Best Zion Canyon Things To Do & Zion Hiking Trails

September 12, 2022

One of my favorite national parks is Zion Canyon! So I’m sharing all the best Zion canyon things to do and my favorite Zion hiking trails that I would recommend to anyone traveling to Zion. I will note, it’s an INCREDIBLY busy park and not super large, which means it’s going to feel a lot busier than most other large parks. However, you still can’t beat its beauty and charm!

About Zion National Park

Zion National Park was the first National Park in Utah, and is consistently a favorite of National Park goers being one of the most visited National Parks in Utah and in the entire country. It’s located in the Southwest concern of Utah, next door to several other iconic parks such as Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon. It’s over 15 miles long and 2.5k feet deep featuring reddish and tan colored Navajo Sandstone eroded by the Virgin River.

Zion National Park Guide — Overlook Trail at Zion

TLDR:

How Much Time to Spend Here: 2 Days + 2 Nights

Best Time To Go: Early Spring or Late Fall when temperatures and crowds drop down

Expected Cost: High Cost due to low housing capacity and travel requirements

SEE MORE // ONE WEEK SOUTHWEST AMERICAN NATIONAL PARK ROAD TRIP GUIDE

Where to Stay at Zion National Park

If You Want to Camp
Of course, if you can snag a spot early enough then camping in Zion Canyon is incredible! But it’s SO hard to book. If you are down for some back-country hiking, then check out the West or East rim trails!

Hotels, but Nearby
They aren’t your cheapest options, but the hotels in the Zion town itself are so cute and so close to everything. It’s definitely the most convenient option and still gorgeous!

Hotels, but Affordable
I’ve had multiple stay options when in Zion. In 2020, we opted to stay in Hurricane which was about 30 minutes outside the park and pretty convenient. In 2022, we stayed out in Kanab, Utah at the Best Friends Roadhouse and we had a FABULOUS time. It’s further, about 1 hour drive from the entrance, but more conveniently located to other parks like Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon as well a The Wave.

Know Before You Go

Taking the Zion Shuttle
Stop what you’re doing and book tickets on the Zion Shuttle to get into the canyon. Between March and November (peak season), you can only get inside via shuttle and not by car. We almost missed this, and it’s a VERY not fun walk if you can’t get tickets. If you’re unable to snag someone, check REGULARLY. We managed to get 3 tickets the day before and we were checking every 15 minutes. Otherwise, Zion is my absolute favorite National Park of this trip and I totally recommend 2 days here to get the full experience!

Parking Before Taking the Shuttle
Parking at the Visitor Center is going to fill up fast for the shuttle, so show up early! Otherwise, you can park just outside the park and walk in, but you definitely will end up paying for it.

Coming in From Bryce Canyon
If you’re going to need to enter through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel and have an RV or oversized vehicle of any form, then you will have to get a $15 permit to do so! If you’ve got a normal car, just be prepared to hit some pretty slow-moving traffic here.

It’s BUSY Here
It’s a national park with an INSANE amount of visitors, and it’s not large enough to spread those visitors out. Come with the correct expectations! Every hike is quite busy, especially Angels Landing. Just remember that everyone there is trying to experience the same beauty that you are, and you’re right there with them.

Best Things To Do in Zion National Park

Catch the Sunset: The ABSOLUTE MUST for during your trip. I’ve hiked up Watchman (closer to Hurricane) which was about 2 miles roundtrip with a GORGEOUS view of Zion and Utah with the sunset. However, Overlook at Zion is UNBEATABLE. It’s a rocky half mile hike that’s pretty easy with the most stunning Canyon view. Get there at LEAST one hour before sunset and bring a couple beers to enjoy with you. It’s a MUST.

Hike Emerald Pools: Going to be honest, if the lower pool is closed and it’s only upper, this isn’t like the number one hike on my list. It’s cool and does have some gorgeous views if you don’t plan to do Scout’s View though.

Hike Scout’s View to Angels Landing:

Two of the MOST popular hikes in all of the park. This is the first half of the Angels Landing trail is Scout’s View, which is really just the bottom half of Angels’ Landing. Then you walk up to Angel’s Landing! The hike is HARD, but it does have some of the best views of the entire park. Just make sure you give yourself 2-3 hours total for this hike and bring TWICE the water you think you need.

Here’s a Guide to Conquering Angels Landing from the Mandagies, one of my FAVORITE travel writers and photographer in the US!

Hiking the Narrows
The Narrows is a 10-mile trail THROUGH the river that runs between the canyons. It’s pretty much entirely through water, and the water gets about as deep as your waist.

It’s absolutely beautiful and a unique hike! I would 100% say you NEED closed-toe waterproof shoes and would highly recommend a walking stick. We opted for neither and made it only 2-3 miles in before turning around. You can also rent these at Zion Outfitters just outside the entrance of the park!

More Things To Do Around Zion

Enjoy Coffee with a View:
Tons of adorable coffee shops just outside the park! Check out Deep Creek Coffee Co for a delicious coffee and a view.

Hang out in the Zion River
Right at the entrance of the park, you can find tons of river access points. You can ever opt to float down the river with any of the river floating companies. Such a fun way to get views and stay cool.

Enjoy a Nice Brew
Just by Zion Outfitters is Zion Brewing, a local brewing company you can enjoy after a day of hiking! We loved hanging out here after our day, and loved meeting other cool people from around the US.

What To Bring To …

Thanks for checking out our Zion National park Guide for the best Zion hikes and things to do at Zion National Park! If you’re planning a Southwest National Park trip, we absolutely recommend checkout out of the National Park Road Trip guide!

More Great Resources We Loved:

3 Days in Zion and Bryce Canyon by Adventures of A + K (another fav Texas blogger couple of mine!)

15 Helpful Road Trip Planning Apps by The Mandagies