Note: Since Zion is such a large national park with several distinct areas, I’ve broken up my list of recommended hikes and grouped them geographically.

Zion Canyon:
🥾 Angels Landing (4.4 miles, 1,604 feet elev. gain): Despite dangerous drop-offs and steep elevation gains, this hike remains one of the most popular in the country. Some people love it, others think it overrated. In any case, hiking Angels Landing via the West Rim Trail is an experience like few others. A permit is required to complete this hike. The trailhead can be accessed at shuttle stop #6 in Zion Canyon.
🥾 The Narrows (up to 8.9 miles, 695 feet elev. gain): Aptly named, The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon and one of Zion’s most famous hikes. The “bottoms-up” hike departs from the Temple of Sinawava (shuttle stop #9). Hikers must wade/swim through cold water for more than half of this hike, a characteristic that contributes to the hike’s fame. Refer to the park’s clothing recommendations and consider renting gear in Springdale before your hike. Don’t forget to check the Virgin River’s flow rate.
🥾 Observation Point (6.8 miles, 2,644 feet elev. gain): Hikers can reach Observation Point in Zion Canyon via the East Rim Trail. The hike ends with a view of Zion Canyon, one that rivals the view offered by Angels Landing. The trailhead can be accessed at shuttle stop #7 in Zion Canyon. If the trail from the canyon is closed, check out the alternate approach to Observation Point.
🥾 Emerald Pools (3.0 miles, 620 feet elev. gain): Combine the Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pool Trails to get the most out of this trail network. These trails guide hikers to their namesake pools. The trailhead can be accessed at shuttle stop #5 in Zion Canyon.
🥾 Pa’rus Trail (3.2 miles, 134 feet elev. gain): This wheelchair-accessible trail can be reached from the South Campground near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. The trail offers a leisurely walk through Zion Canyon along the Virgin River.
🥾 Zion Canyon Overlook (1.0 miles, 187 feet elev. gain): This short trail near the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel takes you to a gorgeous overlook of Zion Canyon. It’s a popular spot to watch sunset. Parking is limited, so be prepared to park up to half a mile from the trailhead.

Kolob Terrace:
🥾 The Subway (9.1 miles, 1,305 feet elev. gain): The Left Fork Trail guides hikers to an impressive, rounded rock tunnel for which the hike is named.
🥾 Northgate Peaks (4.2 miles, 100 feet elev. gain): This trail guides hikers to a viewpoint of the park between its namesake peaks. You can climb either or both peaks once reaching the viewpoint.

Kolob Canyons:
🥾 Taylor Creek Trail (4.9 miles, 590 feet elev. gain): This trail follows Taylor Creek to Double Arch Alcove, a beautiful tucked-away spot in Kolob Canyons. The path crosses the creek many, many times, so bring waterproof shoes/boots.
🥾 Kolob Arch (13.9 miles, 1,669 feet elev. gain): Hikers can use La Verkin Creek Trail in the Kolob Canyons area to reach Kolob Arch, one of the largest natural arches in the world.

🚗 Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway: This scenic drive takes you from Zion Canyon through the historic Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel to the high-elevation east side of the park. The entire drive is beautiful. Be sure to take advantage of pull-offs and short hikes along the road. The tunnel is only accessible to large vehicles during controlled hours.
🌄 Sunset at the Canyon Junction Bridge: The Canyon Junction Bridge provides the view of the Watchman that made Zion National Park famous. It’s a popular spot to view sunset. Walk along the Pa’rus Trail near the bridge for the same view but less people.
🚴 Cycling: If you want to explore Zion Canyon at your own pace, bring a bike! Cycling allows you to access the same trailheads as the shuttle but at your own pace, and is a rewarding experience on its own.
🎒 Backpacking: Exploring Zion’s backcountry is an incredible way to experience the park. There are several areas and trails in the park that offer backcountry campsites. Be sure to reserve a permit before embarking on a backpacking trip.
🧗 Rock Climbing: With so many massive rock faces, it’s unsurprising that Zion is a popular climbing destination. Zion Canyon features trad – ranging from single pitch routes to multi-day big walls – and sport routes. Visit Mountain Project’s website or view their list of recommended guidebooks to learn more.
🔭 Stargazing: Zion is an International Dark Sky Park, meaning that low light pollution results in spectacular views of the night sky.
🚣‍♂️ Whitewater Kayaking: The Virgin River in the park provides whitewater kayaking opportunities. Be sure to nab a free wilderness permit in order to take advantage of it.
🌄 Lava Point Overlook: This overlook in the Kolob Terrace area offers great sunrise & sunset opportunities and provides a unique view of Zion National Park.
⛺ Camping: Like most national parks, camping in a tent or RV at any of Zion’s developed campgrounds allows visitors to experience the park 24/7.

