travel guide zion national park

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• Zion National Park

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A thousand-foot deep red rock canyon nested in dramatic surroundings. Whether you are trying to catch your breath while climbing the trail to Observation Point or watching the shadows constantly change the mood of the Court of the Patriarchs, Zion National Park is always ready to quench your appetite for outdoor wonder. Learn more about these hikes and all the other adventures you can have in Zion National Park, and be sure to check the shuttle schedule for free transportation to and throughout the park.

How to Visit Zion Winter in Zion

Discover the Zion Region

Things to do, backpacking.

Find your way out of the crowds into the park’s tranquil backcountry. Explore Zion’s backpacking camp areas, hiking trails, and preparation resources.

End your day under Zion’s internationally certified dark skies at any campgrounds within or near the park. Dispersed, developed and RV campgrounds are all available, but make your reservation early; campgrounds fill quickly during peak travel months.

Canyoneering

Are you looking to add some adrenaline to your vacation? Explore Zion’s most popular canyoneering routes. Be sure to get the details about permits and local guide services beforehand.

Zion is famous for its remarkable hiking trails. Take an adventurous scramble up to Angels Landing or a family hike on the Emerald Pools Trails, among others. Learn more about hiking in Zion.

Horseback Riding

Trot through pine forests and red rock views during a horseback riding tour through the park. Local guides offer rides for every experience level, and are available year-round in certain park regions.

Winter Activities

With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Zion National Park is a great place to enjoy sunny skies, fresh air and get a little extra Vitamin D in the winter months. Plan a winter visit to soak up the sunshine while enjoying moderate temperatures and a stunning sandstone kaleidoscope of reds, oranges and pinks. Winter visitors will find plenty to do, including hiking, photography and gazing up at the wonders of the night sky.

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Where to stay

Hotels and lodging.

Numerous lodging options, from hotels to bed and breakfasts, are available in the park and nearby Springdale, East Zion and St. George, Utah. Visitors may also opt for overnight accommodations in or near the less-trafficked parts of Zion: Cedar City and Kanab.

Where to Stay near Zion

South Campground and Watchman Campground are the nearest to Zion’s primary entrance on scenic S.R. 9, just outside of Springdale. The Lava Point Campground is further north, about an hour outside of Zion Canyon on Kolob Terrace Road. If the park’s campgrounds are full, or you’re looking for something a little more secluded, there are several campgrounds to choose from just outside the park.

Explore Camping at Zion

More Zion Inspiration

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How to Visit Zion

Looking for the best way to see Zion? Read our Zion National Park guide for expert advice on planning your visit to one of the most visited parks in Utah.

Things to Do in Zion National Park

No matter the season, there are many things to do in Zion for all levels of thrill-seekers and nature lovers: hiking, camping, canyoneering, scenic driving and more.

Zion National Park Hikes

Visiting Zion National Park? Here are the best hikes in Zion for all hikers, from family-friendly trails to multi-day backpacking trips.

Zion Where to Stay

Looking for places to stay near Zion National Park? Check out our guide to vacation lodging at this magnificent park and book your stay today!

Nearby Basecamps

Springdale, UT

As the gateway to Zion National Park and nestled along the North Fork of the Virgin River, Springdale is an ideal place to get outfitted for adventure not only in Zion, but to numerous other parks, monuments, and recreation areas of the western Colorado Plateau and desert southwest.

Welcome to the east side of Utah's Zion National Park. Visitors who stay on this side of the park enjoy what is often referred to as the quiet side of the park, and they also have much closer access to other destinations such as Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and even the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

St. George, UT

St. George is perfect for family adventures, luxury spas, extensive shopping, championship golf and nearby outdoor recreation assets.

Cedar City, UT

There are plenty of things to experience in Cedar City, Utah thanks to nearby ski resorts, a national forest, great national parks and a superb arts scene.

Kanab, Utah is classic American West, surrounded by towering Navajo sandstone cliffs and vistas of sagebrush. Kanab's self-proclaimed title, "Little Hollywood," is fitting for its many abandoned film sets.

Cycling Zion with TJ Eisenhart

Travel tips.

For the best experience, arrive early and take the Zion National Park shuttle .

Always hike respectfully and carry extra water and sun protection.

