| HIKES IN ZION'S MAIN CANYON |
The main canyon (Zion Canyon) is the popular touristy section of Zion National Park that features all of the amenities: the Visitor Center, the Zion Human History Museum, the Zion Lodge, and the tourist town of Springdale just to the south or the park. During the height of tourist season, regular shuttle buses take visitors up the canyon, with many interesting stops and trailheads along the way. The majority of officially-maintained trails are found here and hikes up to the viewpoints are well worth the effort. Famous landmarks include the Emerald Pools, Angels Landing, Weeping Rock, and the Great White Throne.
| EMERALD POOLS TRAIL | |
Rating: easy family stroll.   Emerald Pools is a Zion classic: an oasis in the middle of the desert. The hike is a collection of short trails that meander past a small, lushly-vegetated stream that rolls down from the cliffs and forms several interesting "pools." If you have only two hours to spend on a leisurely non-strenuous hike with the entire family, I would probably pick this one. As this hike is not very difficult and it is located just across from the Zion Lodge, this trail gets crowded in the summer months. Be prepared to share the views with many other people. TRAIL INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
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| WEEPING ROCK | |
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Rating: very easy quick family stroll. Weeping Rock is a famous landmark of Zion National Park and is an easily accessible tourist attraction. Weeping Rock is a large bowl-shaped alcove where the lower layer of sandstone has eroded away; water that has been slowly descending within the sandstone formations reaches an impermeable layer of rock and is forced out the side causing the "weeping." The weeping walls form a beautifully lush hanging garden with a little flowing stream below. A short 10-minute stroll takes you under the beautiful alcove with wonderful water sprinkling from above. TRAIL INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
| RIVERSIDE WALK | |
| Rating: easy family stroll (wheelchair accessible). The Riverside Walk is a wonderful little hike on a fairly level paved trail that affords great views of the Virgin River and wonderfully lush hanging gardens and trees surrounded by tall weeping walls. This hike is very family friendly: young children and the elderly alike can do this trail, and the trail is also wheelchair accessible. This mostly level hike is roughly two-miles long (round trip) and may take one to two hours to complete (or more if you want to take your time and soak in the views). TRAIL INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
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| OBSERVATION POINT | |
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Rating: fairly strenuous day hike. The hike from the Weeping Rock Trailhead to Observation Point is a Zion classic and the viewpoint at the end of the trail is an iconic image of Zion National Park. The Observation Point Trail is a strenuous 8-mile (round trip) hike that could take between 4 to 6 hours and involves a lot of unrelenting uphill on a hard paved trail that was blasted out of the canyon walls. Along the way, hikers get a glimpse into the dark and mysterious Echo Canyon with its beautiful slickrock formations and stunning White Cliffs. TRAIL INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
| HIDDEN CANYON | |
| Rating: fairly strenuous day hike. Hidden Canyon gives hikers a taste of canyoneering without requiring any climbing or rappelling to complete the hike. Starting at the Weeping Rock trailhead, hike up the same trail to Observation Point, but take the side trail to Hidden Canyon instead. The somewhat exposed route will lead you to the mouth of Hidden Canyon -- a beautifully narrow canyon "hidden" above the main canyon. The trail officially ends at the mouth of the canyon, but you can explore quite a ways back. TRAIL INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
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| COURT OF THE PATRIARCHS | |
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Rating: very easy quick family stroll. The Court of the Patriarchs is barely a trail, but it is worth seeing if this is your first trip to Zion. Get off at the Court of the Patriarchs shuttle stop and take the two-minute trail up to a little viewpoint above the trees. This spot gives you a fairly unhindered view of several mountains on the west side of the canyon. While there are many better views awaiting you in Zion, this one is worth the ten minutes of effort. Then it's time to get back on the shuttle and move on to more exciting things! TRAIL INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
| THE SAND BENCH LOOP | |
| Rating: moderately strenuous day hike. The Sand Bench Loop is an underrated official trail that starts at the Court of the Patriarchs shuttle stop. The hike is roughly 3.5 miles and makes its way to the top of the "sand bench" -- a massive landslide under The Sentinel that dammed up the main canyon several thousand years ago. While the views aren't stunning, the scenery is quite beautiful and photogenic. As an added "bonus," this trail is frequented by guided horseback rides during the summer months. While the hike is short, trudging through sand and horse droppings can take a lot of effort! TRAIL INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