🏙️ St. George: This small city sits only an hour from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. The city offers plenty of options for food, drink, and lodging, and several nature preserves and parks sit near its borders.
🏞️ Valley of Fire State Park: This often-overlooked park in Nevada features a colorful landscape filled with red rock formations, natural arches, petroglyphs, and expansive vistas. You can easily spend a day hiking in this fascinating park.
🏞️ Bryce Canyon National Park: While it doesn’t offer the same level of activities as Zion, Bryce Canyon’s bizarre hoodoo formations and geologic amphitheaters provide an intriguing stop for hiking and sightseeing. The park sits about 2 hours from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
🏞️ North Rim of Grand Canyon: Ever been to the North Rim? Most people who visit the Grand Canyon haven’t. The beautiful and secluded North Rim sits only 2.5 hours south of Zion National Park, so you could consider checking it out if you have the time.
🏞️ Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument: This famous national monument resides 2.5 hours east of Zion National Park. It features some bizarre terrain and rock formations which can be explored via some exciting hikes.
🏞️ Antelope Canyon: This famous, beautiful slot canyon sits 2.5 hours east of Zion. Visits to this canyon can be paired with a stop in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.
🏙️ Las Vegas: Sin City sits just over 2.5 hours west of Zion. If you want to combine your visit to Zion with a “big city” experience, Las Vegas is the place to go. With plenty to do in the city and the presence of attractions like Red Rock Canyon and the Hoover Dam nearby, the city can keep visitors busy for a long time.
🏞️ Utah/Arizona State & National Parks: Utah and the neighboring Arizona are the pinnacle of the American southwest. Both states feature a collection of must-visit spots not mentioned above, like Monument Valley, Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and Horseshoe Bend, along with so many others. Consider turning your visit to Zion into a longer road trip to allow you to explore this incredible region.

📅 When to Visit: Zion National Park sees its most visitors from April to September. To avoid the crowds, visit in March or October. In these months, weather in the park is still mild enough to explore the outdoors, but you will face less severe crowds. Keep in mind that the Narrows is often closed in spring. Summertime is when the park is the busiest and temperatures the hottest, so I’d recommend avoiding the park then.
⌚ How Long to Visit: To catch a glimpse of everything Zion has to offer, budget at least 2-4 days in the park. One-day visits are enough to see and explore Zion Canyon.
🚗 How to Visit: The park is easiest to reach with a car. Las Vegas and Salt Lake City are the closest major cities with large airports: many visitors choose to fly into these cities if visiting from afar.
🛏️ Where to Stay: Zion has three developed campgrounds within its boundaries: Watchman, South, and Lava Point. The park also has a lodge – Zion Lodge – in Zion Canyon. If not staying in the park, the nearby cities of Springdale and St. George offer lodging options. Several privately-owned campgrounds exist in close proximity to the park as well.
🧳 What to Bring: Your loadout in Zion National Park will vary greatly with the activities you choose to partake in. No matter what, you should bring the following: sturdy hiking boots/shoes, sun protection, plenty of water, a hiking pack, and sunglasses. If hiking The Narrows, wear clothes and shoes suitable for navigating the deep water or rent gear from an outfitter in Springdale. If visiting in winter or spring, bring trail crampons to help navigate icy trails.

✅ DO explore the entire park! Zion Canyon is the most iconic and picturesque part of the park, but other parts of the park – like Kolob Canyons – are just as beautiful and see far less of the obnoxious crowds found in the park’s namesake canyon.
✅ DO bring plenty of water.
✅ DO start your days early in Zion. Even in the off-season, the park’s most popular trails become congested quickly. Consider starting your first hike before 7 AM.
✅ DO reserve accommodations far in advance. Campgrounds and lodging are often fully booked soon after becoming available.
✅ DO be prepared for fast-changing weather throughout the year. Dangerous flash floods are common in the park after rainfall. Check with a park ranger before embarking on long hikes, especially the Narrows.
❌ DON’T embark on long hikes in hot temperatures, as you can easily put yourself in danger of dehydration or heat exhaustion.
❌ DON’T feed wildlife. Just don’t. Don’t do it.
❌ DON’T get too close to cliffs or drop-offs. Even if the perfect selfie angle begs you to move a few feet closer to the edge, a selfie is not worth your life.