Utah is filled with some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, so it’s no wonder you can find some truly spectacular spots to visit! I am about to blow your mind with these 7 stunning hidden gems in southern Utah.
The best part is all these spots are DOG FRIENDLY!
And while you are here, I have included a free downloadable itinerary to Southern Utah that is filled with even more cool spots not featured on this blog post!
1. Explore The Strange Goblin Valley
Although this state park doesn’t fly totally under the radar, it is far less popular than many of the other state parks found in Utah.
Goblin Valley State Park almost feels whimsical with these cute mushroom like rock formations. AND the maze-like pathways provide a perfect dog-friendly playground!
To be honest, this was a short pit stop due to the high summer temps in July and there is no shade here so we were all dying.
Booties for your dog are essential if you are visiting between May – August, otherwise you risk burning the paws of your sweet pup and no one wants that!
Best Tips for Visiting Goblin Valley State Park
- ADMISSION: $20/private vehicle, $25/weekend and holiday rate (Fri-Sun in April, May, September, October), $10/motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian
- HOURS: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. Every Day
- TIP: There is absolutely NO service for miles and miles and miles, which means you will need to download what you need before getting here.
2. Check Out This Horseshoe Bend Lookalike
Have you heard of this hidden gem tucked away in the south of Utah? Think of Horseshoe Bend, but multiplied by three! Goosenecks State Park can be found just 30 minutes from Monument Valley and is still widely unknown making it a perfect hidden gem in Utah.
What makes this place truly spectacular is the series of canyons that have been naturally formed by a winding River giving it a “gooseneck” look.
It’s dog friendly and the entrance fee is only $5, which is a steal when you take a look at this place!! So don’t sleep on it, and make sure to include this spot on your next road trip through Utah.
Information When Checking Out Goosenecks State Park
- ADMISSION: $5/day-use fee per car with up to 8 people
- HOURS: 24-hours, year-round
- TIP: If you do bring your dog keep them on the leash! There is no guard rail that provides protection from the edge.
3. Make A Pit Stop At Wilson Arch
Making your way to Moab? Add this easy pit stop to your list!
It’s one of the best hidden gems in southern Utah. Located just south of Moab on Highway 191 there is a pull-out that allows you to park and quickly scale up this large arch to take in the views!
The best part is this is an easy pit stop and the trek up requires minimal effort. Keep in mind temperatures can soar in Southern Utah and the rock face can get hot.
Bringing your dog along? Make sure to put a pair of booties on them during those summer months to protect their feet from the hot rock surface.
Some Pointers on Exploring Wilson Arch
- ADMISSION: Free!
- HOURS: 24-hours, year-round
- TIP: This pit stop can easily take under 20 minutes
4. Take An Off-Roading Trip to Factory Butte
This impressive flat-topped butte often gets overlooked by neighboring Canyonlands, Capital Reef National Park and Escalante State Park. But what makes this spot truly magical is that this butte towers over this barren landscape!
This can be challenging to access, because you need a 4WD vehicle to get close to Factory Butte but we did just a little off-roading in our Ford Edge to get as close as we could.
Please be aware the path to get to Factory Butte is a dirt road and it can be hazardous to drive post-rain. So if you don’t have 4WD and don’t want to get stuck forego this spot.
Don’t sleep on one of the best hidden gems in southern Utah!
5. Skip Spaceship & Visit Moonscape Overlook
Did we get lost and spend an embarrassing amount of time trying to find this place? Yes! I can confirm this place is ABSOLUTELY worth the detour though!!!!!
Let’s face it, Elon Musk has yet to perfect space travel so in the meantime take a trip to the Moonscape Overlook to feel like you’ve escaped to this satellite planet!
Moonscape overlook will leave you speechless! The views are so, SO spectacular. And not frequently visited by tourists, so you can get this place all to yourself.
Wanna know how to get here? I’m going to skip the lengthy directions to keep you from suffering the same fate we did.
I did you a solid and dropped a pin when we got there, so here are the coordinates you can copy and paste into your gps: 38.45190° N, 110.83839° W
6. Tour Bryce Canyon's Dog-Friendly Twin
Did you know you can catch views of beautiful red hoodoos and spires outside of Bryce Canyon?? Skip the crowds and head next door to Red Canyon!
Unlike Bryce Canyon most of the trails found here are dog-friendly, here are some of the best hikes found inside Red Canyon:
• Pink Ledges Trail (0.7 miles)
• Golden Wall Trail to Castle Bridge Trail (2.1 miles)
• Bird’s Eye Trail (1.7 miles)
• Photo Trail (0.3 miles)
• Red Canyon Tunnel Trail (0.8 miles)
And don’t forget to make a pit stop at the iconic Red Canyon tunnel found on scenic State Road 12,
7. Discover these Magical Rainbow Mountains
Can you believe this mythical place is in Utah?? These colorful hills make you feel like you’ve landed on Mars. There is a reason this is one of my absolutely favorite hidden gems in southern Utah!
This spot is certainly not easy to find, but located just west of Hanksville you can find these rainbow mountains.
Most of what is found online will tell you to go to Bentonite Hills, but if you don’t have 4W drive you’ll want to head to Mars Desert Research Station. A Mars simulation in the southern Utah desert. The station is not open to visitors, but you’ll want to drive just past it to catch these views.
Just make sure you are past the station and not trespassing.
I hope this guide helps you discover more of this beautiful state. And if you’re looking for another hidden gem in Southern Utah to discover make sure to check out my travel guide to Kanab here.
Don’t forget to grab your free downloadable itinerary to Southern Utah that is filled with even more cool spots not featured on this blog post!