The 7 Best Easy Hikes in Zion National Park

Zion National Park is a stunning national park that offers so much to do, and one of the best ways to experience the park is by hiking! There are over 100 trails in Zion National Park that vary from easy to strenuous hikes.

Although many of the iconic hikes in the park are strenuous, Zion National Park has plenty of easy hikes that are great for all levels! We spent most of our time hiking the easy trails and were in awe of the views!

This guide has everything you need to know about the best easy hikes in Zion National Park that you need to add to your bucket list!

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Tips For Hiking in Zion National Park

Start your day early. Zion National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the US, so it experiences heavy crowds throughout the year. But do not let that stop you from experiencing its beauty! I recommend arriving at the park as early as you can. I found that arriving before 8 AM worked well to find a parking spot in the shuttle lot!
Start or end your day with hiking. If you want to hike some of the iconic trails in Zion National Park, I highly recommend hiking those trails as soon as you get into the park or later in the afternoon. The popular trails are always crowded and typically see the most hikers midday.
Pack food and water. Because getting a parking spot in the shuttle lot can be difficult, especially during midday, you may not want to leave the park to get food. I recommend packing your meals, snacks, and water. There are restrooms throughout Zion National Park with water fountains, so you can fill up your water bottle as you travel through the park.
Give yourself plenty of time for hiking. I highly recommend allocating more time for the hike than you think you need. Hiking in hot weather can be slow, so it is crucial to give yourself more time, so you do not feel rushed. Also, because the park has millions of visitors each year, the trails are crowded, especially the easy hikes in Zion National Park, and it may take longer to hike because of the crowds.
Use the Zion National Park shuttle. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private cars from March through November. The Zion National Park shuttle service takes you to every attraction on that road! The shuttle lot fills up very quickly, so I recommend arriving earlier than 8 AM. I know it is early, but trust me, it is worth it.
Use Springdale’s shuttle service if the shuttle lot is full. Springdale is the town right outside of Zion National Park and offers a shuttle service around the area. It can bring you to Zion Canyon Village, which is only a short walk from the park entrance, where you can get on the Zion National Park shuttle.
Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they do not have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.

best places to stay near zion national park

What to Pack for the Easy Hikes in Zion National Park

Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.

The 7 Best Easy Hikes in Zion National Park

Pa’rus Trail

Length: 3.4 miles

Elevation gain: minimal

Trailhead location: Visitor Center

Dog-friendly: Yes (only dog-friendly trail in Zion National Park)

The Pa’rus Trail is the most accessible trail in Zion National Park and provides beautiful views of the Watchman. The Pa’rus Trail is a one-way trail linking the Visitor’s Center and Canyon Junction Bridge and is the only trail in Zion National Park that is dog-friendly.

If you begin the hike at the Visitor Center, the Pa’rus Trail follows along the Virgin River and offers a peaceful experience to take in the scenery. After about a mile, there is a short side path to the Zion Human History Museum. Past this point, the Pa’rus trail becomes very scenic with wildflowers and provides incredible views of the Watchman when looking behind you.

The end of the trail passes the most popular spot in Zion National Park for sunset, Canyon Junction Bridge. Once you reach Canyon Junction Bridge, you can follow Pa’rus Trail back to the Visitor’s Center or hop on the shuttle.

We hiked the Pa’rus Trail for sunset, which I highly recommend! We ended our hike at the Canyon Junction Bridge.

Lower Emerald Pool

Length: 1.4 miles

Elevation gain: minimal

Trailhead location: Zion Lodge

Dog-friendly: No

Did you know Zion National Park has waterfalls? Emerald Pools is a beautiful hike that brings you past small but beautiful waterfalls.

The trailhead is across from the Zion Lodge and follows an easy and flat 1.4-mile roundtrip trail to the Lower Emerald Pool. Lower Emerald Pool has a small waterfall cascading off of the rock that you can walk underneath! We loved this short hike in Zion National Park!

If you want a longer adventure, you can hike the entire 3-mile roundtrip trail to Middle and Upper Emerald Pools. The trail to Middle Emerald Pools is steeper and brings you to the top of the cliff you were just under and to beautiful views of the surrounding area.

