Zion National Park’s Secret Trails

Zion National Park. Saturday morning chill blows through the tiny gap in your car window. It whirls around the vehicle’s interior and invigorates the smell of a gas-station coffee. Everyone’s asleep. You secretly take a bite of a trail snack. It tastes mushy but sweet. The navigation lady announces you are moments from reaching your destination. The sun saturates the canyon with orange and green. A great day ahead.

Hi! Zion National Park has so many activities to offer. In the age of social media and all kinds of hiking apps (here’s a list of best hiking apps, just letting you know), the less known trails fall under the radar. I panned out some nuggets and dubbed them the Zion National Park’s secret (a.k.a. uncrowded or less popular) trails. Hope you’ll find them interesting!

Key Takeaways

• When to visit (or not): The number of visitors to Zion National Park peaks on Memorial Day, Easter, Labor Day, and Utah schools’ October break.
• Schedule an outdoor appointment in advance: Reserve wilderness permits for overnight stays online up to three months in advance. Walk-in permits are also available one day in advance at any of the park’s visitor centers. Cost ranges from $15-25, depending on the size of the adventuring party.
• Hey, isn’t that the– Hikers with a knack for botany may recognize Utah juniper, pinyon pine, and various cacti. Those who love watching Animal Planet could catch a glance of mule deer, bighorn sheep and even mountain lions. Bird enthusiasts might spot the peregrine falcon and the Mexican spotted owl. Hoo would have thought?

Canyon Overlook Trail

The Canyon Overlook Trail is the go-to choice of many outdoor enthusiasts looking for a short and sweet hike in Zion National Park with moderate elevation gain. If you’re heading up from Springdale, the trailhead is right on the other side of Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel, close to the parking lot. Most of the elevation gain is in the beginning, but after the initial climb, the rest of the hike is easy. 

The trail winds its way along the Pine Creek Canyon ridge, leading to a sweeping view of Zion Canyon, Bridge Mountain, Streaked Wall, East Temple, and the Great Arch of Zion. Make sure you have enough storage space on your camera or mobile storage, because the views are epic!

Canyon Overlook Trail - Info At-Glance

• Distance (out-and-back): 1.0 mi / 1.6 km
• Elevation Change: 163 ft / 50 m
• Parking: Yes, limited. 
• Pets: No.
• Caution: Long drop-offs, slippery steps.
• Toilets: Pit toilets at a parking lot east of the trailhead.

East Rim Trail

If you want to feel like you deserved all those post-hiking treats, then the challenging East Rim Trail is the one for you. The trail starts at the East Entrance of Zion National Park, and ascends about 1,000 feet to a mesa, then descends through Echo Canyon, concluding at Weeping Rock. During the descent, navigational rock cairns are there to guide you across slickrock areas. There is only one spot along the trail where water is accessible, so make sure you pack enough. For those planning to stay the night, obtaining wilderness permits is mandatory.

East Rim Trail - Info At-Glance

• Distance (point-to-point): 10.6 mi / 16.6 km
• Elevation Change: 1,463 ft / 446 m
• Parking: Yes, limited. 
• Pets: No.
• Caution: Rockfalls, flash floods, extremely limited water availability.
• Toilets: Pit toilets at a parking lot.

Cable Mountain

The historic Cable Mountain is a moderately challenging hike that will take you about 3 hours to complete, depending on the weather conditions. The trail begins at the Stave Spring Trailhead, and leads you through dense forest sections and open meadows, gradually ascending to the summit. The reward at the end are a panoramic view of Zion Canyon and the ruins of the historic cable works, which once transported timber down the canyon. If you’re looking to stay the night, make sure you have the wilderness permit.

Cable Mountain - Info At-Glance

• Distance (round trip): 8 mi / 12.9 km
• Elevation Change: 1,500 ft / 457 m
• Parking: Yes
• Pets: No, pets are not allowed on this trail within Zion National Park.
• Caution: Loose rocks, steep drop-offs, extremely limited water availability, muddy, poor trail construction due to the elements.
• Toilets: No.

