Zion National Park in Utah is full of amazing hikes. From short hikes with stunning views to adventurous climbs that are sure to get your adrenaline pumping, there’s a hike for everyone at this national park. While it’s true that I haven’t done all of the best hikes at Zion National Park, I’ve hiked several trail. Plus, I’ve done plenty of research on others, so I feel confident that you will find a hike that’s perfect for you.
The Best Hikes at Zion National Park
As always, this list is in no particular order, but will still cover the best hikes at Zion National Park.
Canyon Overlook Trail
I know I said this list is in no particular order, but I’m starting with what I consider to be one of the best hikes at Zion National Park (maybe even the best?). The Canyon Overlook Trail is a one mile out and back trail that takes you to an amazing overlook of in Zion National Park. While there is a bit of elevation, I think it’s perfectly manageable.
I’ve done this hike on both of my visits to Zion National Park. On my first visit, I hardly had any time at Zion National Park, but managed to squeeze in this hike and absolutely loved it. On my second visit, I hiked this trail again (after hiking three other trails at the park), and the views still blew me away. There was no doubt in my mind that this is a hike everyone should add to their list at Zion.
Now, there is one catch with this trail. While many of the other hikes on this list can be accessed via the park shuttle, this trail is different. The trailhead is located on the Mount Carmel Highway, just east of the Mount Carmel Tunnel. So, if you want to do this hike (and you should–it’s the best hike at Zion National Park), you need to have your own vehicle.
Additionally, parking is extremely limited. The main lot only has space for a few vehicles, but you’ll find cars parked along the pull offs further down the road. Depending on where you park, you may have to add more to your hike. On my second visit, my hike was 1.6 miles because I had to park a quarter mile down the road from the trailhead (the next morning, there were three empty spaces in the official parking lot). The bottom line is park legally and safely. If there is no place to park, go do something else in the park and try again later.
Stats: I logged 1.19 miles and 436 feet of elevation gain over 39 minutes (including a very long break at the main overlook).
Emerald Pools Trail
The Emerald Pools Trail unsurprisingly takes you to the Emerald Pools and is another of the best hikes at Zion National Park. The Upper Pools are the most hardest to reach, although I wouldn’t call it difficult. The Middle Pools are easier reach, but the Lower Pools can be closed in winter (due to concerns of falling ice).
For me, the Emerald Pools Trail was more about the journey than the destination. I really enjoyed the views of the canyon as I hiked but I couldn’t help but feel disappointed when I finally reached the Upper Pools. Maybe it’s more impressive during a visit in summer, but I didn’t find the end destination that impressive. But since this hike rates highly on AllTrails and some of the other pictures I’ve seen from this trail look nice, I have to imagine that I wasn’t here during the right time of the year.
For hikers wanting to do this trail, you’ll want to get off at Stop #6 for The Grotto. Stop #5 (Zion Lodge) also works, but the main bridge to access the trail is closed. Instead, you’d need to hike The Grotto Trail from Stop #5 to Stop #6 to reach the trailhead (see the next entry for more).
Stats: I logged 2.69 miles and 663 feet of elevation gain over 1 hour and 25 minutes. Note that access to the Lower Pools was restricted during my visit due to concerns of falling ice, so I only visited the Upper and Middle Pools.
Grotto Trail
The Grotto Trail is a 0.5 mile point to point hike that takes you from The Grotto parking lot to the Emerald Pools parking lot. As far as hikes in Zion National Park go, this one isn’t one of the best. But if you need to connect to a different bus stop, use this trail instead of the road.
I have a lot of strong feelings about this hike, mostly stemming from how I think it’s overrated. Yes, I know this is a post about the best hikes at Zion National Park, so it’s going to seem strange that I’m including a hike that I don’t think is that great.
Here’s the thing. On AllTrails, the Grotto Trail has a 4.0 star rating which in my opinion is about two stars too high. This is a glorified pedestrian path and really shouldn’t be considered a hike. I probably sound very harsh, but that’s reality. The Grotto Trail is not one of the best hikes at Zion National Park, but yet it has a high rating.
Now, if you need to connect between two shuttle stops (or the bridge at the bus stop #5 reopens), I think that it’s perfectly reasonable to take this trail. My point is, there is no reason to hike this trail for the scenery. It’s nothing different than you’d get on the road.
For hikers wanting to do this trail, you’ll want to get off at Stop #6 for The Grotto.
Stats: I logged 1.15 miles and 52 feet of elevation over 25 minutes.
Pa’Rus Trail
This was a trail that I did during my first, very short visit to Zion National Park. It’s more of a pathway than a traditional trail, but I’m still including it.
I’ll be honest, this is not a trail that I’d recommend for most people. There are some nice views of the canyon and the trail is paved for a decent part of it. But the trail isn’t very exciting and there’s just better options. I had hiked this trail because I had very limited time this was something that worked in that limited time frame. That said, I wouldn’t hike this trail again.
However, this trail does have one advantage. It’s mostly paved and the trail is handicap accessible, unlike every other trail I have on this list. Therefore, for some people, this may be the best hike at Zion National Park.