The final section continues to Upper Emerald Pool, which has little to no shade and gets quite hot in the summer months. The Upper Emerald Pool is at the base of large cliffs and is worth every step for the beautiful view! Once you experience all of the Emerald Pools, you can hike back the way you came or continue the loop on Kayenta Trail and Grotto Trail back to Zion Lodge.

Riverside Walk

Length: 2 miles

Elevation gain: 200 feet

Trailhead location: Temple of Sinawava

Dog-friendly: No

The Riverside Walk is one of the most popular easy hikes in Zion National Park because it leads to the Narrows. The 2-mile roundtrip trail begins at the Temple of Sinawave and follows a mostly paved path along the Virgin River. The hike ends right before the trail enters the Virgin River. If you are hiking the Narrows, this is where you enter the Virgin River to begin the hike.

The Riverside Walk is a stunning trail that offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and vegetation and will quickly become one of your favorite scenic hikes in Zion National Park! We loved enjoying this easy hike during our visit.

Canyon Overlook

Length: 1 mile

Elevation gain: 200 feet

Trailhead location: East of Mt Carmel Tunnel

Dog-friendly: No

Canyon Overlook is an easy hike in Zion National Park with some of the best views! And it is our favorite hike in the park!

The 1-mile roundtrip Canyon Overlook Trail begins in the Canyon Overlook Trail parking lot, just outside the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. The trail immediately ascends a short rock staircase before flattening out. Canyon Junction Trail then follows along a canyon ridge and through a cave.

Although there are railings along most of the trail, parts of it have a long drop-off, so it is crucial to be cautious. The trail then opens up and offers a beautiful view on Canyon Overlook. Canyon Overlook is a perfect easy hike for sunrise or sunset in Zion National Park!

Virgin River Walk

Length: 1 mile

Elevation gain: minimal

Trailhead location: Big Bend Viewpoint

Dog-friendly: No

The Virgin River Walk is a short but beautiful trail that follows along the river. The 1-mile roundtrip trail begins at the Big Bend Viewpoint and follows the Virgin River until it connects with the Weeping Rock parking lot. You can either catch the shuttle here or turn around and head back to Big Bend Viewpoint.

Although many people hike the Virgin River Walk trail, it tends to be less crowded than the Riverside Walk, making it a fantastic alternative. It is a beautiful and easy hike in Zion National Park for all levels!

Timber Creek Overlook

Length: 1.1 miles

Elevation gain: 250 feet

Trailhead location: Kolob Canyons Viewpoint Picnic Area

Dog-friendly: No

Timber Creek Overlook Trail is one of the lesser-known easy hikes in Zion National Park because it is in Kolob Canyon. Kolob Canyon is located about 45 minutes from Springdale and is an easy drive if you are looking for an area with fewer crowds. We were one of ten cars when we hiked here!

The 5-mile drive into the canyon is beautiful and offers many viewpoints and trailheads. At the top of the road, there is a short and stunning 1-mile roundtrip trail to Timber Creek Overlook. The overlook has panoramic views of Mount Trumbull, Shuntavi Butte, and the finger canyons. I highly recommend coming here for golden hour. It is breathtaking!

timber creek overlook in zion national park

The Watchman Trail

Length: 3.1 miles

Elevation gain: 650 feet

Trailhead location: Visitor Center

Dog-friendly: No

The Watchman Trail is a stunning hike that provides some of the best views for the effort. It is one of our favorite trails, so I know you will love it! This trail is on the moderate side of easy but is worth the extra effort for the panoramic views.

The 3.1-mile roundtrip trail begins at the Visitor Center and follows along the Virgin River before winding up to its beautiful overlooks. Although this trail does not bring you to the top of the Watchman, it gives you an up-close and personal experience with it while providing stunning views of Springdale and the surrounding mountains.

In my opinion, the Watchman Trail is one of the most beautiful hikes in Zion National Park and is worth the extra effort to get to the views! I promise it will become one of your favorite hikes in the park.

the watchman trail in zion national park

Summary of the Best Easy Hikes in Zion National Park

Pa’rus Trail
Lower Emerald Pool Trail
Riverside Walk
Canyon Overlook
Virgin River Walk
Timber Creek Overlook Trail
The Watchman Trail

If you are looking for easy hikes in Zion National Park, this is a great place to start! We loved hiking the easy trails in the park, so I know you will, too! This guide has everything you need to know about the best easy hikes in Zion National Park that you need to add to your bucket list!