Discover Zion National Park : A Self-Guided Tour

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Court of the Patriarchs

   Three massive sandstone peaks named Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — towering above the valley in formation like ancient sentinels. The viewpoint is a short walk from the shuttle stop, offering one of the first dramatic perspectives of Zion Canyon's layered red and cream Navajo Sandstone walls rising vertically from the green valley floor.

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2. Zion National Park

   The only lodging inside Zion Canyon — a historic lodge surrounded by towering canyon walls with emerald lawns and cottonwood trees lining the Virgin River. The lodge serves as a trailhead for the Emerald Pools trails and the Grotto, with views of the Great White Throne and Red Arch Mountain framing the valley.

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3. Angel's Landing

   The starting point for Zion's most legendary hike — Angels Landing, a 8.7-kilometer round trip ascending 453 meters via Walter's Wiggles (21 tight switchbacks) to a knife-edge ridge with chains bolted into the rock. The final half-mile along the narrow spine offers vertigo-inducing drops and views that rank among the best in any national park.

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4. A natural alcove where water seeps through 2,000 feet of Navajo Sandstone and emerges as a curtain of dripping springs, creating lush hanging gardens of ferns, columbine, and golden columbine clinging to the overhanging cliff face. The short paved trail to the alcove reveals the geology of Zion's permeable sandstone layers.

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5. A dramatic horseshoe bend in the Virgin River offering the best upward views of Angels Landing's knife-edge ridge and the Great White Throne — a massive 732-meter monolith of Navajo Sandstone that is one of the largest freestanding rock formations in the world, glowing white and gold in the afternoon light.

   90 minutes here

6. Temple of Sinawava Trail

   The end of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and the gateway to The Narrows — a natural amphitheatre where the canyon walls close in and the Virgin River emerges from the slot canyon ahead. The paved Riverside Walk follows the river upstream for 1.6 kilometers between towering walls draped with hanging gardens and seeping springs.

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7. The Narrows

   Zion's most iconic experience — wading upstream through the Virgin River between thousand-foot sandstone walls that narrow to just 6 meters in places. The sculpted canyon walls glow amber, crimson, and gold as sunlight filters down from above. Water depth varies from ankle to waist-deep depending on season and flow conditions.

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8. Canyon Overlook Trail

   A short but spectacular 1.6-kilometer trail starting at the east end of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel — climbing to a viewpoint overlooking Pine Creek Canyon and the switchbacks of the canyon floor far below. The trail passes through sandstone slots, over natural bridges, and along cliff edges to one of Zion's most rewarding views for minimal effort.

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9. Checkerboard Mesa

   A striking sandstone formation along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway — its surface etched with a distinctive crosshatch pattern created by the intersection of horizontal bedding planes and vertical stress fractures, weathered over millions of years into a natural checkerboard. One of the most photogenic geological features on the park's east side.

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10. Emerald Pools

    A series of three pools fed by waterfalls cascading over red sandstone ledges — the Lower Pool is reached by an easy paved trail, while the Middle and Upper Pools require progressively steeper climbs through a sandstone grotto with dripping overhangs. The pools glow emerald green from algae and reflected canyon light.

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11. Kolob Canyons

    Zion's hidden gem — a separate section of the park accessed from I-15, where towering red finger canyons carved by Timber and Taylor Creeks rival the main canyon in dramatic beauty with a fraction of the crowds. The 8-kilometer scenic drive ends at a viewpoint overlooking some of Zion's tallest sandstone walls.

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12. Watchman Trail

    A 5.2-kilometer trail climbing to a viewpoint overlooking Springdale, the Towers of the Virgin, and the Watchman — the distinctive peak guarding Zion's South Entrance. The trail is ideal at sunset when the canyon walls glow deep red, and offers a quieter alternative to the busier canyon trails with expansive desert and mountain panoramas.

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Where it starts and ends

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

en

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Every day

Group size

Up to 15 travelers per booking

Operated by

CloudGuide S.L

Know before you go

• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Photos