Best Things to Do in Zion, UT With Kids
Zion's family-friendly core is the Riverside Walk along the Virgin River, the fully paved and stroller-friendly Pa'rus Trail, the Lower Emerald Pools trail, a ride on the mandatory park shuttle through Zion Canyon, and the Junior Ranger program at the Zion Human History Museum. Angels Landing and The Narrows are real Zion hikes too, but they're older-kid-and-teen territory, not a default family pick.
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1Area photo: Diliff / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Riverside Walk & Virgin River Wade
A paved, mostly flat path following the Virgin River to the mouth of The Narrows, with plenty of calm, shallow spots along the way where kids can wade and cool off without doing the actual Narrows hike upstream. It's the closest most young families should get to The Narrows experience.
Watch out: The trail itself is easy, but water levels and current can change quickly with upstream weather — check conditions and never let kids wade beyond ankle-to-knee depth in slow-moving water. It gets busy midday in summer; an early morning start is more pleasant.
2Area photo: Diliff / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Pa'rus Trail
Zion's only fully paved trail, flat and wide enough for strollers and bikes, running along the river between the visitor center and Canyon Junction. It's the easiest possible way to get a real Zion Canyon view without any hiking difficulty at all — a good first walk on arrival day.
Watch out: It's popular with cyclists as well as walkers, since it's the one bike-legal trail near the visitor center — keep young kids to one side and watch for bikes passing.
3Area photo: Diliff / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Lower Emerald Pools Trail
A short, moderately easy trail to a series of pools fed by a small waterfall — genuinely rewarding for the relatively low effort, and it gives families the option to continue further to the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools if older kids have more energy. It's one of the better payoff-to-effort hikes in the park for families.
Watch out: The section near the pools can be misty and the rock slick — good footwear matters more than it looks like it should. Check the park's current trail status before you go; sections have closed periodically for rockfall risk.
4Area photo: Diliff / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Zion Canyon Shuttle Ride
For most of the year, private vehicles aren't allowed on the Zion Canyon scenic drive, and the shuttle is how everyone gets around — a narrated, air-conditioned ride past the canyon's biggest rock formations that doubles as a scenic tour on its own. Riding it end to end and back is a legitimate half-day activity for families who want to see the canyon without hiking.
Watch out: Shuttles can have real waits at peak times in summer — lines form at the visitor center stop by mid-morning. It doesn't run in the coldest winter months, when private vehicles are allowed on the road instead; check current shuttle status before your trip.
5Area photo: Diliff / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Junior Ranger Program (Zion Human History Museum)
Kids pick up an activity booklet, complete a set of park-related tasks (some tied to hikes you're already doing), and earn an official Junior Ranger badge from a park ranger at the museum. It's a structured way to keep kids engaged with the park's geology and history rather than just walking between viewpoints.
Watch out: It takes real time to complete properly — don't expect to finish it in the last 20 minutes before you leave the park. Pick it up early in your visit so you can work on it between hikes.
Frequently asked
Is The Narrows appropriate for young kids?
Not for most young kids. The Narrows means wading and sometimes swimming upstream through the Virgin River itself, the water is cold, currents can be strong, and flash floods are a real and sometimes fatal risk. It's better suited to older kids and teens who can handle cold water and follow safety instructions closely; check flood forecasts before attempting it at any age.
Should we do Angels Landing with kids?
No, not with young children. Angels Landing requires a permit obtained through a lottery, involves a narrow ridge with chains and serious drop-offs on both sides, and isn't appropriate for kids who can't be trusted to hold on and follow instructions precisely. It's a hike for confident, older kids and teens with an adult who has secured the permit.
What's the easiest Zion trail for toddlers?
The Pa'rus Trail — it's the only fully paved path in the park, flat, stroller-friendly, and runs along the river with real canyon views the whole way.
Do we need to ride the shuttle, or can we drive ourselves?
For most of the year, the shuttle is mandatory for the Zion Canyon scenic drive — private vehicles aren't allowed. In the coldest winter months the road sometimes opens to private cars instead; check current shuttle status for your travel dates before assuming either way.
Same destination, where to stay
Booking these activities? Pick the right resort first.
Activity days work best when your resort is the right launch pad. Our Zion family-resort guide ranks the whole-family-experience winners.
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