The 8 Best Views in Zion National Park
Located on State Route 9 in southwest Utah, only a little over an hour from Bryce Canyon and slightly less than 2 hours away from the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park is one of the most gorgeous national parks in the U.S.A. It is one of the top ten most visited national parks and one of only a few national parks to exceed more than 5 million visitors each year.
Over 145,000 acres wide, Zion National Park consists of two distinct areas: Zion Canyon, the most commonly visited area, and Kolob Canyons, a less-visited but just as beautiful section of the park located northwest of Zion Canyon. There’s lots to see and do in this park, but how do you know what you can’t miss? In this post, we’ll explore 8 of the best views in Zion National Park, such as:
- Checkerboard Mesa
- Angels Landing
- Canyon Overlook Trail
- Observation Point
- The Narrows
- Canyon Junction Bridge
- Kolob Canyons Overlook
- Horse Ranch Mountain (the highest point in Zion National Park)
Let’s take a closer look at these scenic spots.
Zion Canyon
The southern portion of the park and the largest chunk, Zion Canyon contains many of the iconic viewpoints the park is known for and some of the most easily accessed hikes.
1. Checkerboard Mesa
Located directly inside of the park’s east entrance along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, Checkerboard Mesa is one of the first recognizable views at Zion National Park. Its name is drawn from its distinctive checkerboard pattern, caused by vertical and horizontal lines cross-bedded into the white sandstone.
See Checkerboard Mesa on our Bryce Canyon & Zion National Park Tour.
2. Angels Landing
GRAND FACT: The ascent to Angels Landing includes a climb up 21 steep switchbacks delightfully known as Walter’s Wiggles, named for the first superintendent of the park.
3. Canyon Overlook Trail
If you’re not up to the more strenuous hike of Angels Landing, consider the Canyon Overlook Trail. It boasts similar views of Zion Canyon and, at just one mile round trip and 100 feet of elevation, it’s also a much easier, shorter climb.
4. Observation Point
TRAIL TIP: A 2019 rockslide closed the trail to Observation Point from Weeping Rock indefinitely, but it can still be accessed via East Mesa Trail.
5. The Narrows
The Narrows are a gorge carved by the Virgin River and, appropriately, the narrowest part of Zion Canyon. Standing at water level, you’ll look straight up at the gorge walls as they rise thousands of feet above you.
This area can be viewed from a paved, wheelchair accessible walkway (Riverside Walk). It’s also one the most popular hikes Zion National Park has to offer, but beyond Riverside Walk it can be strenuous and you have to be comfortable getting your feet wet. The trail unavoidably enters the Virgin River, which can have waist-deep water levels at certain times of year. Many people opt to hike this area in early fall—the water is still relatively warm and the water level drops a bit.
TRAIL TIP: Always check the weather forecast for rain and flash flood warnings before hiking the Narrows—the sheer walls and river terrain make evading flash floods difficult.
6. Canyon Junction Bridge
If hiking through waist-deep water doesn’t interest you, you can take in the Virgin River and the iconic Watchman summit from the Canyon Junction Bridge. To find this bridge, stop at the Zion Human History Museum, find the Pa’rus trail, and turn north.
TRAIL TIP: If you didn’t drive yourself to Zion National Park, you can hop off the shuttle bus at Park Stop 2 – Museum and follow the same route as above, or try Park Stop 3 – Canyon Junction and head south towards the Pa’rus Trailhead to locate the bridge. However, the shuttle bus reportedly does not always stop at #3 as of August 2022.
Kolob Canyons
7. Kolob Canyons Overlook
Reach the Kolob Canyons Overlook by driving up Kolob Canyons Road. From here, you can easily access Timber Creek Trail, a short, low-elevation hike the NPS describes as offering “spectacular views of the Kolob Canyons, the Kolob Terrace, and the Pine Valley Mountains.”
GRAND FACT: On clear days when looking South, you might be able to see the Grand Canyon North Rim’s Mount Trumbull.
8. Horse Ranch Mountain (the highest point in Zion National Park)
Horse Ranch Mountain is the highest point in Zion National Park, reaching 8,726 feet at its summit, and one of the most northerly parts of the park. It can be viewed best from the Taylor Creek Trail, a 3-4 hour round trip hike from the Kolob Canyons Overlook parking lot.
Conclusion
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad view in Zion National Park. If you’re looking for the must-see spots, here are eight of the best views in Zion National Park to include in your itinerary:
- Checkerboard Mesa
- Angels Landing
- Canyon Overlook Trail
- Observation Point
- The Narrows
- Canyon Junction Bridge
- Kolob Canyons Overlook
- Horse Ranch Mountain
Visit beautiful Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks.
Written by Ria Borja
