10 Things to Do in Zion National Park (No Hiking Required)

While Zion is world-famous for bucket list trails like Angels Landing and the Narrows, there’s a lot more to do here than hike a trail or two. Whether you’re visiting with kids, taking a rest day, or simply prefer to skip the trails, Zion offers a surprising variety of things to do that don’t involve lacing up your hiking boots. In this guide, we will share the best things to do in Zion other than hiking.

Table of Contents

Things to Do in Zion, No Hiking Required

1. Drive Zion – Mount Carmel Highway

Zion – Mount Carmel Highway (UT-9) twists and turns through the east section of Zion National Park. This is a gorgeous drive and open all year to private vehicles, unlike Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (which runs through Zion Canyon).

This scenic drive starts in Springdale, at the south entrance into the park, and ends at the east entrance of Zion National Park. This drive is 12 miles long and takes 30 minutes without traffic or time for photos or hikes.

Here are the highlights of this scenic drive as you go from west to east. I mention several hiking trails, but this drive is well worth it, just for the views alone:

The First Switchbacks: Between Canyon Junction Bridge and the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, the road makes several switchbacks as it climbs up into the mountains. There are a few turnouts where you can safely pull over and snap a photo or two.

Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel: This tunnel was constructed between 1927 and 1930, dramatically reducing drive times between Springdale and places east of Zion National Park. It is a dark, narrow tunnel and backups can occur midday, when traffic levels are high. There are restrictions for oversized vehicles, so if you plan to rent an RV, get updates here.

Canyon Overlook Trail: This short trail takes hikers to a magnificent view of the switchbacks of Zion – Mount Carmel Highway.

Many Pools Trail: This quiet, off the beaten hike features a bit of rock scrambling, interesting rock formations, and small pools of water (if it has rained recently).

Many Pools Trail

Petroglyphs Hike: This very short hike (0.67 miles round trip) ends at a very short slot canyon. Next to the trail are petroglyphs on the red sandstone cliffs.

Petroglyphs in Zion

Checkerboard Mesa: This rock face is one of the most photographed sights along this scenic drive. There is a parking lot next to the viewpoint.

Checkerboard Mesa

2. Go for a Drive along Zion Canyon

A visit to Zion National Park would not be complete without a visit to Zion Canyon.

Zion Canyon is the heart of Zion National Park. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive runs through this canyon, connecting Springdale and the Visitor Center to the Virgin River and the Temple of Sinawava.

From March through December and the holiday season at the end of December, this road is closed to private vehicles and the park shuttle is in operation. No ticket and no reservation are required to ride the shuttle.

Zion Canyon (photo taken from Observation Point…you’ll have to hike to get here)

The first shuttle stop is at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. There are nine stops along the 8-mile route, dropping off visitors at trailheads, Zion Lodge, and scenic viewpoints. Some of the best hikes start along this shuttle route, including Angels Landing and the Narrows (from the bottom-up).

If you don’t plan to hike any of these trails, it is still well worth it to ride the shuttle (or make the drive, if you are here in January or February), to see the canyon. Or take a look at our next entry.

3. Cycle through the Park on an e-Bike

If you want to see Zion Canyon but prefer to be more active than riding the shuttle, renting an e-Bike has become quite popular in recent years. E-bikes can be rented in Springdale and then ridden along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.

From the Visitor Center, you’ll first bike along the lovely Pa’rus Trail to Canyon Junction Bridge. Beyond this point, bikers are permitted to cycle along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive to its endpoint at the Temple of Sinawava. It’s 7.7 miles one-way from the visitor center to the Temple of Sinawava.

Pa’rus Trail

Biking along Zion – Mount Carmel Highway is not recommended, with its steep switchbacks and the fact that bikes are not permitted in the tunnel.

Learn more about biking in Zion and get a list of rental companies on the National Park Service website. If you prefer to take a guided tour, this guided eBike tour is done as a small group and gets very good reviews.

4. Go Horseback Riding

For those who like the idea of seeing Zion from horseback, Canyon Trail Rides offers small group horseback rides in the national park. These rides range from 1 hour to 3 hours, with views of the Virgin River and the Court of the Patriarchs.

5. Go for a Scenic Drive in Kolob Canyons

Kolob Canyons is a small, remote corner in the northwestern part of Zion National Park. Kolob Canyon Road is a 5-mile road that twists and turns alongside the red sandstone cliffs that makes this part of the park unique. Again, it is another beautiful drive.

