One of the most popular U.S. national parks, Zion National Park in southwestern Utah is a place of amazing scenery, rugged terrain, unique geological formations, and stunning views.
One of the best ways to take in the majesty of the park is through its scenic overlooks and viewpoints, which offer breathtaking views of Zion Canyon, towering cliffs, and the meandering Virgin River that runs through it.
In this blog post, you’ll find the best scenic views in Zion National Park and what makes them so special and worth seeing.
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10 Unforgettable Scenic Views in Zion National Park
Zion National Park is one of the most popular U.S. national parks, for good reason, and its scenic overlooks offer some of the best views in the American Southwest.
From the towering sandstone cliffs to the winding Virgin River, the park’s beauty is mesmerizing.
Whether you’re hiking to the top of Angels Landing or simply taking a stroll along the Virgin River, the views from Zion National Park’s overlooks are unforgettable.
1. Checkerboard Mesa
Checkerboard Mesa is a unique geological formation located along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. The mesa is named for its distinctive checkerboard pattern, which is caused by the erosion of the sandstone.
The mesa is easily visible from the road, and there’s a small pullout where you can park and take in this classic Zion National Park landscape.
The view of Checkerboard Mesa is especially beautiful at sunset when the shadows on the rock enhance this incredible pattern even more.
2. Canyon Overlook
Located just outside of the main section of the park—Zion Canyon—the Canyon Overlook offers a stunning view of Zion Canyon from above.
To get there, you’ll need to hike a short and easy trail that leads up to the overlook. The trail is well-maintained and offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the scenery along the way.
You’ll find the trailhead at the east end of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel.
Once you get to the overlook at the end of the trail, you’ll be treated to a breathtaking view of Zion Canyon. The view comprises the park’s characteristic towering cliffs, as well as the hairpin bends of the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway below.
It’s a great spot to take photos, have a picnic, or simply sit and take in the beauty of this part of Zion National Park.
3. The Watchman From Canyon Junction Bridge
The Canyon Junction Bridge is not a hiking trail, but it’s still one of the best places for epic views in Zion National Park. The bridge spans the Virgin River and offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
The view from the Canyon Junction Bridge is especially beautiful in the fall when the trees along the river turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow.
When looking to the south from the bridge, the towering sandstone canyon walls flank the winding river beautifully, creating a picturesque scene that’s popular among photographers.
The focal point in the background is The Watchman, one of the major natural landmarks in Zion Canyon.
4. The East Temple From Canyon Junction Bridge
When looking north(east) from the Canyon Junction Bridge, you can see even more prominent rock formations in Zion Canyon.
You’ll be looking upstream at the Virgin River, as it comes running down through the canyon. The most notable formation is slightly to your right—the majestic East Temple.
This imposing Navajo sandstone formation is 7,709 feet high and a hard-to-miss landmark in the heart of Zion Canyon.
This particular view in Zion National Park is underrated, but well worth checking out.
While the most popular and famous view is in the other direction on the Canyon Junction Bridge, toward The Watchman, the East Temple is just behind you. Simply turn around for yet another awe-inspiring Zion Canyon landscape.
5. The Narrows
There’s no overlook that looks down into The Narrows. Instead, you’ll constantly be looking up. This is one of the most popular areas in Zion National Park, an extraordinary sight as well as providing a unique hiking opportunity.
The Narrows is at the far end of Zion Canyon, the last stop on the bus route through the canyon.
This is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon, with rock walls a thousand feet high on both sides. In certain areas, the Virgin River is only 20 to 30 feet wide here as it runs through the canyon.
You can see The Narrows via an easy, paved 1-mile trail from the Temple of Sinawava. To fully immerse yourself in this grandest of scenery, you can continue your hike into The Narrows, too.
This does mean, however, walking literally in the river. You can walk into the canyon for just a few minutes or make it a full-day adventure.
Make sure to be prepared, though, and to check weather conditions in the region. The Narrows is prone to flash floods, which can be very dangerous.
Learn more about visiting and hiking The Narrows here.
6. Scout Lookout
Scout Lookout offers one of my favorite views in Zion National Park. Although a very busy location, it’s not often mentioned in lists of the best Zion views.
This is because the spotlight usually goes exclusively to summits and overlooks like Angels Landing and Observation Point.
You can get to Scout Lookout via the West Rim Trail, which involves a bridge across the Virgin River, a section through the cooler Refrigerator Canyon, and the famous 21 switchbacks of Walter’s Wiggles.
Scout Lookout itself is a fairly flat and spacious area high above Zion Canyon. The reason it’s so popular is that this is the start of the climb to Angels Landing. This overlook sits at the junction of the West Rim Trail and the chain-lined route up Angels Landing.
