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.
Facts About the Hike
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
The Canyon Overlook Trail
Getting to the Trailhead
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.
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 right 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 mountain goats.
Making this detour can take an hour or longer, depending on how much you want to explore.
Learn more about Zion National Park:
- 10 Great Hikes in Zion NP. Which One Will Be Your Favorite?
- Angels Landing Survival Guide: Things to Know Before You Go
- Hiking to Observation Point in Zion NP
- Hidden Canyon: An Unexpected Surprise in Zion NP
- How to Day Hike the West Rim Trail in Zion NP
Planning a trip to Utah? Read all of our articles in our Utah Destination Guide.
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Comments 4
Hi, is this hike really an hour round trip? Google maps tells me 10 minutes each way. Have you allowed for lingering with a view for a while or is it 30 minutes each way?
Author
Yes, it’s one hour round trip but it can be done in much less time (30 minutes is very doable). I give extra time in our estimates for photos, kids, slower hikers, etc. Cheers, Julie
Thank you, Julie, for the helpful guide. We will be visiting in October 2017.
Author
It should be gorgeous in October. Have fun!