The 10 Best Hikes in Zion National Park 2025: Complete Trail Guide

Let me tell you something: Zion National Park will absolutely ruin you for other hiking destinations. I mean that in the best way possible.

After spending countless days exploring these red rock canyons, I’ve watched grown adults literally cry at the beauty of it all. And honestly? I get it. This place hits different.

With nearly 5 million visitors flooding into Zion in 2024 (making it the 2nd most visited national park), you’d think the magic would wear off. Nope. Whether you’re scrambling up chains on Angels Landing or wading through The Narrows like some kind of canyon explorer, Zion delivers every single time.

Trail Comparison at a Glance

Trail	Distance	Difficulty	Permit?	Best For
Angels Landing	5 miles	Strenuous	Yes	Thrill seekers
The Narrows	Up to 10 miles	Moderate-Strenuous	No (day hike)	Water lovers
Observation Point	7 miles	Moderate	No	Best views
The Subway	9 miles	Strenuous	Yes	Adventurers
Emerald Pools	1.2-3 miles	Easy-Moderate	No	Families
Canyon Overlook	1 mile	Easy	No	Quick views
Watchman	3.3 miles	Moderate	No	Sunset
Pa’rus	3.5 miles	Easy	No	All abilities
West Rim	16 miles	Strenuous	No	Backpackers
Taylor Creek	5 miles	Moderate	No	Solitude

1. Angels Landing: Not for the Faint of Heart

Look, I’m going to be straight with you about Angels Landing. This hike will make you question your life choices approximately 47 times. But then you’ll reach the top and immediately want to do it again.

The first part? Not too bad. You’ll zigzag up from the Virgin River through Refrigerator Canyon (blessed shade on hot days), feeling pretty good about yourself.

Then come Walter’s Wiggles.

These 21 switchbacks are where things get real. Named after Walter Ruesch, the first park superintendent who helped design this insane trail back in 1926, they’re tight, steep, and will have your quads screaming. But hey, at least you’re not on the chains yet.

Scout Lookout comes next, and this is decision time. About half the people turn around here, and there’s no shame in that game. The view is already spectacular. You can see Angels Landing towering above, and if you’re afraid of heights, this might be your sweet spot.

The infamous chains section? It’s exactly as crazy as everyone says. We’re talking about a half-mile scramble along a narrow ridge with 1,000-foot drops on both sides. Some spots are literally three feet wide. You’ll be gripping chains bolted into the rock while trying not to think about the fact that 15 people have died on this trail since 2004.

Photography Tips for Angels Landing

Golden hour is pure magic up here. If you can snag an afternoon permit, the late light hitting the canyon walls creates this incredible orange glow. Morning shots capture the Virgin River snaking below in beautiful detail. Pro tip: a GoPro on a chest mount leaves your hands free for the chains while still capturing the insanity.

The new permit system (started in 2022) actually makes the experience better. Yeah, it’s harder to get up there, but you’re not stuck in a conga line of sweaty hikers anymore. Apply for the seasonal lottery months in advance, or try your luck with the daily lottery one day before.

2. The Narrows: Walking Through Water Never Felt So Right

Okay, The Narrows is basically Zion’s version of a water park, except way cooler and with actual geological significance. You’re literally hiking IN the Virgin River through a slot canyon that sometimes narrows to just 20 feet wide with walls soaring 1,000 feet above you.

Start with the one-mile Riverside Walk (paved, easy, wheelchair accessible). This is your warm-up. At the end, the trail just… stops. And the river begins.

This is where things get interesting.

Your first few steps into the river feel weird. Your brain keeps saying “this can’t be the trail,” but it is. Soon you’re picking your way upstream, hopping from rock to rock, sometimes wading through knee-deep pools, occasionally hitting waist-deep sections that make everyone squeal a little.

About 2.5 miles in, you hit Orderville Canyon junction. Keep going. Trust me. Because just past here is Wall Street, where the canyon walls close in so tight that the sky becomes just a ribbon of blue above. The walls here glow this insane golden orange color, especially when sunlight filters down around midday.

What about the gear situation? Summer visitors often just wear shorts and regular hiking shoes. But the water is COLD (around 55°F even in July). Those rental packages from Springdale outfitters with neoprene socks and canyoneering boots? Worth every penny if you’re going more than a couple miles.

