best view Of zion national Park, Utah
Many people brave the thrilling Angel’s Landing hike for its bird’s eye view of Zion Canyon, but the views from Observation Point are even better. In fact, it's 715 feet higher than Angel’s Landing.
Getting There
Address: E Mesa Trail, Springdale, UT 84767
There are two ways to hike to this viewpoint, but the weeping rock trailhead has been closed indefinitely due to a major rock fall, so you must access it from the East Mesa Trail. Finding the Observation Point trailhead is a little confusing. It's located outside of the park’s east entrance (about an hour drive from the Visitor Center in Springdale). The drive there almost feels like you took a wrong turn, but there is eventually signage that confirms you are in the right place. After passing Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, you will drive 3 miles on a dirt road before reaching the trailhead. If you do not have a 4x4 vehicle, you will need to park about half a mile before you get to the trailhead (you will see other sedans parked in this area). It adds roughly a mile to the overall hike, but it’s worth not getting your vehicle stuck.
The Hike
Distance: 7 mile (not including the additional mileage if you have to park further)
Elevation Gain: 700 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Unfortunately, the trail itself isn’t very interesting, but the incredible views at Observation Point make it worth your while! There is not much tree coverage on this trail, so make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen (I learned this the hard way).
For your reference, Angel's Landing is on the right side of the photo (the rock in the center).