Canyon Overlook Trail is the easiest hike with the best view in Zion National Park. If you're in Zion, this one's a no brainer. Even though this trail is heavily trafficked, there are a few "hidden" spots once you reach the end of the trail where you can escape the crowd.
Honestly, you cant go wrong doing this one for sunrise or sunset. Sunrise naturally will be less crowded and creates some really epic shadows/lighting. However, the overlook points directly west so if the forecast is partly cloudy, then you may want to just deal with the crowd and score one of the more epic sunsets in the U.S.
This hike is one of the few hikes accessible by car as opposed to many of the other hikes in Zion where you need to take their shuttle system. This also means you'll have to fight for parking. Like most National Parks, your best bet is always to get up early. But if you happen to end up going later in the day you'll likely have to park on the street up the hill. On popular weekends though, this half mile hike may double in length with how far up the hill you may have to park. This hike is so short and easy though, it all that much.
Like most "easy" hikes, most of the crowd just walks right up to the obvious viewpoint, and doesn't venture more than 20 ft around it. There are several pretty obvious viewpoints off to the left of the guardrail, however the best view, in our opinion, is off to the right of the guardrail. This viewpoint (pictured below) (GPS coordinates here) is a bit more hidden and should provide some extra seclusion. This is may be my personal favorite photo location in the whole park, so if you make the exhausting half mile trek out, you may as well walk an extra 100ft to this spot.
Our favorite viewpoint in the entire park is hidden at the end of this trail. Wander a bit off the beaten path and score this one, very likely to yourself. This trail is super easy, super short, and should definitely be a pit stop on your to-do list of Zion National Park. Parking is very limited, so go for sunrise unless you want to walk an extra half mile....although this hike is so short it doesn't really matter.