hidden canyon

I have tried to hike all the short hikes in Zions while on my trips down to AZ. This one is short and actually a little bit of a challenge which makes it a worthwhile stop.

When my husband and I went to Zion National Park with the intention of hiking Angel's Landing, but we got a later start than expected. Therefore, I was nervous about trying to complete Angel's Landing's projected 4 hour hike time (according to Zion's trail maps) before the sun went down. On a whim, my husband and I picked the Hidden Canyon trail and I'm so glad we did! I feel like it was a perfect fit for us because it was a still a fairly strenuous hike, had great views, and still was adventurous with several steep drop offs (there were chains along some of the most risky sections). The hike took us about 1.5-2 hours, which was the perfect length of time for us. I would recommend the hike to a friend!

This is a fantastic hike. Medium difficulty with a combination of breath-taking views, thrilling climb on the cliff edge (there are chains to hold - gloves were very helpful as we went in December and it was snowy / cold) and we were glad we had our Yak Tracks to avoid slipping on the hike up & down. The 2nd half of the hike goes back through the hidden canyon - there's a lovely natural arch, some great bouldering and lots of nice spots to enjoy a picnic lunch. Leave yourself plenty of time, as the hidden canyon (past the trail marker) continues for a long while and it's great to explore.

On the way back down from this great hike, we talked to several fellow hikers who had been to the hidden canyon and who completely missed this trail’s natural arch! It was because they were expecting an arch across (perpendicular to) the canyon, when the actual arch is parallel to it. It’s really not a small or unimpressive arch, it’s just not what a lot of folks are looking for or expect and they walk right past it. We really enjoyed this hike, which we chose instead of Angel’s Landing, because I wanted to see a slot canyon. The trail starts out with a bunch of switchbacks, which were moderately strenuous, and then once you get some altitude, you get to some stone steps, which lead to some high ledges where they have chains to cling to bolted into the rock face (really not as scary as that may sound). I found this fun and the views back down towards the valley amazing. You eventually come into a small slot canyon nestled between two higher peaks. The width of the sand-floored canyon varies a lot and it never gets really narrow. As you travel up the canyon, you’ll encounter and have to scramble over a number of snags and obstacles made of logs and rocks which have apparently been tossed about when flooding occurs, so you probably don’t want to be here in times of heavy rain. At one point well beyond the arch, we turned back because it looked like it would be difficult to climb back down. I would highly recommend this hike, but don’t miss the arch!

One of my favorite hikes in recent years. This trail doesn't require special equipment outside of sturdy shoes and appropriate clothing..and water, plenty of water. Don't worry about the chains, we didn't use gloves and had no problem. The trail is well marked and strenuous enough to leave most folks tired at the end. The canyon was worth the hike and we got a nice photo at the arch. It does require a small amount of scrambling but it you take your time and look around for the trail, you may save yourself some work. A great hike!

Along side of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive which is accessible by your own car in winter. Amazing sand stone formation of cliffs, arches & landscape will open your eyes. Watch for flash flood in wet weather.

I don't think this hike is quite as popular but it is a nice hike. I didn't think it was very dangerous though some places have chains (they are against a wall and there for a little extra support). We saw several young children who seemed to do fine. Towards the end is a free standing arch which makes a nice photo stop. We went a little further past the arch but there is a lot of scrambling at that point so we stopped and came back down.

Trail runs along the river for a distance then you literally climb the face of a cliff. A series of very steep switchbacks take you off the valley floor. Amazing view and amazing workout. Simply spectacular views along the way.Do not attempt if you have a fear of heights, you are right on the edge of the cliff.