Photography Tips for The Narrows

Forget about keeping your camera dry unless you have a proper waterproof setup. Bring a dry bag or waterproof phone case. The best shots come from getting low, almost water level, looking up at those towering walls. The light is best between 11am and 2pm when sun penetrates the canyon. Capture the human element too; silhouettes of hikers against the glowing walls are stunning.

Flash flood danger is real. If there’s even a 20% chance of rain anywhere in the area, the park closes The Narrows. This isn’t them being overly cautious. In 2015, seven hikers died in a flash flood in nearby Keyhole Canyon. Water levels can rise 10 feet in minutes.

3. Observation Point: Better Views Than Angels Landing (Yeah, I Said It)

Here’s a hot take that might get me kicked out of Utah: Observation Point has better views than Angels Landing. There, I said it.

At 6,508 feet, you’re actually looking DOWN on Angels Landing. The panorama stretches from the mouth of Zion Canyon all the way to the White Cliffs. It’s absolutely bonkers, and because the traditional trail has been closed since 2019 (thanks, massive rockfall), hardly anyone makes the effort to get here via the back route.

The East Mesa Trail approach is a game-changer. Instead of grinding up 2,000+ feet from the canyon floor, you drive around to the east side of the park (near Zion Ponderosa Resort) and hike a relatively mellow 7 miles through pine forests and slickrock.

The dirt road to the trailhead can be sketchy. After rain, it turns into a mud pit that’ll eat sedan cars for breakfast. High clearance recommended, or cough up the cash for the Zion Ponderosa shuttle.

The actual hike? Pretty chill for the first few miles. You’re walking through ponderosa pines and manzanita, catching glimpses of side canyons. Then suddenly, boom. You emerge onto this narrow peninsula of rock jutting out into space, and the entire world drops away beneath you.

Photography Tips for Observation Point

Sunrise is absolutely the move here. You’ll have the place to yourself, and the morning light painting the White Throne and Cathedral Mountain is chef’s kiss. Bring a wide-angle lens if you’ve got one; you’ll want to capture the full sweep of the canyon. The classic shot is looking down at Angels Landing with the Virgin River winding below.

4. The Subway: Instagram Famous for Good Reason

Getting a Subway permit is like winning the lottery. Literally. The online lottery opens months in advance, and hundreds of people apply for maybe 20 spots per day. But if you score one? Oh man.

The bottom-up route (non-technical) starts innocently enough. You descend into the Left Fork drainage on what can barely be called a trail. More like a suggestion of where other people have walked.

Then you hit the creek.

For the next several miles, you’re boulder hopping, scrambling over dinosaur eggs (that’s what the round boulders look like), and wading through pools. Route finding skills required. Seriously, download the GPS track beforehand because it’s easy to get off course.

The payoff? About 3 miles in, the canyon starts to change. The walls close in. The rock turns this incredible burgundy color with emerald pools collecting in smooth bowls. Then you round a corner and there it is: The Subway. This tubular tunnel carved by water looks exactly like its namesake, except way more beautiful than any actual subway you’ve ridden.

The acoustics in here are wild. Your voice echoes and warbles in the most trippy way. The light filtering through the narrow opening above creates these amazing patterns on the water.

Photography Tips for The Subway

This is tricky lighting. The contrast between bright spots and deep shadows is extreme. Bracket your shots or shoot in RAW so you can pull details from shadows later. The money shot is from inside looking out toward the pools. Get low, use the curves of the rock to frame the image. Waterproof camera gear is essential; you’ll be in and out of water constantly.

Just remember: never, EVER attempt this if there’s any chance of rain. Flash floods in this narrow canyon are unsurvivable.

5. Emerald Pools: The Family-Friendly Classic

Let’s be real: Emerald Pools gets absolutely mobbed. But there’s a reason every family with kids hits this trail. It’s gorgeous, relatively easy, and delivers those desert oasis vibes everyone’s looking for.

Three pools, three different vibes. Lower Pool is barely a 20-minute walk on a paved path. Perfect for grandparents, toddlers, anyone who wants a taste of Zion without breaking a sweat.

Middle Pool requires a bit more effort but rewards you with this cool perspective where you can peer over the edge at the lower falls. Kids love this spot.

