Dramatic canyon views, the clear green Virgin River and red rock glowing against cottonwoods: Zion National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the US. There’s far more to it than hiking, too, from scenic drives and horse rides to some of the darkest night skies in the country.
Zion rewards a little planning, though, from the shuttle and permits to trail closures. These are the best things to do in Zion National Park, including the hikes, viewpoints and experiences we loved most, with the practical details you need for each one.
Looking for somewhere to rest your feet after a long day of hiking? We stayed at Hampton Inn & Suites Springdale: spacious rooms and good value, close to the park.
Top 5 Things to Do in Zion National Park
Marvel at Zion’s Famous Peak on the Watchman Trail
Too many people skip the Watchman Trail, and they’re missing out: it’s one of our favourite hikes in Zion. The 3.3-mile round trip starts right by the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and climbs about 480 feet to a viewpoint that shows off the Watchman in all its glory.
It took us about an hour and a half. Don’t follow everyone who turns back at the first plateau: carry on and do the short loop beyond it, which has the best views on the trail and isn’t strenuous at all. There’s no shade, so go early in the morning or on a cloudy day.
The Watchman Trail is currently closed pending repairs, so check the NPS conditions page before you go.
Top Tip: Bring a packed lunch. Zion Lodge has the only restaurants inside the park, so it gets very busy at lunchtime, and who wants to spend their holiday queuing?
Drive the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway
A scenic drive might feel like a cheat’s entry, but the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway really is one of the must-dos in Zion. From Canyon Junction, the road zigzags up a series of switchbacks, then plunges into a 1.1-mile tunnel, completed in 1930, with window-like galleries giving glimpses of the canyon as you pass.
East of the tunnel, the landscape turns to pale, swirling slickrock. Stop at Checkerboard Mesa to see its criss-crossed face, and keep an eye on the slopes for bighorn sheep, which are most often seen between the tunnel and the East Entrance.
Since June 2026, vehicles longer than 35 feet 9 inches, wider than 7 feet 10 inches or taller than 11 feet 4 inches can’t use this road. It reopened on 9 October 2026 after a rockfall, with a temporary gravel section, so drive carefully.
Go Stargazing in an International Dark Sky Park
Stunning as Zion is by day, it’s just as spectacular at night. It was certified as an International Dark Sky Park in 2021, and once the crowds have gone, the Milky Way stretches across the sky above the canyon walls.
The Pa’rus Trail is a great spot to settle in and look up, as it’s paved, flat and easy to follow in the dark. Bring a camera and tripod to try some long-exposure shots, as we did. The Checkerboard Mesa pull-off on the east side and Lava Point are other good spots.
Top Tip: Download the Night Sky app before you go (you probably won’t have signal) to tell you which stars and constellations you’re looking at, and check the forecast on cleardarksky.com. Aim for the week around the new moon, or time your stargazing before moonrise or after moonset, and use a red light to keep your night vision.
Hike The Narrows
Along with Angels Landing, The Narrows is Zion’s most famous hike. What makes it so special? The river is the trail: from the end of the Riverside Walk, you wade up the Virgin River between towering, water-carved walls, often knee- to waist-deep.
You can turn around whenever you like. Big Spring, about 5 miles from the Temple of Sinawava, is as far as you can go without a permit, and the full round trip takes most of a day. The Narrows closes when the river is high or flash floods are forecast, and the river is under a cyanobacteria advisory, so check conditions on the day and don’t drink the water.
Walk to the Lower Emerald Pool
The Lower Emerald Pool Trail is the first of three trails to Zion’s Emerald Pools. It’s a 1.2-mile round trip on a mostly paved path from Zion Lodge (shuttle stop 5), to an overhang where water drips down the red rock into the pool below. It’s at its best in spring, when snowmelt makes the falls fullest.
We found it busy, and pretty rather than jaw-dropping, so if you have time, carry on to the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools, and return via the Kayenta Trail to The Grotto.
Top Tip: Take the shuttle to one end of the canyon and work your way back, hiking between stops. Which end you start at depends on which hikes you want to do, and in which order.
Brilliant Things to See & Do in Zion National Park
Hike Angels Landing
Angels Landing is Zion’s best-known trail, and it’s one for experienced hikers with a head for heights. The 5.4-mile round trip climbs almost 1,500 feet, finishing along a narrow, exposed fin of rock with chains to hold on to.
The views from the top are some of the finest in the canyon. Allow around four to five hours. If you’d rather skip the chains, the climb to Scout Lookout, just below, has superb views too.
Top Tip: You need a permit for Angels Landing, from a seasonal lottery or a day-before lottery on Recreation.gov. You don’t need one for Scout Lookout.
Stroll or Cycle the Pa’rus Trail
The Pa’rus Trail is a gentle way into the park’s many hikes. It follows (and crosses) the Virgin River from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center to Canyon Junction, with almost no climbing, and it’s paved and wheelchair accessible. It’s also the only trail in the park where dogs and bikes are allowed.
On a warm day, we loved paddling in the river along the way, and you might spot mule deer. It’s an easy one to two hours, and a lovely spot at sunset.