There are popular hikes at Angels Landing  ( permit required ) and The Narrows , but serious hikers may consider Hidden Canyon , Observation Point , and guided canyoneering in lesser-known canyons.

 Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway's distinctive red asphalt leads through a narrow 1.1-mile tunnel to lesser-known hikes near the East Entrance. Fee for large RVs, with limits.

Follow @zionnps on Instagram and Facebook and visit nps.gov/zion for park alerts.

Read these resources to learn how to travel thoughtfully and experience Zion National Park most fully.

• View a downloadable map of Zion National Park

More travel tips for visiting Zion National Park

Visitors from May to October will encounter highs in Zion from 90-100+°F. Escape the heat by entering the river or stopping in the visitor center or museum. Afternoon thunderstorms occasionally drench the canyon — which can lead to flash floods in the narrowest sections of the canyon. Expect somewhat cooler temperatures (sometimes up to 30 degrees difference) early in the morning and late in the evening, as well as in early spring and late fall. Though winter days can be cold, the park is open, serene and beautiful.

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An Expert Guide to Zion National Park

By Emily Pennington

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Zion National Park has remained a thing of road trip lore for over a century, partially due to its proximity to hubs like Las Vegas , Salt Lake City , and Los Angeles —but also for its enormous fins of Navajo sandstone that rise up from the Virgin River like rust-red skyscrapers. Originally protected as  Mukuntuweap National Monument by President Taft in 1909 (named for the Paiute word that roughly translates to “straight canyon”), the area was re-designated by Congress as Zion National Park in 1919.

These days, Zion routinely makes it into the top five  most-visited parks in the entire National Park System. As often happens with photogenic destinations, Zion can feel a bit overrun by iPhone-wielding crowds, particularly within its iconic, 15-mile-long main canyon. Still, the park has a few secret spots up its sleeve, if you’d prefer to avoid the throngs, plus dozens of outstanding lodging options, complete with dreamy red rock vistas, so you can stick around long enough to explore every nook and cranny.

Whether its your first timing visiting or your fifth, consider this your complete guide to Zion National Park—including when to go, where to stay, what to do, and more. 

All listings featured on  Condé Nast Traveler  are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Hikers in Zion National Park

The best time to visit Zion National Park

Zion is an outstanding shoulder-season park, meaning that it’s at its best in spring and fall, when temperatures are cooler, crowds are thinner, wildflowers are blooming (in spring), and most of the region’s best trails and climbing routes are accessible. As with any remote, mountainous area, be sure to check the weather before venturing into high-altitude zones during shoulder season, as snow can accumulate well into April and early-season storms are possible in October and November.

Beyond that, summer is when most visitors flock to Zion National Park. That’s hardly surprising, as kids are out of school, upper elevation trails are snow-free, and it’s an excellent time to take off on a week-long  road trip around Utah’s many  natural wonders . However, summer temperatures in the main canyon typically hover around 100 degrees, and flash floods during the monsoon months (July to September) can make hiking The Narrows, a very popular trek through the thinnest stretch of Zion Canyon, impossible.

Winter is the quietest season in Zion, and a great time to visit if you’re seeking solitude or hoping to motor onto Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (a free shuttle is required March through November) and snap a few photos of its famous vermilion escarpments while they're dusted with fresh white powder.

How to get to Zion National Park

The closest major airport to Zion National Park is Harry Reid International in Las Vegas, which will put you 167 miles from its main entrance. There’s also a small regional airport in St. George, Utah, with limited flights operated by Delta, American, and United, which drop you just 47 miles from the park. Either way, most visitors will rent a car to make up the remaining miles and allow for flexibility when exploring Zion’s different areas, accommodations, and restaurants. As such, it’s common to tackle a few national parks (like Bryce Canyon and  Grand Canyon ), or even some of Utah’s best state parks,  in one larger road-trip-style escape.

Zion National Park's free shuttles

The Narrows

Things to do in Zion National Park

Hikes and backpacking routes.

