The Canyon Overlook Trail, One of Zion’s Essential Hikes

The Canyon Overlook Trail is a gem of a hike in Zion National Park. It’s short, it’s fun, and it takes you to an awesome viewpoint overlooking Zion Canyon. This is a hike that is perfect for all ages and ability levels. So if this is your first, or even your second time in Zion, put the Canyon Overlook Trail on your list of things to do.

Tim and I hiked this trail on our very first visit to Zion (we’ve since been back multiple times, most recently in May 2025). This is our favorite, short hike in the park. The trail is fun and interesting to hike, with caves, boardwalks, and a few obstacles along the way, plus the view from the end of the trail is jaw-dropping.

The most challenging part of this hike is finding a parking space, as spots are limited and it is a popular hike in Zion. But once on the trail, it’s tons of fun!

Here’s how to do it.

October 2025 Update: New photos from the trail were added, plus updated trail and parking info.

Table of Contents

Canyon Overlook Trail Hiking Stats

Distance: 1 mile round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Elevation Gain: 150 feet
Length of Time: 1 hour
Trailhead: Highway 9, just east of the tunnel (No shuttle necessary!!)

Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.

The Canyon Overlook Trail

Step-By-Step Trail Guide

Getting to the Trailhead & Parking

To get to the trailhead you will need a car. This hike is not accessible using the Zion Shuttle.

From the Visitor Center, take Highway 9 northeast towards the east entrance of Zion National Park. You will drive on a series of switchbacks. From this section of the road, you can see the Great Arch looming over you. The Canyon Overlook viewpoint is on top of this arch. Yes, you will be standing up there!

Drive through the Mount Carmel Tunnel.

The parking lot is immediately past the exit of the tunnel. Turn right into the car park, and if you are lucky, there will be a parking spot. It can get crowded during the summer months and this is a very small lot. If there are no spots, continue east on Highway 9 to a second overflow parking area just a little ways down the road. But not to worry, from either parking lot it’s just a short walk to the trailhead.

Map of the parking lots for Canyon Overlook Trail

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Because it can be tricky to find a parking spot, it is best to do this hike early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

The trailhead is located on Highway 9, near the ranger station for the tunnel.

Hiking to the Viewpoint

You gain some elevation immediately, climbing the steps that take you from Highway 9 up onto the trail. And then it is a mostly flat hike out to the viewpoint.

The trail is carved out of the sandstone walls, so for part of the hike, a giant, stonewall will be on one side of you and to the other side you will have views into the Pine Creek Narrows. At several of the more exposed sections there are railings for safety.

One of the best parts of this hike is walking through the cool, hidden cave. This is a nice place to take a break, if you need it. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was someone here selling snacks or ice cream or margaritas?

There are a few obstacles along the way, just enough to keep things interesting. The kids we saw on the trail loved climbing over the rocks and giant tree roots.

Once you reach the viewpoint, the narrow trail opens up to a wide area that overlooks Zion. This is the end of the trail.

Now you are standing on top of the Great Arch and below you are the switchbacks of Highway 9. And if you look closely, you will be able to see the windows carved out of the side of the Mount Carmel Tunnel.

For kids, this is a fun place to explore, to a point. Just remember that you are on the edge of a cliff, and getting too close to the edge could be disastrous.

This photo was taken from the viewpoint, looking back at the trail.

Return to your car the same way you came.

Want to Explore More?

After this hike, continue east on Highway 9. The scenery in this part of the park is stunning, with white, orange and red striated sandstone mountains. We got lucky and saw a small herd of bighorn sheep.

Making this detour can take an hour or longer, depending on how much you want to explore.

When is the Best Time to Do this Hike?

Since parking is challenging, early morning is the best time to do this hike, to get a parking space and avoid the crowds on the trail. Late in the day is great too.

Expect the largest crowds on the trail from 10 am to 3 pm.

We did this hike at 4 pm (we hiked Angels Landing and Emerald Pools in the morning, took a midday lunch break in Springdale, and hiked Canyon Overlook in the afternoon).

More Hikes in Zion

We are frequent visitors to Zion and have hiked a lot of trails here.

Get started with our guide to the Best Hikes in Zion.

We have detailed trail guides for Angels Landing, Observation Point, the West Rim Trail, the Zion Narrows (as the entire top-down route plus how to do it from the bottom-up), and the Watchman Trail.

At the end of this guide, we have links to more of our Zion content (itineraries, where to stay, things to do) plus more info to help you plan your trip to Utah. You can see all of our Zion guides in our Zion National Park Travel Guide.

What to Bring on the Hike

Hiking shoes. You can get by with a good pair of walking shoes or running shoes for this hike but hiking shoes are ideal.

Water and snacks. Bring at least 1 liter of water in the summer.

Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses. There is very little shade on this trail.

Camera. Even a smartphone will do.

Hiking Gear Guide

Essential Hiking Gear: What Should You Bring on a Day Hike?

If you are new to hiking or are curious about what you should bring on a hike, check out our Hiking Gear Guide. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails.

If you have any questions about how to hike the Canyon Overlook Trail, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information about Zion & Utah