12 Amazing But Easy Hikes in Zion
Sometimes you have to work hard for the most memorable views by hiking a steep trail to a summit or navigating difficult terrain. But an amazing thing about Zion National Park is that many of the easy hikes in Zion offer jaw-dropping views of amazing landscapes without too much effort.
The 12 Best Easy Hikes in Zion
Zion National Park is truly an incredible place, and you can see so much of it on short, easy trails. Here are my favorite easy hikes in Zion.
These hikes are in order from easiest to a little less easy
Pa'Rus Trail
Riverside Walk
Sand Bench Loop
Lambs Knoll
Clear Creek
Timber Creek Overlook
Canyon Overlook
Emerald Pools
Lower Pine Creek Falls
The Watchman Trail
The Narrows
Taylor Creek
Whether you have a limited amount of time or are wrangling a few kiddos, these easy hikes in Zion are great for just about anybody!
1. Pa’Rus Trail
The Pa’Rus Trail is a classic easy Zion hike that is accessible for anyone and is stroller friendly. It runs right along the Virgin River, so it’s a beautiful walk, and you can take little side paths down to splash around in the river if you want to cool off plus find solitude.
LOCATION
The trail starts right at the Zion Visitor Center and traces the Virgin River to the South Campground. It ends at Canyon Junction, where you can board the shuttle to go back to the visitor center. You can not go up the canyon from this shuttle stop.
LENGTH
The Pa’Rus Trail is about 3.5 miles out and back, and it’s paved and fairly flat, so it’s a perfect intro to easy hikes in Zion. You can even bike it if you want!
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TRAIL DETAILS
I love the Pa’Rus Trail for a relaxing river stroll, and it offers amazing views of The Watchman rock formation, too. The paved path goes over a number of lovely bridges that cross the Virgin River, and there are plenty of spots to stop and take a break along the river and even dip your toes in.
Learn more about biking the Pa'Rus Trail here!
2. Riverside Walk Trail
The Riverside Walk Trail is one of my favorite easy hikes in Zion because it takes you on a lovely stroll along the banks of the Virgin River. It’s a paved path with minimal elevation gain, so it’s fairly easy for strollers and wheelchairs to navigate this trail.
LOCATION
The trailhead for the Riverside Walk Trail is at the last shuttle stop in the canyon, Temple of Sinawava.
LENGTH
The Riverside Walk Trail is a 2 mile round trip hike from the parking lot to the start of The Narrows and back.
TRAIL DETAILS
Hike along the Virgin River with sheer red rock walls rising above you on the Riverside Walk Trail. Once you reach the start of The Narrows hike, you can turn around if you don’t want to get in the water. Instead of taking the same paved path back, you have the option to take a dirt trail that parallels the river which offers a change of scenery (and fewer crowds).
Check out my Riverside Walk Trail blog post here for more details about this hike!
3. Sand Bench Loop
Looking for an easy hike in Zion that is both beautiful and not crowded? The Sand Bench Loop is perfect for you! This trail features a lovely bridge, a horse corral, access to the virgin river, and views of gorgeous mountains.
LOCATION
The Sand Bench Loop is located at the Court of the Patriarchs (Stop #3) on the Zion shuttle. Cross the street to the river, walk past a horse stable and a watershed, then head to right across a beautiful bridge.
LENGTH
The Sand Bench Loop is 1.25 miles with very little elevation gain, but for the majority of the hike you are walking in fine, deep sand so that does make things a little harder.
TRAIL DETAILS
This short loop trail gives you beautiful up-close views of the Court of the Patriarch rock formations, and the little stream near the end of the hike is filled with tadpoles and frogs in the spring and summer. I highly recommend bringing a packed lunch and hanging out by the river for a bit in the afternoon or evening. The trail is also great for kiddos, with plenty of space for them to run and play in the sand.
Get all my advice for hiking the Sand Bench Trail here!
4. Lambs Knoll
Lambs Knoll is a beautiful, off-the-beaten-path hike featuring a cluster of breathtaking rock formations and wide-open views.
LOCATION
Lambs Knoll is located about 10 miles up Kolob Terrace road (starting in Virgin), and half an hour west of Springdale. It sits on the edge of Zion National Park, but isn't technically in the park.
LENGTH
It’s only about a .4-mile hike to the base of Lambs Knoll (0.8 miles round trip). The trail is mostly flat and sandy, so it’s an easy hike for most visitors. It’s a great spot to explore some of the cool rock formations in this desert landscape of southern Utah, and it’s a popular spot for rock climbing and canyoneering.
TRAIL DETAILS
You’ll start walking along a dirt path towards the jagged mountains. After reaching some thick brush, you will come to a fork in the path. You can head left on a short detour to an alcove of tall red rock cliffs, or keep going straight to another big rock wall that marks the end of the trail.
If you want to explore a little more, you can head to the right at the wall and squeeze through a small, tight slot canyon. After you've had some fun in the canyon, turn around and go back the way you came.
