Timber Creek Overlook

This is Zion's best-kept secret for people who want a knockout view without earning it the hard way. Starting from the end of the Kolob Canyons road, you follow a gently rolling ridge through scrubby juniper and pinyon pine, fully exposed to the sky the entire way. The trail is rocky but never technical — think packed dirt with the occasional loose stone to keep you honest. Within about half an hour of easy walking, the ridge drops away and suddenly you're staring down at Timber Creek Canyon, across to the red-and-white layers of Shuntavi Butte, and out toward the Pine Valley Mountains on the horizon. It's a panorama that rivals anything on the main canyon side of the park, minus roughly ninety-eight percent of the crowd. Perfect for families with young kids, anyone short on time, or hikers who just drove the Kolob Canyons scenic road and want one last reason to linger.