ZION OVERLOOK TRAIL HAS AN AMAZING PANORAMIC VIEW
Living in Las Vegas has been interesting. The city has a lot to offer. From restaurants, hotels, bars, entertainment, you name it! Vegas has it all. The streets always packed with tourists, street entertainers trying to put on a show, and the occasional married couple stumbling around after getting hitched at a nearby chapel.
ESCAPE TO ZION
Sometimes, you just need to get away from the busy city life that it is in Vegas. Utah is a neighboring state that has a lot of natural beauty to explore. In about a two and a half-hour drive you can find yourself in Zion National Park.
The drive is almost a direct route by taking Interstate-15 North the majority of the way. You will drive through some small towns, but St. George is a place many visitors stay overnight when they go to Zion due to its proximity. St. George offers lodging, campgrounds, and plenty of trails. I definitely need to explore it more. I typically stay at Springdale.
Springdale is the small little town that is immediately outside Zion. It is a very pretty town that is oriented around the tourist industry. You can find restaurants, cafes, hotels, a supermarket, and Zion Microbrewery.
CANYON OVERLOOK TRAIL
There are many trails you can do at Zion. I first recommend the Canyon Overlook Trail. It is short, easy, and it finishes up with an amazing viewpoint that oversees Zion Canyon. It is perfect for all ages and its difficulty level is perfect for all experience levels of hikers.
FACTS ABOUT THE HIKE
- Distance: 1-mile round trip
- Difficulty: easy; Elevation Gain: 163 feet
- Length of Time: 1 hour
- Trailhead: East of the Carmel Tunnel
To get there you will need to drive the scenic route that winds past the visitor center and museum, and past some of Zion’s famous landmarks. The road has plenty of switchbacks that give you interesting viewpoints.
You will see the Great Arch on one of the switchbacks. On top of this arch is where you will end up and enjoy The Canyon Overlook viewpoint.
You will then go to the Mount Carmel Tunnel. Immediately as you exit you will encounter a small parking lot. Hopefully, you are lucky enough to get a parking spot because it is very limited. There is also an overflow parking lot that is on the left side as you drive a few meters down.
HIKING TO THE OVERLOOK VIEWPOINT
At the trailhead, you will immediately encounter steps and you will gain some elevation. The rest of the hike is relatively flat. You will find yourself against sandstone walls on one side while the other gives you views of the Pine Creek Narrows.
You will find some rails for safety in certain areas, which makes it a very comfortable hike.
There are some obstacles throughout the path but nothing difficult. If anything its keeps it interesting. As you go through the trail keep looking to the left. You will notice the carved out rock that shaped by the Pine Creek.
There is also a nice little cave where you can take a break. I was there in winter, but I could only imagine it being a nice cool place to get away from the sun during the hotter times of year.
As you continue on the narrow trail, you will eventually see the trail open it up to a more open space.
THE OVERLOOK
Once you reach the view point you will be standing on top of the Great Arch you saw on the way to the trailhead. You will be able to see the road that took you there. If you look to your left you will also see the tunnel windows that were carved out.
This area is is open to explore and to enjoy. There are many spots to sit down and take pictures. There is a rail for some safety but be mindful that you are sitting on a 1,000 foot high cliff. Getting too close to the edge can be disastrous.
CONCLUSION
The Canyon Overlook Trail goes through slabs of sandstone that have been carved out by streams. It ends with a beautiful view of the canyon where its patterns and colors can be appreciated along with the depth of the canyon that takes your breath away.
What was your first National Park?
