These easy hikes in Zion National Park are good first stops when you want to see the canyon on foot without committing to a steep backcountry outing. Start by choosing between a short canyon-floor walk, a viewpoint, and…
Items 10 The creator’s order
1 Zion Riverside Walk Start at Temple of Sinawava, shuttle stop 9, and follow the paved path into the narrowing canyon. It is roughly two miles round trip, with the first half-mile from the shuttle mostly flat. Expect irregular pavement and a few small drop-offs farther along. Turn back where the pavement ends to leave… 0 2 Zion Pa’rus Trail Follow the paved riverside path from the visitor center area toward Canyon Junction. Allow about 3.5 miles round trip for the whole walk. Any of the bridges makes a convenient turnaround if you want a shorter route and still want a view toward the Watchman. There is little shade, and the path is… 0 3 Zion Lower Emerald Pool Trail From the Zion Lodge stop, cross the river and take the lower branch to the alcove. The hike is about 1.2 miles round trip under the usual routing. Wet patches and steeper sections near the pool make the finish different from a smooth path all the way. Turn back at the lower pool to keep the outing… 0 4 Zion Grotto Trail Walk half a mile each way between Zion Lodge and the Grotto picnic area. The firm dirt path is mostly gentle, with a narrow spot around a boulder and a few steps. Both ends have shuttle stops when service is running, so you can make it a one-way walk. 0 5 Zion Court of the Patriarchs Viewpoint Take the short uphill path from the Court of the Patriarchs shuttle stop. The view puts the sandstone peaks and their different profiles in front of you quickly. Pick this as a short first stop if you want to see the canyon before choosing a longer walk. 0 6 Zion Timber Creek Overlook Trail Drive to the end of Kolob Canyons Road for this roughly one-mile round trip along a ridge. Expect a short rocky section and little shade before the view opens across the Kolob cliffs. The trail can be muddy when wet. Allow separate driving time from the main canyon shuttle itinerary. 0 7 Zion Weeping Rock Trail Take shuttle stop 7 to a short but steep walk with roughly 98 feet of climb over a 0.4-mile round trip. The dripping alcove and hanging plants explain the name. The trail can be slick near the end, making this better for a short distance than for the gentlest grade. 0 8 Zion Northgate Peaks Trail Start at the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead in Kolob Terrace for a longer walk on relatively gentle grades. The 4.2-mile round trip gains about 100 feet, with ponderosa forest along the way and wider views at the end. Check the road and trail conditions for this higher, separately reached part of Zion. 0 9 Zion Lava Point Overlook From the Lava Point parking area, walk a short way to the overlook. The height of the viewpoint makes the canyons feel very different from the main canyon floor. This is a brief viewpoint stop, and reaching the area depends on seasonal road conditions. 0 10 Zion Archeology Trail From the visitor center area, take this very short trail up a low hill for a view back across the lower canyon. The incline arrives almost immediately. Choose it if you want a quick walk before boarding the shuttle, with some climbing in a small amount of time. 0 
Zion Riverside WalkStart at Temple of Sinawava, shuttle stop 9, and follow the paved path into the narrowing canyon. It is roughly two miles round trip, with the first half-mile from the shuttle mostly flat. Expect irregular pavement and a few small drop-offs farther along. Turn back where the pavement ends to leave…0
Zion Pa’rus TrailFollow the paved riverside path from the visitor center area toward Canyon Junction. Allow about 3.5 miles round trip for the whole walk. Any of the bridges makes a convenient turnaround if you want a shorter route and still want a view toward the Watchman. There is little shade, and the path is…0
Zion Lower Emerald Pool TrailFrom the Zion Lodge stop, cross the river and take the lower branch to the alcove. The hike is about 1.2 miles round trip under the usual routing. Wet patches and steeper sections near the pool make the finish different from a smooth path all the way. Turn back at the lower pool to keep the outing…0
Zion Grotto TrailWalk half a mile each way between Zion Lodge and the Grotto picnic area. The firm dirt path is mostly gentle, with a narrow spot around a boulder and a few steps. Both ends have shuttle stops when service is running, so you can make it a one-way walk.0
Zion Court of the Patriarchs ViewpointTake the short uphill path from the Court of the Patriarchs shuttle stop. The view puts the sandstone peaks and their different profiles in front of you quickly. Pick this as a short first stop if you want to see the canyon before choosing a longer walk.0
Zion Timber Creek Overlook TrailDrive to the end of Kolob Canyons Road for this roughly one-mile round trip along a ridge. Expect a short rocky section and little shade before the view opens across the Kolob cliffs. The trail can be muddy when wet. Allow separate driving time from the main canyon shuttle itinerary.0
Zion Weeping Rock TrailTake shuttle stop 7 to a short but steep walk with roughly 98 feet of climb over a 0.4-mile round trip. The dripping alcove and hanging plants explain the name. The trail can be slick near the end, making this better for a short distance than for the gentlest grade.0
Zion Northgate Peaks TrailStart at the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead in Kolob Terrace for a longer walk on relatively gentle grades. The 4.2-mile round trip gains about 100 feet, with ponderosa forest along the way and wider views at the end. Check the road and trail conditions for this higher, separately reached part of Zion.0
Zion Lava Point OverlookFrom the Lava Point parking area, walk a short way to the overlook. The height of the viewpoint makes the canyons feel very different from the main canyon floor. This is a brief viewpoint stop, and reaching the area depends on seasonal road conditions.0
Zion Archeology TrailFrom the visitor center area, take this very short trail up a low hill for a view back across the lower canyon. The incline arrives almost immediately. Choose it if you want a quick walk before boarding the shuttle, with some climbing in a small amount of time.0