Hiking the Pa'rus Trail in Zion National Park
Distance (One Way): 1.6 miles / 2.6 km
The Pa'rus Trail in Zion National Park is a beautiful paved trail at the mouth of Zion Canyon that connects the Zion Visitor Center with Canyon Junction, the beginning of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
It is for this reason that the vast majority of those utilizing the Pa'rus Trail are bikers making their way to or from Zion Canyon Scenic Drive—but this is exactly why I think the Pa'rus Trail is one of the most underrated day hikes in Zion National Park!
I say this because nothing is more relaxing in Zion than slowing down for a beautiful, easy—and best of all, a flat hike—along the Virgin River, especially late in the evening, which you can learn more about below.
All that to say, there’s so much to love about the Pa'rus Trail, especially considering that most who visit the canyon overlook this seemingly insignificant connector trail on the way to all the other adventures farther up Zion and Pine Creek Canyon.
How to Rent Bikes in Zion National Park?
Bike rentals, and often e-bike rentals, can be found at a number of different locations in Springdale just outside of the park entrance, or you can book in advance and secure your reservation using the link below.
Riding bikes through Zion Canyon is without a doubt of the most popular things to do in Zion National Park, as it’s one of the most popular ways to enjoy Zion Canyon Scenic Drive without relying on the shuttle.
This is exactly why the Pa'rus Trail is such a popular bike trail in Zion National Park, as most who ride from the Zion Visitor Center to Canyon Junction continue farther to all the different stops and trailheads up Zion Canyon.
Pa'rus Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Pa'rus Trail is located at the Zion Visitor Center, the same parking area that visitors use to ride the shuttle up Zion Canyon.
This is exactly why the Zion Visitor Center is one of the most difficult places to find parking throughout most of the year in Zion National Park, as the lot typically fills completely by 7:30 a.m., with nearby parking spots filling shortly thereafter.
Google Maps Directions: Pa'rus Trailhead (Zion Visitor Center)
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 Pa'rus Trail
Walking to the Trailhead
Depending on exactly where you find parking, the Pa'rus Trail can begin from any number of different directions, but this is the most direct route to the start of the trail when walking away from the Zion Visitor Center toward Visitor Center Road.
Visitor Center Road
When the paved path leaving the Zion Visitor Center reaches Visitor Center Road, go left to cross over the Virgin River.
This is the same crosswalk that leads to the Watchman Trailhead on the far side of the road.
Read My Separate Post: Watchman Trail
Once at the second crosswalk, on the far side of the Virgin River, go right to cross the road.
South Pa'rus Trailhead
Once on the far side of Visitor Center Road, hikers and bikers will see a sign indicating the start of the Pa'rus Trail.
For about the first 0.5 miles (0.8 km), the Pa'rus Trail passes a number of different entrances that lead into the South Campground, the typically lesser-known campground near the Zion Visitor Center.
If you are interested in staying inside the park, reservations can be made using the link or secure booking widget below.
Book Here: South Campground
No information is collected by this website when using the Recreation.gov booking widget, and all reservations made here are secure through the official website.
What Does Pa'rus Mean?
The name "Pa'rus" comes from the Paiute word for "bubbling water." The Paiute people were the Indigenous Native Americans of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau region, with long-standing ties to Zion Canyon.
This is why the name is so fitting for the trail today, as the modern-day bike path follows the 'bubbling' Virgin River through the lower parts of Zion Canyon.
This is where the Pa'rus Trail passes the South Campground Amphitheater at the far northern of South Campground.
Do You See It?
Within the first 0.5 miles (0.8 km) of the South Pa'rus Trailhead, the bike path passes the best views of the elusive Crawford Arch, perched high on the cliffs above Zion Canyon!
That said, Crawford Arch is certainly not too difficult to spot from the beginning of the Pa'rus Trail, but the best views and the best place to capture photos of the arch are located along a seemingly unsuspecting stretch of the Watchman Trail, which you can learn all about in my separate article.
What is the Best Time of Day to Hike the Pa'rus Trail?
For beautiful photos, the best temperatures throughout most of the year, and hopefully a little less traffic in the park, the best time to hike the Pa'rus Trail is in the evening!
I say all this because the best light for photos is later in the day when hiking from south to north, and there is hardly any shade on the Pa'rus Trail, which is why it’s best to avoid the hottest midday hours.
This is why I like to think of the Pa'rus Trail as a beautiful evening walk just before heading out to dinner in Springdale or back to either campground near the visitor center for the night. However, if you’re just making it to Zion late in the day, the Pa'rus Trail is a great quick adventure to fit in within the last few hours before sunset, as parking is usually easier to find at the Zion Visitor Center come evening.
Either way, I truly don’t believe there is a better time of day to enjoy the hike, especially if you want to capture photos of the Crawford Arch!
Bridge 1
After 0.6 miles (1.0 km), the Pa'rus Trail reaches the first of five bridges over the Virgin River on the way to Canyon Junction.
If there’s one thing that should stand out more than anything else, it’s that there is hardly any shade on the Pa'rus Trail throughout much of the day, as the canyon walls are quite far apart compared to all the different day hikes off Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
This is why I highly recommend hiking or biking in a hooded sun shirt, as these pergolas are truly some of the very few places to find shade on the entire trail.
Bridge 2
The second bridge is the best mental checkpoint of the five, as it is located 0.8 miles (1.3 km) from each trailhead, or exactly halfway between the two.
Aside from the Crawford Arch, these middle stretches are where I think some of the best views and the best photos can be found!
Bridge 3
For those looking for a quiet place to enjoy the Virgin River, the third bridge is the best unmarked access point, in my opinion, and I say this because the National Park Service does mark a number of other access points along the Pa'rus Trail, which is why not many first-time hikers think to leave the trail here.
On top of biking, I think it should go without saying that the Pa'rus Trail is, without a doubt, one of the best places to trail run in Zion National Park!
If trail running is something you’re considering, I recommend using the shoes I have linked below, as they work well for both hiking and trail running on all the best adventures across Zion and the greater area!
Bridge 4
The fourth bridge is really nothing more than a mental checkpoint that the end of the Pa'rus Trail is not far ahead!
Bridge 5
This is the fifth and final bridge, and it’s a nice sign that Canyon Junction is just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away!
This is where the Pa'rus Trail passes under the Canyon Junction Bridge at the start of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
North Pa'rus Trailhead (Canyon Junction & Shuttle Stop 3)
After a very quick and easy 1.6 miles (2.6 km), the Pa'rus Trail reaches Canyon Junction, the North Pa'rus Trailhead, and Shuttle Stop 3.
That said, the Pa'rus Trail can easily be treated as a one-way hike by riding the free shuttle back to the Zion Visitor Center—even if you’re a biker—as bikes can be loaded onto the shuttle buses if there is space available.