For hikers wanting to do this trail, I recommend starting at the Visitor Center (Stop #1) and walking to Canyon Junction (Stop #3). At Canyon Junction, you can take the shuttle back to your starting destination or continue on into the canyon.
Stats: The NPS lists this trail as 3.5 miles round trip with 50 feet of elevation gain.
Riverside Walk
The Riverside Walk is a trail that takes you from the very end of the Zion Canyon Shuttle to the start of The Narrows. Like the name suggests, it takes you along the river with the canyon walls towering all around you. The hike was beautiful and fairly easy, making it one of the best hikes at Zion National Park, at least in my opinion.
For hikers wanting to do this trail, you’ll want to get off at the Temple of Sinawava (Stop #9).
Stats: My tracker glitched here. I logged 2.25 miles and 719 feet of elevation gain over 50 minutes. The distance of 2.25 is in line with the NPS website, however the NPS lists the elevation gain of just 57 feet. I can guarantee I did not climb 700 feet on this hike so I don’t know what went wrong with my tracker.
Angel’s Landing
One of the best hikes at Zion National Park is the hike to Angel’s Landing. It’s by far its most thrilling hike. While the trail starts out as a series of switchbacks that keep leading you higher and higher into the mountains, you’ll eventually reach the narrow spine that leads you to Angel’s Landing. This part of the trail is very narrow, with steep drop offs to each side. A chain has been installed to help, but this is still dangerous. Numerous hikers have fallen to their death on this hike.
While this trail looks like it has some amazing views, I’m freaked out by that narrow section of trail. If it was flat, I’d probably do it, but the uneven terrain makes me nervous (mostly lingering side effects from my dislocated knee at Sky Pond at Rocky Mountain National Park). If you’re like me and feeling uneasy about this section, do not hike this trail. This is not the place that you should confront those fears.
Since Angel’s Landing is one of the best hikes at Zion National Park, it’s incredibly popular. However, because the main spine at the end of Angel’s Landing is so narrow, it has to be single file. Therefore, the NPS had to limit the number of hikers on the trail. A reservation system was put in place and now anyone who plans to hike the trail between March and October is required to have a permit, similar to having a timed entry at other parks.
And don’t think you can sneak by without a reservation. Rangers will be checking permits along the trail. I did not hike the trail but as the trailhead for the Emerald Pools is right nearby, rangers asked everyone which hike they were doing in order to check for permits. They are very thorough even in March when the permits are first required.
For hikers wanting to do this trail, you’ll want to get off at Stop #6 for The Grotto.
Stats: This trail is listed as 5.4 miles with nearly 1500 feet of elevation gain.
Observation Point via East Mesa Trail
This hike was on my list, but my plans fell through and I never got to hike it. Observation Point is said to be one of the best views in Zion and based on the photos I’ve seen, it looks stunning. Therefore, this gets add to my list of the best hikes at Zion National Park. The trail is approximately 7 miles long, but doesn’t have a lot of steep areas which is awesome.
Parking at the trail is limited and it’s recommended to have a high clearance vehicle to make it to the trailhead. If your rental car doesn’t make the cut, don’t worry. The Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort offers shuttles which are an affordable $7 per person.
This is what I had planned to do but as I visited Zion National Park during the winter months, the shuttle wasn’t running yet. So, I had to skip this hike, but it’s definitely high on my list for the next time I visit.
As a note, this hike can be done in winter, but you must have your own vehicle. But it is important to note that this area of Zion National Park is higher in elevation than the main canyon area, so weather conditions, especially in winter, can be very different. During my visit in March, I didn’t encounter any snow on my trails through the canyon, but the reviews for this trail specifically mentioned mud, slush, and snow. Make sure you are prepared for the conditions.
Additionally, Observation Point used to be accessible via the East Rim Trail, but due to rock fall, that trail is closed. Currently, if you want to visit Observation Point, you’ll need to use the East Mesa Trail.
Stats: This trail is listed as 6.8 miles round trip with about 300 feet of elevation gain.
The Narrows
One final hike that I is on my list, but I haven’t done yet. The Narrows is another of the best hikes at Zion National Park. There are two ways to hike this: Bottom-Up and Top-Down.
Bottom-Up is the easier of the two options as it does not require a permit. The start of the trail can be reached from the Temple of Sinawava (Stop #9 on the Zion Canyon Shuttle). And technically, the Riverside Walk, which I discussed earlier, is the start of this trail.
As there’s no one spectacular viewpoint (according to the NPS, every part of this trail is beautiful), you can hike as much or as little as you want before turning back. Note that depending on how far you hike, you’ll have to cross the Virgin River and I highly recommend having proper gear. Also, pay attention to the flash flood warnings as this area has potential for flash floods that have killed hikers in the past.
Stats: This trail is listed as 9.4 miles round trip with 334 feet of elevation change.
Top-Down is the less popular alternative to The Narrows. Hiking the top down route requires a wilderness permit. While the hike can be done in one day, there is also an option to do the hike as an overnight backpacking trip. While you’ll cover some of the same ground on the Top-Down hike as the Bottom-Up hike, the Top-Down hike is a one way hike, starting at Chamberlain’s Ranch and finishing at the Temple of Sinawava. This has some unique logistics to it, but looks spectacular. If you’re interested in this hike, I recommend reading more at the NPS website.