Apart from simply seeing the canyon in person, hiking and backpacking are the main draw at Zion. Famous trails like the adrenaline-inducing Angels Landing now require a  timed entry permit to hike (which can be avoided by booking a  guided day hike ), but there are plenty of other scenic paths through brilliant orange rock formations that any visitor can hop on at will. The  Canyon Overlook Trail , on the park’s east side, is a low-mileage, high-reward hike with phenomenal views and photo ops along its easy one-mile stretch. If you’re looking to crunch out big miles and escape the main canyon masses, an overnight or day jaunt along the  La Verkin Creek Trail should be first on your list.

Scenic drives

Private vehicles are only allowed along the iconic  Zion Canyon Scenic Drive from December through February (a  free shuttle is required during other months), but there’s a wealth of alternative scenic drives through the scrubby pinyon pines and striated cliffs that the area is so famous for. Just east of Zion’s main canyon, road trippers can wind around  Highway 9 to Mt. Carmel Junction, passing striking tangerine plateaus and the unique, crosshatched texture of hulking Checkerboard Mesa. You’ll find another postcard-inspiring view an hour north from Springdale, along the less-traveled road through  Kolob Canyons , which is known for epic hiking trails and brilliant red crags, sans crowds.

With private vehicle access to Zion Canyon prohibited spring through fall (creating a safe and car-free scenic route), many visitors opt to  bike into the park , and a bevy of friendly Zion bike rental shops have sprouted up nearby to help with growing demand.  Zion Cycles and  Zion Peddler rent road bikes and eBikes in the town of Springdale, but if you’re seeking an in-park rental, the historic  Zion Lodge has you covered. Just remember: Bikes are allowed on park roadways, but not on any paths—except for the paved Pa’rus Trail.

Guided excursions

Not everyone wants to set off into the desert wilderness on their own, and because of Zion’s high popularity there are dozens of standout guided tours and  day hikes designed with adventurous travelers in mind.

Hannah Towey

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Jessica Puckett

Steph Koyfman

Equestrians of all ability levels can embark on day trips through Zion’s towering sandstone pinnacles with  Canyon Trail Rides , a local business that’s been guiding visitors for over 50 years. Adrenaline junkies hoping to get up-close-and-personal with the park’s rock formations won’t want to miss an expert-led day of climbing or canyoneering with  Zion Rock & Mountain Guides .

Solo travelers seeking company, or anyone with more than just a couple days in the area, should check out Wildland Trekking’s  basecamp and  inn-based hiking tours , both of which include daily meals and a trek through the steep canyon walls of  The Narrows .

A LaFave luxury rentals at Zion National Park

Where to stay in and around Zion National Park

Whether you’re seeking something  ultra-luxe ,  'gram-worthy , or simply a budget-friendly camping option inside the park, there’s no shortage of great places to hit the hay when your day of exploring Zion is done. Below we cover some of the highlights, though you can find our comprehensive guide on where to stay in Zion National Park here.  

With 176 sites (including RV-friendly spots with electric hookups), flush toilets, and year-round access, the  Watchman Campground is Zion’s largest and best public campground. As such, it often books up months in advance, particularly on weekends and during summer months. Nearby  South Campground is an excellent plan B for car campers looking to sleep inside the park boundaries from spring through autumn.

If you don’t mind a longer drive to and from the park each morning (sunset views included),  Land Beyond Zion offers well-spaced, amenity-rich camping and glamping sites from founder Shanti Hodges, the woman entrepreneur behind  Hike It Baby .

Hotels and rentals

Seeking the best in-park lodging? Head to the historic  Zion Lodge . Completed in 1925, this charming hotel and cabin complex was designed by famed national park architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood and is set amongst the sky-high canyon walls and serpentine river bends that have drawn people to the park for decades.

If a vintage, albeit rustic lodge isn’t for you—some of us just need a full kitchen and luxe linens— La Fave’s well-appointed villas and suites will have you relaxing in style. To book an entire house,  The Ross in nearby Hurricane has a lavish soaking tub and mountain-modern décor.

Emily Pennington is the author of Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America's National Parks (February 1, 2023).

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Zion National Park: The Complete Guide

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Things to Do

• The Best Hikes & Trails

Where to Camp

Where to stay nearby, getting there, accessibility, tips for your visit, zion national park.

