Overview

Hype:

The Canyon Overlook Trail is a short, 1.0-mile round trip hike in Zion National Park. The trail begins at the east end of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel and ends on top of the Great Arch.

Trail Condition: Class 2 (Trail may have tree roots or rocks jutting out. Navigation skills may consist of following rock cairns and choosing turns at junctions. Elevation gains may be more substantial.)

Time: 20-30 minutes

Length: 1 mile round trip

Elevation Gain: 163 ft

Fees: Entrance fee

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Features:

National Register of Historic Places
No Drinking Water
Mountains
Marked Trails
No Restrooms
Road Access is Paved
Access Road is 2WD Accessible
Viewpoint, Overlooks, Vistas
Hiking Trails
Wildflowers and Vegitation
Wildlife and Birding

Getting There

Navigate to 37.213413, -112.940697.

Route

The trail crosses slickrock slabs of the high desert, a scene of pinyon pine and juniper, prickly peark, and yucca. Here the only plants and animals that thrive, like lizzards and bighorn sheep, have adapted to hot and dry.

The hike is also an exercise in scale. There are hints of canyon-carving along the way, but nothing prepares you for the vast space that falls away below your feet at the overlook. At the overlook, a thousand feet above Zion Canyon floor, you can see patterns that were not evident before: the greener world along the river and the sheer volume of canyon the streams have excavated.

The overlook at the end of hte trail looks across at a panorama of classic Zion cliffs and sandstone towers.

Warning: This rocky, uneven trail is not for anyone fearful of heights, although most dropoffs are fenced.

The vast space below was eroded away by the Virgin River and its sidestreams. If you stood here just after a storm, the flash flood roaring through Pine Creek Canyon would be a clue to the erosive, boulder-tossing power that gouged out this scenery.

Maps

Closest City or Region: Zion National Park, Utah

Coordinates: 37.213073, -112.945789

Interactive Guide Map

Download Guide Map

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December 5, 2015 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye, Savannah Dye, Madilyn Dye, Melissa Kirkham, Kylie Kirkham, Kate Kirkham, Leah Kirkham,

Story

We went down to Zion with the Kirkhams to take family pictures for them. After taking pictures along the Riverside Walk, we did a quick hike out to the Canyon Overlook. Jacob was being a stink, so Shaun stayed back with him.

Tara went into labor the next day after we were home.

Pictures

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June 22, 2012 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye,

Story

I went down to Zion a day early for our Hidden Canyon canyoneering trip. I hadn't ever hiked out to the overlook, so I gave it a try. It was really short and easy, I think I made it to the overlook in 12 minutes, but it was still a fun hike.

Pictures

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Trip Reports

Overview

Getting There

Route

Maps

Interactive Guide Map

December 5, 2015 Trip Report

Trip Members

Story

Pictures

June 22, 2012 Trip Report

Trip Members

Story

Pictures

Things to do in Zion National Park

Camp Sites:

Canyoneering:

Fun Places:

Hiking:

Indoors:

Things to do in St George Utah Region

Camp Sites:

Canyoneering:

Caving:

Fun Places:

Hiking:

Indoors:

Rock Climbing:

Rock Hounding: