Challenge yourself with 3 days of Zion NP

3 day itinerary

A truly special park nestled in the corner of Utah, the Virgin River has spent thousands of years carving a stunning canyon which really has to be seen to be believed. It's a little bit of a wonder as to why it hasn't been in the top 5 most popular parks in the USA for longer! Spend three days here to quickly see what makes it so amazing - one of our favourites of the entire National Park System.

---

Our website relies on donations and affiliate links. If you click a link taking you to another website, and make a purchase, we may gain a small commission - at absolutely no cost to you. This helps us expand the website, so we can continue doing what we love!

---

Day 1

Arrive mid-morning to lunchtime and grab your choice of breakfast or brunch on your way. As the day heats up, you'll be pleased to cool down in the refreshing water of the Virgin River as you tackle The Narrows. The first half of an iconic duo of Zion hikes, hire some gear from Zion Outfitters so you can maximise your experience within the walls of the canyon that tower up to 1000 ft above you! Make sure to check the weather before hiking into The Narrows as storms even far from the park can quickly lead to dangerous flash floods. Park Rangers are also great at advising about the weather to ensure a safe adventure too. Catch the shuttle bus to the Temple of Sinawava and walk alongside the river until the trail merges with it.

Day hikers can go as far as Big Spring, 4.7 miles into the canyon, before a permit is required. At times you might hike with water above the waist as you criss-cross the river, so the hike takes much longer than planned! This is especially true when heading upstream, as the current can be very strong in some places!

Make it out before sunset so you can head to The Watchman trail if you have any energy left! From here, you can see sunset from a couple of good vantage points, either from close to the Virgin River, or the Watchman Overlook, capping off an amazing first day in Zion!

---

Day 2

With intense hikes on day 1 and 3 sandwiching today, take it a little easier with some shorter excursions and a bit of driving to some lesser visited areas of Zion National Park. Saying that, some adventurous canyoneering in East Zion and its surrounding area is our pick to start the day! There are 2-hour & 4-hour options, both of which will challenge you whilst still being suitable for beginners too!

For the afternoon, transfer your attention to Kolob Canyons. This more isolated segment of the park is famed for its long arches and soaring Navajo sandstone peaks. Enjoy the short 5 mile scenic drive which concludes with Kolob Canyons Viewpoint and Timber Creek Overlook Trail, at just over 1 mile round-trip out-and-back. This area offers awesome views of the national park which are very different to what you see in Zion Canyon. And on the clearest of clear days, you might just see Mount Trumbull to the far south, a whopping 100 miles away at the north rim of the Grand Canyon!

If you fancy a longer hike in this area, then take on the 5 mile round-trip Taylor Creek Trail, following the water of Middle Fork, plus some crossings of Taylor Creek itself. Remain in Kolob Canyons for sunset or head back to Springdale on the edge of Zion Canyon for a deserved dinner. Oscar's Cafe serves hearty Mexican food which really hits the spot in the desert of the US southwest!

---

Day 3

Get up before sunrise, put on your head torches, and venture onto the trail for an exhilarating hike that will get the blood and adrenaline pumping early! Make sure you get a permit for this hike before arriving, so you can get excited for one of our favourite hikes in the country!

Angels Landing starts with a relatively gentle set of switchbacks, before curving around the rock face where you get your first good view of Zion Canyon as the sun starts to rise. This is followed by a much steeper set of relentless switchbacks, Walter's Wiggles, which will really make the legs burn!

The reward however, is Scout Lookout, with the unique chain section of this amazing hike laid out ahead of you. It's almost inconceivable to think you can reach the summit from this point, but the experience is worthy of any bucket list. Scramble and climb with the chains as you manoeuvre through gaps between the rock, all while being perilously close to the edge! The view of the canyon is mesmerising once you summit! Enjoy your snacks after reaching the top, but be sure not to give any to the numerous chipmunks which reside at this grandest of viewpoints!

Take your time on your way back down as you pass with hikers still ascending - one of the benefits in starting early is you get a much cleaner and enjoyable run to the top! But if this last section of the hike isn't for you, that's okay! Wait it out at Scout Lookout, which still offers a good view of the canyon!

If you have any more desire to hike today, then a simpler trail to Emerald Pools is available from Zion Lodge shuttle stop. There are three pools to choose from, lower, middle and - you've guessed it - upper! Lower is just 1.2 miles round-trip if you want a very simple hike, but a quick visit to all three is possible in a 2.5-mile loop.

Or if you want someone else to do the exploring for you, then end your visit on horseback back in East Zion for a short forty minute ride - with a small exploratory session by foot of another of the slot canyons that characterise this part of Utah. However you spend your time in Zion, you will be sure that it's a national park experience you will always remember!

If you can, extend your stay in this amazing park for 3 days to see it all! Or, visit Zion as part of a road trip around all 5 of Utah's special national parks! We can also set you up with a custom itinerary - imagine seeing Zion, Grand Canyon and Monument Valley all in one trip for example!