Zion Canyon Overlook Trail | Shortest Hike in Zion National Park | Epic View of Pine Creek Canyon

When visiting Zion National Park in Southwest Utah, we found the shortest hike with breathtaking views. We traveled through the town of Springdale and entered the Park’s South entrance. Within the park, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive traverses the bottom of Zion Canyon and is only accessible by shuttle. For this hike, however, we drove our car down the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway Route 9 that zig-zags up the canyon and passes through a fabulous tunnel before taking us to the Canyon Overlook Trailhead.
CONTENTS
0:00 Intro Teaser
0:41 Map & Overview
1:30 Mt Carmel Tunnel
2:50 Trailhead
4:25 Viewpoint
5:18 Heading Back
While the shuttle system is ideal for accessing much of the heavily trafficked sites within Zion, driving a car is necessary for access to the Canyon Overlook. But in doing so, you get a chance to experience the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, an engineering marvel that was completed in 1930 and digs through the canyon wall for over a mile - the longest tunnel in the U.S. at the time. Due to their inability to stay within the designated lanes, large vehicles require a $15 fee and permit to navigate the tunnel without oncoming traffic. There are several places where overlooks pierce through the tunnel walls, but there is no stopping or turning around within the tunnel.
There is very limited parking at the trailhead, but designated parking along the road is available up the highway. You can arrive early to avoid the crowds, but due to the brevity of the hike, you can also arrive late afternoon as many folks are leaving the area. This is a short hike with a rocky, uneven dirt trail. From the viewpoint, you will see Pine Creek Canyon, including highway switchbacks, Bridge Mountain (the highest peak on the left), the East Temple on the right, and, if you look carefully, the “windows” of the tunnel peeking through the cliff. It’s a true Zion must-see.

[@BucyTV]

Gorgeous

[@criscale3667]

Thanks so much!