation Point
- Face the crowds and explore The Narrows
- Score a permit for The Subway
- Get off the beaten path on the Wildcat Canyon trail
- Explore Kolob Canyon away from the crowds
- Drive Kolob Terrace Road
- Admire the Emerald Pools
- Hike to Timber Creek Overlook
- Hike into Hidden Canyon
- Look for bighorn sheep at Canyon Overlook
Bryce Canyon
- Hike Navajo Loop / Wall Street / Queens Garden / Peek-a-boo Loop
- See the Natural Bridge
Relax at Mossy Cave and the waterfallLook for endangered Utah prairie dogs- Hike Fairyland Loop
Capitol Reef
- Hike to Hickman Bridge
- Drive Capitol Gorge road
See the Pioneer Register and the Tanks (this is in the Capitol Gorge post)- Explore the desert narrows in Sulphur Creek
Look for petroglyphs- Pick fruit in the orchards
Get pie from the Gifford House- Drive the Cathedral Valley Loop
- Hike to the Waterpocket Fold Overlook
- Drive Upper Muley Twist
- Hike Cohab Canyon
- Hike to Cassidy Arch
- Admire the Milky Way
- Hike Lower Muley Twist
- Hike to Halls Creek Overlook
- Hike down to Brimhall Arch
- Explore the slot canyons: Headquarters Canyon and Surprise Canyon
- Navajo Knobs
Arches
- See Delicate Arch at sunrise or sunset (or at all)
- Face the Fiery Furnace
- Enjoy the entirety of Devil’s Garden (I’ve only seen part)
- See the iconic Landscape Arch
- Pretend you’re in an old western on Park Avenue
Stop at Sand Dune Arch and hike the Broken Arch Loop- Admire Double Arch and the Windows
Canyonlands
- Catch sunrise at Mesa Arch
- Drive White Rim Road
- Escape the crowds in The Needles District
- See Horseshoe Canyon
- Drive The Maze District and see the Dollhouse
- Hike to Druid Arch
- Hike to the Great Gallery Pictographs
- Chesler Park Joint Trail Loop
Glen Canyon
- Climb to the cliff dwellings at the Defiance House Ruins
Get in Annie’s Crack- Hike the Smith Fork Slot Canyons
- Boat to Cathedral in the Desert
- Unleash your inner explorer and look for Dinosaur tracks (I’ve seen one at Rainbow bridge in the post below)
- Search for petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks
- Scramble up Hole-in-the-Rock
- See Reflection Canyon
- Drive to Tapestry Wall
- See Rainbow Bridge
- Boat on Lake Powell
- Climb further up Cathedral in the Desert
National Monuments to add to your Utah bucket list
Grand Staircase Escalante
- Coyote Gulch
- Golden Cathedral
- Hole-In-The-Rock (drive)
- Zebra slot canyon
- Peek-a-boo slot canyon
- Spooky slot canyon
- Willis Creek Slot Canyon
- Cosmic Ashtray
- Upper Calf Creek Falls
- Escalante River Trail
- Devils Garden
- Lower calf creek falls
- 100 Hands Pictograph
- Rainbow Bridge
- Natural Bridges
- Bears Ears
- Dinosaur
- Flaming Gorge
- Cedar Breaks
- Timpanogos Cave
Greater Salt Lake Area (Northern Utah) bucket list hikes
- Bonneville Salt Flats
- Great Salt Lake
- Lake Blanche
- White Pine Lake
- Lofty Lake Loop
- Brighton Lakes
- Fantasy Canyon
- Diamond Fork Hot Springs
Scenic Backways and Byways for your Utah bucket list
- Scenic byway 12
Highway 95- Burr Trail
I70 (Green River to Salina)- Alpine Loop Scenic Byway
- Trail of the Ancients
- Valley of the Gods
- Halls Crossing side of 276
- La Sal Loop
- Potash Road
Other Hikes in Southern Utah that are bucket list-worthy
- Buckskin Gulch
- Wire Pass
- Kannaraville Falls
- The Wave
- White Pocket
- Buckskin Hollow
- Little Wild Horse Canyon
- Ding and Dang
- Corona Arch
- Navajo Arch
- Nine Mile Canyon petroglyphs
- Rochester Panel petroglyphs
- Paria Canyon
- Little Sahara Dunes
- Diamond Fork/Fifth Water hot springs
- False Kiva
- Target Ruin at Butler Wash
- See the Spiral Jetty
- Boulder Mail Trail
- Stay at Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch
- Toadstool Trail
- Fantasy Canyon
- Moqui Caverns
- Leprechaun Canyon
- Find an arrowhead
Find a piece of pottery or something- Hike all of Little Wild Horse Canyon (here is a post about the little I did see)
- Morning Glory Arch
Go into Dark Canyon Wilderness- Red Cliffs Nature Trail
- Broken Arrow Arch
- Moab Man (Golf Course rock art)
- Copper Ridge dinosaur tracks
- Willow Spring dinosaur tracks
Mill Canyon dinosaur track site- Sego Canyon
- Five Kiva Pueblo
- Sheiks Canyon
- Bullet Canyon
- Buckhorn Draw dinosaur tracks
- Moon House Ruin
- 17 Room Ruin
- River House Ruin
- Upper Sand Island Petroglyphs
- San Juan River Petroglyphs
- 20-mile dinosaur trackway in Escalante
- Bartlet rock art site
- Intestine man art site
- Mill Canyon dinosaur trail
- Moab maiden petroglyph
- Moab mastodon petroglyph
- Moonflower Canyon petroglyphs
- Snake in the mouth petroglyph
- Owl Panel
- Head of Sinbad petroglyph
- Molen Reef petroglyphs
- Buckhorn Wash petroglyphs
- Hidden Panel
- Crack Canyon
- Ochre Alcove
- Old Woman Wash
- Moqui Caverns
- Timpanogos Falls
- Belly of the Dragon
That’s all for my outdoor Utah bucket list for now. As I find new things, I’ll add them. And unlike my other bucket lists, I have too many posts to list each one here, but you can find all of them linked out from my Utah road trip guide.
Have you done any of these things? Which ones? Is there anything else I should consider adding to my Utah bucket list, especially in the Salt Lake area?
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I like lists too! Gosh, I would love to do at list a third of these things. I haven’t explored Utah as much as I want. This morning I saw a post about hiking at Antelope Island. What a gorgeous place!
The wow factor. Very nice.
Yes, Wow! I love the way you’ve put together your lists, and added pictures as well.
I have lived in Utah all my life, and this is one of my favorite bucket lists! Thank you for sharing.
I often drive for touring companies and people often ask me what place I recommend they visit. I tell them,
“Keep exploring Utah, for every time you do, you’ll add ten more items to your bucket list.” Its truly a great place to live.
I have added Shafer Trail from Canyonlands to my drives. It’s pretty awesome!
Thank you so much! I’m so happy to hear it’s inspired you to add to your own bucket list.
I bet driving for the tour companies is fun! What has been your favorite Utah hike/drive/activity so far?