Zion National Park: The Ultimate Guide to The Best Hikes

Zion National Park quickly became one of my favorite parks because of the contrasting colors and adventurous hikes all around. I was also drawn to the quaint town of Springdale that sits just outside the main gates. I’ve spent three nights here- two camping and one in a local hotel my first visit. My second visit I went for a day. Campgrounds and hotels books out well in advance, so be sure to reserve months in advance!

If you plan to visit Zion, make sure you consider the time of year. It gets above 100°F during the summer months, so hiking can become rather miserable. You will also need to consider the rainy season. Flash flooding is a danger in slot canyons and will close down trails if it’s unsafe.

The park isn’t driveable except for the first section were you can turn off to take the Mount-Carmel Tunnel. You can walk from town (which I did once) into the park or you can drive your car into the visitor parking lot where you catch the park’s shuttles. The parking lot fills fast so plan to get there before it opens. The shuttles stop at all the popular trailheads so it’s easy to explore the park. There’s also a trail that takes you from the the park entrance through the valley. The picture above is the paved trail and it was one of my favorite spots! You can truly feel how massive the canyon walls are and the path isn’t as busy as the hiking trails.

I want to share with you some of the hikes we did and what I like about the park. There are so many more hikes I would love to do when I go back next. I would suggest researching what hikes are available and list them in your order of greatest interest to do. Be mindful of the distance and what you are capable of doing. This way you can prioritize hikes and decide with some flexibility when you want to do them. Hike options can change quickly with the weather or your fatigue level. Zion can be hot and many hikes are on the difficult-strenuous side.

Zion’s The Narrows

The Narrows is one of the two well-known hikes at Zion. The trail starts out paved and takes you between two large rock faces alongside the river that carved their canyon- hence the name. The paved trail eventually ends and you step down onto the rocks that form the riverbank. From there you begin to trek up the river. The fun part about this adventure is that you can go for as long or as short of a distance as you want! You can go venture 10+ miles round trip or just explore for an hour and call it a day. As easy as this trail seems, there are a few things to know before you go:

• This trail can be rather dangerous due to flash flooding. You should ALWAYS check the weather before attempting to venture through The Narrows. The park will often shut the trail down as well if the weather isn’t safe.

• Wear appropriate clothing. I didn’t do my research before this hike really so I showed up with my Chacos. These are normally great shoes for water, but not really the safest choice. Thankfully, I didn’t have any real issues or any injuries, but I was extra cautious walking through the rocky water. If you don’t own good shoes, there are plenty of companies in town that will have shoes and even waterproof pants you can rent! Honestly, unless you plan to be in the water for hours, you will be okay with your own closed-toed shoes. The day I went, the weather was nice and the cool water felt great! Be sure to make your own judgement call based on the day’s weather and your ability to be in water. You end up going in and out of the water so often I never felt cold.

There are a lot of large boulders to climb on and deep pools to swim in along the way. At one point, I stopped to watch a group of rock climbers rappelling down the side of one of the steep rock faces. We spent a few hours trekking up river the day I went, but there are some that will leave early and go all day. We never ended up with water past our mid-thigh and most of the time is was near our calves. I’ve read others who’ve been chest-deep in the water, so it will depend on the time of year you go, the amount of recent rainfall and how far you hike. There are also plenty of guided tours available if you would prefer to have someone guide you through The Narrows.

Narrows Reminder

• All waste, including human waste must be packed out. Plan accordingly and bring waste bags in case you need to go to the bathroom. Burying your waste is not allowed on this hike so use one of the restrooms before you begin and go prepared to carry out your waste.

Zion’s Emerald Pools Trail

This is an easy, family-friendly trail system. You can choose the distance to go and if you do the entire loop it’s roughly 2 miles. If you only have a day, and you have to pick, this is one I would skip to make sure I got in Angel’s Landing, The Narrows, Observation point or Hidden Canyon trail. If you’re looking for an easier hike or have the time, it is a must in Zion!

The views along the trail are amazing and the trail itself isn’t difficult so it makes for a nice walk. There are multiple stops where you can watch water coming out of the rocks or see pools of water. I think if you did this loop just after a rain there would be more water. The trail get steep the last .3 miles as you climb up to the pools, but you could bypass this section if you don’t want to gain much elevation and continue on the loop.

Zion’s Angels Landing

Angel’s Landing is the second of the two well-known hikes at Zion. I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous for Angel’s Landing because it’s rated as strenuous and has countless switchbacks. I had already conquered Half Dome in Yosemite, but this hike still made me worry I would struggle to the top. Thankfully I didn’t find the hike to be nearly as difficult as described, but more of a trail to be extra cautious on. Don’t get me wrong, I was huffing up those steep hills, but it was doable for a regular hiker.

Angel’s Landing now require a permit for hiking this trail. You can learn more about this system here. Permit are divided into season and day prior through recreation.gov, where you will need to create an account. Seasonal permits can be applied for 3 months in advance of the trip. For day prior permits, you can apply between Midnight and 3pm the day before. This is currently a pilot program that will most likely change format to some extent once it becomes permanent.

With that said this hike is no joke and you should not take it lightly. It is a strenuous hike with a lot of dangers. It is also very busy so you need to be patient if you choose to maneuver through the cables. Everyone has to safely get through them so be kind to your fellow hiker and take turns. Wear proper closed-toed shoes.

Everyone should pack plenty of water, especially if you are hiking in the summer. Plan to drink 1 liter of water for every two hours. More in the summer. A small water bottle will not be enough for this hike! I also always hike with Clif Bloks for quick energy and electrolytes to keep me well hydrated. There are plenty of spots to pull off to the side of this trail and rest, so take you time and find shade to cool off.

The hike is 5.2 mile roundtrip with 20 tight switchbacks nicknamed the Walter’s Wiggles. The trail starts by crossing the river from the shuttle stop and walking through the valley for a while. Eventually the trail will begin to climb up the side of the canyon wall. The views from the first part of the climb are stunning and encourage you to keep moving knowing they only improve at the top. Be sure to keep an eye out for rock climbers along the trail. I took a small stop to watch them climbing because it’s just mesmerizing to watch these tiny bodies climbing up the massive red rock.

The trail will the lead you to the switchbacks and once you get to the top of the wiggles, be sure to look back down! It’s quite the sight. The trail has a lot of chainlink to help guide you up the last climb if you need it and it also calms the nerves in areas where the drop-off is quite far. Angel’s Landing isn’t a large space by any means but there was plenty of space to sit and stay for a while without being too close to people. We spent about an hour at the top eating and enjoying the views. Be careful though, the chipmunks at the top are ferocious and will climb in your bags in the blink of an eye!

Zion’s Hidden Canyon Trail

I had to decide between Observation Point Trail and Hidden Canyon Trail because it was my last day in Zion and I already spent the morning hiking Angel’s Landing. Because I didn’t want my legs to hate me, I chose the shorter one- Hidden Canyon. It turned out to be a fun little surprise because it was far less crowded than the two previous hikes.

The trail starts out very steep but eventually narrows and goes along a ledge without any railings. There was a chainlink attached to the wall you could hold on to, but it was quite the sensation to walk on such a narrow landing along the edge of a cliff. Once you pass the narrow ledge, the trail begins to work its way to a trail that leads between two narrow walls. There are trees and boulders to climb over and at one point you have to scurry over a rock fall if you want to continue any further. I’m so glad I continued on because the quietness of the trail was so peaceful. National Parks are beautiful but anytime you can find quiet it’s a treasure.

I had read that there was a hidden arch along this trail and we were determined to find it. Since the trail was mostly flat, it was easy to continue walking. I honestly walked for so long I thought maybe I just missed the arch, but I finally spotted it. It’s a bit difficult to notice at first because it is tucked against the canyon wall. Once I made it to the arch I called it a day, but the trail continues on.

Zion’s Mount-Carmel Tunnel

After you enter Zion National Park you will drive to the Canyon Junction, which is also stop #3 for the shuttle. You can’t drive any farther into the park for here, so you will continue along Mount-Carmel Highway. If you follow this road it will lead you towards Bryce Canyon and Capital Reef National Parks. The road gains a lot of elevation and has no side barrier, so it’s quite the view. The road has a lot of switchbacks before entering into the long tunnel. The Mount-Carmel Tunnel has multiple “windows” in the side where you can look out as you drive. It is an amazing experience and great way to see the park without having to hike.

Zion Overlook Trail

Just past the exit at the top is the Zion Overlook Trail, a short 1 mile out-and-back hike to an overlook. It is an amazing spot for sunset. There is very limited parking at this trailhead, so be prepared to wait for a spot. The parking lot really only fits 10 or so cars. This trail doesn’t have any major drop-offs or chains like Angel’s Landing does, but I’ve passed people with a lot of anxiety about the heights. The trail starts out with a steep section up the rocks and has a narrow bridge under a rock cliff. There is a railing at the viewpoint but people explore the areas past the railing as well.

Springdale

Springdale is the quaint town just before the National Park entrance. There are hotels, restaurants, shop and campgrounds. I love walking the streets at the end of the day, listening to music coming from buildings and looking at the beautiful landscape stretching above the buildings. Most people who visit the park will stay in this town. I camped at the Zion Canyon Campground and it was nice. It even has spots that back right up to the river.

When it comes to food, there are plenty of great options in Springdale. I’ve eaten at Casa De Amigos, which is a Mexican restaurant with a great outdoor patio. Another place I enjoyed was Zion Pizza & Noodle Co. Everything on the menu looked delicious and it tasted so amazing after a day of hiking in the heat! Feel Love Coffee is a fun spot to grab a cold drink in town. I love it because it’s close to the park entrance and has water spraying on the patio to help cool you off on hot days.

Reminders

Before you hit the trail in Zion, be sure to read up on the Leave No Trace Principles. National Parks have their own set of camping and hiking rules so read up on them prior to visiting. Stop by the visitor center to talk to a Ranger before taking off for trail conditions. Be respectful of your fellow hikers and follow proper trail etiquette.

Learn more about Zion’s amazing neighboring parks through my “Snow Canyon State Park” guide and find the best trails in my “Bryce Canyon National Park” guide.

I hope this helps you on your future Zion adventures! It is a stunning park filled with beautiful hikes, endless views and I hope you love it just as much as I came to love it.

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