Zion National Park Self-Guided GPS Audio Tour

The journey, in full

As you pull in, be sure to check in at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center to show your park pass. This short, easy trail leads to a panoramic overlook of Kolob Canyons, the Pine Valley Mountains, and Red Butte. If you only have time for one short hike while in Kolob Canyons, be sure to do this one! At La Verkin Overlook, you’ll get a beautiful panoramic view of Zion Canyon, the Virgin River Gorge, Pine Valley mountains, and, of course, La Verkin itself. To get there, we’ll take a 15-minute round-trip drive down a gravel road. We’re now passing one of the most popular canyoneering locations of Zion: The Subway. The Subway requires a Wilderness Permit from the Zion lottery, so, in order to take The Subway, you really will need a ticket. You can take The Subway two ways: from the bottom-up or the top-down. The bottom-up is less technical, requires no canyoneering, and begins at the Left Fork trailhead on our right. Lava Point Overlook is a basalt cliff that overlooks a green volcanic valley filled with pinyon, juniper, and white pine trees. From the over 2,400-meter-high overlook, you can see all the way out to the Paunsaugunt Plateau of Bryce and even the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. This viewpoint has no required hike, so as long as the weather is safe for us to travel, let’s continue on Kolob Terrace Road. Explore the most photographed ghost town in the West! This abandoned Mormon settlement still has several cabins, houses, and a town hall to explore. This well-preserved window to the past was the filming location for the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’s famous bike scene. Be sure to take lots of selfies and share them with us on social media! Grafton is a ghost town with a somewhat unusual history. While the majority of abandoned settlements were once mining towns—subject to the boom and bust nature of mining—Grafton is an agricultural ghost town. Visitors today can see the abandoned houses and even go inside a few. We made it to Zion Canyon! Here at our first park stop, take a moment to talk to the rangers, grab a map, use the restroom, and fill up your water bottles. If you need a wilderness permit, this is where you’ll pick one up. Be sure to check the schedule for any ranger talks or walks you might be interested in. There is also a bookstore and gift shop, but it’s probably best to save all that for after your hikes. When you’re ready, get in line for the shuttle (if it's shuttle season) and get ready for adventure! Does the line for the park shuttle look a little daunting? Well, there is another option for those in the know. Rest assured, I am in the know. And lucky for you, you know me. You can skip the line by taking the sunny Pa’rus (pah-roos) trail to the Human History Museum and board the shuttle there. This is the only trail in Zion where you can ride bikes or walk dogs. While it is both paved and pleasant to walk, it’s also 1.7 miles long, so it may not be suitable for everyone. Follow the signs at the Visitor Center if this sounds like a good option for you. If you pull into the Zion Human History Museum, you can make your way over to the back patio of the Human History Museum to enjoy a highly-recommended ranger talk. Even if you stop by when no talk is being held, the view of the Towers of The Virgin formation is truly amazing and well worth the visit. Your next viewpoint is the Court of the Patriarchs formation. From left to right, visitors can find Abraham Isaac, and Jacob— the patriarchs of Judaism. Take a moment to hop out and get a better view. Your first must-see trail is the Lower Emerald Pools. This 2-mile hike features water drizzling from sandstone cliffs, glittering hanging gardens, and bright emerald pools. This trail is family-friendly and can be accessed across the street from the Zion Lodge.  Exit at The Grotto to begin your epic ascent up to Angel’s Landing—a thrilling chain-assisted climb up a narrow precipice! When you reach the top, you’ll earn both bragging rights and an incredible view. If you aren’t feeling up to the climb, simply stop at Scout’s Lookout for an equally stunning vista. If you go all the way up to Angel’s Landing it’s about 5-miles round-trip. Though Angel’s Landing itself is only an extra half-mile each way, crowding and difficulty can add a great deal of time. Please note: Angel's Landing now requires a permit. Permits are not included with entry to the park or purchase of the tour. Around 800 A.D., by rain or snow, water began working its way through the layers of what we now call “Weeping Rock.” For over 1,000 years it percolated downward before encountering the impermeable Kayenta Formation. Forced to move horizontally, the water diffused out of the soft limestone, washing away the formation as it went. Since this paved trail is a mere half-mile round trip, I recommend we explore it. The Temple of Sinawava is the final stop along the canyon, and it’s here that you’ll disembark and undertake The Narrows. When an arch is not freestanding, we call that a “blind arch.” Zion's blind arch can be seen along the roadway, or at several pullovers along its serpentine road. Canyon Overlook Trail is a short, 1-mile hike overlooking East Zion’s rugged landscape. It’s a great option for those who want to enjoy a high-elevation viewpoint, but would rather not undertake a high-elevation climb. And the views? Absolutely amazing! The Checkerboard Mesa bears stunning criss-cross markings across its face—the result of years of expansion and weathering. At farther viewpoints, the checkerboard pattern becomes more obvious. Pull over on your left before passing the Ranger Station for the best view of this awesome feature. Interested in exploring even more of East Zion? At the Ranger station, we’ll have access to several famous hiking trails including Observation Point, the highest lookout in Zion. The main vein, known as East Mesa Trail, branches into several other trails, including Observation Point—the highest lookout in Zion. If you want to see the remnants of the Cable Mountain Pulley system, East Rim Trail will also be your starting point. These trails are long and interconnected, so be sure to check our highlights or speak to the ranger for more information before you set out.