Ride the Shuttle or Bike the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive runs about 6 miles up the heart of the canyon from Canyon Junction to the Temple of Sinawava, past the Court of the Patriarchs, Zion Lodge, The Grotto and Weeping Rock. During shuttle season, which in 2026 runs from 7 March to 28 November and again from 26 December to 2 January, it’s closed to private cars, so the free park shuttle is the way in.
For a more active day, cycle it: with no private cars, it’s one of the best road rides in the US. Several shops in Springdale, including Zion Outfitter and Zion Cycles, rent bikes and e-bikes. Only Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes are allowed, you must pull over to let shuttles pass, and bikes aren’t allowed in the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel.
Go Canyoneering
Looking for things to do in Zion besides hiking? Abseiling down sandstone walls and squeezing through slot canyons is an adrenaline junkie’s dream.
Even first-timers can give it a go on this half-day canyoneering tour, with all the gear and instruction included. Guided canyoneering takes place outside the park boundary, as commercial guiding isn’t allowed in Zion’s popular canyons.
Book Your Canyoneering Tour Now
Admire the Court of the Patriarchs
The Court of the Patriarchs, a group of towering sandstone peaks named Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is one of Zion’s iconic views. You’ll catch glimpses of them as you explore the canyon, but for the best view, hop off at shuttle stop 4 and take the very short, steep path to the viewpoint.
Hike the Canyon Overlook Trail
Just east of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, the Canyon Overlook Trail is a 1-mile round trip along sandstone ledges to a viewpoint high above lower Zion Canyon. It’s short, with big rewards, and a great stop on your drive. Parking at the trailhead is extremely limited, so go early.
Visit the Zion Human History Museum
Next to shuttle stop 2, just inside the park, the Zion Human History Museum tells the story of the people who have lived in and around Zion, from the Ancestral Puebloans and Southern Paiute to Mormon pioneers. Watch the 22-minute orientation film before you explore the park. It’s open from spring to autumn, usually from 10am to 5pm, and only down-canyon shuttles stop here.
Saddle Up on a Horse Ride
Seeing Zion on horseback is a fun throwback to the Old West. Inside the park, Canyon Trail Rides runs guided rides from opposite Zion Lodge from mid-March to the end of October, including a one-hour ride along the Virgin River and a three-hour ride on the Sand Bench Trail.
On the east side, this one-hour horseback tour explores the slickrock country near Orderville, and it’s suitable for all levels, even if you’ve never ridden before.
Book Your Horse Riding Trip Here
Unique Things to Do in Zion National Park: Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Track
Explore the Kolob Canyons
Zion Canyon gets crowded, but the Kolob Canyons, in the north-west corner of the park, see a fraction of the visitors. The 5-mile Kolob Canyons Road climbs from the visitor centre at exit 40 off I-15 past viewpoints over deep, red finger canyons, ending at the short Timber Creek Overlook Trail.
It’s about an hour’s drive from Zion Canyon. The Kolob Canyons Road is currently closed beyond the South Fork trailhead after a rockfall, so check the NPS conditions page before you go.
Head up the Kolob Terrace
Quiet and uncrowded, the Kolob Terrace Road climbs north from Virgin, in and out of the park, past volcanic rock, meadows, sandstone domes and colourful mesas. It leads to trailheads such as Northgate Peaks and The Subway, and to Lava Point.
At 7,890 feet, about 25 miles from Virgin, Lava Point Overlook has sweeping views over Zion’s high country and is a superb spot for sunset and stargazing. The upper road usually closes from autumn to spring because of snow.
What to Do in Zion National Park: Practical Tips for Your Trip
How Long to Spend in Zion National Park?
It depends on how much you want to explore. In two days, you can fit in one long hike, the scenic drive and a few shorter walks; our 2-day Zion itinerary shows you how. To see the quieter corners of the park, like the Kolob Canyons and Kolob Terrace, allow four or five days.
Best Time to Visit Zion National Park?
Summer is the most popular time, but it’s crowded and uncomfortably hot for hiking, with highs around 100°F in July. Spring and autumn are the sweet spot, with comfortable temperatures, though they’re busy too, and snowmelt can close The Narrows in spring. Winter is the quietest season. See our guide to the best time to visit Zion for more.
Where Should I Stay in Zion National Park?
There are campgrounds inside and just outside the park, but if you’d rather have a proper bed, Springdale, right by the entrance, has plenty of hotels. See our guides to where to stay in Zion and the best hotels near Zion.
Best Western Plus Zion Canyon Inn & Suites (Mid-Range)
In Springdale, under a mile from the park entrance, the Best Western Plus Zion Canyon Inn & Suites is a well-rated choice with an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness centre and a full breakfast included.
Zion White Bison Glamping & RV Resort (Glamping)
Somewhere between a hotel and a tent? Try glamping. Zion White Bison in Virgin, about 20 minutes from the park, has tipis, covered wagons and glamping tents with private bathrooms and kitchens, plus a pool and hot tub. For more ideas, see our guide to the best rentals near Zion.
How to Get to Zion National Park?
If you’re flying in, the nearest major international airport is Harry Reid International in Las Vegas, about 160 miles and 2.5 to 3 hours’ drive from Springdale. From Las Vegas, take I-15 north, then Highway 9 east to the park’s South Entrance. If you’re coming from the Grand Canyon or Bryce Canyon, you’ll use Highway 89 and enter through the East Entrance. See our guide to getting to Zion for more.
