There’s simply something about the American Southwest. The colors are louder, the stars are brighter, and time seems to decrease. Utah is one of those locations that has a presence. You feel it the second you enter its rust-colored canyons or stand under its Martian-looking arches.Since beginning my solo travel journey in 2012, I have actually come back to Utah to solo explore and camp off the grid four times. It’s wild, it’s strange, it’s serene– and for solo female tourists, it’s one of the most fulfilling states to check out on your own.Whether you want a spiritual recharge, an epic treking journey, or a comfortable take in a funky warm spring, here are 10 of the very best locations in Utah for solo female travelers– all based upon firsthand experience:1. Mystic Hot Springs Monroe, UT This location is like entering a Wes Anderson desert dream. Photo vintage tubs carved into the hillside with steaming warm water flowing in, surrounded by orange rock and open sky.I stayed in
one of the funky modified buses on-site and liked how subtle and artsy all of it felt. It’s rustic, it’s wonderful, and the sunsets are next-level. → What It resembles to See Mystic Hot Springs 2. Zion National Park
Western Utah
It’s wild how silent the salt flats are– like basing on another planet with nothing but the crunch of salt underfoot. I camped here solo and woke up to a pastel daybreak extending constantly in every instructions. It’s flat, it’s otherworldly, and the reflections after a rain? Unreal.
→ 75 Awesome things to do in Utah
4. Capitol Reef National Forest
→ The Ultimate Utah National Parks Trip Schedule
5. Moab
Moab is more than simply a base for Arches and Canyonlands– it’s a solo tourist’s play ground. I enjoyed the energy here: casual coffeehouse, outdoor gear stores, and great deals of other solo adventurers around. It’s the ideal location to stockpile, swap stories, or just unwind after a few nights of camping. → The best guide to Moab, Utah 6. Dead Horse Point State Park I know, rough name– but this park offers a few of the most cinematic views in Utah. I camped near here on public lands solo and had coffee overlooking a canyon that appeared like it belonged on Mars. Benefit: fewer people than Canyonlands or Arches, but simply as stunning. → Solo Travel in the American Southwest– My Precise Travel plan 7. Bryce Canyon National Park
Those hoodoos! They look like something out of a fairytale. Bryce is very workable solo– you can hike the Navajo Loop or Queens Garden Path and still have time for stargazing at night. And as a dark sky park, it’s a stargazer’s dream. Though it’s lovely at any time of year, I’m partial to the winter season when the snow develops a plain contrast with the oranges of the hoodoos.
→ My Preferred Stops on a Utah Road Trip
8. Escalante + Coyote Gulch
Grand Staircase-Escalante seems like the last frontier. I backpacked into Coyote Gulch, and it remains one of the most breathtaking hikes I’ve ever done. Natural arches, towering canyon walls, and even a waterfall or two– all without the crowds of the national forests. This is one of those locations that rewards effort with outright magic.
→ My Coyote Gulch Guide
9. Boulder and Scenic Highway 12
→ My Favorite off the beaten course Stops on a Utah Trip
10. Arches National Forest
There’s something empowering about seeing the sun rise through Delicate Arch with no one else around. I advise staying in Moab and waking up early to hit the road. Even much better? Moab has solo-friendly coffee shops and hostels where it’s easy to fulfill other tourists if you feel like being social.
→ My best Arches National forest guide
Safety Tips for Solo Travel in Off-Grid Utah
Much of Utah’s magic depend on its remote corners– locations where you might go hours without seeing another human, which becomes part of the appeal. However that also suggests being prepared and self-sufficient. Here’s how I do it:
- Let someone understand your plans. Especially if you’re entering into the backcountry. Drop a pin, leave a paper travel plan, or utilize a Garmin InReach or satellite phone.
- Carry more water than you believe you need. Utah is dry and hot– even in spring or fall. I typically bring a hydration bladder and extra bottles.
- Download offline maps (like Gaia GPS or Maps.me offline) before leaving any town.
- Load an emergency treatment package and understand how to utilize it. Even minor injuries can become a huge offer out there.
- Start early and plan for abrupt weather modifications. Monsoon season can bring flash floods, and temps swing extremely from day to night.
- Trust your impulses. I have actually solo camped all over Utah and felt totally safe– however I likewise move on if a place doesn’t feel right.
- Leave NO TRACE: Much of Utah camping is totally off the grid, meaning there are no bathrooms or trash cans. Leave it better than you found it, and pack out what you pack in, consisting of human waste.
→ What It’s Like to Solo Backcountry Camp
Honestly? Backcountry outdoor camping in Utah is among the most empowering things I’ve ever done. It’s quiet. It’s real. And it reconnects you to something deep.Whether it’s your first solo trip or your fiftieth, Utah is a place that satisfies you where you are– with wide open spaces, otherworldly landscapes, and the type of silencethat helps you hear yourself again.Here’s to warm springs, hoodoos, and solo experiences that stay with you long after you
leave the canyon.– Kristin