Hiking in Zion

4.8 mi · 1,745 ft gain · 3–5 hr

The chain-clutch ridge walk to a 1,488-ft fin above Zion Canyon. Permit required since 2022 — apply via the seasonal or day-before lottery on Recreation.gov. Budget extra time for the technical sections and avoid when wet or icy.

3.8 mi · 1,141 ft gain · 2.5–3 hr

Same trailhead and switchbacks as Angels Landing but stops at Scout Lookout — no chains, no permit, and the same canyon overlook the chain section leads to. The smart play if the Angels Landing lottery didn't go your way.

9.3 mi · 872 ft gain · 5–8 hr

Wade straight up the Virgin River where the canyon pinches to 20 feet wide. The bottom-up day hike from Temple of Sinawava needs no permit — turn around at Big Springs. Rent neoprene socks and a walking stick in Springdale.

16.8 mi · 2,076 ft gain · 8–10 hr

The full through-hike from Chamberlain's Ranch. Permit required — caps at 80 hikers per day. Arrange a shuttle from Springdale. Can be done as an overnight with reserved campsites. The deepest water and tallest walls are in the final 4.5 miles.

6.4 mi · 1,581 ft gain · 3.5–4 hr

A taste of the Narrows without the full commitment. Starts on the paved Riverside Walk, then continues into the river to Floating Rock. The water gets knee- to waist-deep — proper shoes are non-negotiable.

7.0 mi · 705 ft gain · 2.5–3 hr

The big view down onto Angels Landing — taller, quieter, and now best approached from East Mesa Trailhead (4WD required) while the original Weeping Rock route remains closed. Sunrise is the move.

1.0 mi · 216 ft gain · 30 min

The highest payoff-per-step trail in the park. Just east of the Mt. Carmel tunnel, 30 minutes to a railing perch over Pine Creek Canyon. No shuttle needed — drive to it. Sunrise and sunset are the moves.

3.0 mi · 583 ft gain · 1.5–2 hr

A tiered set of seep-fed pools and waterfalls below the Court of the Patriarchs. Lower pool is stroller-friendly on a paved path; upper pool is a steeper scramble but worth it after spring runoff. Watch your footing — more injuries here than any trail in the park.

3.3 mi · 636 ft gain · 1.5–2 hr

Overlooked because it's right at the south entrance while everyone rushes to the shuttle. Steady switchbacks to a plateau overlooking Springdale, the Watchman tower, and Bridge Mountain. Best at sunset when the crowds have cleared.

3.3 mi · 144 ft gain · 1–1.5 hr

The only trail in Zion that allows dogs (leashed) and is fully paved, wheelchair-accessible, and stroller-friendly. A flat riverside walk with cottonwood shade and canyon vistas. The wind-down hike after a big day. Note: toxic algae in the river — keep dogs out of the water.

8.1 mi · 606 ft gain

A technical canyoneering route (rated 3B III) down the Left Fork of North Creek, named for the tube-shaped slot at its heart. The top-down version from Wildcat Canyon to the Left Fork trailhead involves rappels, downclimbing, route-finding, and several cold swims, so it calls for canyoneering gear and experience. Every route through the Subway needs a Zion wilderness permit, issued by lottery on Recreation.gov. A non-technical bottom-up day hike reaches the formation from the Left Fork trailhead — still permitted, no rappels, but a long rock-hop with stream crossings.

14.2 mi · 1,719 ft gain · 6–6.5 hr

The signature hike of Zion's quieter Kolob Canyons district, starting from the Lee Pass trailhead off I-15 exit 40. The trail follows Timber Creek and then La Verkin Creek about 7 miles each way to Kolob Arch — among the largest free-standing arches in North America. The day round-trip needs no permit; overnight trips use the 13 designated backpacking sites, which require a Zion wilderness permit and reservation. Filter water from springs only — toxic cyanobacteria have been found in La Verkin Creek. Best spring through fall; snow can linger on the trail into early spring.

14.9 mi · 1,433 ft gain

Zion's high-country traverse, run top-down from Lava Point to The Grotto so the 14.9 miles descend more than they climb. The route crosses the Horse Pasture Plateau with long views toward Greatheart Mesa and the Right Fork before dropping through the White Cliffs into Zion Canyon, joining the Angels Landing route near Scout Lookout. Because it runs point-to-point, you need a shuttle or second car to reach Lava Point — there is no park transit to the trailhead, and the road closes with winter snow. Most hikers split it over two days at the permitted backcountry campsites; strong hikers do it in one long day. Overnight stays require a Zion wilderness permit and reservation.

5.1 mi · 633 ft gain · 2–2.5 hr

The marquee day-hike of the Kolob Canyons section, starting just off I-15 exit 40. The Middle Fork of Taylor Creek runs about 2.7 miles each way to the Double Arch alcove, crossing the creek more than a dozen times and passing two weathered homestead cabins along the way. It's a moderate, mostly shaded streambed grade with no big climbs — cool deep in the finger canyon even in summer. No permit or shuttle: the trailhead is two miles up the Kolob Canyons scenic drive. Spring runoff makes the crossings wet, and the group-size limit is 12.

1.2 mi · 259 ft gain · 0.5–1 hr

The easy payoff at the end of the Kolob Canyons scenic drive — a nearly flat 1.2-mile walk along a ridge with head-on views of the finger canyons, the Kolob Terrace, and the Pine Valley Mountains. On a clear day you can pick out Mt. Trumbull on the Grand Canyon's north rim, 100 miles south. Spring and early summer bring desert wildflowers and the odd collared lizard. Parking, restrooms, and picnic tables at the trailhead make it the natural first or last stop in Kolob.