Splash Around with the Best Water Activities Near Zion National Park

Arika Bauer
Aug 6
10 min read

Updated: Aug 7

If you only think of the dry desert landscape when you think of Zion, you’re missing out on all the fun you can have in the water in southern Utah! That’s right, you can actually find so many fun places to splash around and enjoy water activities near Zion National Park.

Fun Water Activities Near Zion National Park

However you like to enjoy the water, from dipping your feet in a creek to paddleboarding in a canyon to soaking in some hot springs, you’ll find something for everyone with these water activities near Zion National Park.

River Hikes in Zion

One of my favorite ways to play in the water near Zion is on the many river hikes in the area. Here are a few of my top recommendations for hiking along (or in!) the river.

THE NARROWS

The Narrows is the most famous river hike in Zion because it’s incredible! For most of The Narrows hike, you’ll be wading through the knee-deep water of the Virgin River with cliff walls soaring above you. It’s a perfect water adventure to beat the desert heat in the summer, but you can do it any time of year with the right gear.

Get all the details about hiking The Narrows in my guide here!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT BOOKING A SHOOT!

PA’RUS TRAIL

The Pa’Rus Trail is a paved path that follows the Virgin River, so you can decide to just admire the water or get your feet wet. It’s a great intro hike to Zion National Park that is accessible for anyone. Along the Pa’Rus trail you’ll get awesome views of The Watchman rock formation and cross several lovely bridges over the Virgin River, so you’ll find plenty of places to stop and play in the river.

THE SUBWAY

If you’re up for a challenge, The Subway is an epic water adventure in Zion! Hiking The Subway from the bottom up means that you do not have to do any technical rappelling, but it does feature a steep and rocky descent. The whole place is magical, and the pools and waterfalls at the end will take your breath away.

Note: A permit is required to hike the Subway, and they are competitive to get. You can enter the seasonal lottery for Subway permits here.

For even more awesome river hikes near Zion, check out this blog post!

Waterfall Hikes in and near Zion

The southern Utah desert is home to a surprising number of really cool waterfalls, and visiting them is one of the best water activities near Zion National Park. Just be aware that the waterfalls won’t always be running, so spring is usually the ideal season to catch them at their peak. All the ones listed below are year round!

KANARRA FALLS

Kanarra Falls is definitely at the top of my list of water activities near Zion National Park! It’s an incredible slot canyon filled with cool water that is such a refreshing break from the desert heat.

Don’t be fooled that the trail starts on a dirt road…after a little over a mile, you’ll reach a waterfall, and that’s just the first taste of what this hike offers. Soon you’ll enter a stunning slot canyon with another waterfall and a ladder you can climb up to keep going and enjoy even more of this incredible place.

Note: Permits ($12/person) are required to hike to Kanarra Falls, and they are limited to 150 each day, so they will sell out during popular times.

Learn more about hiking Kanarra Falls in my full post here!

LOWER PINE CREEK FALLS

Lower Pine Creek Falls is a hidden gem in Zion National Park, since it is one of the rare hikes the park doesn’t actually advertise. Though this picturesque pond and 15-foot waterfall may take some stream hopping and boulder scrambling to get to, it is well worth the effort! And at the pool at the end, you can enjoy a rest on the nice sandy beach by the waterfall.

Read more about visiting Lower Pine Creek Falls here!

EMERALD POOLS

Emerald Pools is a classic Zion hike, making it one of the must-visit waterfalls in southern Utah. You can choose your own adventure to these spectacular pools.

Just visit the Lower Pool which is accessed via a wide, paved path that offers great views of Zion’s rock formations from a green oasis. Or you can continue on the trail to the Middle Pool, which is also paved, but heads up a steeper ridge. Getting to the Upper Pool requires taking a sandy, rocky path, but you will be rewarded with jaw-dropping sheer cliffs surrounding the pool along with amazing waterfalls.

Check out my complete guide to hiking the Emerald Pools here!

TOQUERVILLE FALLS

If you're looking for a unique water activity near Zion, Toquerville Falls is a must-see. This stunning double waterfall feels like a desert oasis—complete with a natural swimming hole perfect for cooling off in the summer heat.

Located just outside the town of Toquerville, Utah, the falls are only accessible via a rugged 5.8-mile dirt road that requires a high-clearance 4WD vehicle. Don’t have one? No worries! Book an off-road ATV tour with Mad Moose Rentals, and turn your visit into an epic Southern Utah adventure. My kids and I did this tour and it was one of our favorite summer memories—dusty, wild, and absolutely magical. READ MORE ABOUT OUR ADVENTURE WITH MAD MOOSE RENTAL HERE

LOWER CALF CREEK FALLS

Lower Calf Creek Falls is an amazing hike to the most incredible waterfall in Escalante, Utah, a few hours outside of Zion. Along the trail, you’ll pass granaries, beaver dams, and a large pictograph, so give yourself some time to explore.

Once you reach the waterfall, the water flowing more than 100 feet over the sandstone down to the pool below will take your breath away! You can enjoy basking in the mist of the waterfall or even jump in the pool and swim under the waterfall before hiking back out.

Local tip: There is a $5/vehicle day use fee at the trailhead.

Discover even more epic waterfalls in southern Utah in my post here!

Swimming Holes near Zion

When you’re looking for water activities near Zion National Park, you can’t beat spending some time splashing around in the swimming holes! Here are a few of my local favorites.

SHEEPS BRIDGE PARK

Sheeps Bridge Park (aka Falls Park) is definitely one of the best swimming holes in the Zion area. You can do a little extremely mild cliff jumping here, and kids will have a blast tubing down this short section of the Virgin River. It has a nice sandy beach area, too, so bring the sand toys for even more fun.

Local tip: From the end of June through July, this spot is full of tiny baby frogs!

QUAIL CREEK STATE PARK

Quail Creek State Park in Hurricane, Utah features a wonderful reservoir where you can splash around in the water all day long. Along with swimming, you can SUP, kayak, and even play at the St. George Aqua Adventures Waterpark right in the reservoir (ticket purchase required). The whole family will have a blast on the water slides, obstacle course, trampolines, and swing!

Find my full list of awesome swimming holes near ZIon here!

Tubing

Floating down the Virgin River in a tube is definitely a favorite on my list of water activities near Zion. It’s such a great way to beat the heat if you’re visiting southern Utah in the summer.

VIRGIN RIVER

In the town of Virgin, UT, you’ll find a section of the river that is somewhat deeper, so you have a longer stretch to float. Zion Tubing Company operates out here and makes it so easy to tube the river! When you float this part of the Virgin River, it’s mostly a chill and relaxing ride. Though you'll encounter a few small rapids sections for a bit of a thrill, it’s really more of a lazy river experience.

Get all the details about tubing the Virgin River with Zion Tubing Company here!

Paddleboarding

You can SUP on many of the reservoirs around southern Utah, but a unique experience that was on my bucket list for a long time was paddleboarding Antelope Canyon, and when I finally got to do it, it absolutely lived up to the hype!

ANTELOPE CANYON

You’ll start your paddleboarding adventure at the Antelope Point Launch ramp, then paddle board on Lake Powell for 2 miles to reach the very bottom portion of Antelope Canyon. From there, you hike up Antelope Canyon for 3 miles before you turn around when you reach a dead end. Hiking through this part of Antelope Canyon is stunning, with swirly sandstone cliffs and gorgeous light streaming through.

You can rent paddleboards from one of the several guide companies (I recommend Paddle Lake Powell) in Page and book a guided tour up the canyon or go on your own. While a guided tour is required to visit the protected areas of Antelope Canyon, you can actually do this route without a permit or a guide if you want.

Kayaking

Another of the fun water activities near Zion National Park that you can take part in is kayaking. Here are a couple of the coolest places you can kayak in southern Utah.

HORSESHOE BEND

Horseshoe Bend is an iconic overlook in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Page, AZ. You can get a totally different perspective on this popular spot by kayaking down the Colorado River through Horseshoe Bend instead of just viewing it from above.

We rented kayaks from Kayak Horseshoe Bend and used their backhaul services to launch into the river, and it was so much fun! I recommend getting started early in the day, so that you can go all the way to Horseshoe Bend and make a full day of it.

EMERALD COVE

Emerald Cove is a cool spot in the Black Canyon along the Colorado River near Las Vegas, and kayaking to the cove is an awesome adventure on the water. On our family visit to Las Vegas, my kiddos and I booked a 3-4 hour kayak tour with River Dogz to paddle from Willow Beach Marina to Emerald Cove.

The kayaking was super fun, and the river is beautiful. However, it was overcast when we went, so the green hues I was hoping to see in Emerald Cove were a bit disappointing. You really need the sunlight to get that vivid green hue in the water, and I think on a sunny day this would be an absolutely amazing experience.

Boating

Obviously, boating is a fun water activity, and you can rent a boat at Lake Powell to spend a day on the water. It’s not cheap, but could be worth it for a family or group adventure.

LAKE POWELL

When we did this, my family rented a boat for a day from Lake Powell Resort, which was convenient since we were staying there. They have handy carts to load up your coolers and anything else you want to bring on the boat. We also rented a tube to tow behind the boat, and I definitely recommend that! My kiddos absolutely loved being pulled around, making it totally worth the extra 60 bucks. CLICK TO READ ABOUT RENTING A BOAT WHILE VISITING PAGE, AZ

FYI - Sand Hollow State Park and Quail Lake are great options for boating as well.

Cliff Jumping

If you like a bit of a thrill in your water activities near Zion, there are a couple great spots for cliff jumping! You can keep it super mild or be more of a daredevil, but beware that cliff jumping is a risky activity and may result in injury or death, so only do it at your own risk.

THE CHAINS

The Chains is a section of Lake Powell located just past Glen Canyon Dam, on the Page, AZ side of the lake. I love it because, unlike most of Lake Powell, you don’t need a boat to access the area, and it is the perfect location to swim and cliff jump from the red rocks. If you explore a bit, you can avoid the slippery, steep sections and find short jumps that are perfect for kiddos.

SAND HOLLOW RESERVOIR

People totally love coming to Sand Hollow Reservoir for the fun of cliff jumping into the water. You’ll find the popular cliff jumping section on the far east side of the north section of the lake. The cliffs range from quite high for advanced jumpers only to short and beginner-friendly, making this the perfect spot for all ages and bravery levels.

Get all the insider info for visiting Sand Hollow in my post here!

Hot Springs

The most relaxing of all the water activities near Zion National Park is soaking in one of the mineral hot springs. I have such fond memories of enjoying the local Pah Tempe Hot Springs when I was growing up, and though those springs have since closed, you can enjoy these hot springs in southern Utah now.

ZION CANYON HOT SPRINGS

Zion Canyon Hot Springs just recently opened as a luxurious oasis in the desert for everyone! The resort is divided into an all-ages section and an adults-only section so visitors can enjoy the ideal atmosphere for them.

The all-ages section offers 14 mineral pools of varying temperatures, as well as a big freshwater pool, a whirlpool, a cold plunge pool, and a barrel sauna to enjoy. In the adults-only section, you’ll find 18 more mineral pools of different temperatures, plus 16 WorldSprings pools which are designed after iconic hot springs destinations around the world such as the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.

Read more about the new Zion Canyon Hot Springs resort here!

MYSTIC HOT SPRINGS

For a more rustic hot springs experience, check out Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe, Utah. While it isn’t fancy, it has a magical vibe with unique cast iron tubs surrounded by mounds of red mineral deposits and larger pools that are great for swimming and playing. There are two big pools and six soaking tubs that range in temperature.

Check out my full guide to Mystic Hot Springs here!

WATER PARKS

Looking to cool off near Zion? Two exciting new waterparks—Pecan Valley Resort and Jellystone Park™ Zion—have made a splash in Southern Utah. With lazy rivers, thrilling slides, splash zones, and stunning red rock views, these resorts are turning the desert into a full-on water adventure playground.

PECAN VALLEY RESORT

Just 45 minutes from Zion, Pecan Valley Resort in Hurricane, Utah, is the perfect spot to beat the desert heat. Their 2-acre waterpark is packed with family-friendly fun—from the lazy-meets-wild Barrel Roll River and Typhoon River to double surf simulators, splash zones, and twisty waterslides.

Adults can unwind in the rooftop infinity pool or shaded cabanas with sweeping red rock views. Whether you’re floating, sliding, or just soaking it all in, this is the ultimate water escape after a day exploring Zion.

JELLYSTONE PARK™ ZION

Located just 30 minutes from Zion, Jellystone Park™ in Hurricane is the ultimate family-friendly water park and resort. Their 4-acre Water Zone features twisty slides, a 700-foot lazy river, splash pads, and a floating obstacle course on the lake—perfect for cooling off after a day of hiking.

Stay in cabins, RVs, or campsites and enjoy extras like foam parties, jumping pillows, and visits from Yogi Bear™. It’s a fun-filled oasis for families visiting Southern Utah!

Tips for Enjoying Water Activities Near Zion

Bring lots of water to drink, especially for hiking. Even though you’re playing in the water, it’s easy to get dangerously dehydrated in the desert, and the water at swimming holes and other natural sources isn’t safe for drinking without filtering.
Use sun protection! Waterproof sunscreen is key when you’re splashing around, since the desert sun is still intense even when you feel cool in the water. And bring extra to reapply. (Don’t forget your sunglasses, too.)
You can bring your own towels if you want them (lightweight, microfiber ones are great) or you can just air dry pretty quickly in the dry desert heat.