To get to Kolob Canyons, it is a 45-minute drive from Springdale. If you want to get out and stretch your legs, there are a few hikes to do, but no hiking is necessary, as there are some fantastic viewpoints right along the road.

Kolob Canyons

Kolob Canyons in Zion: Best Things to Do & Is It Worth It?

How to plan a visit to Kolob Canyons.

6. Get an Aerial View of the Park

Zion Helicopters offers several different helicopter tours of the park, ranging in duration and price. The shortest, cheapest option is a 20-minute flight time that offers views of the west side of the park. Longer flights go over Kolob Canyons and the Canaan Mountain Wilderness. It is important to know that the helicopters will not fly directly over Zion Canyon.

Helicopter Tours

Powered by GetYourGuide

7. Visit a Museum or Two

The Zion Nature Center has exhibits about the history of Zion, the animals that call this park home, and geology of the park. Ranger-led programs for Junior Rangers are held here. It is located near the Visitor Center and South Campground.

The Zion Human History Museum has exhibits on the human history of Zion. Get here on the Pa’rus Trail or ride the shuttle to stop #2.

See all of our articles about Utah

8. Sunset Views of the Watchman

Taking a sunset photo of the Watchman is one of the park’s most iconic photography locations. The best place to do this is along the Pa’rus Trail from bridge #4. Each bridge is given a number, starting at the trailhead next to the visitor center. Bridge #4 is near Canyon Junction Bridge, so if you are walking or biking here from the visitor center, it is about one mile, one-way.

9. Go Stargazing

Stay beyond sunset and watch the show as the sunlight fades and thousands of stars shine overhead. Despite its close proximity to Springdale, Zion is designated as an International Dark Sky Park.

Good places to go stargazing are along the Pa’rus Trail, along Zion – Mount Carmel Highway, and in Kolob Canyons.

10. Get to Know Springdale

This entry is not technically in the national park, but there is a good chance you will be spending at least a little bit of time in Springdale, as it is the gateway into Zion National Park.

The small town of Springdale is located next to the south entrance of Zion National Park. There are a large number of hotels and restaurants here, but also places to rent outdoor equipment and e-Bikes, and to go shopping. With its backdrop of red and white mountains, it is a beautiful small town.

But If You Want to Go Hiking…

It’s no secret that Zion is one of the best US national parks to go hiking. From its thrilling trails like Angels Landing, its unique hike through the Narrows, and shorter, easier trails like Canyon Overlook and Emerald Pools, there are plenty of hikes to keep you busy for days.

We are frequent visitors to Zion. We have hiked the full length of the Narrows, stood on top of Angels Landing and Observation Point, explored Kolob Canyons, and hiked trails that are now unfortunately closed due to rockfalls.

Some of you are reading this guide because you want to fill in your time in Zion with some non-hiking activities. It’s exhausting filling each day with multiple hikes and adding in scenic drives and horseback riding are great ways to rest and recover for a new day of activities.

So, if you also like the idea of hiking in Zion, whether it is a shorter, easier trail, or something more challenging, we cover all of your options in our Zion Hiking Guide ↓

Hiking Guide

10 Great Hikes in Zion National Park: Which One Will Be Your Favorite?

Best hikes in Zion National Park and how to choose which ones to do.

Planning Your Trip to Zion

Below are three guides to get you started in planning a memorable trip to Zion. You can see all of our articles in our Zion Travel Guide.

Zion National Park Itinerary: How to Spend 1 to 6 Days in Zion

If you are planning your Zion National Park itinerary, this is a great place to start. Zion National Park is a hiker’s paradise. This relatively small park is packed with some of the most thrilling hikes in the United States. From the awe-inspiring hike up Angels Landing to the bucket list-worthy Zion Narrows to the […]

5 Things to Know Before Visiting Zion National Park

Zion National Park and its epic hiking trails have become an extremely popular place to visit in recent years. This is a spectacular destination and one of our favorite national parks in the USA. However, due to crowd levels, trail closures, and cyanobacteria in the Virgin River, Zion has become a challenging park to visit. […]

9 Things to Do in Zion if You Don’t Want to Ride the Shuttle

Zion is one of the most popular national parks to visit in the USA. In the past 4 to 5 years, this park has been drawing record numbers of visitors. Because of this, you should expect big crowds waiting to board the Zion Shuttle. By 8 am, the line to board the Zion Shuttle can […]

If you have any questions about the best things to do in Zion, no hiking required, or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information for Your Trip to Zion

Best things to do in Zion National Park, no hiking required. Drive Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, rent an ebike, go horseback riding, visit Kolob Canyons, go stargazing, and explore Springdale.