Hiking the Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park
Distance: 1.0 miles / 1.6 km
The Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park is a very short out-and-back hike that leads to a stunning, dramatic west-facing viewpoint above Pine Creek Canyon and Zion Canyon beyond!
In my opinion, the Canyon Overlook Trail is one of the best effort-to-reward adventures of any day hike in Zion Canyon, and I believe this because the relatively short and flat trail is fairly easy and leads out to what is arguably one of the best sunrise and sunset spots across Zion National Park!
However, this all goes without saying that the Canyon Overlook Trail is also one of the most popular day hikes in Zion National Park, which is why I highly recommend reading my thoughts in regards to parking and hiking for sunrise and sunset in order to best plan your adventure before setting out!
My Print - Pine Creek Canyon (Sunset)
Canyon Overlook Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Canyon Overlook Trail is about as limited and challenging as it gets in Zion National Park.
This is because the very popular Canyon Overlook Trailhead is located directly off the narrow and windy Zion–Mount Carmel Highway, which simply means the landscape is far too dramatic to build suitable parking areas, apart from the two small lots shown below.
Outside of these two small parking lots, hikers are left with only a few very small roadside pull-offs, many of which have become illegal to use because visitors commonly block traffic by not fully pulling off the road.
This is all to say that parking for the Canyon Overlook Trail often fills up as soon as the sun comes up and remains competitive until after sunset, meaning the best opportunity to find parking usually comes down to getting lucky when a car leaves—not to mention, the larger parking lot on the west side of the tunnel can only be accessed immediately after exiting the tunnel, as the National Park Service has placed barriers to prevent visitors from making left-hand turns into the very small lot.
Google Maps Directions: Canyon Overlook Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Zion
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Zion National Park.
Hiking the Canyon Overlook Trail
The Canyon Overlook Trail begins directly adjacent to the west side of the Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel.
That said, traffic from the tunnel, the very limited parking available, and the popularity of the Canyon Overlook Trail all contribute to making this trailhead one of the most congested areas in Zion National Park!
This is why it’s important to be patient and arrive early, knowing that parking and walking to the trailhead may take a while—especially if you plan to catch the sunset from the viewpoint at the end!
The Canyon Overlook Trail begins with a steep climb up a few sets of steps before it eventually levels off for much of the remaining hike to the overlook at the end.
This is the top of the initial steep ascent, and from this point on, the elevation changes for the rest of the hike are much more gradual than the very beginning.
Apart from this short section and one more alcove just ahead, there are very few places to find shade on the Canyon Overlook Trail throughout much of the day.
This is why I highly recommend wearing a hooded sun shirt, unless you plan to hike the Canyon Overlook Trail at sunrise or sunset when the shadows are much longer.
The shade under the first overhang truly doesn’t last long!
This is the view looking down Pine Creek Canyon, which becomes significantly more dramatic by the end of the hike!
Often, many hikers have to duck on this bridge because the ceiling is much lower than it may appear.
This alcove is the second and final short section on the Canyon Overlook Trail where hikers can consistently find shade throughout much of the day.
After the alcove, the Canyon Overlook Trail simply winds its way along the cliffs to the overlook at the end, about 0.25 miles (0.4 km) from this point.
This beautiful flower is known as Sego Lily, and it is the Utah state flower!
Just before the Canyon Overlook Trail reaches the viewpoint at the end, the trail traverses a few fairly narrow sections with somewhat steep drops on the left-hand side of the path.
That said, these photos may make it seem like the drops aren’t that significant, but in a few areas, a fall could certainly result in a more serious injury.
This is why some hikers may want to use trekking poles on the short Canyon Overlook Trail, even though only the very beginning has any significant elevation change.
This is the end of the steep drops that parallel the left-hand side of the trail.
Pine Creek Canyon Overlook (Warning)
This is the Pine Creek Canyon Overlook and the end of the Canyon Overlook Trail.
Something to keep in mind is that the overlook in the photo below is the only area above Pine Creek Canyon that is behind a fence, meaning that the vast majority of the viewpoint is unfenced and very exposed!
I mention this because, unfortunately, many hikers have taken fatal falls from the end of the Canyon Overlook Trail in years past, which abruptly drops hundreds of feet into Pine Creek Canyon below.
Is the Canyon Overlook Trail Better for Sunrise or Sunset?
The answer to this question is certainly a good debate because there is a balance between the trail’s popularity and what is more beautiful.
First and foremost, both sunrise and sunset are very beautiful from the Pine Creek Canyon Overlook at the end of the trail. The photo below was taken at sunrise, which is no doubt very stunning as first light hits the tops of the peaks across Zion Canyon early in the morning!
However, sunset offers a more direct view of the sun going down, which is when the photos at the beginning of this article were taken.
That said, sunrise is without a doubt the best time to enjoy the Canyon Overlook Trail without the crowds because, even within an hour of the sun coming up, the parking lots typically fill fast, which often remains the case throughout the day.
This is why, apart from sunrise, the crowds are largely unavoidable on the Canyon Overlook Trail, and it’s what makes finding parking so challenging throughout the day.
With all this in mind, my overall preference leans toward sunset, which simply comes down to the fact that I think it’s more beautiful than sunrise.
