Forget Zion: Visit Utah's True Wilderness Instead (2024)

Everyone loves Zion National Park in Utah. In fact, it was the third most-visited national park in the country in 2023, with more than 4.6 million visitors coming through the gates. As beautiful as the region is, and as iconic as the hikes are, visiting Zion National Park during this peak season can be a challenge. After all, Zion National Park gets more than 600,000 guests during the month of July alone - that's more than many parks see in a year.

If the crowds are too much, Utah has plenty of quieter alternatives, which offer similar experiences and views. Some travelers choose to skip Zion for underrated Capitol Reef National Park, so they can still check a national park off their bucket list. Others, however, really want to get off the beaten path. For that, Dark Canyon Wilderness is the way to go.

With old-growth forests, meadows, desert, and even a few arches, Dark Canyon Wilderness has all the makings of an epic Southern Utah adventure, without the company. Here's everything to know about Utah's most underrated wilderness area.

About Dark Canyon Wilderness

Dark Canyon Wilderness is free to visit, but hard to reach compared to Utah's national parks

Aerial view of the Dark Canyon Wilderness in the Manti-La Sal National Forest, Utah, USA

First things first: where is the Dark Canyon Wilderness? Unlike Zion National Park, many visitors have never even heard of Utah's most underrated wilderness area. Dark Canyon Wilderness lies just a little south of Canyonlands National Park, another criminally underrated Utah national park site.

Since Dark Canyon Wilderness is so remote, getting to the area is far more challenging than either Canyonlands or Arches National Park, which also sits in the southeastern part of Utah.

Coming from Salt Lake City, travelers veer off I-15 South, the major interstate, and drive through Spanish Fork Canyon along Highway 6. In Green River, travelers firmly leave the beaten path and head through the quieter corners of Utah along Highways 24 and 95, including the isolated but adventure-filled town of Hanksville.

Alternatively, the eastern side of the Dark Canyon Wilderness can be accessed along Highway 191, the same highway that connects to Arches National Park, Moab, and the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park.

Regardless of which part of Dark Canyon visitors intend to explore, there are plenty of perks to enjoy once there. Unlike the national parks of Utah, there is no entrance or permit fee required to visit Dark Canyon Wilderness.

Since the park is so hard to reach, and far less well-known than Utah's national parks, the trails are also significantly less crowded than the assembly lines often found in Zion National Park.

What To See In Dark Canyon Wilderness

Dark Canyon Wilderness has a little bit of everything that makes the southwest unique

The national parks of the southwest are full of unique geological and historical features. From the famous Delicate Arch in Arches National Park to ancestral Puebloan structures in Colorado's "least scenic" national park, Mesa Verde, the imagery of the southwestern national parks is some of the most recognizable in the US.

The Dark Canyon Wilderness is a great place to find a snapshot of all of these iconic views in one rugged, rarely-visited place. Native American ruins litter the area, easily visible from the trails, and allowed to be explored by backpackers traveling through the area.

Zion National Park is perhaps most well-known for its dramatic canyon walls, with a unique oasis nestled at the bottom. Dark Canyon Wilderness has its own dramatic sandstone cliffs, and, like Zion, the cliffs protect a secret paradise. In Dark Canyon, the oasis consists of old-growth ponderosas and aspen trees, fed by various creeks trickling through the canyons.

Dark Canyon Wilderness even has its own arches, including Keyhole Arch and Peavine Arch. While not as famous as the formations in Arches National Park, these unusual geological structures add even more interest for those exploring Dark Canyon Wilderness, showing off one of Utah's most classic images.

Hiking In Dark Canyon Wilderness

The rugged wilderness landscape is perfect for experienced hikers and backpackers

When it comes down to it, Utah's outdoor spaces are made for hiking adventures. Zion National Park is home to some of the top-rated hikes in the US, including Angel's Landing. While Dark Canyon Wilderness may not have the accolades of Zion, it does have some truly impressive trails, many of which are ideal for multi-day adventures.

Dark Canyon East Trail

Native American Pueblo in Dark Canyon Wilderness, Manti-La Sal National Forest, Utah, USA

For those hoping to enjoy the archaeological side of Dark Canyon Wilderness, the Dark Canyon East Trail is a great place to start. Despite spanning only 4.8 miles out and back, the Dark Canyon East Trail is on the harder side of moderate, with a steep decline into the canyon before following the canyon floor for the hike.

Steep sandstone cliffs frame the trail, adding visual interest and a sense of grandeur to the area. Puebloan buildings, preserved by the desert heat, can also be seen along the trail. This trail can also be combined with a variety of other hikes in Dark Canyon Wilderness, making it a top choice not only for day-hikers, but for backpackers as well.

Peavine Canyon Trail

Aspen trees in Fall in Dark Canyon Wilderness, Manti-La Sal National Forest, Utah, USA

With creek crossings and aspen groves, the Peavine Canyon area hardly feels like the arid Utah desert the region is known for. Like the Zion Narrows Riverside Walk, one of the best beginner-friendly hikes in Zion National Park, Peavine Canyon provides plenty of reprieve from the beating sun.

Unlike the easy Riverside Walk, however, the Peavine Canyon Trail involves a 1,000-foot elevation change down into the canyon floor area and back out. A moderately challenging trail, this five-mile hike is a favorite for those looking to spend the day in the Dark Canyon Wilderness.

Dark Canyon Loop

Overlook view of Dark Canyon Wilderness and Manti-La Sal National Forest in Utah

Passing through both the Dark Canyon Wilderness and part of Bears Ears National Monument (which used to include Dark Canyon), the epic Dark Canyon Loop is a multi-day backpacking adventure through all the greatest hits of the wilderness area. Visiting Cherry Canyon, the Hanging Gardens, Peavine Arch, and Woodenshoe Canyon, the Dark Canyon Loop Trail visits everything that makes southern Utah exceptional.

A true desert adventure, the challenging Dark Canyon Loop is at least a two-day adventure, but many hikers extend the journey into three or four days, giving themselves time to explore and add to the basic trail. Even without detours, views of Native American dwellings, ancient forests, and dramatic canyon walls are everywhere.

In total, the USDA Forest Service lists seven day-hikes in Dark Canyon Wilderness, with five backpacking trails maintained throughout the park as well.

The remote Dark Canyon Wilderness is a perfect snapshot of southeastern Utah. Forests, deserts, cliffs, Native American dwellings, and remote trails embody what makes Utah such a unique outdoor area. Dark Canyon Wilderness is particularly appealing to experienced outdoor adventures thanks to its similarities to Zion National Park but without the throngs of people.

Free to visit and full of possibilities, Dark Canyon Wilderness is the perfect alternative to Zion National Park. Have you ever visited? Tell us about your experience in the comments!