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Are you planning a trip to Zion National Park and want to know what to do there? You’ve come to the perfect place!
Zion is the most visited national park in Utah (and the second most visited in the country) and for good reason! It’s beautiful and although it’s not that big compared to Yellowstone for example, there is plenty to do!
It’s definitely a paradise for hikers and people who love canyoneering.
Here are the best things to do in Zion National Park.
🧗 1. Hike Angels Landing (or Scout Lookout)
Angels Landing is the most famous hike in Zion, and it’s not for the faint-hearted.
The final section follows a narrow spine with chains to hold on to. It’s beautiful and definitely unique!
You will need a permit to access the chain section though. You can apply to the lottery months in advance which I would recommend.
If you don’t get a permit, don’t worry. Firstly, you can also apply online the day before.
And if you still don’t get one, you can hike the exact same trail up to Scout Lookout and it’s just the chain section that you won’t be able to do.
The views are still incredible, and you get to watch others out on the spine.
To get there, you’ll need to take the shuttle up to The Grotto (which is stop 6). From there, cross the road and bridge and turn right onto the West Rim Trail.
It takes 3 hours to complete if you go to Scout Lookout and 4 hours with Angels Landing.
The walk is mainly uphill on the way up and includes some switchbacks. Although most people can do it if they take it easy, it is a strenuous hike and it gets really hot during the day so it’s better to do it as early as you can in the morning.
💧 2. Hike The Narrows
The Narrows is the other big hike in Zion, and it’s unlike anything else.
This is not a traditional hike but a river walk. Basically, you walk up the Virgin River in the canyons.
Most people do the bottom-up version, which starts at the Temple of Sinawava.
You do not require a permit from there to Big Spring which is 4.7 miles (one way) and therefore more than enough for a day hike.
To do it, you need to get off at the Temple of Sinawava, walk the Riverside trail to the river and then start walking in the river.
Once you get to Wall Street, the river splits in 2, keep walking on the left to reach Big Spring (though you can also explore on the right-hand side if you want to).
It’s not a loop which means you can make it as long or as short as you like. Most people stop before Big Spring as the water gets a lot deeper towards the end.
The main thing to know about the Narrows is that you will need specific equipment.
You’ll need to hire water shoes, neoprene socks and a walking stick from one of the outfitters in Springdale.
As it’s the most popular hike in the park, get on one of the first shuttles to beat the crowds.
🥾 3. Walk the Kayenta Trail
The Kayenta Trail was one of my favorite walks in the whole park.
It runs for about 2 miles along the cliffs between The Grotto and the Emerald Pools, and you get lovely views down the canyon the entire way.
It’s not too hard, and because it links up with the Emerald Pools, you can easily turn the two into one really nice walk.
🌿 4. Discover the Emerald Pools
The Emerald Pools are a set of little pools and waterfalls hidden in the cliffs, and there are three of them: lower, middle and upper.
My pick is the Lower Emerald Pool, where the trail actually passes behind a waterfall. On a hot day it’s a lovely, cool spot, and when the sun catches the falling water it looks like glitter.
The trails to the pools start at Zion Lodge but you can also combine them with the Kayenta Trail which starts at the Grotto.
🚗 5. Drive the Mount Carmel Highway
The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway is one of the most scenic drives in Utah, and a great way to see a completely different side of the park.
The road climbs the east side through a series of tight switchbacks, then disappears into a long historic tunnel carved straight through the rock.
You do this one in your own car rather than on the shuttle. Just double-check it’s open before you set off, as it can close for rockfalls.
👀 6. Hike the Canyon Overlook Trail
Just past the tunnel on the Mount Carmel Highway, there’s a small parking area for the Canyon Overlook Trail.
It’s a short walk of about a mile return, with a few drop-offs along the way, and it ends at a jaw-dropping view back over lower Zion Canyon.
For how little effort it takes, the payoff is huge, which makes it a brilliant option if you didn’t get a permit for the bigger hikes.
⛰️ 7. Discover the Court of the Patriarchs
The Court of the Patriarchs is an easy, quick stop right off the canyon shuttle.
A short walk of around 10 minutes takes you to a viewpoint of three towering peaks, named after the biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
It’s a nice, gentle one to slot in between the bigger hikes, and the view is gorgeous.
🏞️ 8. Explore Kolob Canyons
Almost everyone sticks to Zion Canyon, but Kolob Canyons is well worth the extra drive.
It’s a separate part of the park off the I-15, with its own entrance and visitor center and hardly any crowds. The red rock out here is stunning.
Drive the scenic road up to the Kolob Canyons Viewpoint, then stretch your legs on the easy, 1-mile Timber Creek Overlook Trail.
🌲 9. Drive the Kolob Terrace Road
The Kolob Terrace Road is another quiet, scenic drive that most visitors never find.
The turn-off is between Springdale and La Verkin, and the road climbs out of the red desert into green, higher country, all the way up to the Kolob Reservoir.
You’ll barely pass another car, and it’s a beautiful spot for sunset. Best of all, you can do it all in your own car.
🌧️ 10. Go to Weeping Rock
Weeping Rock is a short, easy walk to a rock alcove that drips with water and hanging gardens.
The trail reopened in 2025 after a rockfall closure, with brand new stairs and railings, and it’s only a short climb, so it suits all ages.
Just note that the longer trails that used to start here, like Hidden Canyon and Observation Point via the East Rim, are still closed, so check before you go.
🧑🏫 11. Join one of the free ranger programs
Zion runs free ranger programs, and they’re a lovely way to understand the park a bit better.
Depending on the time of year, these might be guided walks, talks about the geology and wildlife, or evening programs under the stars.
Check the schedule at the visitor center when you arrive, and while you’re there, grab your passport stamp.
🏘️ 12. Discover Springdale
Springdale is the little town right at the park entrance, and it’s worth a wander.
It’s walkable and full of restaurants, cafes, shops and outfitters, all with the red cliffs towering overhead. I was pleasantly surprised, as a lot of these gateway towns don’t have much going on.
It’s the perfect place to eat, pick up your Narrows gear, or just relax after a long day of hiking.
🚲 13. Hire an e-bike
Hiring an e-bike is a brilliant way to see Zion Canyon.
Since private cars can’t drive the scenic road in season, cycling it means you get those incredible canyon views at your own pace, without waiting around for shuttles.
You can rent bikes and e-bikes in Springdale, and take the flat, paved Pa’rus Trail to the park.
🐴 14. Go horse riding
For something different, you can see Zion from the saddle.
Canyon Trail Rides offers guided horse and mule rides from near Zion Lodge, usually between March and October.
There’s a 1-hour ride along the Virgin River to the Court of the Patriarchs, and a longer 3-hour ride up the Sand Bench Trail.
It’s a relaxed, fun way to take in the canyon, and you don’t need any riding experience.
Since the horse trail is different to any of the hikes, it also allows you to see Zion from a different perspective.
🕳️ 15. Hike the Subway (permit required)
If you’re an experienced hiker, the Subway is one of Zion’s most spectacular adventures.
It’s a tube-shaped slot canyon over on the Left Fork, and it needs a permit, which works as a lottery.
The bottom-up route is a long, tough day of scrambling and wading, while the top-down route is proper technical canyoneering.
It’s definitely not for everyone, but if it’s your kind of thing, it’s unforgettable. Just apply for your permit well ahead.
🗺️ Map of the best things to do in Zion National Park
🔗 You May Also Be Interested In:
- Zion National Park 2-Day Itinerary: How To Spend 48 Hours in Zion NP
- 16 Travel Tips For Visiting Zion National Park
- 15 Travel Tips You Need To Know Before Going To The Narrows in Zion National Park
- 9 Best Hikes in the Valley of Fire State Park (Ranked)
- Valley of Fire 1-Day Itinerary From Las Vegas
- 1-Day Yellowstone Lower Loop Itinerary from the West Entrance
