When people hear “Zion National Park,” they usually picture sweaty hikers scaling vertical rock faces with ropes, harnesses, and the kind of upper body strength most of us traded away for a desk job and a Netflix subscription. But here’s the good news: not all Zion National Park activities require peak fitness, questionable decision-making, or a waiver signed in blood. In fact, if you’re rolling deep with a stroller, toddlers, and a diaper bag that weighs more than your backpack ever did, you’re still in luck. There are several family-friendly hikes around Zion that let your kids explore the outdoors without forcing anyone to scale cliffs or cry quietly in the parking lot.
Zion for Families: Yes, It’s Doable
Let’s cut to it, Zion is absolutely one of the best places in Southern Utah for families to get outside and enjoy a little nature therapy. The key is knowing which trails to tackle, which ones to skip, and how to plan ahead so that your hike doesn’t turn into a sunburned episode of “Survivor: Snack Time Meltdown Edition.” Fortunately, the park offers a few standout trails that are scenic, relatively easy, and short enough for little legs (and adult patience).
Emerald Pools Trail: A Real Crowd-Pleaser
Let’s start with Emerald Pools, which should absolutely be on your list of Zion National Park activities. It’s one of the park’s most popular hikes for good reason, it’s shady in places, features waterfalls (or trickles, depending on the season), and feels like an adventure without being wildly strenuous. The Lower Emerald Pools trail is the most accessible for kids and is generally considered stroller-friendly if you’ve got a solid set of wheels. You’ll follow a mostly paved path to a shaded alcove where the water drips down from above like a miniature curtain of mist. It’s a sensory win for toddlers and a photography win for parents who want to pretend their family hike was serene and picturesque instead of full of goldfish crackers and bribes.
The best part? It’s short. You’re looking at about 1.2 miles round trip, which means you can get there, explore, snack, and still be back before someone needs a nap or loses a shoe.
Riverside Walk: Flat, Easy, and Surprisingly Fun
If you’ve ever tried explaining the concept of hiking to a four-year-old, only to have them respond with “but where’s the playground?”, Riverside Walk is your new best friend. It’s basically the hiking equivalent of a gateway drug: flat, scenic, and full of little spots to dip toes in the water.
Riverside Walk starts at the Temple of Sinawava (yes, that’s a real place, not a fantasy novel), and it’s a two-mile round trip walk that runs alongside the Virgin River. You’ll pass hanging gardens, cliffs towering above you, and other parents doing the same hopeful smile-grimace combo as they chase their toddler toward the water for the fourth time.
It’s not just easy, it’s stroller-friendly if you’ve got something rugged, and the end of the trail opens up to the start of The Narrows. Now, unless your five-year-old is also a competitive canyoneer, The Narrows itself probably isn’t happening. But standing at the edge and watching other hikers start their adventure into the slot canyon is a cool experience for everyone, and it might even get your kids interested in coming back when they’re older (and capable of carrying their own water).
Canyon Overlook Trail: A Short Hike with a Big Payoff
Alright, this one’s a bit trickier, but if your kids are slightly older (say, 7+), Canyon Overlook Trail is an epic choice. It’s only a mile round trip, but it packs in big views and a real sense of “we did something cool today.” The trail is narrow in spots and has a few steep drop-offs, but most of the exposed areas are protected by railings.
What makes this hike so great, besides the fact that it’s not a full-day commitment, is the jaw-dropping view at the end. You’ll look out over Zion Canyon, and it feels like you’ve earned a front-row seat to the kind of scenery that ends up on travel brochures. This is also a great hike if your kid is old enough to want an “adventure” without actually needing climbing gear or an emergency exit plan. Just make sure you hold hands with little ones during the narrower sections and bring plenty of water. And snacks. And backup snacks.
Bonus Round: Pa’rus Trail for the Stroller Squad
We didn’t forget about the stroller crew. If your hiking vibe is more “leisurely stroll” than “let’s summit something,” the Pa’rus Trail is your new best friend. It starts near the South Campground and winds along the Virgin River for about 3.5 miles round trip. It’s fully paved, flat, and wide enough for strollers, scooters, or that slightly wobbly toddler bike that only goes in one direction.
It also has plenty of opportunities to stop and play in the river or just let your kids throw rocks into the water like it’s an Olympic sport. It’s a chill, low-effort way to get your family outside and into the park without any complaints about tired legs or steep inclines. This one’s especially great in the evening when the sun starts to dip and everything turns that glowy, warm canyon color that makes even the most chaotic day feel like a win.
Planning Like a Pro: What to Pack for Kid-Friendly Hikes
Now, let’s not pretend that hiking with kids is just a matter of throwing on sneakers and heading out the door. You’ll need snacks. And water. And sunscreen. And maybe a change of clothes. And definitely bug spray. The Utah sun doesn’t mess around, and neither does desert dehydration, so pack more water than you think you need, and then pack some more.
Hats and sunglasses help with the squinting, and if you’re hiking near water, bring sandals or water shoes so the kids can splash around without ruining their regular shoes. If you’ve got a baby or toddler in tow, a soft-sided carrier is great for uneven trails, but again, Pa’rus and Lower Emerald Pools are both stroller-friendly if your arms have had enough.
Also, pro tip: bring more snacks than you think anyone could reasonably eat in one hike. This is not the time for wishful thinking. Your kids will get hungry, you’ll get snack envy, and a hangry meltdown in a canyon echoes louder than you’d expect.
When to Go (Because Timing Is Everything)
If you’re aiming for maximum fun and minimum meltdowns, try to hit the trails early in the day. Summer temps in Zion can sneak up on you fast, and nobody wants to be halfway up a trail when it suddenly feels like you’re hiking through a hairdryer.
Mornings are cooler, less crowded, and full of soft light that makes the canyon look even more magical. Late afternoons are okay too, just keep an eye on the clock, since some trails (like Canyon Overlook) can get shady and tricky if you’re trying to beat the sunset back to your car.
Zion Doesn’t Have to Be Hardcore
You don’t need to be a trail-running, gear-obsessed wilderness machine to enjoy Zion National Park with your family. There are plenty of Zion National Park activities that let your kids get their feet dirty, their curiosity sparked, and their energy burned out in the best possible way. Whether you’re strolling the Pa’rus Trail, getting misted at Emerald Pools, or channeling your inner explorer at Canyon Overlook, there’s a little something for every family vibe.
So ditch the idea that Zion is only for hard-core adventurers. It’s also for parents with strollers, kids with juice boxes, and anyone who wants to experience Southern Utah’s magic without needing a tetanus shot or a rock-climbing certification. Just lace up your comfiest shoes, load up the snacks, and get ready to create some trail-tested, memory-filled chaos, in the best way.