As such, this is the single best view of Angels Landing you’ll find anywhere in Zion National Park. This magnificent and world-famous rock formation rises up from the canyon floor right in front of you.
It’s a pretty imposing sight, which has made many a hiker think twice before continuing up the sheer ridge to the top.
7. Angels Landing
One of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park is Angels Landing, and for good reason.
This 5.4-mile roundtrip hike offers stunning views of the canyon, cliffs, and surrounding landscape, culminating in a narrow ridge that leads to a 1,500-foot drop-off on both sides.
Hiking Angels Landing is not for the faint of heart, but for those brave enough to make the cable-lined climb, the reward is a truly breathtaking view of Zion Canyon. This hike is unquestionably one of the top national park experiences in the country.
The trail to Angels Landing is steep and strenuous, but well worth the effort. As you climb higher and higher, you’ll be rewarded with increasingly stunning views of the heart of Zion National Park.
The final stretch of the hike is the most challenging, as you’ll need to scramble up a narrow ridge with sheer drop-offs on either side.
Once you reach the top, however, you’ll soon see why this is one of the most popular hikes in the National Park System.
The view from the top of Angels Landing is jaw-dropping. You can see Zion Canyon stretching before you, while the Virgin River makes its way through it.
Simply standing on top of Angels Landing, after making the tricky and treacherous ascent, is something you’ll remember forever.
Note: During the 2023 summer season, you need an advance permit to hike to the top of Angels Landing. Visit the park’s website for more information about the Angels Landing permits and how to get one.
8. Weeping Rock
Weeping Rock is a unique geological formation below the East Rim of Zion Canyon.
This famous attraction gets its name for the constant stream of water that flows down its face, creating a curtain of water that falls into a small pool below.
You can get to Weeping Rock via a short and occasionally steep trail with several stairs. The view from this scenic rock alcove is stunning, with the surrounding landscape transformed by the lush hanging gardens above and around you.
9. Echo Canyon
This may not be among the amazing panoramic views in Zion National Park, but, in my opinion, Echo Canyon is still one of the park’s most scenic locations.
Echo Canyon is an expansive slot canyon complex to the northeast of the main Zion Canyon. It enters Zion Canyon near Weeping Rock and you can hike through it via the East Rim Trail. (You also have to hike through Echo Canyon to get to Observation Point, see below.)
Walking through a narrow slot canyon like this is an amazing experience. It’s one of the most extraordinary places in Zion National Park, an area characterized by steep walls, narrow openings, and colorful rock layers. Absolutely stunning!
10. Observation Point
Observation Point is another challenging hike that offers stunning views of Zion National Park’s famous scenery.
The hike is 8 miles roundtrip and gains over 2,100 feet in elevation. This is a pretty long and strenuous day hike, but if you’re up for the challenge, the views from the top make your physical exertion absolutely worthwhile.
The hike starts at the Weeping Rock Trailhead and follows the East Rim Trail for most of the way, including a section that takes you through scenic Echo Canyon.
As you hike up the steep switchbacks, you’ll be treated to stunning views of the surrounding landscape. At the top, you’ll find yourself standing on a narrow plateau with panoramic views of the Zion Canyon below.
The view from Observation Point is one of the best views in Zion National Park. In fact, I’d even say it’s my personal favorite view in the entire park.
You can see the winding Virgin River below and the towering sandstone cliffs that flank it. What I like so much about this view, though, is that you can clearly see Angels Landing from Observation Point, too.
It’s easily the greatest overall panoramic view of Zion Canyon in the national park.
More About Zion National Park
Map of the Best Views in Zion National Park
For a visual overview of the locations of all these amazing views in Zion National Park, check out this map below.
How Many of These Zion National Park Viewpoints Have You Visited? Which Are Your Favorite Views in Zion National Park? Share Your National Parks Experience Below!
More Scenic Views in the National Parks
- Views of Mount Rainier (in Mount Rainier National Park)
- Views of Crater Lake (in Crater Lake National Park)
- Views of the Teton Range (in Grand Teton National Park)
- Scenic Overlooks in Badlands National Park
- Scenic Views in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
- Scenic Views in Acadia National Park
- Best Views in Death Valley National Park
Rebecca Abbott
Friday 16th of June 2023
Loved this! I've only been to Zion once but now I'm looking at my calender wondering how to squeeze this in this year.. Do you have any posts for Yosemite?
Bram
Friday 16th of June 2023
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Rebecca! Zion is amazing and I can't wait to go back either. Unfortunately, I don't have very many posts on Yosemite so far. Been to almost 40 national parks, but Yosemite is still missing. Next year!