top of page
  • Writer's pictureMick McMurray

10 Must-see Attractions in Zion National Park

Updated: May 17


The Watchman and the Virgin River at sunset with colorful trees along the river and cloudy sky at Zion national park
The Watchman and the Virgin River

Zion National Park is one of the most stunning National Parks in the United States. Our first visit to this beautiful park was an unforgettable experience and we have been back 4 times. From awesome hikes like Angels Landing and The Narrows to great photos like The Watchman and The Tower of the Virgin, this place is spectacular. The park is located in southwestern Utah and covers over 230 square miles of gorgeous wilderness. The main attraction in the park is the canyon with its gorgeous scenery and its many hikes.


Your Complete Zion Your Complete Guide

Trail Guide to Zion













The shuttle service varies from year to year but most years it runs daily from March through November and then again around the end of December. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (the road that starts north of Canyon Junction) is closed to private vehicles when park shuttles are operating. We try to go to the park when it is less crowded in Oct. and Nov. and our experience with the shuttle service has been good. Shuttle bus system

We stayed at the Watchman Campground you can reserve HERE

You can also find a lot of information on the Zion National Park website HERE

If you are a photographer there are some opportunities not to be missed.



Great photo ops that don't require hiking.


The Towers of the Virgin

This is behind the Zion Human History Museum at sunrise. It is a beautiful spot and you will not be by yourself.


Photographers waiting at The Tower of the Virgin in a line with their tripods set up
Photographers waiting at The Tower of the Virgin

Make sure you turn around and look behind you before sunrise for a gorgeous view.


Sunrise in Zion NP with a colorful pink sky over the jagged cliffs at Zion national park
Sunrise in Zion NP

It is beautiful as the sun rises and lights up the Towers.


Tower of the Virgin right before sunrise with some clouds in the blue sky at Zion national park
Tower of the Virgin


Sunrise at The Tower of the Virgin with the shadow of the peaks behind you on the tower wall at Zion national Park
Sunrise at The Tower of the Virgin



The Watchman at Sunset


Photographing the Watchman at sunset is a must-do for any photographer visiting Zion National Park. It is an iconic photo that is not to be missed.

The Watchman can be photographed from a number of vantage points throughout the park but the favorite for most photographers is the Canyon Junction Bridge. Here again, you won’t be by yourself.


Photographers on the bridge lining the railing with their cameras
Photographers on the bridge

Make sure you turn around and take in the view behind you.


The peaks behind you from the bridge shrouded in the clouds at Zion national Park
The peaks behind you from the bridge

The Watchman is particularly impressive during the golden hour, which is the hour or so before sunset. The warm, golden light at this time of day bathes the Watchman in a beautiful glow, creating a stunning contrast between the dark shadows and the bright highlights of the sandstone.


The Watchman at sunset with the sun lighting up the cliffs and colorful trees along the river and a cloudy sky, Zion national park
The Watchman at sunset


The Watchman at sunset with the sun lighting up the cliffs and colorful trees along the river and a cloudy sky, Zion national park
The Watchman at sunset

Pullouts on the road


There are many places to stop at pullouts and take a photo and one of my favorites is the Big Bend Viewpoint where you can get a photo of the Great White Throne and Angels Landing in the same image.



The Great White Throne with a dusting of snow on it and a cloudy sky at Zion national park
The Great White Throne


You can find our post about the not to be missed Subway hike here, "The Subway/What we did and the gear needed"


There is another awesome hike in Zion National Park in the Kolob Section called Taylor Creek Hike that you can find here, "Hiking the Kolob Canyons Section"


Fairly Easy Hikes in the Canyon


#1 Hidden Canyon

We did this hike in Oct. There was some vine maple that was really colorful. This hike starts at The Weeping Rock, (Shuttle stop #7) and winds its way up some switchbacks until you reach some stone steps


The stone steps with Lorna at the bottom of that it's of colorful trees along the way Zion national park
The stone steps

After the steps, the trail gets really interesting as you hike along a narrow ledge with a chain handrail.


Lorna with the chain rail on a ledge with her hiking staff at Zion national park
Lorna with the chain rail

On the Hidden Canyon trail with Lorna on the ledge at the valley below at Zion national park
On the Hidden Canyon trail

After this section, you enter the canyon with its narrow walls. this section lasts about a mile and requires some minor boulder scrambling.


In Hidden Canyon with a cliff on one side and colorful trees on the other side and boulders or ground
In Hidden Canyon

In Hidden Canyon with a cliff on one side and colorful trees on the other side and boulders or ground
In Hidden Canyon

We stopped at the small arch which is a great photo op and then turned around and retraced the route back to the Weeping Rock.


