Zion Canyon is a narrow gorge that curves gently for over eight miles next to monumental Navajo sandstone canyon walls. The early Mormon pioneers provided grandiose and sacred names for the landmarks of this heavenly space. The orange, pink, and cream stone temples and striped cliffs certainly inspire thoughts of majestic natural forces.

MUST SEES

The Narrows

Hike the Narrows, a path through the ice-cold Virgin River on slippery rocks. The water is waist high and the slot canyon has thousand-foot-tall walls only twenty feet apart. Explore the entire 16-mile round-trip route.

Angels Landing

Angels Landing is a narrow fin-shaped mountain rising to 5,790 feet. The ridgeline to the top is only three to 15 feet wide with 1,500-foot sheer drops on either side. Along this dangerous knife’s edge spine, there are chains to support your climb.

Emerald Pools

You can hike to the Lower, Middle, and Upper Pools. It’s a 1.2-mile round-trip to the Lower, 2 miles to the Lower and Middle, or 2.5 miles to all three. At the Upper Pool, there is a large pink cliff with zebra stripes from the trickling water.

Weeping Rock

At various times of the year, Weeping Rock sheds tears above an arched alcove. Hike 0.4 miles to the red sandstone wall. Ground water has seeped 2,000 feet through the sandstone, where it drips from a limestone deposit overhanging the wall.

Towers of the Virgin

The Virgin River cuts deeply through the colorful sandstone of the canyon. Stare long enough at the Court of the Patriarchs and the peaks resemble heads, named for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The Great White Throne

This monolith of white Navajo sandstone rises to 2,350 feet by Zion Canyon.

Temple of Sinawava

The Temple of Sinawava is the final stop of the shuttle. This natural amphitheater is in the middle of towering canyon walls. From here, the Riverside Walk is a mile to start of the Narrows.

Cathedral Mountain

The rectangular block summit is less than a mile west of Angel’s Landing. From the top of Angel’s Landing, you will have a great view of Cathedral Mountain.

Petroglyph Canyon

Zion’s “secret” canyon has petroglyphs from 1,000 years ago. The Anasazi carved over 150 figures, including human icons, spirals, and bighorn sheep.

Checkerboard Mesa

Checkerboard Mesa does like a checkerboard – a checkerboard that has melted under the sun. During freezing weather, the contraction and expansion of the sandstone formed the lines.

The Subway

The Subway looks like a tunnel hollowed through a stone canyon along a creek and pools. The 9-mile bottom-up hike is a strenuous off-trail route, which includes knee-deep wading and scrambling over boulders. You will need a wilderness permit via a lottery.

LOGISTICS

Shuttle

The shuttle connects the visitor center to eight stops on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The first shuttle leaves  at 7 am. It takes 2 hours and 45 minutes to reach the last stop. The last shuttle returns from the last stop at 7:15 pm.

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