4 Hikes to Beat the Crowds in Zion National Park

These hikes in Zion National Park offer stunning views with fewer crowds.

Zion National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the country, which means it can start to feel very small during the busy season.

Crowd management has gotten a lot better since the park introduced the main valley shuttle system, but it can still feel a little overwhelming–especially during the summer.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of ways to find a little peace and quiet while visiting Zion.

We are just about as crowd-averse as you can get (an ill-effect of living in Los Angeles for so many years) so we compiled a list of places to explore in Zion to help you beat the crowds.

While there’s bound to be people wherever you go (especially if you hike the Narrows or Angels Landing!), these places will at least allow you to avoid the majority of the masses.

Jump to: Watchman Trail | Hidden Canyon | Kolob Canyon | Observation Point | Canyoneering

Watchman Trail

We were sitting at Zion Canyon Brew Pub enjoying a late afternoon beer when we realized the sun was starting to set.  Everyone in our group told us the best place to catch sunset was from Canyon Junction Bridge. We had already missed the last shuttle, so we quickly gathered up our things and booked it into the park on foot.

However, while speed walking we got turned around and found ourselves starting up Watchman Trail. There didn’t seem to be anyone else on the trail and we could see the sunlight hitting the east side of the canyon just above us, so we decided to chase after it. We quickly rose up into the hills and away from the hustle and bustle of the visitor center below. Steep and gravelly in a few sections, it was pleasant hiking in the cool afternoon air.

After about 1.5 miles we arrived at an overlook point that offered views to the south and west. While it didn’t bring us to the top of The Watchman, it did give us an excellent vantage point to see the last of the sunlight slipped over the cliff face.

At the top, we were joined by three other guys who had hiked up from the Watchman campground. But aside from that, we had the view all to ourselves. We fell into conversation with them between casually snapped photos of the sunset. After the sunset, we all walked down together in the dark.

While the iconic shot might have been down at the Canyon Junction bridge, we were happy with the company we had made up on the mountain. If you’re looking for a lesser traveled trail to catch sunset or sunrise – right next to the park entrance – then we’d definitely recommend the Watchman Trail.

For more information about the hike, including a trail map, check out Joe’s Guide to Zion National Park.

Hidden Canyon Trail

During our stay in Zion, everyone we met seemed to be transfixed with the idea of hiking Angel’s Landing. For those that don’t know, it’s one of the park’s most famous (infamous?) hikes, that takes visitors along a hair-raising ridge trail with steep, thousand-foot drop-offs on either side. When we arrived at the shuttle stop for the trailhead, nearly the entire bus piled off. Somehow the idea of jostling along a cliff’s edge with a busload of tourists didn’t sound all that appealing (especially to Michael – who is terrified of “other people” around heights) so we opted for a different, lesser-known hike: Hidden Canyon.

This hike begins at the Weeping Rock trailhead and ascends roughly 1000 feet from the main valley floor up to the entrance of a “hanging” slot canyon.  Along the way, the trail narrows so much that the park has installed chains to keep people from falling off. While the hike up was certainly an exhilarating experience, it wasn’t nearly as anxiety-inducing as if we had done Angel’s. That’s because we had the whole trail virtually to ourselves.

Stepping inside Hidden Canyon felt like entering a lost world. While we were definitely accompanied by a few fellow hikers, there was plenty of space for us all to spread out. The canyon extends back for a few miles, but the terrain gets increasingly difficult to traverse the further you go. We scrambled up rocks and crossed over fallen log “bridges” before we came to a sheer cliff wall neither of us felt comfortable climbing.

Being able to spend a few hours exploring this quiet, sleepy canyon was truly a unique experience. It’s such a beautiful place and we hope to return someday.

Taylor Creek Trail in Kolob Canyon

While Zion’s Main Canyon tends to get all the attention, few people know about the park’s other, less frequented entrance near Kolob Canyon. This section of the park cannot be accessed from the main canyon by road and has its own separate visitor center. Having seen all the infrastructure that has been built up in Zion’s main canyon, Kolob felt like a different park entirely. Quiet, laid back, and plenty of parking. This place was definitely more our speed.

A five mile scenic drive allows visitors to experience this section of the park, where narrow box canyons cut in the Colorado Plateau forming 2,000 foot cliffs. There are also a variety of hikes that start from this area including Camp Creek Trail, La Verkin Creek Trail, as well as Taylor Creek (South, Middle, North Forks).

We decided to do the middle fork of Taylor Creek. This fairly maintained trail leads visitors past a pair of historic cabins that were constructed back in the 1930’s – before the Kolob section was added to the park in 1956. Towards the end of the trail, hikers arrive at the Double Arch Alcove where the red sandstone is undercut and water seeps through. There isn’t a lot of elevation gain here, which makes perfect for a casual afternoon stroll.

For more information about this hike, including a trail map, check out Joe’s Guide to Zion National Park.

Observation Point (via East Mesa Trail)

Observation Point offers one of the most stunning views of Zion’s main canyon, however, getting there can be a bit of a challenge.

While it’s a strenuous 8 mile round trip with over 2,000 feet of elevation, it is still one of the more popular day hikes in the park. Getting to the trailhead at Weeping Rock requires a trip on the intra-park shuttle, which doesn’t start running until 7am most of the year (6am during the summer.)

That means even if you are the first person on the trail and hike incredibly fast, you’ll only get the view from the top to yourself for a few minutes before the waves of other hikers get there. However, we found a short cut.

You can actually access Observation Point via the East Mesa Trail. This is a short and flat 3 mile trail that leads through the pine forests and grassy meadows of the east mesa. The start of the trail is actually on the park’s far eastern boundary, which is bordered by BLM land. We camped out here the night previous and woke up at 3:30am in order to catch the sunrise from Observation Point.

We arrived at Observation Point in the pitch dark without seeing a single soul. Down in the valley below, we could see headlamps of hikers just starting the trail. In a few moments, the sun began to rise and the veil of darkness was lifted to reveal the canyon before us. It was a spectacular experience.

Using the East Mesa Trail to access Observation Point is a smart move if you want to catch an early sunrise or hang out late to watch the sunset. Anyone arriving from the valley below will be unable to get up there that early in the morning or will have to depart early in the afternoon to avoid hiking in the dark. So, you should have the place to yourself.

For more information about this hike, including a trail map, check out Joe’s Guide to Zion National Park.

Visiting Zion National Park — The Details

Zion National Park is open year-round, but the best time to visit is in the spring and fall, when the temperatures are milder and conditions are better suited for hiking.

The entry fee is $35 per car for 7 days, or entrance is included with a National Parks Annual Pass.

Bonus: Canyoneering near Zion

If you want to have a truly unique experience away from the crowds in Zion, book a canyoneering trip with the Zion Adventure Company! Small group sizes mean you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the canyons and trails in relative solitude (we only had two others on our trip!).

You can read all about our experience canyoneering in Zion here.

If you’re looking for other off the beaten path outdoor activities in the area, check out our post about outdoorsy things to do in St. George!