Photo of Hiking Trails in Zion National Park, UT

The Best Hiking Trails in Zion National Park, UT

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Trail adventures in canyons of red sandstone

Zion National Park in Springfield, Utah is one of the top destinations in the United States for hikers and walkers. The park covers 229 square miles, but Zion Canyon is the primary attraction for most visitors. In Zion Canyon, there are dozens of stunning hiking trails to choose from.

The Watchman Trail, Angels Landing, and The Emerald Pools trail are all top rated hikes, each with their own character. There are family friendly hikes, challenging all day hikes, and options for the seriously adventurous.

At Strava, we use data from millions of hikes to give you the most accurate information before you head out on trail. This list of top hikes in Zion National Park will help you have a memorable trail adventure.

Top 25 hiking trails in Zion National Park, UT

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The Watchman Trail

From the bank of the Virgin River to the top of a stunning rock formation, The Watchman Trail is a great hiking option near the entrance to Zion Canyon in Zion National park. The trail follows an out and back route. Because of the steep sections and switchbacks, most hikers consider this a moderate hike. From the top you’ll have southern views to The Watchman and views north to The Beehive and The Sentinel. The views of the canyon, the park entrance, and the town of Springfield below are definitely worth the trip.

Canyon Overlook Trail

Just on the other side of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is the short and sweet Canyon Overlook Trail. This quick out-and-back route takes you to magical views of Pine Creek Canyon. From here you’ll be able to see all the way to Zion Canyon and take in the stunning beauty of the rock formations of Zion National Park. The trail is short, but includes steep sections, so appropriate footwear is definitely recommended. Note that the National Park shuttle bus does not stop here, and the parking lot is small. Take that into consideration when planning to hike the Canyon Overlook Trail.

Grotto Trail

This hike is most popular for guests of the Zion Lodge and anyone looking for a casual stroll within proximity to the road in Zion National Park. It leads through open cottonwood groves and meadows at the foot of towering cliffs, including a great view of Angels Landing Buttress directly ahead....

Weeping Rock

The Weeping Rock hike begins at the Weeping Rock trailhead (TH). In Zion National Park, hikers use the free shuttle to get to many trailheads. The shuttles run most of the year, excepting January 1st – February 15th....

La Verkin Trail

Access to the La Verkin Trail is at the Lee Pass trailhead, located 3.5 miles past the Kolob Canyon Visitor Center. Be aware that this trail limits group size to twelve people....

Timber Creek Overlook Trail

The Timber Creek Overlook Trail is a spectacular hike in the Kolob Canyons, a less visited section of Zion National Park. Zion Canyon is the star of the park, but The Kolob Canyons hold the whole thing together. Take a short drive from the Zion Canyon main entrance, and you’ll find a less busy but equally breathtaking section of the park. The Timber Creek Overlook Trail is an easy out and back route of just over a mile. From the viewpoint at its end, you’ll be treated to views of the magnificent Kolob Canyons. On a clear day, you might even be able to see all the way south to the Kaibab Plateau on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Taylor Creek Trail

This is a fun, family-friendly hike in the relatively sparsely traveled Kolob Canyons of Zion National Park. It is one of the most popular trails in the area, however, for good reason....

Emerald Pools

The Emerald Pools hike begins at the Grotto shuttle stop (#6). In Zion National Park, hikers use the free shuttle to get to many trailheads. The shuttles run most of the year, excepting January 1st – February 15th....

East Rim Trail

Hikes from the east end of Zion provide an entirely different experience than the ones from Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. In contrast to the wide, paved pathways found along the Drive, east end trails are generally far more primitive....

Canyon Overlook

Access to the Canyon Overlook Trail is at the east end of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. It is highly likely that the main trailhead parking area will be full, but there is overflow parking just down the road....

The Narrows

The experience is unparalleled: wading in a knee-deep stream less than fifty feet wide, with thousand-foot canyon walls soaring overhead. This is the Narrows, one of the most famous slot canyons in the world....

Observation Point via East Mesa Trail

The Observation Point Via East Mesa trail takes the bold hiker from the East Mesa trailhead to a vista hundreds of feet higher than Angels Landing. This is one of the most spectacular spots along the East Rim of Zion Canyon. The trail follows an out and back route. It is not particularly steep, but because of the length most hikers consider this a moderate hike. Check out the photos from the community and get excited for the stunning views from the top.

Many Pools

The route known as Many Pools in Zion National Park is not an official trail, but a short cross-country adventure that is easily accessible and suitable for families with children. It follows a steep drainage of slickrock warped by time and pockmarked by falling water....

West Rim Trail: Point-to-Point Backpack

West Rim Trail is hands-down one of the most spectacular hikes in Zion. It begins in the high elevation realm with vantage above the canyons, then descends dramatically through a steep gorge, passing Angels Landing and finishing at the main road that leads to The Narrows....

Observation Point

The spectacular 8-mile roundtrip Observation Point hike begins at the Weeping Rock trailhead (TH). In Zion National Park, hikers use the free shuttle to get to many trailheads. The shuttles run most of the year, excepting January 1st – February 15th....

Hidden Canyon

The Hidden Canyon hike begins at the Weeping Rock trailhead (TH). In Zion National Park, hikers use the free shuttle to get to many trailheads. The shuttles run most of the year, excepting January 1st – February 15th....

West Rim Trail: Out-and-Back Day Hike

The West Rim hike begins at the Grotto shuttle stop (#6). In Zion National Park, hikers use the free shuttle to get to many trailheads. The shuttles run most of the year, excepting January 1st – February 15th....

Riverside Walk

The Riverside Walk in Zion National Park is a stunningly beautiful, family friendly, and accessible hiking trail. Take the shuttle to The Temple of Sinawava. From there you’ll meander along the Virgin River. You'll be surrounded by towering red rock cliffs and lush vegetation. The out-and-back trail is paved and designed to be accessible to wheelchair users, but be sure to check with park officials as sand often makes the path difficult for adaptive hikers to navigate. This trail is the starting point for those attempting the longer Narrows Hike, so you may see hikers in waterproof gear making their way towards the deeper reaches of the canyon.

Angels Landing

The Angels Landing Trail is the world-renowned must-do of Zion National Park, notorious for "the chains" that guard the final overlook. The chains are an upward traverse of an exposed ridgeline that drops away sheerly for hundreds of feet....

Hayduke Trail: Hack Canyon to Zion National Park

The Arizona Strip is the wide-open, mostly flat high desert between the Grand Canyon and the Vermillion Cliffs, south of Zion. After living in the depths of the canyon, re-emerging to big skies, dirt roads, and cattle country may be an unwelcome shock....

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