You can drive through most of Zion and still walk away with a satisfying day of sightseeing accomplished—even if you don’t get out of your car once.
The two major scenic drives in Zion National Park are Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway offer two completely different experiences, sights, and hiking trails to explore. Let us help you figure out which scenic drive is worth your time.
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
The road that takes you to the most prominent hikes is the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Here you’ll drive along the riverside and along cliffsides to get pictures of beautiful Zion canyon from the base of the impressive mountains.
It’s an out and back road, and you’ll be driving on the same road as the shuttle, but it’ll give you an afternoon of fun and has plenty of parking at the many excellent hiking trails along the way.
Things to Do and See
Court of the Patriarchs
One of the earliest stops you’ll be able to make is called the Court of the Patriarchs. This short 10-minute experience requires a short tenth-mile hike, but pretty much anyone can do it. Once you get to the end of the trail, you’ll get an excellent view of the four main mountains (referred to as patriarchs) of Zion.
It’s a wonderful view and a must-do.
Emerald Pools
Discover green water in the red-rock canyons of Zion. The Emerald Pools Trail guides you toward three different “pools” each with their own highlights. It’s a challenging and rewarding trail for all ages.
Angels Landing Trail
We’ve talked about Angel’s Landing already in our full-fledged guide for it. If you are interested in this hike, we recommend you check that out.
The Narrows / Riverside Walk
The very end of the scenic drive, the Riverside Walk eventually leads to The Narrows, one of the most iconic hikes in Zion. While you can only go in with a Canyoneering Permit, the Riverside Walk will show off the river, the Temple of Sinawava, and some of the fascinating cliffsides Zion is known for.
Should I take the Zion shuttle system or just drive?
The Zion Shuttle system is one of the most impressive and convenient aspects of the Zion Canyon trail. While you can drive it yourself, if your travel party would rather all experience the trail together without saddling one with the steering wheel, you can rely on the bus drivers to do it for you!
We usually recommend the shuttle, as it saves gas, is less of a headache, and still gives you the same freedom as a car ride.
Zion-Mount Carmel Highway
Once you enter the park, you’ll see an option to keep going straight (which will take you on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive), or take a right. Beelining right will take you on a journey above the Valley of Zion, through a man-made tunnel carved into the mountain, and around amazing sights hidden away from the guests sticking to the Zion Canyon area.
Things to Do and See
The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel
Once you ascend the switchbacks, you’ll spend about a minute driving through a dark, man-made tunnel carved into the Zion mountains. It’s a fun place to drive, and at night the tunnel is fully-lit. As you exit the tunnel, look to your right for a stunning picture opportunity.
Canyon Overlook
This drive doesn’t have nearly as many hikes as the Zion Canyon, but the one that it does is long, challenging, and breathtaking. Canyon Overlook is around 7 miles long, and will take you high above Angel’s Landing, the Narrows, and any other hike in the park. The best part? No canyoneering permit necessary.
While the trail is largely uphill and exhausting, so long as you bring the right equipment and preparations you should be fine.
Checkerboard Mesa Canyon
This large mountain has a carved checkerboard pattern etched into its side. It’s a tremendous sight and is worth pulling over for some pictures if you can find the room.
Is the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway scary?
We’re not going to sugarcoat it, the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway drive is beautiful and absolutely worth doing, but it can be a little scary—especially if you’ve never driven up switchbacks before. We’ve personally seen mountain goats may climb on the precarious cliffside along the road, occasionally falling onto the road, but this is very rare.
You should be fine so long as you drive cautiously and remain vigilant throughout the ride. Once you drive through the tunnel the drive gets much curvier, but overall feels safer.
Book a Stay at Gateway Luxury RV Resort
Want to enjoy a relaxing day after the amount of driving you’ll do at Zion? Come stay at the Gateway Luxury RV Resort. We have excellent RV Sites and property rentals for those who don’t have RVs. Check out our accommodations and book as early as you want!
