7 Best Hikes in Zion National Park (Rated Easy to Hard)
We’ve hiked thousands of miles across the country and while Zion National Park is no secret, it is still in our top 5 national parks and a must-visit for anyone who loves to hike.
In this guide we’ll cover the best hikes in Zion National Park from The Narrows hike through the insanely beautiful Virgin River to hiking the deathly cliffs of Angels Landing.
If you want to avoid the crowds in Zion, late fall is the best time of year for popular hikes and avoid using the required shuttle bus.
View from Overlook Canyon in Zion National Park
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The Narrows (Moderate)
Angels Landing (Hard)
The Subway (Hard)
Canyon Overlook (Moderate)
Observation Point (Moderate)
Pa’rus Trail (Easy)
Riverside Walk (Easy)
Zion Important Info
Check the current park conditions for road & trail closures
Toxic levels of cyanobacteria frequents the water in Zion that can cause popular trails to close.
During the shuttle season visitors cannot drive personal vehicles on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
Dogs are only allowed on the Pa’rus Trail
Best Hikes in Zion
1) Angels Landing in Zion
*A permit is required to summit Angels Landing
Difficulty: strenuous
Distance: 4.3 miles (out and back)
Elevation Change: 1,827 ft
Trail Route: All Trails
Angels Landing is just as exhausting and thrilling as it looks! Many people will attempt the summit, but I saw less than half make it past “Walter’s Wiggle” of switchbacks.
I do think anyone in descent hiking shape can accomplish this hike, but the real challenge is the mental game along the steep, narrow paths. One bad slip could result in falling a few hundred feet.
Don’t forget, mind over matter. Keep one foot in front of the other, look forward and just keep going.
If you’re a serious hiker, the experience of hiking up Angels Landing is a must!
2. The Narrows - Hike in Zion
*As of Jan 2024, there is toxic levels of Cyanobacteria in the Virgin River, do not submerge your head or filter drinking water from any streams
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 9 miles (out and back)
Elevation Change: 334 ft / 102 m
Trail Route: Bottoms Up to Big Springs
The most iconic hike in Zion is definitely The Narrows and one of the most epic hikes you should try! Even if you only go a mile, it will be worth it!
As long as you hike The Narrows from the bottom-up via the Riverside Walk you do not need a permit!
Depending on the time of year, the water levels are higher, making it harder and colder to hike in The Narrows.
Pro Tip - The best time of year to hike The Narrows is mid-September to November when the water levels are low and the water isn’t quite freezing yet.
The graph below depicts a great visual of the flow rate of The Narrows.
The Narrows trail starts at the Temple of Sinawava, but you won’t enter the river until 1 mile down the Riverside Walk Trail. The first mile on the trail is along a partly paved, partly dirt path before you enter the river.
The Narrows is about the journey, not the destination. There is no one “viewpoint” or extra spectacular spot.
You can always turn around at any moment in your trip, but I would suggest at least hiking 3 miles to where Wall Street begins.
Wall Street is the most famous part of the hike where the walls really start to get tall and make you feel very small. If you can make it all the way to Big Spring, which is about 5 miles in, you’ve gone as far as you can go without a permit!
You will need to check the park website daily to keep track of any closures. The Narrows can close at any moment because of flash flooding, which is very common in the summer.
What to bring: 2-3L of water, camera, drybag, rental gear (recommend Zion Guru) boots, socks, stick, bibs are optional
3. Riverside Walk
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2 miles (out and back)
Elevation Change: 193 ft
Trail Route: Zion Narrows Riverside Walk
If hiking in the canyon of The Narrows is out of reach for you because of difficulty or unsafe water levels, you can still walk the starting mile, known as the Riverside Walk.
Here you will walk on a mostly paved trail until you arrive at the area people enter the water portion of hiking The Narrows.
It is still a stunningly beautiful walk that will have you surrounded by the towering canyon walls (just not as enclosed).
4. Subway (Left Fork) Trail
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 9 miles (out and back)
Elevation Change: 1300 ft
Trail Route: All Trails
The Subway is similar to The Narrows in that you will hike in a slot canyon, it has waterfalls, and you will probably want to rent specific gear for the freezing cold water, but this trail has far fewer people.
One reason for the far less people is because you do need a permit, and it is off the beaten path (located 1 hour from the visitor center).
You can find more information about the hike and the permitting system here.
If you have repelling gear I would suggest doing the top-down route. If not, hiker’s take the out and back trail from the bottom.
5. Canyon Overlook Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Distance: 1 mile (out and back)
Elevation Change: 187 ft
Trail Route: All Trails
The Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park is a short but steep trail that has insane views of the canyon and Virgin River.
It is a quick and easy Zion National Park trail you can’t miss!
The trailhead is located just after you exit the tunnel on the north side of the road. There is a parking lot on the south side of the road across from it. You can also find parking along the side of the road if you keep driving east.
6. Observation Point via East Mesa Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 7.0 miles (out and back)
Elevation Change: 702 ft
Trail Route: All Trails
Some may say the view at Observation Point is even better than that at Angels Landing as it provides the same jaw dropping views of the valley floor as Angels landing, in addition to commanding a view of nearly every major attraction in Zion Canyon.
Even better, this is a lesser known and traveled hiking trail in Zion!
The common route from Weeping Rock trailhead is closed, but that makes it so fewer people are on this trail now.
The last half mile to the parking lot of the trailhead is steep and bumpy. I wouldn’t drive this section if there has been a recent rain storm or you don’t have AWD/4WD.
7. Pa’rus Trail in Zion
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 3.2 miles (out and back)
Elevation Change: 134 ft
Trail Route: All Trails
This beautiful paved path is great for bicycling, walking your dog, or just enjoying a stroll by the Virgin River.
You will eventually want to cross over onto the West side of the river unless you plan on taking it up to the Watchman Trail. I would suggest walking down to see the Nature Center and then turning back, which is about a 2mi RT walk.
Don’t forget your camera because you will want to take 360 degree photos on this majestic nature walk.
FAQs - Hiking in Zion
Best Time to Visit Zion for Hiking —
If you’re looking for the best time to visit Zion National Park, then I suggest going in late fall to winter when you don’t need to ride a shuttle bus to access major interest points along the scenic drive or have to worry about hot summer days and flash flooding.
Requirements for Shuttle Bus in Zion
For a majority of the year, typically March to November, Zion National Park requires that you use the free shuttle bus to get to any trails or sites located along the Scenic Drive.
The Zion Canyon Line, picks up visitors from the visitor center and drops them off at peak interest points along the Scenic Route inside the park.
For more information on the shuttle buses and routes please visit the Zion National Park visitor page.
The only options to get around using the shuttle bus along the Scenic Route during required months is to:
ride your bike before the shuttle but starts at 7am or after it ends for the day at 7pm
Make reservations at Zion Lodge
How many days should I spend at Zion National Park —
I would suggest spending 2-3 days minimum at Zion. In this blog post you will find an itinerary for 2 days of must-do hikes hikes and bonus hikes in case you stay longer.
Cell signal inside Zion National Park?
Cell phone service is very spotty throughout Zion. Don't plan on having any service when on the trails. I have Verizon and could get signal near the visitor center and sometimes while driving through the park.
Can I take my dog on any hikes in Zion?
The only trail in Zion you can take your dog is the Pa'rus Trail. Make sure to read current conditions in the park to see if the river has toxic levels on cyanobacteria as this is deathly to dogs.
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