Beyond the list of Best Hikes in Zion National Park, there are many more opportunities for hiking in Zion, whether you stick to the official trails in Zion Canyon or choose a backcountry route in a different section of the park. IMPORTANT: Many of these routes are intended for experienced hikers. You are responsible for your own safety. It is up to you to determine if a trail or route is appropriate for you and plan for your hike accordingly.
If you are planning to spend the day visiting the popular Zion Canyon either by riding the Zion Canyon Line of the free shuttle bus system or by riding a bike or e-bike up the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, there are many great hiking trails to be found at just about every stop from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center to the end of the line at the Temple of Sinawava. There is more to see than just Angels Landing and the Zion Narrows.
Beyond the popular trails along the Zion Canyon Line, the hikes on this page are a bit more difficult and/or remote. Many of these routes are not suitable for casual tourists who have no technical canyoneering or climbing experience. Do not attempt any route without proper preparation, gear, and permits (if necessary). Your safety is your responsibility.
The east section of the park holds the most scenic drive you will ever experience. Route 9 is a wondrous snaking road through the beautiful Upper East Canyon's slickrock formations and drainages, connected to Zion Canyon via the amazing Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. There aren't very many official trails in this section, but there are plenty of random sandstone formations, drainages, and minor peaks to explore.
Beyond the end of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive at the Temple of Sinawava, the walls close in to form the famous Zion Narrows, an amazing section of canyon that stretches for over a dozen miles. The North Fork of the Virgin River forms a deep sandstone labyrinth with a vast network of remote side canyons. Several popular technical canyoneering routes also descend through the various tributaries of the Zion Narrows.
The "Kolob Terrace" is a lesser-traveled section of Zion, accessible via the Kolob Terrace Road that heads north from the town of Virgin up into Zion high country. The drive through the Terrace up to Lava Point offers a good sampling of wondrous views, from golden valleys to majestic peaks high in distance. The Kolob Terrace is home to one of the most popular canyons in Zion: the Left Fork of North Creek, aka. "the Subway."
Far from the crowds of the main canyon, the Kolob Canyons is the isolated northwestern section of Zion National Park, noted for the deep pink and orange glow of the area's Navajo sandstone formations. It is roughly a 40-mile drive from Springdale to the Kolob Canyons entrance at Exit 40 off of I-15. The lovely Kolob Canyons Road is a great five-mile scenic drive to a viewpoint of the finger canyons.
Southwest of Springdale and north of Route 9 is the hottest, driest section of Zion National Park and is overlooked by most visitors as they drive to and from Springdale and Zion Canyon. At a lower elevation than any other part of the park, the desert section's beauty is more subtle and is pleasant only in the cooler months, but several washes are worthy of exploration up into this lonely area of the park.
The awesomeness doesn't just end at the arbitrary borders of Zion National Park. There is a lot of amazing canyon and mountain scenery in the surrounding public lands. Some of the hikes below are in popular touristy areas; others are in extremely remote wilderness areas where nobody will find you. Be sure to read the specifics for each hike below and be respectful of neighboring private lands to ensure future access.
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