Sunrise Hiking in Zion
Gaining in popularity, the number of visitors to Zion National Park in southern Utah reached a new high in. 2021 with 5,039,835 visitors. This was an increase from its previous high in 2017 of 4.5 million visitors, and 70% of these visitors come to Zion during the busiest 6 months (April through September). In 2021, Zion National Park was the second most visited US national park - only surpassed by the 14 million visitors to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Zion saw more visitors in 2021 than the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, and Yosemite, but Zion is much smaller than each of these parks.
With the large number of tourists flocking to this area, finding solitude in Zion can be difficult. Traveling to the park in colder months can be an answer to avoiding crowds, but you do have to contend with uncertain weather conditions. Another way to decrease the number of people sharing the trail with you is to be an early riser and hike before dawn. In a place like Zion, this does not mean you will have the trail to yourself, but you will beat the peak crowds this way. A third way to find a bit more solitude in Zion would be to hike one of the less visited trails - these can be found in the Kolob Canyons section of the park or along Kolob Terrace Road. These are less visited areas of the park and my offer some tranquility for those seeking alone time in nature. However, it is Zion, so you will likely not be alone.
Zion Canyon Overlook at Sunrise
Why do a sunrise hike in Zion?
As mentioned above, there will be less hikers who pull themselves out of bed and drive into the park before sunrise, so you have less of a chance that you will be standing in line on a hiking trail at these hours. This is only one of the benefits of hiking in Zion before the sun rises. Early hikers will also benefit from the following:
Parking: With lower numbers of hikers before first light, there will be a higher likelihood of finding parking at the trailhead. Along the Mount Carmel Highway section of Zion - the parking spaces are limited and arriving early is one of the only ways to get a spot. When there are no shuttles, this is true for Zion Canyon as well. Parking lots are often filled by 8 am. When shuttles are running in Zion Canyon, you will need to find an alternative way to get to your trailhead if hiking in that area since shuttles do not start before sunrise. You may park at canyon junction and hike a few extra miles to your trailhead or ride a bike from the visitor center area up to Zion Canyon for your hike to begin. Note the extra time needed to get to a hike in Zion Canyon before sunrise due to the extra effort to get to the trailhead.
Stillness/Quiet: Being out and about before the sun rises can be a very quiet time. The stillness and cool air awaken your senses. You can hear the rustling of small creatures and the running water of a creek in the distance. In the dark, your other senses are heightened, and you can smell the sage or juniper trees. Stopping and turning off my headlamp is one of my favorite things to do on the trail. This allows me to smell, feel, and hear everything around me. It gives the hike deeper meaning and value.
Different Views: Starting before dawn makes an out and back trail different in each direction. On the way to the overlook, you only see what the headlamp or flashlight illuminates. So much of the view is just beyond your beam of light. But on the return hike, the park reveals itself to you visually. You see the colors of the rocks bathed in soft light. You notice vistas and drop-offs that you didn’t see in the dark. The trail is interesting in both directions because it is like you are on a completely different trail on the way back.
Animal Sightings: Many animals feed right after sunrise. With less people on the trail, you increase the chance that you may see deer, chipmunks, birds, and other animals out for their breakfast.
Sunrise and Light Reflection: Finally, the event of sunrise itself is reason enough to get out for a sunrise hike. Watching the sun change the colors of the sky and clouds, peek above a mountain, and cast shadows on rock faces just never gets old. Be sure to look in all directions - not just in the direction of the rising sun. Sometimes, the most amazing view is the red cliffs as the sun’s rays illuminate them.
Gear and Preparation
You will need a few more items to be prepared for a sunrise hike. These things are essential for your safety and comfort during the hike.
#1 - Layers: Starting a hike before the sun rises means that you will be starting out in cooler weather than at the end of the hike. Knowing this, dress in layers because this will allow you to remove an outer jacket or sweatshirt as you become too warm. I find that gloves and a beanie are also helpful for morning hikes. These can be helpful early in the hike but may be removed for comfort later. Wool socks can also be vital on a sunrise hike.
#2 - A Light Source: You need to bring a light source for your hike, and I find it best to have a headlamp so my hands can remain free. If holding a flashlight or a phone (as a light source), you do not have both hands free for traversing the terrain.
#3 - Proper Shoes: Since you will be walking in the dark, the chance of stubbing a toe increases; therefore, close toed shoes are a must on a sunrise hike. Sandals or flip flops are a recipe for injury. If the trail is icy or contains snow, you would also want to include crampons to increase stability and improve your traction. I find it best to wear my hiking boots or shoes and bring my crampons in case I need to add them over my footwear.
#4 - Snacks and Water: As with all hikes, you want to bring food and water. I recommend brining something you can enjoy while you wait on the sun to rise. Maybe a thermos with coffee or oatmeal can be a warm and satisfying treat while enjoying the sunrise.
#5 - Camera Equipment: Finally, I recommend bringing a tripod for your camera. Since the sun will not be up when you begin taking photos, you may need longer shutter speeds. Without a tripod, it is harder to keep your camera still, and this may cause your photos to be less sharp. A tripod also comes in handy for filming a time-lapse video of the sunrise. Even if you are just filming on your phone - pick up a tripod for your phone. It will increase the quality of your sunrise pics.
Timing and Parking
Using a weather app, you can find out what time the sun will rise. From that time, count backwards the amount of time that the hike will likely take you, and then add at least 30 more minutes. I use the AllTrails app to calculate how long a hike will take. For example: If the sun will rise at 7:45 am and the hike is an hour long, I will want to pull into the parking lot at 6:15 am (sunrise - hike distance + 30 minutes).
Some hikes may be busier than others. On a very popular sunrise hike, you may have to arrive at the trailhead an hour or even 1.5 hours before you would start your hike to ensure you get a parking spot. That doesn’t mean that you have to start your hike at that time and sit out in the dark/cold for an extra hour or hour and a half. You can. stay in your car and sleep or eat breakfast before your hike. This would just guarantee a parking spot at the trailhead.
Zion Canyon Overlook Trail
In March, I enjoyed a stunning sunrise hike with my brother. We packed our gar the night before, woke early, and drove through the entrance gates of Zion as we headed to the trailhead. In the dark, we slowly worked our way up the switchbacks to the Zion Tunnel. Immediately after the tunnel, we made a sharp right into the trailhead parking lot, and there were only two spots left. We gathered our gear, turned on our lights, and began the uphill climb to the overlook trail.
In the dark, we could not see the crevasse next to us or the rocky cliffs in the distance. The trail became hard to follow at one point because there seemed to be many options. We used AllTrails’ maps to see if we were following the right path. Once we reached the end of the trail, we were not alone, but there were only a few groups. We found a spot to set up our camera and relax for a bit as the sky began to lighten in the distance. We visited with some other hikers from Massachusetts and waited for the sun to reveal the canyon below. It did not disappoint. The canyon glowed as it was bathed in sunlight. Even without clouds in the sky, the sunrise was beautiful. It was one of the most memorable moments during this Zion trip.
Follow the Sunlight
I hope this information inspires you to trek out on a sunrise hike and prepares you with some things to ensure that it is a positive experience. Please share your sunrise hike experiences with me on Instagram by mentioning @pinesandcoastlines or email me at pinesandcoastlines00@gmail.com. If you have other tips for sunrise hikes, please leave them in the comments below. I love to hear your suggestions. Keep following the sunlight and HIKE ON!