Utah National Parks Offer Night Hiking Tours
Guided night hikes are now available at Utah's national parks for tourists seeking dark sky experiences.
Tourists explore parks after sunset
Millions of visitors travel to Southern Utah each year to see the Mighty 5 national parks. Zion alone recorded over 1.4 million guests during June, July and August of 2026. Arches National Park saw more than 445,000 visitors in that same summer season. Guides lead groups on trails after dark when temperatures cool down significantly.
Dark sky certification helps tourism
All five parks hold certified International Dark Sky Place status according to official records. Utah boasts the highest concentration of such locations in the entire world today. Visitors flock to these protected areas despite the hot and dry summer weather conditions. Nighttime recreation showcases a lesser-known version of these famous destinations for travelers.
Guides lead dark sky tours
Samuel and Suzanne Francis own Western Whiptails Adventures and guide night hikes in Capitol Reef. They led hundreds of tours throughout the park and surrounding public lands recently. The couple trusts themselves to navigate trails without flashlights while guests use lights.
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