Situated in the southwest corner of Utah, Zion National Park is one of the most unique and breathtaking settings on the planet. At the heart of the park lies Zion Canyon, a 15-mile long, 2,600-foot deep gorge that is awe-inspiring both for its size and beauty. But the colorful sandstone walls sit at the nexus of desert, forest, and river biospheres which are rarely found in such close proximity. This makes the park a truly magical environment that never ceases to amaze and delight.

While it was officially declared a national park by Woodrow Wilson in 1919, Zion's history stretches back much further than that. Native Americans inhabited the region for at least 8,000 years, with various tribes calling the area home over the centuries. Europeans arrived in the 1850s and '60s, ultimately displacing the Native Americans living there. Many of those early Europeans were members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, which derives a great deal of meaning from the park's name.

Today, Zion is known for its excellent hiking, spectacular landscapes, and diversity of wildlife.

As is typical with any national park, there is plenty to see and do in Zion. For example, visitors simply looking for a scenic drive should point their car towards the Kolob Canyons where they'll find an epic 5-mile route that has to be seen to be believed. Birdwatchers will find a lot to love here as well, with more than 280 avian species to spot throughout the park. That includes the rare—but increasing in numbers—California Condor, which has appeared more frequently in recent years. If you linger in Zion after dark, you'll be treated to a celestial light show unlike any other, with the night sky aglow with a billion stars overhead.

Travelers looking for an adrenaline rush can take to the Virgin River, which has carved out Zion's unique landscape over the years. The water can run fast and furious at times, presenting challenging rapids meant for expert paddlers. The sandstone walls of the canyon make for excellent climbing and canyoneering—particularly in the famous Zion Narrows —is also a popular way to explore the area.

If you get hungry, options for finding food inside Zion National Park are somewhat limited. The visitor center does offer a limited number of drinks and snacks, while both the Castle Dome Café and Red Rock Grill at Zion Lodge offer a full menu for any time of the day.

Matteo Colombo / Getty Images

The Best Hikes & Trails

Zion features numerous hiking trails throughout its 146,000 acres. Many of those trails are remote and rugged, so plan accordingly before setting out. That includes wearing appropriate footwear and bringing plenty of drinking water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient in the backcountry, particularly if you wander into the Zion Wilderness. Backpackers planning to spend the night are also required to have a permit before venturing out. It is also important to note that the National Park Service limits the size of groups traveling together to 12 people. Zion's top trails are legendary amongst hikers , many of which come simply to knock a few off their adventure bucket list.

The Narrows is a challenging walk that takes trekkers 9.4 miles into the canyon, following the Virgin River along the way. Meanwhile, the moderately difficult Watchman Trail runs just 3.3 miles, along rocky cliff faces, rewarding visitors with some of the best views in the park along the way. The Overlook Trail is just 1 mile in length, but ends at a lookout point that is also breathtaking in its scope.

The park's signature hike, without a doubt, is Angels Landing —a demanding 5.5-mile walk that features over 1,500 feet of elevation gain along the way. This trek is not for the faint of heart or inexperienced, as there are certain sections where chains have been installed to provide handholds while crossing through the more difficult portions. Those who do complete the journey are treated to a truly spectacular view at the end that provides an amazing sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Those looking for easier, more accessible routes should give the Lower Emerald Pool Trail a go. This paved path runs for 1.2 miles and takes visitors to a beautiful waterfall and its namesake body of water, where hikers can even take a dip. Other options include the 1-mile-long Grotto Trail, which often provides opportunities to spot wildlife, and the paved Riverside Walk, which offers a 2.2-mile mini-Narrows experience.

Lee Cohen / Getty Images

Of course, visitors to the park can also elect to camp inside its borders during their stay. There are three campgrounds found within Zion itself, each with differing amenities. Lava Point Campground is the most remote and is usually only open between May and September. It is located at 7,890 feet along the Kolob Terrace, where weather conditions can fluctuate rapidly. The South Campground and Watchman Campground are a little more accessible and have a few modern features, including RV hookups and dump stations. Campsites start at $20 per night and reservations should be made through Recreation.gov .

As with most national parks and forests, backcountry camping is permitted in Zion, although backpackers are urged to take caution when pitching their tent. Hikers should make camp a safe distance from water sources and out of the way of potential rockfalls. Backcountry camping is free, but a permit is required at all times .

