12 Best Hikes in Zion National Park with Insane Views

Last updated on February 24th, 2026

Zion National Park is easily one of the most popular national parks in the United States. And we aren’t just saying that, it was the 2nd most visited park in 2024 with almost 5 million visitors! And we totally understand why it’s so popular. The scenery around the park is jaw-dropping, and all of the best hikes in Zion National Park have phenomenal views!

Zion National Park is located in the beautiful state of Utah, along with 4 other national parks. Together they are known as The Mighty Five, and all of them are beautiful and unique in their own ways. With Zion being famous for its steep orange and red cliffs, deep slot canyons, and the Virgin River winding through the park. It is the most popular of the five for a reason!

There’s a lot to see, and so many great hikes in Zion National Park, so it can be hard to decide what to do! We’ve visited the park several times now and have experience hiking almost all of the trails there. So we’ve created a guide of the 12 best hikes in Zion National Park to help you decide which ones you should tackle during your trip!

Map of the Best Hikes in Zion National Park

Want to Learn More as you explore?

We highly suggest downloading the Guide Along – Zion & Bryce Canyon or the Utah Bundle (totally worth the cost!!) audio tours to navigate you on the road. Even when you don’t have service it knows where you are and provides commentary and history about the area. As well as alerts you when to stop for specific sights. These guides are fun to listen to and the narrator feels like a fun friend in the car with you!

The Best Hikes in Zion National Park

We’ve organized our list of the best hikes in Zion National Park by length, from shortest to longest. Some trails require a shuttle to access (more on that in the tips section below) so we’ve noted which ones require a shuttle and which ones don’t.

We have also included the AllTrails link for each trail, so that you can read current conditions before you head out. Be sure to get AllTrails+ so that you can download the map and ensure you never get lost! (Use our code aplusk30 for 30% off!)

And to learn more about these hikes, you can download the official Zion trails map as well. Or buy our Utah National Park ebook for all of our best tips throughout the 5 Utah parks.

From huge arches mimicking Arches National Park, to canyons bright orange and deep like Canyonlands, the hikes in Zion National Park really have it all!

1. Canyon Overlook Trail

Miles: 0.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 157 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Shuttle Required?: No
Trail Map & Current Conditions

One of the easiest hikes in Zion National Park that you should include during your time here is Canyon Overlook Trail. We highly suggest this trail for sunrise! It’s only 1 mile round trip and a 163 ft elevation gain, making it easy to get to in the dark.

For those nervous about heights, there is some exposure along this trail. Both at the beginning, along a cliff edge (with railing), as well as at the overlook itself. Make sure to not get too close to the edge!

2. Timber Creek Overlook

Miles: 1.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 255 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Shuttle Required?: No
Trail Map & Current Conditions

Looking for a hidden gem in Zion National Park? The Kolob Canyons area of the park is GORGEOUS and way less busy than the main canyon. There are less hikes to choose from here, but we recommend the Timber Creek Overlook trail! This trail is relatively flat and easy for any hiker, and is super short at just 1.1 miles total. And you get beautiful views of the canyon from the trail. There’s plenty of parking at the trailhead, plus picnic tables and bathrooms.

3. Emerald Pools Trail

Miles: 3.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 620 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Shuttle Required?: Yes (get off at stop 6)
Trail Map & Current Conditions

One thing we love about Zion National Park is that despite being a desert climate, there are beautiful water features to enjoy. And one of the best hikes in Zion National Park to see the water is the Emerald Pools trail.

After years of wanting to do this hike, we finally got to experience it in mid April 2025. The hike itself is family friendly, but don’t mistake that for easy. It has some uphill climbs! But along the way you’ll have amazing views into Zion Canyon, plus get to walk through some narrow rock walls. Once at the Emerald Pools you can explore both a lower and upper area. At the lower area, you can walk into a rocky alcove where, depending on the water levels, you can walk behind a waterfall!

The upper level takes you to a huge rocky cove, which is the perfect spot to enjoy a snack or lunch. Make sure to keep going from here to the Middle Emerald Pool, which has a sweeping overlook. Plus a side section you can wander down!

We hiked Emerald Pools shortly after a rainstorm, which meant there was some water trickling down, but it wasn’t a huge waterfall by any means. Honestly, we would’ve still enjoyed it even without water. The rock alcove and the views along the way were still beautiful! However, some people find the trail to be underwhelming if it is dried up. So if seeing water is important to you, we suggest reading recent AllTrails reviews to see what the current conditions are.

4. Watchman Trail

Miles: 3.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 636 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Shuttle Required?: No
Trail Map & Current Conditions

Even though the Watchman Trail is rated as moderate, it’s still one of the easier hikes at Zion National Park that still offers wonderful views of the area. Plus, it’s accessible from the visitor’s center, so you don’t have to wait in line for the shuttle to hike this trail. We really enjoyed this trail and the views from the top. Especially at sunset!

This hike is fairly shaded, especially in the morning. And, it’s usually overlooked, so there aren’t nearly as many people here as there are on some of the other hikes in Zion National Park.

5. Pa’rus Trail

Miles: 3.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 134 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Shuttle Required?: No
Trail Map & Current Conditions

The Pa’rus Trail is a super easy, 3.2 mile round trip trail that goes along the river. The trail is paved, making it great for all ages and abilities. For the best views, be sure to stop to see the sunset at the Canyon Junction bridge, with the Watchman in the background. And a huge bonus for us and many other travelers, this is the only dog friendly trail of the hikes in Zion National Park!

6. Angels Landing (requires a permit)

Miles: 4.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,827 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Shuttle Required?: Yes, and a permit
Trail Map & Current Conditions

Angels Landing is easily one of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park. This is a technical route and it has many steep drop-offs. But the epic views of Zion Canyon are why people make this trek.

Because of the trail’s popularity, it can get very crowded. There can be as much as an hour wait to get to the top! So to help with the crowds, the lottery permit system for Angels Landing started in 2022.

The permit lottery opens 3-6 months before the date you wish to hike, depending on the month. Alternatively, you can apply the day before you wish to hike, as they give some permits out last minute. To learn more about how to get a permit, please visit the Zion National Park website.

But if you don’t get a permit, or you’re afraid of heights there is a great alternative to consider! You can hike about 2.25 mi to Scout Lookout on the West Rim Trail without a permit.

The hike to Scout Lookout is still strenuous, so don’t think this is an easy option. You will climb 1,000 ft to get there and go up Walter’s Wiggles, an iconic section with many switchbacks. From here, you’ll still be treated to scenic views of Zion Canyon. The scary drop-offs to Angels Landing start at Scout Lookout, and that’s where permits are required.

Another option is to hike to Observation Point, which we will cover below!

7. Middle Fork Taylor Creek Trail

Miles: 5.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 620 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Shuttle Required?: No
Trail Map & Current Conditions

Another trail located in the Kolob Canyons area of Zion National Park is the Middle Fork Taylor Creek trail. This 5 mile trail will take about 3 hours to complete. And along the way you’ll hike along the river and over several creeks, to a double arch alcove. It’s a great hike in Zion National Park if you want to see more of this underrated area!

8. Northgate Peaks

Miles: 6.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,118 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Shuttle Required?: No
Trail Map & Current Conditions

Despite not being located in the canyon, one of the best hikes in Zion National Park is the Northgate Peaks Trail. This hike is located in the Kolob Terrace section of the park, which is a hidden gem. Along this hike you’ll go through the forest, before ending at a rocky area with sweeping views of the area’s white rocky peaks. We loved this hike, especially because it was WAY less busy than other areas of the park and offered a completely unique view!

9. Observation Point via East Mesa Trail

10. Subway Trail (requires a permit)

Miles: 7.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,348 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Shuttle Required?: No
Trail Map & Current Conditions

The Subway Trail, also known as the Left Fork of North Creek trail, is a technical slot canyon hike in Zion National Park that requires scrambling, walking through water, wayfinding and more. This obstacle course-like experience can be fun if you have the athletic ability to complete it! The hike leads you to a cave that resembles a subway (hence the name).

If you do want to hike this trail, you will need to plan ahead because a permit is required. Also, since this hike takes you through a slot canyon, DO NOT hike if there is any chance of rain in the surrounding area. Flash flooding can occur quickly and be extremely dangerous.

11. The Narrows

12. Kolob Arch via La Verkin Creek Trail

Miles: 13.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,669 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Shuttle Required?: No
Trail Map & Current Conditions

The hike to Kolob Arch is the third and longest trail option in the Kolob Canyons area of Zion National Park, with a whopping 13.9 miles and 1,669 feet of elevation gain. Not to mention plenty of scrambling, walking in sand, river crossings, and overall difficult terrain!

The main draw for this hike is the Kolob Arch! It’s argued to be the biggest in all of North America, but experts think it’s just a few feet shy of Landscape Arch in Arches National Park. Either way, it’s huge and worth seeing if you’re up for the adventure to get there!

Wilderness camping here is an option, but permits are required. You can read more information about getting permits on the park website.

Things you Need to Know Before Hiking in Zion

There are many important things that you need to know before departing for Zion National Park. Some of these things are absolute necessities, and others are just tips that we have learned along the way to help make this the best trip possible while enjoying these hikes in Zion National Park. Either way, here’s what to know before you hit the trails.

When to Visit Zion National Park

Zion National Park is open year round, and these best hikes in Zion National Park can be enjoyed all throughout the year. But there are a few things to consider in order to make this the best trip possible.

