Spring Is Here. Here's Why April Is Actually the Best Time to Start Hiking in Utah.
If you've been telling yourself "I'll start hiking when the weather gets nice" — good news. That time is now.
April in Utah is genuinely one of the best kept secrets in outdoor recreation. It's not too hot, not too crowded, and the landscape is doing things you won't see any other time of year. If you've been on the fence about getting outside, this is your sign.
The crowds haven't shown up yet.
Summer gets all the hype, but it also gets all the people. July at Arches means circling the parking lot at 7am hoping for a miracle. April? You might actually have a trail to yourself. The Instagram-famous spots are still there. The parking spots are too.
The temperatures are actually perfect for hiking.
Utah summers are no joke — triple digits in some areas by June. But April sits in this sweet spot where you're comfortable moving, layering is easy, and you're not rationing your water by mile two. Cool mornings, mild afternoons. That's the dream.
Things are blooming and it's kind of unreal.
Wildflowers are starting to pop. Desert landscapes are green in a way they won't be again until next spring. Snow is still on the peaks, which means mountain views look like something out of a painting. If you're going to fall in love with hiking, April gives you every reason to.
It's the easiest time to be a beginner.
Forgiving temps mean you have more margin for error — forgot to hydrate enough? You're probably fine. Packed a little too light? You won't overheat. April trails are approachable in a way that makes first hikes feel good instead of brutal.
And that matters. Because how your first hike feels is usually what decides whether you go back out.
So what's stopping you?
At Girls Gone Hiking, we watched April last year turn hesitant first-timers into regulars. There's something about spring on a trail, surrounded by other women who are just out here figuring it out together, that makes everything click.
We have hikes coming up this month for every pace and every experience level. No pressure to be fast. No pressure to be experienced. Just come outside with us.
👉 Check out our upcoming April hikes and grab your spot
Girls Gone Hiking Utah is a women's hiking community based in Salt Lake City. All women welcome. All paces welcome. Always.
