Hiking the Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park
Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
The Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park is one of the best effort-to-reward adventure of any day hike within Zion Canyon.
I say this because the relatively short and flat trail leads out to one of the most amazing viewpoints above Pine Creek Canyon and the greater Zion Canyon to the west.
On top of this, Canyon Overlook is one of the best all-around sunrise and sunset hikes in Zion National Park, with sunset being my personal favorite!
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Canyon Overlook Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Canyon Overlook Trail is about as tight as parking can be. There are hardly any spots available, which is why I highly recommend hiking Canyon Overlook for sunrise.
These photos were taken at sunset to best show how challenging finding a parking spot can be.
Google Maps Directions: Canyon Overlook Trailhead
Illegal Parking for Canyon Overlook
Since parking is so hard to come by in these two small lots, many cars unfortunately resort to parking illegally.
Hiking Checklist - Zion
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Zion National Park.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
Sun Shirt w/ Hood - A quality sun shirt can be your best friend on a trail with minimal shade, which can be found in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Additional Off-Season Gear
Depending on the winter snowpack, the Canyon Overlook Trail can be covered in snow and ice well into March.
If you’re coming during the off-season (October - March), bring mico-spikes! I personally use the Yaktrax below.
Hiking the Canyon Overlook Trail
As I will a mention a few times throughout this post, Canyon Overlook is amazing as both a sunrise and sunset hike. You can see a few photos below of what the viewpoint looks like at both times of the day.
After the initial steps in the beginning, the Canyon Overlook Trail is a mostly flat hike as it winds across the beautiful sandstone out to the overlook.
It is not nearly as strenuous as hiking something like Angels Landing.
A few people I overheard said they felt uncomfortable on this small bridge.
If you’re afraid of heights, perhaps this trail isn’t for you. This is especially true when it comes to the overlook at the end.
This small section in the photo below on the right can be a bottleneck of hikers trying to pass in both directions.
Additionally, there are a few sections ahead where you cannot fall, or you risk seriously injuring yourself.
Pine Creek Canyon Overlook
This photo below was taken at sunset, and the following with the far canyon walls lit up was taken at sunrise.
Both times of the day are amazing to say in the least, but to avoid the crowds and find a legal parking spot, I think I like sunrise at Canyon Overlook more.
My Print - Pine Creek Canyon at Sunset
Crowds at Canyon Overlook
These photos below are exactly why I recommend Canyon Overlook for sunrise over sunset.
More Zion Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Zion National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
Zion National Park is widely known for its extreme weather swings.
In the summer, the temperature in Zion will soar well above 100º F for weeks on end, while, on the contrary, the upper elevations of the park accumulate several feet of snow come winter.
Every year, this creates an interesting dynamic, as the snow melts during the day and freezes at night, resulting in extremely hazardous black ice conditions on many popular trails throughout the park, such as Angels Landing – trails where you cannot afford to fall.
To stay safe, always hike with 2-3 liters of water, try to avoid hiking midday during the hot summer months, and prepare for snowy/ icy conditions by bringing micro-spikes during the off-season months (October - March).
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official National Park website.
National Park Service: Zion National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
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