The Best Easy Hikes in Zion National Park

Short trails, big sandstone, no death-march required.

By Chris Hayworth, Nestward

Zion is famous for the scary stuff (Angels Landing chains, wading The Narrows), but the truth is you can stand under 2,000-foot sandstone cliffs without earning it. The cream, pink, and red walls that soar over Zion Canyon look just as enormous from a flat paved path as they do from a cliff edge. Here are the short, genuinely easy hikes worth your time, with real distances so you can plan around tired legs and small kids.

The flattest wins: Riverside Walk and Pa'rus

If you only do one easy hike, make it the Riverside Walk. It's a paved 2.2-mile round trip that follows the Virgin River into the mouth of the canyon, with the walls closing in as you go. It ends where The Narrows begins, so you get the dramatic slot-canyon payoff with none of the wading (turn around when the pavement ends unless you came dressed to get wet).

The Pa'rus Trail is the other no-stress pick: paved, mostly flat, and the only trail in the canyon where bikes, strollers, and leashed dogs are all allowed. It runs along the river near the visitor center and is a good early-morning leg-stretcher before the shuttle lines build.

Short hikes with a real payoff

• Lower Emerald Pool Trail: about 1.2 miles round trip, paved and easy. It leads to a pool fed by waterfalls that drip off the cliff overhang above the path. The Lower pool is the gentle one; the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools trails climb higher and get rockier, so stop at Lower if you want to keep it truly easy.
• Weeping Rock: a steep but very short paved climb (under half a mile round trip) to a dripping rock alcove. Note: this trail has been closed for extended periods after rockfall, so check current conditions before you count on it.
• Watchman Trail: about 3.3 miles round trip and rated moderate, not easy, but it's gentle enough for older kids and starts right near the visitor center (no shuttle needed). The reward is a viewpoint over the town of Springdale and the lower canyon.

Easy hikes away from the crowds

Most visitors never leave the main canyon, which means the Kolob Canyons section in the park's northwest corner stays quiet. The Timber Creek Overlook trail there is a short, easy walk to a big view, and a good option if the main shuttle scene feels like a theme park. The longer Taylor Creek Trail (toward the Double Arch Alcove) is more of a half-day outing but stays moderate, with stream crossings kids tend to love.

Logistics that make or break an easy day

• The shuttle is mandatory most of the year. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (where Riverside Walk, the Emerald Pools, and Weeping Rock all start) is closed to private cars in the busy season. Park in Springdale or at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and ride the free shuttle. Go early; midday lines are real.
• Heat is the actual danger. Summer temperatures regularly top 100°F. Even easy paved trails turn brutal at noon. Hike before 10 a.m., carry more water than you think you need, and bring real sun cover.
• Flash floods are seasonal. Monsoon storms from mid-July into September can send water through the canyons fast. It rarely affects the paved canyon walks, but never enter The Narrows or any slot when storms are forecast.
• Entrance is $35 per vehicle, good for seven days. The park is open every day of the year.

A quick word on dogs

Bring the dog only if you're planning around it. Zion, like most national parks, bans pets from nearly every trail, including all of the canyon hikes above. The one exception is the Pa'rus Trail, where leashed dogs are welcome. Otherwise dogs are limited to roads, parking areas, and campgrounds. If hiking with your dog is the point of the trip, this isn't the park for it.