Get all the details about the Lambs Knoll hike here!
5. Clear Creek
Clear Creek is the main dry streambed which runs along Route 9 on the east side of Zion. You won’t find this hike on park maps, so it is excellent for some off the beaten path exploring. The hike is full of cave-like tunnels, easy slot canyons, and sandstone cliffs.
LOCATION
Clear Creek does not have a true start or end. When you drive along Route 9 on the northeast side of the park, you can spot the dry creek bed down below. Look for pull-offs all along the drive to pick a spot and go exploring. I think the best spots to pull over are about a quarter mile east of the Canyon Overlook parking lot or at the Many Pools trailhead.
LENGTH
Once you make your way down into the dry stream bed, you can hike for as long – or short – as you like. The sand can be deep, and the path is pretty rocky, but it’s not too difficult since you can choose your own adventure.
TRAIL DETAILS
No matter where you start hiking, you will find surprises around every corner along Clear Creek. You’ll be hiking along a sandy, pebble-filled dry stream bed, and it will lead you to some short slot canyons and gorgeous red and black cliffs. You might also encounter a few tunnels that take you under Route 9.
If you start from the Many Pools trail head, hike down to the dry streambed and you will reach a slot canyon if you go right and reach a slot canyon if you go left…..so fun and easy to explore!
Find out more about exploring Clear Creek in my post here!
6. Timber Creek Overlook
The views from the Timber Creek Overlook trail are absolutely stunning. This is the perfect easy Zion hike to experience the beautiful sandstone cliffs of Kolob Canyon.
LOCATION
You’ll find the Timber Creek Overlook trail at the end of Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive, and it’s the cherry on top of the beautiful drive.
LENGTH
The Timber Creek Overlook hike is just 1 mile round trip on a mostly flat, sandy trail with a few short rocky hills.
TRAIL DETAILS
This trail offers stunning views the whole way, but the panoramic perspective at the end of the Timber Creek Overlook trail is absolutely jaw-dropping! The views of the rich red mountains and wild desert go on for miles and miles. If you make it there at sunset, it is especially spectacular.
For more insider info about where to catch sunrises & sunsets in Zion, check out this post!
7. Canyon Overlook
Canyon Overlook is a fantastic easy hike in Zion with lots of cool features along the way, but the main attraction is the overlook at the end, where you’ll be treated to one of the most epic views in Zion! Honestly, it kind of feels like cheating to get views like this on such an easy hike. The only downside is that the trail can get super busy, and parking can be extremely hard to find.
LOCATION
The trailhead is located just east of the Mt. Carmel Tunnel on the north side of the road, and there is a parking area across the road.
LENGTH
The Canyon Overlook hike is 1.25 mile round trip with just a bit of elevation gain. The trail is somewhat rocky with a few spots of deep sand. Although it’s overall considered an easy trail, if you are nervous about heights and drop offs, this might not be the hike for you.
TRAIL DETAILS
The is a really fun and short hike with lots of cool features like a half cave, a catwalk bridge, and even bighorn sheep sightings. It really packs a punch at the end with one of the most breathtaking views in the park. Definitely bring your camera for this hike! Canyon Overlook is a great spot to see the sunrise, and that also tends to be the best time to go to avoid the crowds.
Check out my blog post here for even more about hiking Canyon Overlook!
8. Emerald Pools
The hike to Emerald Pools is one of the classic and popular easy hikes in Zion. The trail takes you to a spectacular waterfall, especially if you catch it during a rainstorm when the falls are truly epic!
LOCATION
The Emerald Pools trail is located in the main canyon, at the Zion Lodge (Stop #5 on the Zion shuttle)
***The trail is currently closed from The Lodge so you will start at the Kayenta trail on shuttle stop #6 The Grotto
LENGTH
The hike is 3 miles round trip all the way to the Upper Pool. You can also just go to the Middle Pool (2 miles round trip) or the Lower Pool (1.2 miles round trip).
TRAIL DETAILS
The easiest hike is to the Lower Pool which you reach via an accessible trail on a wide, paved path. It provides amazing views of Zion’s signature rock formations from within a green oasis. While the trail to the Middle Pool is also paved, it heads up a ridge, so it is somewhat steeper. The views from up there over the dropoff into the canyon are excellent.
The path to the Upper Pool is sandy and rocky, so it’s a little more difficult, but it is totally worth it! When the waterfalls are running, they will take your breath away, and the pool is surrounded by stunning cliffs.
9. Lower Pine Creek Falls
I’ve added this hike to the list because it is short and incredible. This is easy for most hikers but if you are looking for paved paths or you don’t like rock scrambling and walking along exposed ledges then this isn’t the hike for you.
I think Lower Pine Creek Falls is one of the funnest easy hikes in Zion. It’s not actually advertised on park maps which means it tends to be less crowded, so it’s an awesome trail to find some rare seclusion in the heart of Zion.
LOCATION
The trailhead for Lower Pine Creek Falls is about 1.5 miles north from the Zion Visitor Center along Route 9 on the way to the Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Look for a small paved parking area on your left just before the series of switchbacks that head up to the tunnel. You’ve gone too far if you go over a bridge.
LENGTH
This super short trail is only .7 miles round trip, but it’s a lot of fun even in that short distance. To reach the pool and waterfall at the end, you need to do some stream hopping and boulder scrambling..
TRAIL DETAILS
The trail to Lower Pine Creek Falls does start out easy to follow, but it becomes less defined the farther you get into the canyon, and you’ll have to cross the stream a few times. After the first small pool you get to, you’ll have to start climbing up and over some rocks and boulders. But it’s totally worth the effort to get to the cool final pool, where you can rest and enjoy the waterfall from a lovely sandy beach.
Find all my top tips for hiking Lower Pine Creek Falls here!
10. The Narrows
The Narrows is one of the most famous hikes in Zion, and it’s actually not too difficult as long as you don’t mind getting wet + walking slowly and carefully while navigating the rocks on the river bottom. This hike can be as short as you want it to be. Just walk up the river a little ways and then turn around.
Note: The Narrows closes when water conditions get especially dangerous, so make sure to check the current conditions on the Zion NPS site.
LOCATION
For most of the year, you can only get to The Narrows via the Zion shuttle. After a scenic ride to the last stop on the shuttle, Temple Of Sinawava, you’ll need to hike about a mile on the Riverside Walk trail to reach the start of The Narrows.
LENGTH
The great thing about The Narrows is that you can turn around whenever you want. Big Springs is as far as you can go without a permit, and it’s about 4.5 miles one way. Many people choose a shorter hike, and only to go to what’s known as Wall Street, which is 2.5 miles one way.
TRAIL DETAILS
The Narrows is a unique hike, and, believe me, the views around every turn will take your breath away! You’ll be wading through the knee-deep water of the Virgin River for most of The Narrows hike, so it’s an excellent hike to beat the heat during summer in Zion.
After 2.5 miles of hiking,, you’ll enter the tightest section of the slot canyon, called Wall Street, which is a common turn around point. If you want to keep going, you can continue another couple miles to an area called Big Springs where waterfalls spout right out of the walls. You have to head back here unless you have a permit.
Read my full guide to The Narrows for more details on this easy hike in Zion!
11. The Watchman Trail
I have Watchman Trail as one of the last on the list because it has the most elevation gain. If you are looking for something relatively flat, then this isn’t the trail for you. The Watchman Trail is often overshadowed by the iconic trails in Zion like Angels Landing or The Narrows, and that’s a mistake. This trail is absolutely stunning with epic Zion views and an up-close perspective of the famous Watchman Mountain.
LOCATION
The hike begins right near the Springdale entrance to the park at the Zion Visitor Center. Walk on the road toward Route 9 until you see the trailhead signage which is on the north side, on the Virgin River’s east bank.
LENGTH
The Watchman Trail is 3.3 miles round trip, and it does have some elevation gain of about 450 feet. The incline is gradual though, and the trail is easy to follow.
TRAIL DETAILS
The beginning of the trail hugs the river before you start hiking up into the hills. For a mile or so, the trail is moderately strenuous as you head uphill. Eventually, you’ll reach a beautiful view of the canyon with the Visitor Center below, Springdale off in the distance, and Watchman Peak in the south. You can then take a short loop trail for even more views off to the south before you head back down to the start.
Check out this blog post for more info about the Watchman Trail!
12. Taylor Creek
Taylor Creek is last on the list because it is the longest hike on the list and it does have some steep elevation change at the very end/start of the hike. The Taylor Creek hike gives you a chance to explore the Kolob Canyons area of Zion. The trail follows a creek lined with Navajo sandstone walls and lots of lush vegetation along the way and offers a little shade on a hot summer day. (Make sure to bring lots of water if you are doing this one in the summer)
LOCATION
Taylor Creek is located in the Kolob Canyons district, which is on the north side of Zion National Park. The entrance to this area of the park is off of I-15 (exit 40). Taylor Creek starts from the first trailhead you come across along the scenic drive into Kolob Canyons.
LENGTH
The Taylor Creek trail is 5.5 miles round trip. The hike starts with a short but steep descent (which you also have to go back up at the end), but the rest of the trail is flat and fairly easy to navigate..
TRAIL DETAILS
The Taylor Creek trail takes you past two historic homestead cabins from the 1930s. You can peek in the windows to get a sense of what life was like for the settlers who lived out here a long time ago.
The trail continues past the cabins along the creek until you reach the massive Double Arch Alcove. The double arches are not the typical open arches you find in the desert, but more like an arched cave set in the sandstone wall with seeping water and lovely green ferns. The Double Arch marks the end of the trail, so it’s a great place to have a little picnic lunch or snack before heading back.
Find out more about this hike in my Taylor Creek post here!
Enjoy your visit to Zion National Park and southwestern Utah with one (or several!) of these incredible easy hikes in Zion!
Happy Adventuring,
Arika
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