The Hidden Canyon Arch with colorful trees around it in Zion national park
The Hidden Canyon Arch


#2 Emerald Pools


This is a 2 to 3-mile hike, depending on how far you go. It is a fairly easy hike located across the street from the Zion Lodge (shuttle stop #5). There are three main areas, lower pools, middle pools, and upper pools with dramatic waterfalls between the middle and lower pools and at the upper pool. From the lodge, you cross a footbridge and follow the trail north. These waterfalls are ephemeral falls where flow is based on rainfall in the area and the flow can be heavy at times or dry up to a trickle.


Emerald Pools Falls as seen from the road
Emerald Pools Falls as seen from the road

There was a lot of colorful vine maple on the hike which made for some interesting photos.


Vine maple on the hike in front of the colorful red cliffs at Zion national park
Vine maple on the hike

As you approach the lower pools you can see the water cascading down from the middle pools.


in front of the red cliffs with colorful trees
Waterfall at the lower pool

At the lower pools, you actually walk behind the waterfall and there is some mist in the air. And as you start the climb towards the middle pools you can see the waterfall through the vine maple.



With red cliffs and colorful trees in the background
Behind the waterfall

A brilliant red wine maple with the waterfall cascading over a cliff in the background
Waterfall and vine maple

Twin waterfalls cascading over the cliff into the lower pool
Leaving the Lower Pool


The waterfalls cascading over the red cliffs with a colorful tree in the foreground
Leaving the Lower Pool

At the middle pools, you have to cross 2 streams so depending on how much water there is you might get your shoes wet. These are the streams that create the 2 waterfalls at the lower pools.


Water flowing through the Middle Pools
The stream crossing at the Middle Pools

The final part of the hike is a strenuous quarter mile to the upper pool. It can be quite hot in the summer but it is well worth the effort. You can sit around and relax or have a picnic lunch. These photos were taken after heavy rainfall so the fall was flowing heavily


Cascading down the cliff onto boulders at the pools with colorful trees around
Waterfall at the Upper Pool

.

Lorna sitting on a boulder with the waterfall pools behind her
Lorna at the Upper Pools



#3 Riverside Walk


The Riverside Walk is a paved, wheelchair-accessible trail that stretches for approximately 2.2 miles round trip. The trail begins at the Temple of Sinawava, a stunning natural amphitheater that marks the end of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.


Waterfall cascading down the red cliff, colorful cottonwood tree in the fore ground
Ephemeral waterfall at the Temple of Sinawava

Colorful red Cliffs surrounding the Cottonwood trees
Amphitheater at the temple


From there, hikers will be treated to breathtaking views of the towering sandstone cliffs, and cascading waterfalls. The trail also passes through several shaded areas, providing relief from the heat in the summer. Our last hike/walk there was in the fall and it was beautiful with the fall foliage. There had been rain off and on all day and as we walked ephemeral waterfalls would just spout from the cliffs. The hike ends where the hike for the Narrows starts.


With colorful maple trees that have drop their leaves on the path
Lorna on the Riverside Walk

Spouting out of the red cliff with colorful maple trees in the foreground
Ephemeral fall on the walk

With colorful trees in the foreground and the red cliffs with the waterfall
Ephemeral waterfall


#4 The Lodge to The Court of the Patriarchs Viewpoint


This is a nice hike that starts at the bridge to the Emerald Pools Trailhead and goes downstream along the river to The Court of the Patriarchs Viewpoint. The trail is only about a mile as it winds through the cottonwood trees. There are great views of the cliffs and the river and an occasional view of wildlife.


The river flowing past the colorful red cliffs and towering cottonwood trees
Along the Virgin River

Lorna on the path with the awesome red Cliffs in the background
Lorna on the hike

The river flowing past the red Cliffs with a brush along the banks
Along the Virgin River

A large male mule deer Standing in front of some trees
A large mule deer


#5 Pine Creek


This is not an official hike in Zion but if you are a photographer or just want to see some different views of the West Temple this is a great spot. There is a pull-out at the Pine Creek Bridge that is just a half mile from the Canyon Junction Bridge. This makes for a stunning sunrise view.


With a stream flowing hundred and the West Temple in the background at Zion national park
Pine Creek Bridge

The West Temple reflected in the stream under the pine creek bridge at Zion national park
The West Temple reflected in the stream

Hiking downstream at Pine Creek with the West Temple reflected in the water at Zion national park
Hiking downstream at Pine Creek

You can hike down the creek or up the creek for some different views.


The view looking upstream at Pine Creek with the red cliffs reflected in the water in Zion national park
The view looking upstream at Pine Creek


#6 Zion Narrows

This report is for the Narrows Bottom-up day hike. We have done this hike twice, both times in the fall when the crowds have thinned out. This is one of our favorite hikes ever and we would probably do it yearly if it was closer. As the name suggests, the Narrows is a narrow canyon with towering walls that can reach up to 1,500 feet high. The trail follows the Virgin River, which is the lifeblood of the canyon. The water is clear and cold, and hikers should be prepared to get wet as they will need to hike through the river in most areas.