Travelers looking to spend a few days in and around Zion have several options when it comes to where they want to stay for the night. The famous Zion Lodge allows visitors to spend the night inside the park's boundaries, while still offering a comfortable setting. The Lodge offers standard rooms, cabins, and suites at varying price points and is open year-round.

Additionally, other overnight options can be found in the small towns that border the national park, with Springdale and Rockville being the closest and most convenient. Those towns also offer a variety of restaurants for grabbing both a quick and easy meal, as well as a more upscale sit-down experience.

Jordan Siemens /Getty

While Zion National Park is located in a remote area of southwest Utah, there are multiple ways of getting there. Those who are flying in will most likely pass through McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas , which is located approximately 170 miles from the park. Others may choose to fly into Salt Lake City International , but it is more than 300 miles away, making the journey by car a longer one. Additionally, there are regional airports located in nearby Saint George and Cedar City, although they may not be cost-effective options.

When driving to the park, head towards Springdale, Utah. Zion's main entrance can be found on State Route 9. When heading north from Las Vega, take Interstate 15 to Exit 16, then head east on SR 9. If you're traveling from Salt Lake City, stay on Interstate 15 South to Exit 27, then head east on State Route 17 until it intersects with SR 9. From there, continue heading east until you arrive at the park.

Of particular note, if you're traveling in a large vehicle—such as an RV or truck—you'll want to be aware of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel . The 1.1-mile-long tunnel is found on State Route 9 and is the longest of its kind in the U.S. Because it is quite narrow, vehicles that are taller than 11 feet, 4 inches in height or wider than 7 feet, 10 inches in width are required to have an escort, or traffic control when passing through. There is a $15 fee for this service, which is good for two trips. Vehicles that are 13 feet tall are prohibited from passing through the tunnel, as are semi-trucks, vehicles longer than 40 feet, or those carrying hazardous materials.

In accordance with the American Disabilities Act, Zion's visitor center, museum, restrooms, parking lots, and picnic areas are all wheelchair accessible. Zion Lodge is also wheelchair friendly, as are the shuttle buses that carry visitors around the park. Service dogs are allowed throughout the park but must remain on a leash at all times.

Various trails—including Pa’rus Trail, Lower Emerald Pools Trail, and Riverside Walk—are paved, allowing visitors with accessibility challenges access to the Zion wilderness experience. Many of the other trails quickly become difficult and demanding, however, so proceed with caution when venturing off pavement.

• Avoid the Crowds: More than 4 million visitors flock to Zion in a given year. Most of them come between February and November, with much smaller crowds in January and December. Those months may be colder and have less predictable weather, so bring appropriate gear to stay warm and dry. At all times of the year, Zion Canyon is the busiest area of the park, so head to Kolob Canyons or Kolob Terrace Road for more solitude.
• Backcountry Permits: Backcountry permits can be obtained at the Zion Canyon Wilderness Desk from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. Be prepared to wait an average of 20 minutes while completing that process.
• Fees and Passes: The entrance fee for Zion National Park is $35 for a private vehicle, $30 for a motorcycle, and $20 per person on foot. These fees provided a pass that is good for seven days. A Zion annual pass can be obtained for $70 and a lifetime pass can be purchased by seniors over the age of 62 for $80. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass is a great value at $80, particularly if you plan on visiting any of Utah's other national parks, such as Bryce Canyon or Canyonlands .
• Bring Binoculars: As mentioned, Zion is a virtual paradise for birdwatchers, but there are plenty of other creatures to see as well. The park is home to bighorn sheep, mule deer, bobcats, mountain lions, porcupines, foxes, and the elusive ringtail cat. Carrying a pair of binoculars will make it easier to spot these creatures throughout your stay.
• Check Trail Closures: Before planning a specific hike in Zion, be sure to check the park's website or at the visitor center for closures. Rockslides and high water are common at times, both of which can temporarily close a trail down. Additionally, the Angel's Landing trail might also get closed down due to overcrowding, so come with alternative plans should this be the case.

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The Essential Zion National Park Travel Guide

Plan your trip to Zion with this Zion National Park travel guide, with info on Zion’s campgrounds, must-do trails, permits, park shuttle & more.

