Hiking the Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park
Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
The Canyon Overlook Trail is one of the best hikes in Zion in terms of effort-to-reward.
The relatively short and flat trail leads out to one of the most amazing views of Pine Creek Canyon and the greater Zion Canyon to the west.
Canyon Overlook Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Canyon Overlook Trail is about as tight as parking can be. There are hardly any spots available, which is why I highly recommend hiking Canyon Overlook for sunrise.
These photos were taken at sunset to best show how challenging finding a parking spot can be.
Google Maps Directions: Canyon Overlook Trailhead
Illegal Parking for Canyon Overlook
Since parking is so hard to come by in these two small lots, many cars unfortunately resort to parking illegally.
Hiking Checklist - Zion
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Zion National Park.
Additional Off-Season Gear
Depending on the winter snowpack, the Canyon Overlook Trail can be covered in snow and ice well into March.
If you’re coming during the off-season (October - March), bring mico-spikes! I personally use the Yaktrax below.
Hiking the Canyon Overlook Trail
As I will a mention a few times throughout this post, Canyon Overlook is amazing as both a sunrise and sunset hike. You can see a few photos below of what the viewpoint looks like at both times of the day.
After the initial steps in the beginning, the Canyon Overlook Trail is a mostly flat hike as it winds across the beautiful sandstone out to the overlook.
It is not nearly as strenuous as hiking something like Angels Landing.
A few people I overheard said they felt uncomfortable on this small bridge.
If you’re afraid of heights, perhaps this trail isn’t for you. This is especially true when it comes to the overlook at the end.
This small section in the photo below on the right can be a bottleneck of hikers trying to pass in both directions.
Additionally, there are a few sections ahead where you cannot fall, or you risk seriously injuring yourself.
Pine Creek Canyon Overlook
This photo below was taken at sunset, and the following with the far canyon walls lit up was taken at sunrise.
Both times of the day are amazing to say in the least, but to avoid the crowds and find a legal parking spot, I think I like sunrise at Canyon Overlook more.
My Print - Pine Creek Canyon at Sunset
Crowds at Canyon Overlook
These photos below are exactly why I recommend Canyon Overlook for sunrise over sunset.
