Known as one of the best attractions in Utah, Zion National Park is a mountainous park that is as remarkable as it can be unbelievably underrated, due to certain difficulties that can be encountered in planning the visit (more on that later). The main section of the park is a deep gorge carved out by the Virgin River, a wide and scenic canyon with soaring cliffs and mountains reaching 8530 ft above sea level.
The colors of the park are unique and the incredibly sculpted bright red and white rocks are surrounded by green woods and hanging valleys rich in fauna. If this brief description has inspired you to consider visiting Zion, keep reading and you will discover the best things to do in Zion National Park, all the must see attractions and trails.
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Best things to do in Zion National Park
Here are the activities to be done in the three areas of Zion National Park.
Zion Canyon Trails and Attractions
Zion Canyon is the main section of the park. The scenic drive with the same name cuts through it and – along the 6-mile drive you can enjoy while comfortably seated on the shuttle or in your car – there are very beautiful views of the park’s mountains and, among other things, also a museum.
However, visitors – rather than visiting an exhibit – will definitely be more interested in seeing the natural beauty of the park with their own eyes. The majority of the most beautiful and famous trails can be found along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, so take note of the features of the hike and the corresponding shuttle stop.
Angels Landing
This is perhaps the most famous hike in Zion National Park, as well as one of the most difficult and tiring. It is a 5.4 mile (round trip) trail with a total elevation of 1631 ft. At the end of the trail there is an exceptional overlook over Zion Canyon, but never before have the words no pain no gain been so true. The last part of the trail is also known to be quite dangerous and definitely not recommended for those who are afraid of heights. We have an article dedicated to this hike to this excursion, so if you want to know more you can read our guide of Angels Landing.
- Shuttle Stop: The Grotto
Riverside Walk
This is a hike that everyone can enjoy; in fact is recommended for those who have decided to visit the park with children. The most attractive feature of this easy paved trail is that it runs flat along the river, where the Zion Canyon gradually begins to narrow down to the entrance to The Narrows, a totally different hike which I will talk about shortly.
This trail is 2.2 miles long (round trip) and does not present any technical difficulties. At various points along the way, it is possible to move briefly away from the path to descend along the river and enjoy the surrounding panorama from a great location. When I did this hike in the fall we also met mule deer and squirrels that were calmly crossing the path, a sight enjoyed by everyone, young and old alike!
- Shuttle stop: Temple of Sinawava
The Narrows
As I said, beyond the Temple of Sinawava the canyon gradually begins to narrow. The Riverside Walk just described leads in fact to the beginning of The Narrows, a famous hike walking through the river, inside the narrow gorges carved by the Virgin River, which can be done in two directions (Bottom Up and Top Down). Since this is one of the most beautiful and challenging activities to do in Zion Park, we have decided to devote a whole article to The Narrows. Enjoy!
- Shuttle stop: Temple of Sinawava
Weeping Rock Trail
Weeping Rock Trail is another popular hike where you can enjoy a nice view with minimal effort. It goes all along a slightly sloping paved road (98 ft total elevation gain) that is well shaded. At the end of the trail there is a beautiful natural nook overlooking a section of the canyon. The total length of the trail is 0.3 miles, so you will get to the end in half an hour.
- Shuttle stop: Weeping Rock
Upper and Lower Emerald Pools
Along with the Weeping Rock Trail and Riverside Walk, this is considered to be one of the park’s most popular easy treks. It takes less than an hour to walk the 1.2 miles (round trip) paved path to Lower Emerald Pools. The trail leads to a lovely natural swimming pool, near a small waterfall in the shade of a niche on which giant red peaks surround the canyon.
The elevation of this path is barely noticeable (115 ft), but those who want to climb further can continue towards the Upper Emerald Pools by following the connection between Lower Emerald Pools and Kayenta Trail. This last trail also takes you to The Grotto shuttle stop, as well as the connection to Angels Landing.
Attention! It is forbidden to swim in the pools.
- Shuttle stop: Zion Lodge; The Grotto via Kayenta Trail
Zion Human History Museum
For millions of years this park had been deserted. Almost 12,000 years ago it welcomed its first inhabitants, traces of which still remain today. This and many other reasons make it worth visiting the Zion Human History Museum, a museum that offers video contributions and interesting exhibits on the geological characteristics of the park, with insights into the various civilizations that inhabited it, from Native Americans to pioneers.
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- Shuttle stop: Museum
Zion Mount Carmel Highway best attractions
The Zion Mount Carmel Highway is part of Zion National Park, but technically it is not within the bounds of Zion Canyon. If you look at the picture below, you can see how this beautiful scenic road winds through a secondary canyon on the east side that meets Zion Canyon at Canyon Junction. This gorge was carved out of Pine Creek, which is actually a tributary of the Virgin River.
The best way to experience this side of the park is clearly to drive through it. You’ll pass a series of winding hairpin bends until you reach the majestic Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. You’ll then see impressive rock formations in a remarkable landscape, one of the most impressive sights in the Checkerboard Mesa. And there’s more. You can get a better picture by reading the article we dedicated to the UT-9.
However, this is not the only thing you can do in this canyon carved out by Pine Creek. There is in fact a trail that I personally recommend, and I’ll describe it here below.
Canyon Overlook Trail
This trail takes you to a beautiful overlook over the winding Zion Mount Carmel Highway and the immense landscape of Canyon Junction, where Zion Canyon meets Pine Creek Canyon. You will love the pictures that you can take from here, so take note!
Coming from Springdale, as soon as you emerge from the tunnel, you will see a parking lot on the right and on the other side of the road you will see the trail connection. It is a very small parking lot, so it is good to arrive early in the morning to have a better chance of finding a parking space. You could also look for a place in the clearing a little further on the left, although in theory the sign says “right-turn-only”. In any case, the hike to Canyon Overlook is short and there is frequent turnaround for parking, so you can also wait a while until a spot becomes available.
The trail is short but quite steep. You will hike an elevation of 443 ft in just half a mile of walking and cross a short and safe wooden walkway. The final view from the top of the Canyon Overlook Trail and in the shadow of the East Temple will be the reward… you won’t regret it! Along the way you will also see the Pine Creek Gorge, a very narrow canyon that can be explored taking a demanding hike (requires professional equipment and canyoning skills) with long stretches of walking in water.
Zion Observation Point
Located at an altitude of 6519 ft, the Zion Observation Point offers one of the most incredible views of Zion Canyon, probably the most spectacular, but it’s also one of the toughest to reach, perhaps even more so than the infamous Angels Landing. However, not many people know that it is possible to reach it in a less challenging way by following a mostly flat trail that starts on the east side of the park. The Zion Mt. Carmel Highway is the only way to reach this trail. Read more in our guide of Zion Observation Point.
Kolob Canyons best hikes and things to see
Located northwest of Zion Canyon, this section of Zion National Park is the least known, but it is also the one that can get the most out of in the shortest possible time. Basically, you’ll just need to walk the few miles of Kolob Canyon Road to get to Kolob Viewpoint, an exceptional overlook over the canyons and red rock mountains in the area. The scenic road is very beautiful, and you will make many stops before you get to the top to take pictures and observe the surrounding views. There are also a couple of trails that can be done in Kolob Canyons.
- Timber Creek Overlook: A short trail (1-mile round trip) that starts at the Kolob Viewpoint parking lot and leads to an even more exposed viewpoint over the Timber Creek valley.
- Taylor Canyon: This trail that descends from road level and into the heart of Taylor Canyon is much more challenging. The trail’s connection is here, at a point 2.1 miles from the Visitor Center. You will have to walk for 5 miles (round trip) at an elevation of just 449 ft.
Where to stay in Zion National Park
You see now that it is not simple to organize a visit to Zion. The same can apply to an overnight stay! Since many factors have to be taken into account, I would like to refer you to our article entirely dedicated to the theme “where to sleep in Zion”. You will find specific recommendations for accommodations near Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyons, as well as tips for those who need to choose a town according to the next stop.
Our tips for where to stay in Zion
Zion National Park guided tours
You also have the possibility to visit Zion National Park with guided tours. Most leave from Las Vegas and Salt Lake City and some packages allow you to combine the Zion National Park tour with visits to other parks. In the list below you will find some of the most interesting ones:
- 1) Day Tour from Las Vegas with lunch included and pick up from the hotel.
- 2) Multi-day tour with other nearby parks: