A number of unofficial, secret trails hide near the famous Zion Canyon Overlook. From easy, kid-friendly trails to scenic paths into a wash, the area is the epitome of adventure. One of the most thrilling outdoor pursuits among them is Zion Shelf Canyon hike.
Last updated: August 14, 2025
Zion Secret Trails
We walked up and down between several small overflow parking lots along Route 9 on the east side of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel for nearly 20 minutes. Were we looking for the epic Shelf Canyon Trail? Not at all.
The truth is, we didn’t even know about its existence. Our point of interest was quite predictable. While the main canyon of Zion National Park (a section that is accessible only by shuttle most of the year) offers endless official trails, the eastern section boasts a limited number of the trails you can find on the park’s map.
Thus, following all-too-familiar recommendations, we longed for a well-trodden path, the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail. Somehow, which still surprises me because it was absolutely impossible, we got lost within an approximately 0.7-mile stretch of the road.
We didn’t make it to the Zion Canyon Overlook until about 2 hours later. Instead, unknown to ourselves, we hiked to the secluded Shelf Canyon, a slot canyon with the trailhead nestled about 0.5 mile away from the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel.
Upper East Canyon: Zion’s Unofficial Trails
And what an adventure it was to hike to the Shelf Canyon! The trail was the best off-the-beaten-path excursion an adventure seeker can only hope for. I confidently call this slot canyon by its name now. At the beginning of our journey, the area was nameless, secluded, and unfamiliar to all of us.
Wrongly believing that we were hiking to the Zion Canyon Overlook, we expected to see hordes of visitors here. Instead, only two small groups of two and three people shared the trail with us. In fact, I must thank one of these hikers for everything we’d learned about the Zion Shelf Canyon Trail at that time, including the canyon’s name.
Off the Beaten Path: Lesser-Known Trails in Upper East Canyon
The eastern section of Zion doesn’t reveal its secrets eagerly and remains pretty untrodden. To find your ideal trail here means to follow one simple rule. When you see a trail that looks appealing to you, set out on a hike, and let it surprise you. We saw families with kids hiking along some random, winding trails without even knowing where these paths were going to lead them. If it’s not one of the greatest examples of how to nurture an explorer spirit in your kids then I don’t know what it is.
TIP: Mark your “trail” and be aware of your surroundings so you can easily find the way back.
The Upper East Canyon is indeed a whole new world full of secrets and hidden trails. The Zion Shelf Canyon hike is just one of them. Some of the other secluded trails you may want to explore here include the following:
- Clear Creek
- Gifford Canyon
- Upper Pine Creek
- Progeny Peak (Peak 6275)
- South Ariel Peak
- Jolley Gulch
- Checkerboard Mesa Canyon
Zion Shelf Canyon
Plain and rather uninspiring at the trailhead, the short Shelf Canyon Trail features a number of hoodoos, slickrocks, and other obstacles to conquer on the way to the narrow section of the slot canyon.
With such “courses” on the menu, the Zion Shelf Canyon is selective, allowing only the most persistent visitors to hike here.
The playground for the more advanced hikers, it, however, doesn’t disappoint once you push yourself a little harder. The Zion Shelf Canyon hike gets more challenging and interesting as you go deeper into the narrow “corridor” with massive rocky walls on both sides.
Why Should You Hike to Shelf Canyon?
1. One of the Most Beautiful Secret Canyons in Zion
If you like slot canyons and the feeling of mystery they bestow on you, you must add the Shelf Canyon hike to your Zion itinerary. While the place lacks light beams that draw visitors to the world-famous Antelope Canyon, it astounds with a series of boulders, stacked on each other to create natural “shelfs”.
2. A Sense of the Discovery
The Zion Shelf Canyon is full of mystery and adventure. It makes you feel like a real-life Indiana Jones who can’t wait to uncover the slot canyon’s secrets and find out what awaits him at the end of the trail.
3. One of the Most Secluded Hikes
Looking for a trail to enjoy nature, not the endless chatter of other hikers? The Zion Shelf Canyon Trail is all you need. Turning away the majority of poorly prepared hikers at the first big obstacle, a steep slickrock with not much support to climb on, this hidden gem of Zion relishes serenity and tranquility.
4. Great Workout that Doesn’t Feel Like a Tedious Exercise Session
A few people surprised me saying that the Zion Shelf Canyon hike is not challenging enough, especially for the experienced hikers. I can’t compete with the best of the best, but hiking in general doesn’t scare me. Neither does Zion Shelf Canyon. Yet starting as a walk downhill and eventually transforming into a scrambling over the rocks of different sizes, the trail challenges you like a gym may never do.
How to Get to Shelf Canyon
The Shelf Canyon trailhead is located in the eastern section of Zion National Park. From the East Entrance, head toward the South Entrance, passing through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. A small parking lot lies to your right shortly after you exit the tunnel. Normally, people aiming at the Zion Canyon Overlook would stop here, cross the road, and head over to the vantage point.
For those who long for a hike between the guarding cliff walls of the Zion Shelf Canyon, head forward for approximately 0.4 mile along Route 9 toward a ranger station and restrooms. You will find a limited overflow parking lot behind them.
Continue walking farther up for approximately 30-35 feet until you spot a tiny, barely visible path winding downhill. No official sign points at the existence of the trail.
As you descend, follow the sandy path with enough footprints to assume that there must be a trail somewhere here. The section near the road is wide-open, hardly suggesting that you can find a slot canyon near the end of the Zion Shelf Canyon Trail.
READ MORE: How to Get around Zion National Park
The Best Time to Hike to Shelf Canyon
The Zion Shelf Canyon Trail is accessible all year round. You hardly find any unforeseen obstacles on your way to the heart of this hidden gem neither in winter, nor in summer. Small puddles of water, however, can slow you down even during the hot summer months.
- The tiny pools expand into somewhat serious barriers during the monsoon season. In the American Southwest, it’s normally from July through mid-September.
- The Zion Shelf Canyon hike may present additional challenges in winter. The trail tends to get slippery and icy when the temperature drops.
- As far as the time of the day goes, the Zion Shelf Canyon hike, unlike its closest neighbor, the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail, feels quiet and serene most of the time.
Shelf Canyon Hike Stats
- Time: 1.5-3 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
- Distance: Approximately 0.5 mile up the little drainage
- Elevation Gain: About 260 feet
Hiking the Shelf Canyon Trail
As you start your Zion Shelf Canyon hike and walk down into the wash, the trail passes through the area overgrown with trees and bushes. In fact, you can barely see a trail here.
Slowly the open area narrows, allowing the more noticeable section of the trail to emerge. This first part of the hike is easy. As the distance between the canyon walls shrinks, the large boulders and slickrocks gradually reveal the true essence of the Zion Shelf Canyon hike.
Hike inside the Zion Shelf Canyon
The difficulty level increases shortly after you pass the open area. A large, almost vertical slickrock crosses the path, presenting the biggest obstacle on the trail. You must scramble over the rock, using some thick tree branches as a primitive “ladder”.
The going gets easier from now on. Yet don’t think that you’ll have the obstacle-free hike deeper into Zion Shelf Canyon after this point. Occasionally, the large boulders and slickrocks will still try to prevent you from moving farther up. While some people may find them difficult enough to slow down, I think, these obstacles make the Zion Shelf Canyon hike more interesting and exciting.
Zion Shelf Canyon Hike: Final Stretch
The farther you hike, the closer the canyon walls grow to each other. Plants also hardly sneak into this hidden kingdom of the towering cliffs and chilly, narrow passages. The muddy puddles, however, love this “ambiance”, thriving in the deeper sections of the Shelf Canyon and seeking to spoil your hike.
Wade through them and continue scrambling up until you reach a secret alcove, adorned with a myriad of sturdy ledges. Having a rope would be such a good idea now to look for hidden nooks and climb up as far as you can. Hiking farther up, however, is impossible.
You can prolong your Zion Shelf Canyon hike by mounting the ledges and shouting down to your travel companions that you see a way up the canyon just to admit a few minutes later that it’s probably a dead end. Be careful, though, as going back down from the ledges is not easy and can be dangerous.
Once you have had enough of the Zion Shelf Canyon, hike back to Route 9 the way you came.
Is Zion Shelf Canyon Hike Good for Everybody?
Despite the irresistible sense of mystery and ultimate discovery, the Zion Shelf Canyon hike is not for everybody. The short, but strenuous trail, infested with large boulders to scramble over, may present too great of a challenge for elderly hikers.
Furthermore, I wouldn’t recommend attempting the Zion Shelf Canyon hike carrying an infant or a toddler in a carrier. They say nothing is impossible. Yet you don’t want to take any risk while exploring Zion’s hidden gems with your precious little ones attached to your back or front.
Can You Hike in Shelf Canyon Alone?
Experienced adventure seekers can march through the Zion Shelf Canyon and finish the hike in about an hour. An average hiker, however, should invite a friend or two to accompany her or him on the trail. You can’t never reject a helping hand when scrambling over massive boulders. And trust me, you will have enough of these when hiking in the Zion Shelf Canyon.
What to Pack for the Shelf Canyon Hike
- Layers of clothing. Scorching heat can exhaust you in the open areas of Zion National Park, such as the Canyon Overlook area. Inside Shelf Canyon, however, the temperatures are several degrees lower. Even in summer, the area often remains chilly. So, have a light jacket to stay warm, surrounded by the cool giants.
- Non-slip shoes. The Zion Shelf Canyon hike requires proper hiking shoes. Slippers or open toe shoes won’t work here. The rocks covered with sand, steep slickrocks, and slippery boulders abound along the trail. Thus, prepare for the worst and wear a pair of good, non-slip shoes.
- Water. Drink plenty of water. Even if you’re pretty good at hiking and can cover long distances in no time, don’t do the Zion Shelf Canyon hike without a bottle of water.
- Hiking sticks. Bring along some sturdy hiking sticks to lean on when wading through the puddles or scrambling over the slickrocks when hiking through the Zion Shelf Canyon.
