Your Complete Guide to Zion National Park
Honest trail guides and trip planning from hikers who know every mile.
Start Here
Four guides that cover everything about Zion National Park.
Hiking Trails
Every trail in Zion rated by difficulty, distance, and elevation. From 30-minute walks to multi-day backpacking routes.
Explore Trails →Things to Do
Beyond hiking: canyoneering, rock climbing, horseback riding, scenic drives, stargazing, and activities for every season.
See Activities →Where to Stay
Springdale hotels, Zion Lodge, campgrounds, and vacation rentals. What to book, when to book it, and what each area is like.
Find Lodging →Plan Your Visit
When to go, how to get here, shuttle schedules, entrance fees, permits, and month-by-month weather breakdowns.
Start Planning →Popular Trail Guides
Detailed guides for Zion's most-hiked trails. Trailhead directions, what to bring, and what you'll actually see out there.
Angels Landing
5.4 mi · 1,488 ft gain · Strenuous
Permit required via lottery. Iconic chains, sheer exposure, and the most famous summit views in any national park.
The Narrows
2-10 mi · River walk · Moderate-Strenuous
Hike through the Virgin River. Wade a 2,000-foot slot canyon with rented water shoes. Check flash flood forecasts first.
Observation Point
8.0 mi · 2,148 ft gain · Strenuous
Zion's single best viewpoint. Look down on Angels Landing from 2,000 feet above the canyon floor.
Canyon Overlook Trail
1.0 mi · 163 ft gain · Easy
Best short hike in the park. Stunning overlook above Pine Creek Canyon for minimal effort. Arrive before 9 AM.
Emerald Pools
1.2-3.0 mi · 69-400 ft gain · Easy to Moderate
Three tiers of waterfall pools. Paved lower trail is family-friendly. Upper pools reward the climb. Best flow in spring.
Watchman Trail
3.3 mi · 368 ft gain · Easy-Moderate
Most underrated hike in Zion. No shuttle needed. Gorgeous sunset views over Springdale and Towers of the Virgin.
Trail Elevation Profiles
See the climb before you hike it
Planning Your Trip
The practical stuff that makes the difference between a good trip and a great one.
Best Time to Visit
Month-by-month breakdown of temperatures, crowd levels, trail conditions, and what's open when. Spring and fall are the sweet spots.
Read the Guide →Getting to Zion
Driving from Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, or flying into St. George. Route options, drive times, and the stops worth making along the way.
Read the Guide →Weather & Packing
What to expect on the trail and what to pack for it. Zion's weather is more varied than most people realize, summers hit 110°F and winters drop below freezing.
Read the Guide →Free Zion Trail Guide PDF
8 essential hikes with difficulty ratings, seasonal availability, and a complete packing checklist. Take it on the trail with you.
About Beautiful Zion
We started Beautiful Zion because most trail guides online were either outdated or written by people who clearly hadn't done the hikes. Wrong trailheads, bad permit info, useless packing lists. So we went out and hiked every trail ourselves, took notes, and started publishing what we found. Every guide on this site is based on firsthand experience. No sponsors, no filler. Just one less thing to figure out before your trip.