Looking for the best easy hikes in Zion National Park?
If you’re looking for breathtaking views without the strenuous climb, you’ve come to the right place. Our guide to the best easy hikes in Zion is perfect for families, casual walkers, and anyone who wants to soak in the park’s beauty at a leisurely pace.
Zion National Park, one of the most visited parks of the Mighty 5, might have something perfect for you if you want short hikes with great rewards.
In fact, we visited Zion National with our kids (when they were still toddlers) and did a few different hikes.
Let’s see those seven best short hikes in Zion National Park.
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Best Easy Hikes in Zion National Park (RECAP)
From the gentle flows of the Virgin River to the majestic overlooks that offer panoramic views, Zion’s easy trails are packed with wonders. Stroll on the Riverside Walk, feel the mist of the Weeping Rock, or explore the peaceful path of the Grotto Trail. Each trail offers its unique slice of Zion’s natural splendor without the need for climbing gear or a fitness coach.
1. The Narrows Riverside Walk Trail
🥾 Riverside Walk Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 3.1 km (2 miles) Round Trip
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 59 m (Nearly flat)
Best Time to Go: Year-round, as the paths are mostly flat and paved.
The Riverside Walk is a peaceful and easy trail that’s perfect for all ages. It’s a leisurely stroll along the Virgin River, with some shade from the trees. You’ll walk on a smooth, well-kept path that’s good for strollers and wheelchairs.
As you go, you’ll see the river flowing next to the path, with high cliffs. There are places to sit and enjoy the view, and you might even see squirrels. But please don’t feed them. When we visited, there was one big squirrel clearly waiting for people to give him food.
At the end of the path, you’ll find the beginning of The Narrows, another famous hike in Zion. The Riverside Walk is the last stop on the Zion shuttle, “The Temple of Sinawava“, which makes it easy to get to.
2. Emerald Pools
🥾 Emerald Pools Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: up to 3 miles (4.8 km) loop trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 620 feet (139 m)
Best time to visit: In the spring, before the summer crush of tourists, to see wildflowers and see the waterfalls full and active.
Emerald Pools trail at Zion National Park is a great easy hike in Zion National Park to visit with kids.
This is a beautiful and varied hike with some elevation gain from the valley floor to amazing views from above. You’ll find a collection of pools and waterfalls you can walk behind:
- Lower Pool: Easy to reach, only 1.2 miles round trip
- Middle Pool: More difficult, 2 miles round trip
- Upper Pool: Strenuous, 3 miles round trip
But you’ll find stunning vista points to discover along the way.
You can take the start of the hike from the Zion Lodge or from the Grotto picnic area. These are two stops along the way with the bus shuttles you can do from the trailhead going in either direction.
When we visited with our kids, we went to the Lower and Middle Pools. We didn’t venture to the Upper Pool.
Although this can be a challenging hike with kids, depending on the age group, you can easily take your time and make as many stops as needed. You don’t even have to go past the Lower Pool.
For kids over 8 years old, this is doable to the Upper Pool. It’s a fun experience to see varied terrain, great views, springtime wildflowers, and gorgeous waterfalls along the way.
Recommended by Noel from Visit Spain and Mediterranean
3. Scout Lookout
🥾 Scout Lookout Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 3.6 miles (5.7 km) out-and-back
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation gain: 1,115 feet (339 m)
Best Time to Go: Shoulder seasons of spring (March through April) and fall (October and November)
Scout Lookout is a short but challenging trail. However, it’s definitely worth the effort. It provides extremely similar views down the Zion Canyon as the not-kid-friendly Angel’s Landing Trail.
In fact, it’s the trail you’d take all the way up before crossing the narrow spine of a mountain that leads to Angel’s Landing! Plus, you don’t need a permit to do this hike.
Unlike some of Zion’s most iconic hikes, like Angel’s Landing or the Narrows, there isn’t anything technically challenging about Scout Lookout. The trail simply has some steep elevation gain.
While the trail is likely too challenging for toddlers, it’s accessible for kids who can walk several miles independently. You may just need to take intermittent breaks with them—but thankfully, you’ll have plenty of dazzling views to take in while you rest.
At the top of the hike, you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views in Zion National Park, including the red walls and vibrant greenery of the Zion Canyon.
💡 PRO-TIP: Be sure to watch little ones along the cliff edge. There are steep drop-offs to the canyon floor, some 1,000 feet below.
4. Canyon Overlook Trail
🥾 Canyon Overlook Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 1 mile (1.6 km) out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 187 feet
Best Time to Go: Fall, due to mild weather. Best after the late-summer monsoon season.
The Canyon Overlook trail is one of the best short and easy hikes in Zion National Park to a high payoff. Hikers here will get a commanding view over Zion Canyon, one that is different from many of the other viewpoints as well.
The trail, located in east Zion, takes visitors along a short trail with views along the hike and the end viewpoint. The trail is great for families in that any highly exposed areas are fenced, which improves the safety and ease for those on the hike.
Additionally, the elevation gain is early in the hike and features mostly stairs and a relatively smooth trail.
The hardest issue for the hike is likely the parking. The trailhead is located on the east side of the Zion-Mount Carmel tunnel, with limited parking spots in this area. There are two parking lots, one going east and one going west, as well as several spots along the roadway as well.
Thankfully, the short hike means that spots see a regular turnover.
5. Archeology Trail
🥾 Archeology Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance:0.4 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 24 m
Best Time to Go: March through October
If you’re looking for one of the best kid-friendly hikes in Zion National Park, then try the Archeology Trail. After all, this amazing day hike in Zion is located near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
So, get off at the Visitor Center shuttle stop and enjoy this quick 30-minute hike with the family. It’s perfect for young kids since the trek is short and easy. You’ll also find plenty of water stations and bathrooms at the visitor center that you can use before taking a quick hike up a hill to admire an ancient Puebloan food storage facility.
Just be aware that the ruins on the trail are limited and that there is no shade here. However, from the top, you can take in sweeping views of Watchman Campground and read a small informational placard about the area’s history.
Then, if you’re kids are really into history, check out some incredible artifacts at the Zion Human History Museum.
PRO-TIP: Just leave your dog at home since dogs are not allowed here.
6. Grotto Trail
🥾 Grotto Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 1 mile (1.6 km) out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: Very little
Best Time to Go: Anytime, it’s a quick and easy walk.
The Grotto Trail is a simple and enjoyable path for the whole family. It’s a flat walk that connects the Zion Lodge to the Grotto picnic area, making it an excellent way to stretch your legs and enjoy the outdoors without a tough hike.
As you walk this trail, you’ll be surrounded by beautiful views of Zion’s famous rock formations. It’s not a long trail, so you won’t need to pack much gear—just some water and maybe a snack.
This trail is also a good choice if you want to connect to other trails like Kayenta or the West Rim Trail. Plus, it’s an excellent spot to see climbers as they start their ascent up the rock faces.
7. BONUS: The Narrows
🥾 The Narrows Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 8.9 miles (14.3 km) out-and-back
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation Gain: 725 (221 m), but wading through water
Best Time to Go: Late spring to fall, when the water levels are lower and temperatures are warmer.
Note that The Narrows trail (Botton-Up to Big Spring) doesn’t require a Wilderness Permit.
The Narrows is a unique hike where you walk in the Virgin River through a deep canyon. It’s one of the coolest hikes because you get to splash and wade through water while tall cliffs rise on both sides of you.
PRO-TIP for families: This hike can be as short or as long as you like since you turn around whenever you’re ready.
For families, it’s fun because kids love playing in water. The start of the hike is easy to get to, right at the end of the Riverside Walk. Remember, you’ll be walking in water, so wear shoes that can get wet and bring a stick to help you balance.
The biggest thing to think about for The Narrows is the water. After heavy rain, the river can get high and fast, which isn’t safe. Always check the weather and talk to the park rangers before you go.
F.A.Q Best Short and Easy Hikes in Zion
Is the Narrows an easy hike?
No. Technically, the Narrows isn’t an easy hike. It’s considered hard on AllTrails due to its length (almost 9 miles). But, it’s possible to do a small part of the hike to experience walking on the Virgin River in the canyon and turn around after a few miles only.
What is the easiest hike in Zion?
One of the easiest hikes in Zion would be the Lower Emerald Pool trail or the Riverside Walk.
Final Thoughts: Best Easy Hikes in Zion
And that’s it! These walks are perfect for families and anyone who wants to see beautiful places without a tough hike. You can stroll by rivers, see waterfalls, and look out over big canyons.
Every trail had something special, and none of them are too hard. You won’t need any special gear (unless on the Narrows), just our feet and a sense of fun. And we made lots of memories without going too far or too high.
Remember, you don’t have to climb mountains to have an adventure. Zion’s easy hikes prove that the best parts of nature are for everyone to enjoy.
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