The hike is slightly difficult, and definitely not for those who are afraid of heights. There are chains at various points with the biggest drop-offs for safety. The first half of the hike is on a paved trail with lots of switchbacks going up the side of the canyon. The second part is mostly on rocks jutting out from the canyon walls. There's a nice viewpoint/resting spot about 2/3 of the way up where you could get a snack and take a breather before continuing on if that appeals to you.Once you reach the end of the maintained trail, there is a sign indicating that you can go on into the canyon but will have to do some scrambling and climbing. I believe the canyon goes on for 4-5 miles, but we only followed it a mile or two in since we didn't get started on the hike until early afternoon. I highly recommend going into the canyon, but you should be prepared to "scramble." If you don't have much experience, definitely go with a companion so that you can help each other with getting over some of the taller rocks.Climbing and scrambling into the canyon was my favorite part of our day trip to Zion. It offered a secluded area almost entirely untouched by humanity with some challenging obstacles to navigate. I recommend the hike, and HIGHLY recommend going into the canyon itself if you are able to do so. Keep in mind it is chillier inside the canyon itself because it doesn't get as much direct sunlight.

Although short in distance (about 2.5 miles and classed as strenuous by the park) this hike is offered a nice challenge for two senior Phoenicians who had not hiked in several months and rarely hiked in the cold. The hike starts at the Weeping Rock Trailhead and climbs steeply through a series of switchbacks to the Hidden Canyon turn off. At this junction we met a group of hikers returning from the canyon. We had been undecided if we were going to go to Hidden Canyon or continue on the main trail to Echo Canyon. After talking with the other hikers we choose Hidden Canyon. However, a second group coming up the trail behind us, after hearing about the chains and exposures, decided to turn back. Unless you are really scared of heights, the narrow parts of the trail shouldn't be an issue for you. If you're unsure there are some good videos of the hike on YouTube. The mouth of Hidden Canyon is the end of the maintained trail however you can continue into the canyon as far as you want and are able to go. This requires some rock scrambling. Once we passed the little arch about a mile up the canyon we decided to turn back. The return trip really pounded our old knees. We planned to finish our hike with cups of hot chocolate at the lodge but discovered the cafeteria was buttoned up for winter. Toasting this hike had to wait until dinner in town.

Hidden canyon sits at the end of a steep 1.5 mile hike with close to a 1,000 in elevation gain. The hike up offer gorgeous views of Angels landing, The White Throne and The Bend. Most of the trail is paved save for the final section which is a narrow path hewn into the rock. Once you reach the top you're rewarded with a beautifully colored canyon complete with its own free standing arch. You can follow the canyon back quite aways but the deeper you go, the more difficult the path becomes. Some light climbing and plenty of shimming is required if you want to get more than a mile in. Hidden canyon is a must do hike for your Zion adventure and loads of fun.

We hike the 3 miles to the entrance of Hidden Canyon, Zion National Park. The trees were orange and red and beautiful. The rocks were lit up by the sun and also a bright red. Near the end of the canyon is an arch which is worth hiking to. It is a relatively easy hike and with some exposure near the canyon entrance. There are chains to help with the exposure. We had beginners as well as experienced hikers on this trail and no one had a problem.

There aren't a lot of trees in the canyons but if you keep going into this trail further you will see beautiful orange, red, and yellow color in the trees. Fun hike! We were there the last week in October

Another fantastic Zion trail, with lots of changes of scenery as you hike up. The surface of the trail also changes as you go up: the first section was rough cement that gave excellent traction, the second part (which starts shortly after the split from the Observation Point Trail) is broken rock and sand which was a bit difficult, and the last segment is solid rock with occasional chains for safety. I never thought I'd climb an 800 foot cliff, not to mention use chains to get to the top, but it turned out to be a lot of fun and I'm so glad we did it. When you reach the top, you find that the "hidden canyon" is a narrow slot canyon partially filled with boulders. You can continue on, but there is no path, just scrambling over those rocks. We chose to stop at that point. Another geological bonus...there were several "potholes" in the rock surface at the top, similar to what we've seen at Taylors Falls, Minnesota.

Very good hike about 6 miles round trip and almost 1000 vertical feet rise. It's totally worth the effort.