Upper Pool is where things get legit beautiful. The trail gets steeper and sandier (annoying on the way down), but you end up in this natural amphitheater with massive cliff walls and, if you’re lucky with timing, a waterfall.

Spring is prime time when snowmelt feeds the falls. By August? Sometimes it’s more like Emerald Puddles. Still pretty, just adjust expectations.

Photography Tips for Emerald Pools

The lower pool with its hanging gardens makes for great wide shots. At the upper pool, the cliff reflections in still water are stunning in early morning. The falls (when flowing) are best captured with a slightly slower shutter speed to show movement. Watch for wildlife; we’ve seen everything from rock squirrels to the occasional bighorn sheep here.

6. Canyon Overlook: Maximum Payoff, Minimum Effort

If you only have 30 minutes to hike in Zion, this is your trail. I’m serious. The view-to-effort ratio is off the charts.

Park right at the east end of the tunnel (tiny parking lot fills fast). The trail immediately gets interesting with some stairs carved into sandstone and a few sections where you’re walking along ledges with drop-offs. Nothing too scary, but keep the kids close.

Halfway through there’s this hidden alcove that most people walk right past. Duck inside for a cool little cave moment and temperature drop on hot days.

The overlook itself? Chef’s kiss. You’re standing on this platform looking straight down Pine Creek Canyon with the Great Arch visible below and the whole lower canyon spreading out before you.

Photography Tips for Canyon Overlook

This is THE sunrise spot if you’re staying on the east side. The morning light illuminates the entire canyon below while you’re still in shadow. For something different, bring a telephoto and compress the layered cliffs. The road switchbacks below add great leading lines to compositions.

7. Watchman Trail: The Sunset King

Nobody talks about Watchman Trail and that’s exactly why you should hike it. While everyone’s fighting for shuttle spots to get deeper into the canyon, you can walk right from the Visitor Center and score epic views without the hassle.

The trail switchbacks up the lower slopes of Watchman Peak (the big boy guarding the south entrance). It’s not particularly exciting for the first mile, just steady climbing through juniper and scrub brush. But then you round a corner and BAM, the views open up.

From the viewpoint, you’ve got the Towers of the Virgin doing their thing, Watchman Peak looming overhead, and Springdale spread out below. But here’s the secret: this is THE spot for sunset. The west-facing cliffs light up like they’re on fire while you sit on the conveniently placed benches and watch the show.

Photography Tips for Watchman

Golden hour is everything here. The last hour before sunset transforms the entire scene. Set up on the mesa viewpoint with Watchman Peak in the background and the Virgin River valley below. Long exposures after sunset can capture amazing alpenglow on the peaks.

8. Pa’rus Trail: Don’t Sleep on the Easy Stuff

Pa’rus gets zero respect and that’s a mistake. Sure, it’s paved. Sure, it’s flat. But this riverside ramble is pure Zion magic without any of the suffering.

Following the Virgin River from the Visitor Center to Canyon Junction, you get these wide-open views of the Watchman, Bridge Mountain, and the Towers of the Virgin. The cottonwoods along the river explode with color in fall. In spring, the wildflowers go absolutely nuts.

Bikes are allowed, making this a great option for families with different fitness levels. Rent bikes in Springdale and cruise the whole thing in 20 minutes, or take your time on foot and enjoy the numerous picnic spots along the river.

The bridge at Canyon Junction is sunset photography gold. That classic shot of the Virgin River leading to the Watchman? That’s taken from here. Get there 30 minutes before sunset to claim your spot because every photographer in the park knows about it.

Photography Tips for Pa’rus

The bridge at Canyon Junction is the money spot, especially at sunset. But don’t ignore the cottonwood groves, especially in fall when the leaves turn gold. The trail’s width allows for creative compositions with hikers and bikers adding human elements to landscapes.

9. West Rim Trail: Go Big or Go Home

The West Rim Trail is Zion’s best-kept secret for hardcore hikers. While everyone else is fighting crowds in the main canyon, you’re up here on the rim, walking through ponderosa forests and along cliff edges with nobody around for miles.

Most people hike it top-down, starting at Lava Point (7,450 feet) and descending all the way to The Grotto. You’ll need to arrange a shuttle or have two cars because there’s no way you’re hiking back up.