Zion National Park is one of the most popular National Parks in Southern Utah and for a good reason. Narrow slot canyons, red and white sandstone formations, 3,000-foot vertical walls, and the Virgin River make the main canyon of Zion National Park a spectacular place to explore.

When planning a trip to Zion National Park, it is easy to get overwhelmed with questions. Where are the best hiking trails? How does the Park shuttle work? Do I need a permit? Where can I camp? In this Zion National Park Travel Guide, I answer all of these questions and break down everything you need to know for an amazing trip.

Ready for adventure? Start planning your trip to Zion with this Zion National Park Travel Guide!

Important Reminder: As it goes in all of the destinations we share, please practice  good trail etiquette  and remember to  Leave No Trace . This means packing out all of your garbage (including toilet paper) and following the established rules.   In the desert, this also means   learning how to protect cryptobiotic soil  and how it has a huge impact on our ecosystems.

Best Time to Visit Zion National Park

While Zion National Park can be visited year-round, temperatures are most pleasant in the months of April, May, early June, October, and November.

Summertime is very hot and busy, but it is a nice time to hike in the Virgin River in the Zion Narrows . Make sure you bring hiking sun protection and wear appropriate clothing for hiking in the desert .

Late July through September is considered flash flood season . If you are visiting Zion National Park during this time, pay close attention to the forecast and do not hike in any narrow canyons (including the Narrows hike) if rain is predicted.

Winter can also be a great time to visit Zion National Park . Crowds are fewer and the top of the canyon looks especially beautiful with a light dusting of snow, although trail access is more limited in icy conditions. If you plan to visit Zion in the winter, be sure to check out our guide to cold weather layering .

How to Get to Zion National Park

Zion National Park is located in Southern Utah around a 2 1/2 hour drive from Las Vegas and a 7 hour drive from Los Angeles. It’s a great destination as part of a larger Utah road trip itinerary or can be a standalone destination in itself.

If you’re looking to fly in for a visit to the park, the nearest airport with commercial flights is McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. From there you’ll want to rent a car for your trip as there isn’t easy public transportation to the park from there.

Zion National Park Layout

Zion National Park has two main regions. The main Zion Canyon , which should be on any first-timers itinerary and is the focus of this blog post, is most easily accessed via SR-9 which connects to the I-15 just north of St. George, Utah. The SR-9 runs directly into the Park’s South Entrance which is immediately past the small town of Springdale.

As soon as you enter the Park through the South Entrance, the Visitors Center will be on your right. The Visitors Center is worth a quick stop to pick up a map and get your bearings. The Park employees at the Visitors Center can also inform you of water availability on the trails, which is important to know before if you are heading out on any overnight hikes.

The other region of Zion National Park is the Kolob Canyon area . This area is located in the northern end of the Park and is accessed directly from I-15 (Exit 40 near Cedar City, Utah). The Kolob region offers a little more solitude, big peaks, and the second-largest natural arch in the world.

If you want to visit both parts of Zion, keep in mind that these two areas of the park are not connected by a direct road running through the park.

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Where to Stay in Zion National Park

Zion national park camping.

There are two drive-in campgrounds in the main Zion Canyon and they are less than 1/2 a mile from the Visitors Center at the entrance of the park. Sites are $20 for tent camping or $30 for a site with an electric hookup. All sites have picnic tables, a fire pit, and access to potable water, bathrooms, and trash containers. No showers are available at the campsites.

Reservations are highly recommended. If you can’t get a spot, there are many dispersed camping options just outside the Park.

Zion’s Watchman Campground

Zion National Park’s Watchman Campground is directly behind the Visitors Center and has a total of 190 tent and electric sites that are available year-round. Reservations are required from March through November and can be made online . Reservations are accepted 6 months in advance and fill up quickly, so as soon as you have your trip dates, you should immediately make a reservation. Regulations and a map of Watchman campground can be found here.

If you’re visiting Zion National Park in the winter, Watchman Campground has first-come, first-served campsites available from the end of November through February.

Best campsites : While I found all of the Watchman Campground sites to be decent, the best campsites based on views, space, and/or shade are located on the outside of the D loop from D19 through D35. I really loved D21. C1-10 were also nice but had little shade. Typically, I would be drawn to the Walk-in Tent Sites, but these felt cramped and had absolutely no shade, so I would not recommend the Walk-In sites.

