The 8 Best Views in Zion National Park

Located on State Route 9 in southwest Utah, only a little over an hour from Bryce Canyon and slightly less than 2 hours away from the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park is one of the most gorgeous national parks in the U.S.A. It is one of the top ten most visited national parks and one of only a few national parks to exceed more than 5 million visitors each year.

Over 145,000 acres wide, Zion National Park consists of two distinct areas: Zion Canyon, the most commonly visited area, and Kolob Canyons, a less-visited but just as beautiful section of the park located northwest of Zion Canyon. There’s lots to see and do in this park, but how do you know what you can’t miss? In this post, we’ll explore 8 of the best views in Zion National Park, such as:

1. Checkerboard Mesa
2. Angels Landing
3. Canyon Overlook Trail
4. Observation Point
5. The Narrows
6. Canyon Junction Bridge
7. Kolob Canyons Overlook
8. Horse Ranch Mountain (the highest point in Zion National Park)

Let’s take a closer look at these scenic spots.

The southern portion of the park and the largest chunk, Zion Canyon contains many of the iconic viewpoints the park is known for and some of the most easily accessed hikes.

Located directly inside of the park’s east entrance along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, Checkerboard Mesa is one of the first recognizable views at Zion National Park. Its name is drawn from its distinctive checkerboard pattern, caused by vertical and horizontal lines cross-bedded into the white sandstone.

See Checkerboard Mesa on our Bryce Canyon & Zion National Park Tour.

Angels Landing offers incredible panoramic views of Zion Canyon, and though it is one of the best views in Zion National Park, it is not for those with a fear of heights. This is classified as a strenuous hike—a class 3 on the Yosemite Decimal System—indicating that hikers should expect scrambling, necessary handholds, and the risk of a fatal fall. The view is worth it though, if you’re up for the challenge.

If you’re not up to the more strenuous hike of Angels Landing, consider the Canyon Overlook Trail. It boasts similar views of Zion Canyon and, at just one mile round trip and 100 feet of elevation, it’s also a much easier, shorter climb.

Conversely, if you are interested in a more challenging hike (with even more payoff), check out one of the most challenging hikes Zion has to offer: Observation Point actually overlooks Angels Landing.

The Narrows are a gorge carved by the Virgin River and, appropriately, the narrowest part of Zion Canyon. Standing at water level, you’ll look straight up at the gorge walls as they rise thousands of feet above you.

This area can be viewed from a paved, wheelchair accessible walkway (Riverside Walk). It’s also one the most popular hikes Zion National Park has to offer, but beyond Riverside Walk it can be strenuous and you have to be comfortable getting your feet wet. The trail unavoidably enters the Virgin River, which can have waist-deep water levels at certain times of year. Many people opt to hike this area in early fall—the water is still relatively warm and the water level drops a bit.

If hiking through waist-deep water doesn’t interest you, you can take in the Virgin River and the iconic Watchman summit from the Canyon Junction Bridge. To find this bridge, stop at the Zion Human History Museum, find the Pa’rus trail, and turn north.

Located in the northern area of the park, the Kolob Canyons are less busy than the more easily-accessed Zion Canyon, and may be closed during winter months due to snow or ice.

Reach the Kolob Canyons Overlook by driving up Kolob Canyons Road. From here, you can easily access Timber Creek Trail, a short, low-elevation hike the NPS describes as offering “spectacular views of the Kolob Canyons, the Kolob Terrace, and the Pine Valley Mountains.”

Horse Ranch Mountain is the highest point in Zion National Park, reaching 8,726 feet at its summit, and one of the most northerly parts of the park. It can be viewed best from the Taylor Creek Trail, a 3-4 hour round trip hike from the Kolob Canyons Overlook parking lot.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad view in Zion National Park. If you’re looking for the must-see spots, here are eight of the best views in Zion National Park to include in your itinerary:

1. Checkerboard Mesa
2. Angels Landing
3. Canyon Overlook Trail
4. Observation Point
5. The Narrows
6. Canyon Junction Bridge
7. Kolob Canyons Overlook
8. Horse Ranch Mountain

Visit beautiful Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks.