Utah National Parks: The Ultimate Hiking & Backcountry Guide

Beyond the shuttle stops and scenic overlooks lies a version of Utah's Mighty 5 most visitors never see.Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches hold some of the most demanding, rewarding backcountry terrain in the American West: technical slot canyons, multi-day routes through country so remote you may not see another hiker for two days, and trails that gain thousands of feet across exposed slickrock with no shade for miles.This guide is written for hikers who want that version of the Mighty 5. Written by a hiker and canyoneer with over a decade of experience across the Colorado Plateau, it skips the beginner hand-holding and gets straight to specifics: which trails are genuinely hard, which permits you actually need, where water sources are reliable and where they are not, and how to plan a multi-day route through terrain that punishes poor preparation.It is also honest about risk. This landscape has cost fit, experienced hikers their lives. Respect it, plan conservatively, and it will reward you with some of the finest hiking left in the country.What's inside:- Technical routes park by park, from Zion's canyoneering canyons to the Maze district's remote traverses- Permit systems, water strategy, and multi-day route planning for serious backpacking trips- Desert safety: heat illness, flash flood response, and self-rescue guidance- Gear, navigation, and trail-rating chapters written for experienced hikers, not beginners- A 12-day sample backcountry itinerary and route-planning worksheets- Field log pages to track conditions, water sources, and lessons from every trip- Straight talk on when a route needs a guide - and when it doesn'tPerfect for experienced backpackers and canyoneers planning a serious Utah trip, hiking clubs building a group itinerary, or anyone who has already done the easy trails and wants to know what's next. It also makes a solid gift for the hiker in your life who has read every other guidebook twice.This region does not forgive carelessness. Plan it right, and grab your copy to start building the trip.