Orderville Canyon

If you want to get tired from jumping, climbing, and mountaineering in general then Orderville Canyon is the hike for you. To reach the trailhead, you’ll have to travel 6.2 miles beyond the Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort on North Fork Road. This route involves navigating a dirt road suitable for 4WD vehicles. Alternatively, a shuttle service is available from Zion Adventure Company for a fee. The trail initially guides you to a ridge, from where, after about 2.75 miles, you'll descend into the canyon on its south side. 

This slot canyon adventure features several natural obstacles, including a 15-foot boulder, a 10-foot waterfall that requires rappelling, and numerous sections necessitating careful downclimbing. Don’t jump down the obstacles. That’s how most other hikers get seriously injured. Oh, and don’t enter the canyon when it’s raining because of the increased risk of flash floods. The adventure ends at the Temple of Sinawava, the final stop on the Zion Canyon shuttle route.

Orderville Canyon - Info At-Glance

• Distance (point-to-point): 12 mi / 19.3 km
• Elevation Change: 1610 ft / 491 m (variable, due to the canyoneering and rappelling involved
• Parking: Yes, at both the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and the Orderville Canyon trailhead (4WD recommended)
• Pets: No.
• Caution: Canyoneering and rappelling skills are essential; be prepared for natural obstacles and the risk of flash floods.
• Toilets: Yes, at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center; no facilities available at the trailhead or along the trail.

Clear Creek

Clear Creek is an easy hike with just a hint of danger. The trail starts at the same Canyon Overlook Trail parking area, near the Zion-Mt. Carmel bridge, and descends along the sandy and boulder-strewn bed of Clear Creek. Expect to see narrow cliffs, mountain goats and dark rock slot canyons along the way. With no defined termination point, the hike is as long as your sense of wonder. 

Clear Creek - Info At-Glance

• Distance (out-and-back): 2 miles / 3.21 km
• Elevation Change: 150 ft / 25 m
• Parking: Yes.
• Pets: No.
• Caution: Flash floods, unmarked trail, rugged terrain.
• Toilets: Pit toilets at a parking lot east of the trailhead.

Lodging

There are two superb lodging choices that provide unique experiences and comfortable accommodations amidst the park's breathtaking scenery.

Zion Mountain Ranch offers a western ranch experience with its selection of cabins and lodges. Families love this place since the kids can enjoy the farm animals at the ranch, and there’s even a roaming herd of buffalo. They also offer a guided horseback tour which is a great way to explore this section of Zion. Oh, and do yourself a favor and dine at Cordwood, the ranch's farm-to-table restaurant.They primarily use ingredients produced on the ranch and surrounding farms, offering a genuine - local - taste of Zion's east side.

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort is a Swiss-Army Knife of lodging. The resort sits on 4,000 acres at the edge of the national park, and on that land you’ll find a diverse range of accommodations including cabins, tents, wagons, RV parking, and vacation homes. You’ll have a chance to enjoy paintball, ATV riding, rock climbing, canyoneering, and horseback riding, while the Zion National Park is in the backdrop. There’s even a zip-line tour that provides a unique aerial view of the resort. Nice. Your culinary needs will be met at Ray’s Restaurant, where you and your family can enjoy hearty, home-style meals perfect for refueling after a day filled with outdoor activities.

For more info on where to hit the hay at Zion's east side, check out Zion National Park lodging options.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. The east side of Zion National Park continues to draw in more and more hiking enthusiasts around the country, offering a range of trails for various skill levels and personal preferences, including the “secret” ones. 

The air quotes are there in case the trails get popular over time and lose their, well, secrecy. 

Whether you’re looking for a casual stroll or an outdoor adventure that would deplete your electrolytes before you can say “I make my own homemade electrolyte powder”, Zion National Park truly has something to offer for every visitor.

Featured image provided by John Strother