She Travels Utah + Solo Hiking Tips

In partnership with Visit Utah , I spent a weekend in one of the most beautiful places in North America. Solo travel can seem daunting at times but I’ve come to appreciate it so much. Solo travel has allowed me to go outside of my comfort zone. Solo hiking has allowed me to make deeper connections with nature and has overall increased my self-confidence.

Although being a solo hiker can seem scary at first, I’ve compiled a few tips and recommendations to help your solo adventure go smoother. These are some things that help me on my solo adventures and made my time exploring Southern Utah amazing:

Before I head out on a trail or destination, I do my research. I try to know everything I can about where I am going, the trail conditions and the weather as much as possible so that I am best prepared.

I make sure to let at least one person know where I’m going so that in the event of an emergency, they’ll know where I am.

I carry hiking essentials that include water, a first aid kit and some form of protection. I carry pepper spray and a whistle. I haven't had to use them yet while hiking or traveling and I hope I never need to. However, if the situation arises, I am prepared.

When I first started hiking solo, I started with more familiar places like a local park. I also spent more time in public places alone so that I would get comfortable with being by myself in public. If it is your first time hiking, don’t choose something very strenuous unless you know you can accomplish it. I started with a few miles each time and increased the level of challenge gradually.

Last but not least is to trust your instincts. There have been times I just wasn't feeling the trail and decided to turn around. If I'm not feeling it, I just leave. It is better to be safe than sorry because the trails will still be there.

Utah is well known for its “Mighty Five” national parks - Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands. I explored the Kolob Canyons, a section of Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and the Dixie National Forest.

cedar city and kolob canyons

Cedar City is located under 4 hours from Salt Lake City Airport. Cedar City is a great place to stay for exploring Kolob Canyons at Zion National Park. Add this destination to your travel bucket list. It's located Northwest of Zion Canyon and it is less than an hour drive between both sections of the park.

Here are three trails to check out during your time at Kolob Canyon:

Timber Creek Overlook Trail: Along this trail you can witness spectacular views of the Kolob Canyons, the Kolob Terrace, the Pine Valley Mountains and so much more. This is a short 1.1 mile (out and back) trail that will leave you speechless.

Middle Fork Taylor Creek Trail: Hike through this sandy, 4.9 mile (out and back) trail with amazing views of the canyon and cliffs on both sides of the trail. There were several creek crossings but my feet did not get wet at all.

Kolob Canyon Scenic Drive: Enjoy a nice scenic drive along the park. There are plenty of stops along the way to park and if you choose to do so you can hike as well.

After a long day of hiking, head back to Cedar City and enjoy a nice dinner at Centro Woodfired Pizzeria.

Bryce canyon national park

Have you ever been to a place that takes your breath away? This was my first time at Bryce Canyon National Park and all I gotta say is WOW.... and that’s exactly what I was saying the entire time I was hiking here.

Bryce Canyon is known for having the largest concentration of hoodoos (irregular columns of rock) found anywhere on Earth. Bryce Canyon provides a spectacular view of the hoodoos and so much more.

There are several day hiking trails located at Bryce Canyon. I started the day enjoying a beautiful sunrise at Sunrise Point. Then I proceeded to hike the Navajo Loop, Queen’s Garden and Rim Trail.

The most popular trail is a combination of the Queen’s Garden Trail and Navajo Loop which is a 2.9 mile hike that will take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours. There is a section of the Navajo Loop that splits and you can decide if you want to check out Two Bridges or Wall Street. I hiked through Wall Street and then made my way to Two Bridges, then proceeded to hike Queen’s Garden. Either way you will be amazed by the stunning beauty at the park.

Bryce Canyon National Park is a popular hiking destination that receives over 1.5 million people every year. If you want to beat the crowds, plan to arrive at the park early. I started hiking around 7:30 am and got to enjoy hiking in some solitude. The parking lots near the amphitheater fill up fast. However, Bryce Canyon does offer a shuttle service from different parking lots near the park. Be sure to stop at the visitor center for more information about the park, as well as to pick up a souvenir.

Dixie National Forest

Only 20 minutes away from Bryce Canyon National park is Red Canyon, a section of the Dixie National Forest. As one of the largest forest in Utah, the Dixie National forest stretches for about 3,000 square miles.

I hiked the Golden Wall Trail which is a 4.2 mile trail. I did a loop of the Golden Wall Trail in combination with the Buckhorn Trail and Red Canyon Bicycle Trail for a total of about 5 miles. You can access this trail south of the Red Canyon Visitor Center. There is parking available at the Red Canyon Visitor Center which makes it a great access point to this trail.

Other recreational activities such as mountain biking, fishing and horseback riding are available at some areas of this forest. Red Canyon is the perfect destination to hike in solitude. I really enjoyed my time here because it was less crowded and I felt as if I was by myself the entire time.

Bryce City is adjacent to Bryce Canyon National Park and offers places for lodging and restaurants to grab a bite to eat. I enjoyed a nice dinner at Stone Hearth Grille which is on the other side of Bryce Canyon National Park (about a 20 minute drive).

Irene OgetoMay 22, 2022