Utah · Colorado Plateau · Est. 1919
Zion
National Park
Field Guide
A mile-deep canyon of Navajo sandstone cut by the Virgin River over thirteen million years. The walls change color through the day — pale cream at dawn, blood orange at noon, deep burgundy at dusk. Three ways to experience it fully. One narrow slot canyon almost no one enters.
Classic Experiences
01.
Temple of Sinawava · Shuttle Stop 9
Wade The Narrows
The Virgin River carved a slot through Navajo sandstone so narrow that in places you can touch both walls simultaneously. The bottom-up route begins at the Temple of Sinawava and wades upstream — no permit required for the first two miles to Wall Street, where the canyon pinches to its most dramatic. The walls rise 1,000 feet overhead; the river runs cold even in summer. Rent neoprene socks and a walking stick from outfitters in Springdale — the river bottom is slippery and unpredictable. Do not enter if flash flood watches are in effect.
02.
Zion Canyon · The Grotto · Shuttle Stop 6
Climb Angels Landing
One of the most famous hikes in the American West — and genuinely one of the most vertiginous. The trail climbs Walter's Wiggles, a series of 21 steep switchbacks cut directly into the cliff face, then emerges onto a spine-thin ridge with 1,200-foot drop-offs on both sides held by chains bolted into the rock. The final half mile to the summit is a controlled scramble with nothing between you and the canyon floor but nerve. A permit is required and allocated by seasonal and day-before lottery through Recreation.gov. Not suitable for those with a serious fear of heights.
03.
East Entrance · Zion–Mount Carmel Highway
The Canyon Overlook Trail
The most rewarding short hike in the park and the best-kept secret among the classic experiences. The trailhead sits just east of the Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel — drive yourself, no shuttle required. The one-mile round trip traverses a series of sandstone ledges above Pine Creek Canyon, with the final overlook delivering a full-length view of Zion Canyon from above: the Great White Throne, Angels Landing, and the canyon floor 1,000 feet below. Almost no one takes this trail because it requires driving the east entrance road. Sunrise here is exceptional — arrive before the main canyon crowds form and you'll have the overlook to yourself.
Little-Known Gem
Behunin Canyon — Zion's Forgotten Slot
Zion Canyon · Technical canyoneering · Wilderness permit · Full-day commitment
The Narrows gets hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. Behunin Canyon — a technical slot canyon descending directly into the heart of Zion Canyon from the east rim — sees a few hundred. It is one of the premier canyoneering routes in the American Southwest and almost no recreational visitor to the park knows it exists. The descent requires rappelling off three waterfalls — the tallest a 200-foot free-hanging drop into a cathedral chamber of Navajo sandstone stained with desert varnish — then a final wade through a deep, cold plunge pool before emerging onto the Zion Canyon floor near the Emerald Pools trailhead. The technical sections require a rope, anchoring experience, and a wilderness permit reserved through the park's canyoneering permit system. Most people who complete it describe it as the finest single day in the canyon. The canyon sees no casual foot traffic because it has no casual entry point — you either rappel in or you don't go.