The first few miles are mellow, crossing meadows and forests. Then the views start opening up. And opening. And opening. By the time you hit the rim proper, you’re walking along the edge of the world with the entire canyon system spread out below.

The last 5 miles are the same as the Angels Landing approach, so you descend Walter’s Wiggles and pass Scout Lookout. It’s weird seeing all the Angels Landing hikers when you’ve just spent 6 hours in complete solitude.

Spring and fall are ideal. Summer’s doable but start early because there’s minimal shade on the rim sections. Winter’s sketchy with ice on Walter’s Wiggles.

Photography Tips for West Rim

This trail offers the best variety of any Zion hike. Forest scenes, meadow wildflowers, and rim vistas all in one day. The viewpoint near Cabin Spring is spectacular for wide canyon panoramas. Save battery because you’ll be shooting all day.

10. Taylor Creek: The Kolob Secret

Kolob Canyons is like Zion’s forgotten sibling. Located 40 miles north of the main canyon, maybe 5% of park visitors make it here. Their loss.

Taylor Creek Trail follows the Middle Fork through a gorgeous box canyon to Double Arch Alcove. You’ll cross the creek about 50 times (I stopped counting at 30), so just accept that your feet are getting wet.

Two historic cabins from the 1930s pop up early in the hike. Pretty cool to imagine homesteading in this remote canyon back in the day.

The canyon gradually narrows as you go, with these beautiful red Navajo sandstone walls closing in. The destination, Double Arch Alcove, is this massive overhang with two arch openings and walls stained with desert varnish in these crazy patterns.

Fall is absolutely the time to do this. The maples and oaks in the canyon turn brilliant red and orange, rivaling anything you’ll see in New England.

Photography Tips for Taylor Creek

Fall colors reflecting in the creek pools are stunning. The alcove itself is challenging to photograph due to its size, so consider detail shots of the patterns in the rock. The historic cabins make great subjects with the canyon walls as backdrop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Essential Tips for Hiking in Zion

Beat the Crowds

I cannot stress this enough: start early. The first shuttle leaves at 7am during peak season. Be on it. The difference between starting Angels Landing at 7:30am versus 10:30am is massive. We’re talking empty trails versus human traffic jams.

Alternatively, November through February sees fraction of the crowds. Yeah, it’s colder, but having The Narrows to yourself? Priceless.

Seasonal Considerations

Spring brings waterfalls but also high water that closes The Narrows.
Summer is hot as hell (literally 110°F) but everything’s open.
Fall offers perfect weather and fall colors. October is busy but November rocks.
Winter is quiet and beautiful, but check trail conditions for ice.

Water and Heat

People seriously underestimate desert heat. Bring more water than you think you need. On summer days, I carry 3 liters minimum for any hike over 2 hours. Electrolyte supplements are your friend.

Heat exhaustion is the #1 reason for rescues in Zion. Start early, rest in shade, and don’t be too proud to turn around.

Flash Flood Awareness

This isn’t a joke. Flash floods kill people every year in Utah slot canyons. If there’s ANY chance of rain within 50 miles, stay out of narrow canyons. The Narrows and The Subway can go from ankle-deep to 20-foot wall of water in minutes.

The Shuttle System

From mid-March through November, you MUST take the shuttle to access Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Shuttles start at 7am and run until early evening. The Springdale shuttle (free) connects to the park shuttle, so park in town if the park’s full.

Pro tip: Stay in Springdale and walk to the park entrance. You’ll skip the parking chaos entirely.

Final Thoughts

Zion is one of those places that lives up to the hype. Yeah, it’s crowded. Yeah, permits are a pain. But when you’re standing on Angels Landing, or wading through The Narrows, or watching sunset from Watchman, none of that matters.

These trails have changed people’s lives. They’ve inspired proposals, career changes, and lifelong loves of the outdoors. They’re not just hikes; they’re experiences that stick with you.

So pick your trail, pack your water, and get out there. Zion’s waiting, and trust me, photos don’t do it justice. You’ve got to feel the sandstone under your boots, hear the echo in the slot canyons, and earn those views with your own sweat.

See you on the trail!

---

Always check current conditions at nps.gov/zion before heading out. Trail conditions change, and your safety depends on good information. Happy hiking!