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| THE WATCHMAN TRAIL | |
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Rating: easy to moderately strenuous day hike. The Watchman is a short trail that starts by the Visitor Center and leads to a viewpoint roughly 300 feet above. The view isn't as stunning as from other hikes like Angel's Landing or Observation Point, but it takes a lot less effort to get up here as well. This is a pleasant little hike suitable for the entire family, but keep a close eye on children as the trail skirts several exposed areas. During the afternoon heat of summer, this hike could be torture, so early morning is the best time for this one. TRAIL INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
| ANGELS LANDING | |
| Rating: fairly strenuous exposed hiking. Angels Landing is one of the defacto classic hikes in Zion and one of the most stunning viewpoints you will ever experience, but it's not recommended for anybody with a fear of heights. Starting at the Grotto trailhead, the hike to Angels Landing follows the West Rim Trail up and out of the west side of the main canyon. Angels Landing is unique fin-like mountain formation that juts out to the center of the main canyon. The trail follows the narrow spine to the final viewpoint roughly 1500 feet above the canyon floor. Along the way, chains, handrails, and steps reassure hikers at the more exposed sections. This hike will take your breath away! TRAIL INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
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| CABLE MOUNTAIN | |
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Rating: fairly strenuous hiking route. Cable Mountain is a fairly remote viewpoint overlooking the main canyon. The cable works at the top of the mountain are a historical leftover of a working cable system from the early 1900's that brought timber and supplies from the upper east plateau to the canyon below. Because of the amount of effort it takes to get to the viewpoint, the hike to Cable Mountain offers you escape from the crowds of the main canyon. TRAIL INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
| DEERTRAP MOUNTAIN | |
| Rating: fairly strenuous hiking route. Like Cable Mountain, Deertrap Mountain is another fairly remote viewpoint that requires many miles of hiking, but its beauty is well worth the effort for a strong hiker. You can see everything from this mountain: the majestic White Cliffs surrounding the main canyon, Angels Landing and the Zion Lodge far below, and even Springdale in the distance to the south. Not too many people venture up here because it is just a little too strenuous for your average day hike, so it is a great spot for solitude. TRAIL INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
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| LOWER PINE CREEK | |
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Rating: short easy hike. Just past the Canyon Junction on Route 9 (heading towards the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel) is the impressive canyon of Lower Pine Creek, marked by the Great Arch in the distance. Although you can't see it too easily from the road, Lower Pine Creek does have a fair amount of flowing water. A pair of short hikes from the first and second switchbacks can take you to a cute little waterfall and also several fun swimming holes. ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
| MENU FALLS | |
| Rating: easy short family stroll. Menu Falls is a nice little alcove and waterfall seep located roughly half a mile north of the Big Bend shuttle stop. This forgotten spot is so named because a picture of it was included on the cover of the original Zion Lodge menu. The actual falls and waterflow are quite small, but the ambience and sounds of the water are sublime. This has traditionally been a prime spot for exchanging vows in the park! TRAIL INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
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| ECHO CANYON (Middle Echo Canyon) | |
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Rating: moderately strenuous technical canyoneering.  Echo Canyon is the large canyon complex in the main canyon located just across from Angels Landing. Most hikers catch only a few glimpses into its depths as they hike the Observation Point/East Rim Trails through Echo Canyon, but the middle section of canyon makes for a great and relatively short canyoneering adventure. The route involves several short rappels, downclimbs, and swims through cold and sometimes putrid water, but the subterranean scenery is just as outstanding as other comparable Zion slots like Pine Creek or Keyhole Canyon. As with any technical canyon in Zion, a backcountry permit is required for this route. ROUTE INFORMATION and PHOTOS... |
Continue to the Upper East Canyon ->
Hiking symbols used for descriptions: | |
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ZION CLASSIC: a must-do hike if you want to see the best of Zion! |
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FAMILY-FRIENDLY: a good choice for those with children who like to hike. |
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BACKPACKING: a route enjoyable as a multi-day hike. |
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TECHNICAL: canyoneering or scrambling route requiring technical gear and climbing and/or rappelling experience. Not suitable for casual hikers. |
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