The trails I gravitate to most are the ones right out the door - no more than an hour's drive from Salt Lake City. These are the trails I do right before or after work, with friends, solo, or save the bigger hikers for the weekend. Whether you want to see new trails, improve your fitness, or lose weight, use this book as a tool for motivation.
Moonshine Arch is located about 7 miles north of Vernal, UT. Not to be confused with the Moonshine Wash Slot Canyon in the San Rafael Swell, this short trail leads to an amazing arch that is 40 ft high, and 85 ft long. The trail is 90% sand and 10% slickrock, so because of this I highly avoid hiking here in Summer months if you bring your dog (the sand/rock will be too hot for their paws). The best time to hike here is in the afternoon, when the sun lights up the arch and alcove. This trail is super short, so it's great for kids or families visiting from out of state to hike to. Be aware that this trail crosses through an open cattle range, so always have a leash handy and don't disrupt the cattle or other wildlife.
The Stair Master Trail in Moab, Utah is another short yet very rewarding hike that leads to an amazing overlook of the Moab valley and LaSal Mountains. This hike is only 1 mile to the overlook, yet it gains 820 ft. The Stair Master Trail parallels the Moab Rim Safari Jeep Route, so you are likely to see many Jeeps or Razors tackling the rock obstacles. This trail can get really hot in summer, so I recommend avoiding it in Summer months if you are hiking with your dogs (the slickrock gets too hot for their paws) OR start really early in the morning to beat the heat.
Maple Canyon is located near Fountain Green, Utah, and the canyon offers several dog-friendly trails and routes for climbers. Maple Canyon is made of conglomerate rock with embedded, rounded clasts, ranging in size from pebbles to boulders, hence the nickname "cobble climbing". Maple Canyon also gets its name from the hundreds of Maple trees lining the trails and road. Fall is the best time to visit, as the leaves burst with orange and red. My friend and I missed the best of the leaves, but this canyon is often dry making it a good hiking area year-round. Camping is also available, but pets must stay on leash in the campsites (reserve here).
Neff's Canyon is located just south of Millcreek Canyon near Mt. Olympus, which starts in the White Hill Estates neighborhood. The trail works steeply up the ravine until it reaches a popular turnaround point, the meadow, and continues on to the ridge. Neff's Canyon gains a steady elevation of 1,000 ft per mile, so you'll definitely get a great workout in. Hike up as far as you feel like it, or make it all the way to the ridge where you'll have an amazing view looking down into Big Cottonwood Canyon.
The Wellsville Cone (9,356 ft) is the 2nd highest point in the Wellsville Mountains, the highest being Box Elder Peak. Wellsville Cone is only 16 feet lower, and if you must bag the tallest peak of the mountains go for it, but the views will be the same. There are several routes to reach either summit and all require bushwhacking, and are long, steep hikes.
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The Crimson Wall Trail (originally called the China Wall Trail) is located in Logan Canyon, and was referred to as such because of the long wall-like formation that lines both sides of Logan Canyon. The wall itself is mainly composed of limestone and quartzite, and offers a few challenging climbs for rock climbers. What attracts hikers to the Crimson Wall is its gorgeous views of Logan Canyon. The best time to hike this trail is in Summer or Fall when the snow is gone and the trail is dry. The trail is mainly north-facing, and therefore the snow and ice remains well into Spring.