Seven Best Hikes in Zion & Bryce National Parks

Seven Best Hikes In Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks

By: Scott Turner

As winter’s chill transitions into spring’s mild temperatures and cool breezes, hikers begin to turn their eyes to Utah's premier landscapes: Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. For those considering a trip out to Zion and Bryce Canyon, consider this list of somewhat slightly lesser known routes (no Narrows or Angels Landing, here) as a primer to enjoy two of the most beautiful places in the United States without having to jostle for space with thousands of your best friends.

For more information on these and 33 other hikes in the Zion & Bryce Canyon area, be sure to check out my new guide, Hike the Parks: Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks.

1. DEERTRAP MOUNTAIN

The best hiking destination that almost nobody has ever heard of takes a significant amount of work to reach, but the effort is well-rewarded by the twin blessings of spectacular views and indelible solitude. Deertrap Mountain sits on the eastern rim of Zion Canyon about 2,500 feet directly above the Zion Lodge. The primary means of reaching Deertrap are the East Rim Trail from

Weeping Rock (currently closed) or the East Rim Trail from the East Entrance (too long). However, if you visit during the late spring, summer, and early fall, you can reach a remote trailhead near the Zion Ponderosa Ranch resort, from which you can enjoy a half-day hike across windswept mesas to the very rim of Zion Canyon.

The largest swaths of crowds visiting Bryce Canyon congregate between Sunrise Point and Bryce Point within Bryce Amphitheater. But what if you want to see hoodoos and sweeping views without jostling for a good spot at one of the amphitheater’s viewpoints? Consider the Fairyland Loop, which leaves the crowds behind to explore the hoodoo wilderness on the north end of Bryce Amphitheater.

Although none of the hoodoos here are quite as famous as those around the Navajo and Queens Garden Loop, save perhaps for the Tower Bridge formation, the isolation this hike provides gives you a taste of Bryce Canyon at its most peaceful. Plus, the views on the Rim Trail from Fairyland Point to Sunrise Point are as good as they get.

2. FAIRYLAND LOOP

3. KOLOB ARCH

The lightly-visited Kolob Canyons section of Zion offers some magnificent hiking that, at times, rivals the scenery within Zion Canyon itself. Case in point is the La Verkin Creek Trail to Kolob Arch route, which follows Timber Canyon past numerous finger canyons, before swinging to the east to reach one of the largest free-standing arches in the world. This full-day route can also double as a backpacking excursion nourished and serenaded by the consistent flow of La Verkin Creek.

4. PEEK-A-BOO LOOP

Bryce Canyon’s most impressive hoodoo gardens can be experienced close-up by following this whimsical and fantastical loop hike on the south end of Bryce Amphitheater. The stiff descent from Bryce Point proves the ancient hiking maxim, “what goes down must come back up,” and any hiker attempting this should be in good enough shape to complete a tough climb at the very end of the hike. However, the price of a steep climb will seem a pittance as you weave and wend through incredible formations such as the Wall of Windows, the Fairy Castle, and the Cathedral.

5. OBSERVATION POINT

Currently, access to Observation Point is a bit problematic given that a rock slide shut down the East Rim Trail from Weeping Rock. There’s an alternate route that’s a lot harder to get to (the East Mesa Trail). However, even if you can’t reach Observation Point, it’s wise to file this hike away in the mental Rolodex for future visits, since the views from this awe-inspiring route will blow you away. Observation Point rises about a thousand feet above Angels Landing, and it peers due south, straight down Zion Canyon and far beyond to the Mojave Desert, creating a scene that you won’t easily forget.

6. THE SUBWAY

Hey, Scott! What’s your favorite hike in Zion?

So glad you asked! There’s no finer hiking route anywhere in the park than the route up the Left Fork of North Creek to the Subway. The Subway, a convex slot canyon resembling a subway tunnel, is the highlight, but every inch of the trail up to that point proves that the destination really is the journey. You’ll experience countless waterfalls, fossilized dinosaur tracks, fall color, and countless geologic oddities as you make your way to the grand finale, which is an eminently popular spot for photographers. Please note that this hike requires a permit, the pursuit of which can be quite competitive during Zion’s peak season (May to October).