3 Great Hikes in Zion for Beginner and Intermediate Hikers

We love hiking as a family, but it usually ends up being more of a nature walk than a serious hike with toddlers in tow. When we visited Zion during one of my pregnancies, we knew we’d have to take things slow and steady. Fortunately, we found three great hikes in Zion for beginner and intermediate hikers, whether you’re looking for that easy nature walk, something slightly more challenging, or more of a traditional hike with some elevation gain and spectacular views. Read on to find the best one for you. 

If you are planning hikes in Zion while pregnant, it helps so much to know what your body can handle in each trimester. I share more about how I plan trips, flights, and walking-heavy days in my guide: Traveling While Pregnant: How To Travel In Each Trimester. That post covers nausea-friendly travel days, when to schedule more rest and essential items for each trimester, so it is a great place to start if Zion is part of your babymoon planning.

How to choose beginner-friendly hikes in Zion as a family

Before you pick a trail, think about what kind of day you want in the park. Some hikes in Zion are long, narrow, and very exposed, while others are shorter, shaded, and close to the shuttle stops. With kids or a pregnancy in the mix, I like to think through a few questions:

• How much time do we actually want to spend on the trail, including snack breaks and photo stops
• Do we have a carrier or stroller, or will kids be walking the entire route
• How comfortable are we with drop offs and heights
• What time of day will give us the most shade and the coolest temperatures

The three hikes in this post are a nice middle ground. They give you classic Zion scenery without the intense exposure or all day effort of some of the more famous routes. If you are trying to build a whole trip around family friendly hikes in Zion, you can easily pair one of these with a slower afternoon at the lodge or a scenic drive through the park.

For families traveling while pregnant, I also like to build in true rest days. Maybe you hike Lower Emerald Pool one morning, then spend the next day doing scenic overlooks, nap time, and an early dinner instead of stacking multiple big hikes in Zion back to back.

Lower Emerald Pool Trail

Best for: true beginners, anyone with mobility concerns (this trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible), toddlers or kids who will not be in a carrier

This beautiful 1.4-mile out and back trail walks along a river in a valley between two mountain peaks. The terrain is mostly flat along the river bed, and your views will mostly be up into the mountains. As you progress along the trail, the terrain is paved with a slight elevation gain. There is some shade, especially in the early afternoon, and you can see a waterfall depending on precipitation levels. The waterfalls often have strong flow during spring runoff or after a recent rain storm, but may be down to a trickle during the drier summer months.

Tips for Lower Emerald Pool with kids and pregnancy

• Try to start early in the morning or later in the afternoon so the sun feels gentler
• Pack simple, easy to eat snacks that you can hand to kids without stopping for a long break
• Use the stroller as long as you can, then switch to a carrier if your toddler gets tired
• Bring a light layer or sun shirt, since shaded canyon sections can feel cooler than the forecast

If you are in your first trimester and still dealing with nausea, this can be a great test run. You get to enjoy one of the most beautiful beginner hikes in Zion without committing to a long, steep climb.

Middle Emerald Pools Trail

Best for: anyone who wants more of a challenge, toddlers in carriers, older children, those interested in a longer hike.

There is a lot to see on this moderate difficulty trail, which is a 2.2-mile hike along an unpaved path above the Lower Emerald Pool Trail. The Middle Emerald Pools Trail is where the two streams that form the waterfall converge. The trail will take you underneath the waterfall. This is thought to be one of the most beautiful hikes in the area, and there’s a great chance you’ll spot wildlife on this hike.

Middle Emerald Pools with kids: practical tips

• Plan to carry toddlers or preschoolers in a structured hiking carrier since the terrain is uneven
• Remind older kids to take their time on rocky sections and to watch their footing near drop offs
• Pack a small towel or an extra shirt if your kids love getting misted by the waterfall
• Build in a quiet snack break at one of the viewpoints so everyone gets a little reset before heading back

Because Middle Emerald Pools connects with other trails in the area, it can work nicely as part of a bigger day with older kids or teens.

Skip Upper Emerald Pool

There is an Upper Emerald Pool Trail. The Upper Trail is the most strenuous of the three and not recommended for beginner or intermediate hikers. It is the trail in Zion with the most injuries. You do not have to continue to that portion if your skills don’t allow.

Even if you feel tempted to “just see how far we get,” I recommend listening to your body here, especially if you are pregnant or carrying a child. It is perfectly fine to turn around at Middle Emerald Pools, enjoy the views you already earned, and save that extra push for a future visit.

Pro tip: Both of these trails are accessible via shuttle from the main Zion Park parking lot. The lot typically fills up by 8 am on nice weather days, holidays, and weekends. If the lot is full, parking anywhere along the road in town that does not have parking restrictions is permissible. Look for “Shuttle Parking” signs throughout town for shuttle stops that will take you to the park entrance. If there’s no town parking, park at Zion Park Lot 445 Zion Park Boulevard (11 minute walk to park entrance).

Canyon Overlook Trail

Best for: spectacular views, those who want a quick yet challenging hike, toddlers in low profile carriers (there are some sections where you’ll have rocks overhead: I do not recommend toddlers walking this one on their own), older children

This 1-mile out and back trail is short, but moderately challenging and the views are stunning. It will only take you about 30 minutes to hike, but you may spend just as long gazing at the amazing vista at the top. There is quite a bit of elevation gained, as you’re mainly hiking up, and there are some narrow trail sections including overhead rocks. This wouldn’t be ideal for anyone afraid of heights, but is great for those who want those amazing views and a little thrill on the way up. 

Why Canyon Overlook is one of the best short hikes in Zion

If you have seen photos of Zion from above, there is a good chance they were taken somewhere near the end of this trail. For such a short route, the payoff is huge. Because there are drop offs and narrow sections, this is not the trail where I would let toddlers walk freely.

Safety tips for Canyon Overlook

• Use a low profile carrier so you are not worrying about bumping a child’s head on overhead rocks
• Keep one hand free so you can steady yourself on rocky or uneven sections
• Talk through trail etiquette with kids before you start, including waiting for others to pass on narrow ledges
• Plan extra time at the overlook at the top so you can sit, breathe, and soak up the view before heading back down

Pro tip: The trailhead is a collection of stone steps across the street from a parking lot. The parking lot is on south side, and the trailhead is across street on the north side of road. Follow Hwy 9 to the east entrance of Mount Carmel Tunnel, directly below the East Temple Saddle.

You cannot make a left turn into the parking lot if you’re coming from the east, but there is parking along the road about a quarter mile before you reach the parking lot. The parking lot is quite small and can fill up quickly, so this is a good hike to take either first thing in the morning or later in the day once other hikers have left. 

Bonus: If you’re hungry for lunch, try Zion Brewing Company near the main park entrance. The views from the patio are amazing!

Want to see other national parks in Utah? Check out the ultimate road trip guide to Utah national parks.

Packing list for easy hikes in Zion

A little preparation goes a long way on any of these hikes in Zion. Here are some simple items I like to have ready in our daypack:

• Lightweight, refillable water bottles for kids and adults
• Sun hats and sunglasses for everyone, even on cooler days
• Snacks that do not melt quickly: granola bars, crackers, fruit pouches
• A compact first aid kit with bandages, kids’ pain relief, and blister care
• A light rain jacket or sun shirt that can handle mist from waterfalls
• A change of clothes for younger kids, especially if they love splashing in puddles

If you are expecting, add anything that makes your day more comfortable: compression socks, a small pillow for the car ride back to your hotel, or the specific snacks that help keep nausea at bay.

Final thoughts

Zion can feel like a park of bucket list, once in a lifetime trails, but not every day has to be a huge challenge. These three beginner friendly hikes in Zion are proof that you can see incredible scenery while still being kind to your body and your kids’ energy levels.

If I were planning a long weekend, I would choose one hike in Zion for each morning, pair it with a relaxed afternoon at the lodge, and build in one full rest day where we stick to scenic drives and easy viewpoints. That rhythm works beautifully in pregnancy and with young kids, and it keeps everyone excited for the next adventure instead of wiped out.

Did you travel while pregnant or are you planning to? Let me know! Feel free to email me or send a message on Instagram, I’m always happy to share more tips and insights to help you travel.