If you’re after inspiring canyon landscapes, great campgrounds, and a challenging hike or two, Utah’s Zion National Park has your name written all over it.
The oldest and most popular of the five national parks in Utah, Zion National Park draws in more than 3 million visitors each year. There’s obviously a reason for the park’s popularity: its truly magnificent scenery and accessible yet epic Zion National Park hiking trails.
Zion Canyon is one of the most impressive canyons I’ve ever seen. It’s no surprise that the earliest Mormon settlers compared it to the biblical place of Zion and gave prominent rock formations names such as the Court of the Patriarchs and Angels Landing.
Hikers will be in heaven in Zion as well. There are several well-maintained hiking trails in Zion National Park, and there are nine different trails in Zion Canyon alone.
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5 Best Hikes in Zion National Park, Utah
Their trailheads are reachable on the Zion Canyon Shuttle in the high season and with your own car in the quieter months.
After spending three full days in Zion National Park, exploring as much of the park on foot as we could, the following are what I consider the five best day hikes in Zion National Park.
Of these five hikes, the first two are absolute must-do hikes. They’re phenomenal.
1. Observation Point via East Rim Trail
The East Rim Trail climbs steeply to a rim of Zion Canyon, squeezing through scenic Echo Canyon on the way.
This challenging day hike leads to the appropriately named Observation Point, which is in my opinion the greatest view anywhere in Zion Canyon.
If you somehow only have time for just one hike in the park, I recommend this one. In my opinion, it’s the best hike in Zion National Park.
Round-trip distance: 8 miles (12.9 kilometers)
Duration: 4 to 6 hours, depending on your fitness level
2. Angels Landing via West Rim Trail
One of the most famous and popular hikes in Zion National Park, this one takes adventurous and steel-nerved hikers to the top of Angels Landing.
You can reach this towering rock formation via a series of numerous switchbacks, followed by a traverse of a sometimes ridiculously narrow and steep ridge.
Steel cables and chains offer welcome assistance on this spectacular ascent. It’s steep, difficult, and occasionally dangerous, yet also one of the best trails to hike in Zion National Park.
The Zion Canyon views from the top are literally jaw-dropping.
Round-trip distance: 5.4 miles (8.7 kilometers)
Duration: 3 to 5 hours, depending on your fitness level and the number of hikers
3. Pa’rus Trail
After the two busy, thigh-burning, and nerve-wrecking must-do hikes in Zion above, the Pa’rus Trail offers welcome relaxation and quiet contemplation. This easy paved trail runs along the scenic Virgin River.
Suitable for wheelchairs, bikes, and strollers, this is one of the best short hikes in Zion National Park for kids.
Round-trip distance: 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers)
Duration: 2 hours
4. Watchman Trail
With a trailhead located between the South and Watchman Campgrounds, the Watchman Trail is one of the classic sunset hikes in Zion National Park.
This moderate trail ends at a lookout point at the base of the Watchman, where views include Springdale, lower Zion Canyon, and the Towers of the Virgin.
Round-trip distance: 3.3 miles (5.3 kilometers)
Duration: 2 hours
5. Hidden Canyon Trail
The first short section of this trail overlaps with the East Rim Trail before splitting off to the right.
A steep trail that’s not recommended for people who have fear of heights, it follows a sheer cliff face to the mouth of a beautiful narrow canyon.
Round-trip distance: 2.4 miles (3.9 kilometers)
Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours
Two days is the absolute minimum amount of time to spend hiking in Zion National Park.
If your time is limited, I recommend focusing on Observation Point and Angels Landing. If you’re overnighting, take in the Watchman Trail as well.