As it is entirely in the water, hikers must be prepared with the proper gear. On our first trip, the ambient temperature was a little cold so we opted for the dry suit with the canyoneering shoes and staff. We rented this from Zion Adventures. We were used to wearing dry suits as we are avid divers in Southern California with its cold water. However, after the hike, we determined that the bib overalls or the dry pants would have been fine and that's what we wore on our 2nd trip. The hike begins at the Temple of Sinawava, where we took the Riverside Walk for one mile before reaching the start of the Narrows. It's the last stop on the Zion Canyon Shuttle. You need to keep the weather in mind and do not do this hike if it calls for rain. As I said earlier we did this in Nov. when the air temperature was in the 50s and the water was cold. That's why we opted for the extra protection of the drysuit and bib overalls however most people just wear shorts and t-shirts in the summer. The Narrows is closed for hiking during the spring because of the high run-off.


Ephemeral Waterfall cascading down the red cliffs with cottonwood trees
Ephemeral Waterfall

The Temple Amphitheater with the red Cliffs surrounding the Cottonwood trees
The Temple Amphitheater

On the Riverside Walk with fall leaves covering the path
On the Riverside Walk

At the start of the hike with the river flowing over rocks and colorful trees on the red Cliffs
At the start of the hike

You start off hiking in the water. There are areas where there is dry land and vegetation but it is better to stay in the water than trample the plants. The water never got above our waist because of the reduced flow of the river in the winter. Towards the start, about a half mile, you will pass an area called Mystery Falls with a small waterfall rolling down the face of the cliff. From there you will see many areas with beautiful fall colors in the trees.


Mystery Falls flowing down the cliffs into the virgin river
Mystery Falls

Colorful trees along the hike along the red cliffs
Colorful trees along the hike

The hike continues through some awesome stretches of the canyon. Past towering canyon walls and small rapids in the river.


Lorna and Mick in the river with their hiking staffs and boulders in the river and red Cliffs in the background
Lorna and Mick in the river

Along the hike with boulders in the river, and along the banks with colorful trees in front of the red Cliffs
Along the hike

Hiker in the Zion Narrows, with the red cliffs and yellow Aspen
Lorna on the hike

Approaching Wall Street with the river flowing between the towering red cliffs, and colorful trees in the foreground
Approaching Wall Street

Our favorite part of the hike is Wall Street where the canyon narrows and the vertical walls tower above.


Our Christmas Card photo from a couple years ago with Mick and Lorna with Santa hats on holding their staffs in the Virgin River at the Wall Street section
Our Christmas Card photo from a couple years ago


Wall Street with the towering cliffs and the virgin river, flowing over the rocks in Zion national park
Wall Street

Wall Street with the towering cliffs and the virgin river flowing over rocks in Zion national park
Wall Street

The bottom-up hike is 4.6 miles to Big Springs where you will have to turn around and exit the way you came. This time it took us 9 hours to go to Big Springs and back which was a really long day for us. Being an out-and-back hike you go as far as your time or fitness allows. It is faster coming out because you are going with the current.

#7 Angels Landing


This is arguably the most popular hike in Zion national park. It was constructed in the 1920s and follows a spine in the cliffs with fantastic views along the way. It is a strenuous hike and depending on your fitness level will take 3 to 6 hours to complete. The views at the end of the hike are amazing as you are 1500 feet above the Canyon floor. It is an exposed hike where you are holding on to chains through a part of the hike, so it is not for the faint of heart. Due to its popularity, and the crowds of people it attracts, this hike was put on a seasonal lottery system in 2022. Make sure you apply well in advance or try the day - before lottery. Check out the NPS Angels Landing Permits page.

You can beat most of the crowds by getting there early. The trail begins at the Grotto Trailhead, the 6th stop on the Zion Canyon Shuttle. There is some level hiking along the river before you reach some steep switchbacks and before long you are at Scout Lookout.


The switchback section with hikers on the trail
The switchback section frankix/ adobe.stock.com

Scout Lookout with hikers, preparing for the next section, going to Angels Landing Zion national Park
Scout Lookout

View on the hike with the river in the valley below
View on the hike

After leaving Scout Lookout you come to the chains. It is the exposed section that climbs along the spine up to the landing.


Start of the chain section with a hiker approaching a tree line section of the spine at the Angels Landing hike in Zion national park
Start of the chain section Simon Dannhauer/stock.adobe.com

The chains going up a steep section of the Angels Landing hike
The chains. Dan Ross/stock.adobe.com

Enjoy the view for a while before heading back the way you came.


View fromAngels Landing with the valley and the river stretching out below you between the red cliffs at Zion national park
View fromAngels Landing. evenfh/stock.adobe.com


On to Hiking the Taylor Creek Trail


On to the Subway

36 views

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page