Stats: This trail is listed as 16 miles, one way with 1300 feet of elevation gain.
Which Hike Should You Do
While I can give recommendations, I can’t tell you exactly what hike is best for you. However, I can give my top picks for the best hikes at Zion National Park.
Canyon Overlook Trail – If you only do one trail at Zion National Park, make it this one. This trail has my favorite views in the park and since it’s short, I think it’s a must do.
Riverside Walk – This trail is easy, but also provides some stunning views of the Zion Canyon.
Emerald Pools – Since I already have two hikes on my list, I’m going to add one more shorter hike and that’s the Emerald Pools. Out of the three hikes on this list, the Emerald Pools would be the one I would cut if I had to. That’s not because it’s bad, but because I think the Canyon Overlook Trail and Riverside Walk are better.
How Long Do You Need at Zion National Park
How long you need at Zion National Park depends on how much hiking you want to do. I’d say for the average visitor, you could see and do most of the main sights in one, very busy day. Two days at Zion will give you a bit more time so you can explore more in depth and not feel as rushed. For those you love hiking, you could spend a week at Zion and have plenty of interesting hikes to do.
When to Visit Zion National Park
It is possible to visit Zion National Park all year round. Summers are hot and can have very high crowds. In winter, crowds get so low that the Zion shuttle stops its operation. But winter also comes with the chance of snow, ice, and cold temperatures on your hikes. Spring and fall can offer a nice balance between crowds and weather.
I’ve visited Zion twice, once in October and once in March. The weather in October was lovely, but the park was very busy. In March, the shuttle was not running, but there were still enough crowds that rangers needed to close the Canyon Scenic Drive by mid afternoon. The temperatures were cool but with plenty of layers, it was manageable.
Where to Stay on Your Visit to Zion National Park
Springdale, Utah is right outside the main entrance to Zion National Park and has its own shuttle that links up with the main Zion shuttle. This makes Springdale the ideal place to base yourself for Zion National Park. However, Springdale is expensive, particularly during peak and even shoulder seasons. For those on a budget, there’s a few other options.
On my first visit to Zion, I spent the night in Mount Carmel Junction which is just a 15 drive from the eastern entrance of the park. Prices can be high but are significantly more reasonable than Springdale.
On my second visit to Zion, I based myself in Hurricane which was a 35 minute drive from Springdale and the western entrance of the park. I stayed here during the off season (the first weekend in March) and got a fantastic deal on a hotel. Prices here were significantly less than what I saw in Springdale.
Other options include La Verkin (30 minutes from Springdale) and Kanab (35 minutes from the eastern entrance).
Getting to Zion National Park
Your best option for getting to Zion National Park is having your own vehicle. If you do not have your own vehicle, you’ll likely need to utilize an expensive shuttle service that connects Springdale with one of the nearby airports. St. George, Utah is just an hour from Springdale but has limited flights. Las Vegas is a 2 and a half hour drive from Springdale (although there is an hour time change on the way).
My Visit(s) to Zion National Park
So far, I’ve visited Zion National Park twice. My first visit was very rushed as I didn’t have enough time to dedicate to the park. I was visiting Zion as part of my 10 Days in Utah National Parks road trip and I only ended up with a half day at Zion. This was not ideal, but I did get to drive the Mount Carmel Highway, hike the Canyon Overlook Trail, and see a bit of scenery on the Pa’Rus Trail.
Two and a half years later, I visited Zion again on a long weekend trip. This time I gave myself one full day to explore and was able to do the best hikes at Zion National Park (aka Emerald Pools, The Grotto Trail, Riverside Walk, and the Canyon Overlook Trail). This second trip was all about redemption and trying to figure out why everyone ranks Zion National Park so high on their list of favorite parks. After this trip, I figured it out. Zion is beautiful.
My advice to a great visit is to hike the Canyon Overlook Trail, drive the Mount Carmel Highway, and try to do a hike on the Canyon Scenic Drive (I recommend Riverside Walk).
Final Thoughts
Zion National Park is beautiful and full of amazing hikes to do. For avid hikers, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time, but even the average visitor will have to take a good hard look to determine which hikes are best for them.
Continue Your Adventure
Zion National Park: For those with limited time, check out my guide to One Day in Zion.
Utah: Beyond Zion National Park, you’ll find the other four members of Utah’s Mighty Five. Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park can both be reached from Moab. Capitol Reef National Park feels more off the beaten path, but is still beautiful. Bryce Canyon National Park is just a short drive from Zion and features the iconic hoodoos. But don’t overlook its state parks, such as Snow Canyon State Park. Plus, find everything you need to start planning your trip with my Utah Travel Guide.
Itineraries: Try my 10 Day Utah National Park Road Trip which covers all of Utah’s Mighty Five and a few bonuses as well. If you’re running short on time, try my long weekend itinerary that includes stops at both Zion and Bryce Canyon.
US National Parks: Start planning your national park vacation with my US National Park Travel Guide. You’ll find information about each park, photos, itineraries, and everything you need to start planning your trip.