What to Wear When Hiking in the Desert: The Ultimate Guide for the best Desert Hiking Gear
Hiking in the Utah, Arizona or Nevada desert offers some of the most unique landscapes you’ll ever see anywhere in the world! The beautiful red rock formations and expansive canyons are incredible, but knowing what to wear when hiking in the desert is crucial for comfort, safety, and enjoyment.
The desert environment is unique, characterized by intense sun, fluctuating temperatures, and rugged terrain, so your hiking attire needs to be carefully chosen. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into wearing the right hiking clothes in the Utah desert and share essential tips for dressing smartly on your desert adventure.
Why Choosing What to Wear when Hiking in the Desert Matters
Before hitting the trail, it’s important to understand the challenges of desert hiking. The Utah desert is known for:
- High daytime temperatures
- Strong UV radiation
- Dry, arid conditions
- Cold nights, especially in spring and fall
This means that what you wear hiking in the desert can make or break your experience. Wearing inappropriate clothing can lead to intense sunburn, dehydration, overheating, or chills after sundown.
Most people think hiking in the desert means a tank top, because its gonna be so hot, but that honestly is not a good idea at all. Trust me.
What to Wear When Hiking in the Desert
1. Sun Protective Shirt / Pants
- A sun-proof, dry wick shirt is one of the best things you can wear when in the desert. It’ll keep cool, absord your sweat and protect you from the sun.
- Even when it doesn’t feel hot out, that sun is brutal and you are burning. be smart, cover up and wear one of those shirts.
2. Hat & Sunglasses
- That sun is no joke, a baseball cap or a wide-brim hat is essential for keeping the sun out of your eyes and for protecting your face from sunburn. If you got a wide-brim hat, even better to protect the back of your neck
- Sunglasses to help you protect your eyes is also crucial
3. Good Pair of Hiking Shoes
- You will encounter a lot of dirt, sand, rocks etc, so having good strong hiking shoes is crucial for your hikes in the desert.
- A lot of trails go up-hill or require you to climb some rocks, and non-slip shoes will be your best friend when you find yourself on a smooth surface.
4. Accessories and Extras for Hiking in the Utah Desert
- Hydration pack Reservoir: This is a great thing to bring, a camelback or one of the other packs that you can easily store in your backpack. This will carry more water and have it easily accessible to you all while keeping your hands free.
- Durable hiking back pack: I love my Cotopaxi, but anything that’s durable, lightweight and has pockets for easy access is great and necessary to bring to hold first-aid stuff, sunscreen, snacks, water and whatever else you may need.
- Bandana: If you don’t have a hat or still have some skin exposed, wearing a bandana around your neck or on your forehead is a great way to absorb sweat and protect yourself from the sun. Not to mention, they look pretty cool too.
Sample Outfit: What to Wear Hiking in the Desert
(Everything linked is currently what I love to wear, and I’m sure you will too!)
- Long sleeve or short sleeve dri-fit sun-proof boating shirt
- Comfortable fast-drying hiking shorts with zipper pockets
- Any kind of hat and sunglasses
- Sturdy hiking shoes / boots
- High, thick socks to prevent blisters
- Fanny pack, back pack and a water pack. Water, water, water – Even if it doesn’t feel that hot or like you’re sweating, you are sweating and you are getting dehydrated.
Final Tips
- Always check the weather forecast and be prepared for changing conditions.
- Avoid heavy or dark clothing that traps heat.
- Prioritize sun protection at all times.
Knowing what to wear when hiking in the desert can quite literally be a difference between life and death.
I went hiking in Utah recently in the National Parks and I ended up getting sunburnt my first day because the sun didn’t feel that hot and I didn’t feel like I needed protection. But I quickly adapted after that and was fine the rest of the trip.
Dress how I talk about in this guide and you will be fine, want to show off the guns and go shirtless or wear a tank top? You are going to be in a world of hurt the next day and several days after that. Hike smart and hike prepared.
Looking for more travel resources? Check out that page here
Click the link here for my official Utah National parks guide