School holidays and the summer holiday are extremely busy. Remember how we said Zion National Park was the 3rd most popular park in the US? Sure, that proves it’s a great place to explore. But also means you’ll be sharing it with many other visitors, with holidays and summertime being the worst by far.

In the winter, you can expect some snow, so you should definitely bring microspikes for any higher elevation hikes in the wintertime. However, the bright side is that the winter will be less busy.

Early spring (March & April) and late fall (October & November) are the best times to avoid the majority of the crowds and have nice, cool weather! You can also possibly avoid the shuttle requirements (mentioned below) by visiting during this time.

Getting to and around Zion National Park

The main area of Zion National Park, called Zion Canyon, is located in Springdale, Utah. This section is located about 2.5 hours northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. Springdale is a cute little town, with tons of restaurants and coffee shops, outdoor stores, and anything you’ll need for your time in the park! This makes doing the hikes in Zion National Park so much easier, since you’ll have easy access to anything you might need during your time here.

When we visited Zion the first time, we flew into Las Vegas, rented a car, and drove to the parks. If you do this, we recommend spending an afternoon in the Las Vegas area. Check out our Las Vegas Guide for ideas of things to do!

On the way from Vegas to Zion National Park, stop in St. George. St. George is the largest city near the park, so we recommend getting groceries for your trip here. Whether you’ll be cooking your meals at a vacation rental, or just need snacks or sandwiches to eat during your hikes in Zion National Park, this will be your best stop to load up!

You can also fly into Salt Lake City, but it’s 4.5 hours away. However, it can be a great starting point or ending point if you plan to visit all of the Mighty Five!

Getting around the park is easy, but you can’t access everywhere by car. Between March and November, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (the road to Angels Landing and the Narrows) is only accessible by the park shuttle (no private vehicles allowed), Zion Lodge guests (only to the lodge and then the shuttle is required further down the road), and pedestrians, and bikes. The park has a FREE park shuttle that you can hop on at the Visitor Center to get to these hikes, but the lines can get pretty long, so arrive early and be prepared to wait a bit.

Parking at the Visitor Center fills up fast, so arrive early to secure a spot! If you can’t get a spot in the park, you can park in Springdale (paid) and take the free Springdale shuttle to the park entrance. We also used this shuttle to grab food and coffee during the day, so we didn’t have to give up our spot.

Don’t want to wait around for the shuttle? We noted which hikes require the shuttle and which do not in this guide.

Driving a large vehicle? If your vehicle is over 11’4″ tall, 7’10” wide, heavier than 50,000 pounds or longer than 35’9″, you will not be allowed to drive the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. Studies have concluded that large vehicles over these limits cannot safely traverse this road. Unfortunately you’ll have to take alternative routes. Visit the NPS website for more information.

America the Beautiful Pass

Most people who do these hikes in Zion National Park make it a part of a much larger Utah National Parks Road Trip. And you should too! The Mighty 5 (the five national parks located in Utah) are all beautiful, and a great way to see many parks on one trip.

Because you’ll be visiting multiple parks in one year, your best value is to buy the America the Beautiful pass in advance. This pass gets you free entry to all national parks for one year. You’ll be paying $80 for the year instead of about $35 at each park! So use it as much as you can and explore multiple national parks in the next 24 months!

Heading to Arches National Park? Be sure to use our Arches National Park Itinerary as your guide!

Where to Stay in Zion National Park

Zion has two campgrounds on site, South Campground and Watchman Campground. These can fill up fast so make sure to reserve as early as allowed! For tons of other recommendations on places to stay including other campgrounds, dispersed camping, hotels and vacation rentals, read our guide all about visiting Zion!

How Long to Visit Zion National Park

You can complete quite a few of these 12 best hikes in Zion National Park with 2 days in Zion National Park. But to experience them all, you’ll want at least 4 days. We also suggest spending another day or two in nearby Bryce Canyon National Park. We have a perfect 3 day itinerary for Zion and Bryce Canyon that includes tons of additional hikes in Bryce Canyon, like the Fairyland Loop!

Reservations and Permits

Despite Zion National Park being one of the most busy parks, it actually does not require reservations for entering the park. So you are free to come and go when you please. The only thing that requires a permit for Zion is hiking Angel’s Landing or the Subway Trail. We provided more information on that above, under each hike.

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About the author

This article was written by Tori, one of our Adventures of A+K team members. Learn a bit about her below!

Hi, I’m Tori! I live in Nashville, TN with my husband and two daughters. We travel as much as possible throughout the year, around a 9-5 schedule and with babies in tow! My travel blog, Tori Pines Travels, aims to help people plan action-packed and culture-rich vacations around their busy jobs, fitting in as much exploring as possible. When I’m not working for Adam and Kathryn or entertaining my little ones, I’m writing, cooking, crafting or exploring Music City!