Zion National Park

A 450-metre sandstone fin in the middle of the canyon, climbed via Walter's Wiggles and a final narrow ridge with fixed chains, on a lottery permit, for a view over the whole valley.

💡 A permit is required beyond Scout Lookout, allocated by lottery on recreation.gov: a seasonal lottery opening one to two months before each season, or a day-before lottery, open from 12.01am to 3pm. Allow $6 per application, about €5, for up to six people, plus $3 per person selected. Scout Lookout remains accessible without a permit. Price: on top of park entry, $35 per vehicle, about €30, and $100 per non-resident visitor aged 16 and over, about €86.

A plateau-edge viewpoint about 650 metres above the valley, looking down on Angels Landing, now reached by the flat East Mesa trail through ponderosa pines from the east of the park.

💡 The dirt roads leading to the East Mesa trailhead can only be driven in a high-clearance vehicle or 4x4, and become impassable in wet weather, in winter and spring, and the car park is small: paid private shuttles run there from the ranches east of the park. Bring three litres of water, as there is none on the plateau. Price: included in park entry.

The narrowest part of Zion Canyon, where the Virgin River fills the space between 300-metre walls and the river itself is the trail, waded upstream to Wall Street or Big Spring.

💡 The park closes the Narrows when the flow exceeds 150 cubic feet per second, often in spring during snowmelt, and at every flash flood warning: check the forecast in the morning at the visitor centre. Rent high-top shoes, neoprene socks and a walking stick in Springdale, as the water stays cold even in summer. Price: included in park entry, no permit needed as far as Big Spring.

Three tiered pools at the foot of the cliffs opposite Zion Lodge, fed by waterfalls from the plateau and framed by ferns and maples, on an easy loop of about 5 km.

💡 The waterfalls flow mainly in spring and after storms, and can shrink to a trickle in autumn. Swimming in the pools is forbidden. Start from the Zion Lodge stop and return via the Grotto for a loop without retracing your steps. Price: included in park entry.

A short 1.6 km round trip from the east end of the Zion-Mount Carmel tunnel, along carved steps and boardwalks to a promontory looking down over lower Zion Canyon.

💡 The car park has only a dozen spaces, east of the tunnel: come before 8am or at sunset, when the light falls on the canyon. A few passages run along the drop with just a simple handrail, so hold on to children. Price: included in park entry.

A quiet trail straight from the visitor centre, climbing to a terrace at the foot of the Watchman with views over Springdale and the Virgin Valley, best done towards sunset.

💡 Do it at the end of the day, finishing at the Canyon Junction bridge over the Virgin, where you can photograph the Watchman glowing red in the setting sun. There is no shade, so avoid it on summer afternoons. Price: included in park entry.

The 1930 road climbing from Zion Canyon by switchbacks and a 1.8 km tunnel with windows in the cliff, out onto a plateau of striped sandstone domes such as Checkerboard Mesa.

💡 Vehicles over 10.9 m long, 2.39 m wide or 3.45 m high, mirrors included, are banned from the whole road between Canyon Junction and the east entrance: check the dimensions before booking a camper van. Stop at the pull-outs after the tunnel, where bighorn sheep often cross. Price: included in park entry.

The park's quieter north-west section off the I-15, with an 8 km scenic drive between the red Finger Canyons and the Taylor Creek trail to the giant Double Arch Alcove.

💡 Do it on the way between Zion and Salt Lake City or Cedar City, as exit 40 off the I-15 leads straight there. The Timber Creek Overlook trail, 1.6 km there and back, offers the best view in the section at sunset. Price: included in park entry, the same ticket is valid for both sections.