Underrated National Forest Hikes in Utah That Rival Bryce Canyon National Park Hikes

While Utah is home to five national parks, otherwise called the "Mighty Five," it also boasts five national forests with scenery that rivals its national park counterparts. While scenery is abundant, whether you visit a Utah national park or forest, the national forests are sometimes less crowded than the national parks. Bryce Canyon National Park, known for its unique geological formations, including thousands of hoodoos, sees nearly 2.7 million visitors annually within its 35,835 acres. And then there's the Dixie National Forest, which is nearly two million acres and far larger than Bryce Canyon National Park. Both are located within Bryce Canyon Country. For those of you who prefer to skip the crowds of Bryce Canyon, here are a few underrated Dixie Canyon National Forest hikes to consider instead:

Arches Trail

The short-and-sweet 0.6-mile Arches Trail near Panguitch has some attributes similar to those on Bryce Canyon National Park trails. Along this trail are several small sandstone arches and hoodoos that create otherworldly scenery in the Red Canyon area of Dixie National Forest, and it may remind you of the Bryce Canyon landscape. This hike can be accessed from the Losee Canyon Trailhead.

Losee Canyon Trail

The Losee Canyon Trail leads hikers through a wonderland of colorful canyons, hoodoos, arches, and rock formations, reminiscent of what you'd find at Bryce Canyon National Park. While Bryce Canyon has the crowds, this 5.9-mile trek doesn't have the same foot traffic. This trail is a bit of a hidden gem, and you may find solitude as well as the occasional equestrian — this trail is shared with horseback riders.

Yant Flats Trail

Set within the Pine Valley Mountains' southern slope at the edge of the Colorado Plateau near St. George, the Yant Flats Trail is your chance to see layers of sandstone undulating like waves across the landscape. While you won't see hoodoos here, colorful Navajo sandstone creates a marble effect among the rock formations and cliffs. In fact, the swirls of colors on the cliffs are why they are called "Candy Cliffs," just to give you an idea of the scenery you'll see here!

Ashdown Gorge Trail

The Ashdown Gorge Trail is hard to beat for a slot canyon hike. However, it is difficult due to its length of 8.2 miles, elevation gain of over 1,250 feet, rocky terrain, and various water crossings. However, the views are outstanding, the creek is refreshing if you go for a swim, and you'll come across waterfalls. The slot canyon here is overlooked due to more popular canyons in the area, but shouldn't be — it's just as beautiful and not as crowded. To navigate this trail, it is recommended that you wear water shoes and take hiking poles. You should also download AllTrails+ to access offline maps if you lose your cell signal.

Silver Rim Trail

The moderate 5.1-mile, out-and-back Silver Rim Trail is another hike that offers views of red sandstone rock formations and red and white cliffs. While the scenery is similar to that of Bryce Canyon, there are no hoodoos here. Depending on the time of year, the landscape will bloom with wildflowers, their bright colors a vast contrast to the earthy desert hues. As cell service is spotty and the trail isn't well marked, I advise downloading a map before you set out on the Silver Rim Trail. You should also bring sun protection since there is little to no shade.

I recently visited Bryce Canyon National Park for the first time, and it was as beautiful as you'd expect. And while there were crowds, it was worth visiting. But if you prefer a quieter hike, the trails mentioned above in the Dixie National Forest are great alternatives to those in the national park.

If you plan on staying in Bryce Canyon County, where you can easily access both Bryce Canyon National Park and Dixie National Forest, consider Under Canvas Bryce Canyon. I stayed here, and it provided the peace and quiet in nature I didn't know I needed!