Conditions Right Now
Use sunset as your turnaround alarm.
Why Hike This
The reason to do this one is that you drive to it. The trailhead sits just east of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel on Highway 9, outside the shuttle system, so you can be walking at first light while the canyon floor is still waiting for a bus. The path is mostly bare rock with stairs and metal handrails on the exposed side, and a few overhangs drop to about four feet of clearance, so watch your head. Parking is the hard part, and there is very little of it.
The Trail
Massive Zion Canyon payoff for a 30-minute walk. Sunrise gold.
Heat note: desert country - in summer start at dawn and carry more water than feels reasonable.
Pack Loadout (Easy)
Water bottle, sunscreen, hat, snacks, comfortable shoes.
Getting There
Make it a weekend: South Campground (Zion) (Camping, 2 mi) · Watchman Campground (Camping, 3 mi) · Lava Point Campground (Camping, 13 mi) · Kolob Reservoir (Fishing, 17 mi)
More hikes nearby: Watchman Trail (Hike, 3 mi) · Emerald Pools (Hike, 3 mi) · Angels Landing (Hike, 4 mi) · The Narrows (Bottom-Up) (Hike, 5 mi)
Quick Answers
- How long is the Canyon Overlook Trail hike?
- 1 miles round trip with 163 feet of elevation gain.
- How hard is Canyon Overlook Trail?
- Easy. Kid rating: 4 out of 5.
- When should I hike Canyon Overlook Trail?
- Best season: All year.
- Why hike Canyon Overlook Trail?
- You get an open sweep of red and cream slickrock and a straight look at the Towers of the Virgin for about a mile of walking and 150 feet of climbing. It sits on the east side of the tunnel, so no shuttle is involved. Bighorn sheep work this country, so scan the ledges.