Off Beaten Path Attractions in Zion National Park

Seek out the off-the-beaten-path side of Zion, and you'll be amply rewarded. The unusual, the unexpected, and the unforgettable activities and views that not as many experience are what make memories for a lifetime.

Kolob Canyons, the northern part of Zion, is far less visited than the main Zion Canyon, but it truly is just as, if not more, spectacular. Kolob Arch, the world's second longest arch, is a hike not attempted by most Zion visitors...which means it's not only amazing, it's less crowded. All the hikes here, in fact, are well worth the extra time to visit. The Hop Valley Trail and Northgate Peaks are both great family trails, and can also be super fun snowshoe or cross-country ski trips in the winter.

In the main Zion Canyon, the Subway is considered a classic slot canyon, but it's not done by as many because you really need a guide if it's your first time. Chinle Trail and Coalpits Wash are excellent winter hikes, sublime in their quiet beauty.

For a really unusual experience when visiting a national park, take in a show at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre or one of the Bard's plays at the Shakespearean Festival. The Shakespearean Festival is in Cedar City, which is closer to Kolob Canyons, so it's a great tie-in to adventuring up there. And for kids and kids-at-heart, digging in actual dinosaur bone beds at St. George's Discovery Farm is a pretty neat way to experience local geology up close.

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