Zion’s South Campground

Zion National Park’s South Campground is just north of the Visitors Center on the main road and has a total of 117 non-electric sites. The campground is open from March through October and sites are only available through reservations up to 14 days in advance. A map and regulations for the South Campground can be found here .

Best campsites : The campsites along the road are a bit noisier than the rest of the sites. The best sites are the ones along the Virgin River and Pa’rus Trail. These include 58-63, 68, 71, 72, 74, 77, 78, 80, 82, and 125-128.

The Zion National Park Lodge is the only in-Park lodging in Zion. It’s open year-round and accommodations include historic cabins, hotel rooms, and suites, all with private porches or balconies to take in the majestic views.

There’s also a restaurant on-site and the Park shuttle (see below) services the lodge multiple times a day so you can make the most of your stay in the Park. Prices start at $220/night.

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Other Zion National Park Lodging Options

Zion canyon campground & rv resort.

If both campgrounds in the Park are full, another option is Zion Canyon Campground and RV Resort in Springdale. While a bit pricier (starting $59/night), this campground has showers unlike the campgrounds in the Park. The sites next to the river are nice, although these are an additional $20/night.

Zion Trailer Rentals

If you prefer RV camping over sleeping in a tent ,  Zion Trailer Rentals will deliver and set up an RV travel trailer to any campground in the Zion NP area. They book up fast as most campsites for RVs are reserved up to 6 months in advance during peak season.

If camping isn’t your thing or it’s simply too hot, there are several hotels in Springdale including a few with swimming pools. For a higher budget ($200-350/night), check out the Desert Pearl Inn , Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens , or the Hampton Inn . For lower budgets ($100-$200), try the Zion Park Motel or Holiday Inn Express .

Zion National Park Permits and Fees

All visitors are required to pay an entrance fee of $35 per vehicle. The entrance pass is good for 7 days. If you are planning to stay longer or visiting other National Parks in the next year and you would like to save money on Park admission , then you might consider purchasing an Interagency Annual Pass . This pass costs $80 and waives entrance fees to all lands owned by the National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Forest Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service for one year.

Permits are not needed for most day hikes within Zion Canyon. Permits are only needed for overnight backpacking and wilderness camping, the top-down Narrows hike , Angel’s Landing (permit info below), or a day hike in the Subway. If you are planning on backpacking in Zion, all of the information regarding permits and reservations can be found here .

Zion National Park Shuttle

Zion canyon shuttle.

Generally, from early March through November, cars are not permitted to drive in the Park along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Luckily, the Zion Canyon shuttle operated by the Park Service is free, fast, and easy, and you do not need to reserve shuttle tickets. The shuttle drops off at all major trailheads in the park and it’s very easy to use.

If you visit the Park during shuttle season, the windows in the bus are huge, so you can enjoy the scenery while listening to the audio narrator tell you all the geology and history of sites you’ll pass in the Canyon. If you visit outside the shuttle season, you can still listen to the shuttle narration in your own vehicle by downloading it here .

The Park shuttle departs from the Visitors Center every 6-10 minutes and makes stops throughout the Park. Just jump off wherever you feel like exploring. When you are ready to move on, just wait at a stop and catch a shuttle going in the direction of your next stop. There are stops at all of the major hiking trails, and all the stops are clearly marked on the Park map provided at the Visitors Center.

Shuttle start and end times vary depending on the season, so be sure to check when the last shuttle of the day is before you head out on a hike. If you miss it, it’s a long walk out!

Springdale Shuttle

If you are staying in Springdale or there is no available parking at the Visitors Center, there is also a free shuttle from town to the Vistors Center where you can then catch the Zion Canyon shuttle.

Amenities Near Zion National Park

If you forget something at home, there is no need to worry. You can get pretty much whatever you need in Springdale which is right down the road from the Zion National Park entrance. Keep in mind that goods in Springdale are going to be more expensive than at home.

• Groceries, firewood, and ice can be purchased at The Canyon Market or at Sol Foods . The Canyon Market also has some camp kitchen supplies if you forget any cooking necessities.
• Liquor, beer, and wine can be purchased at the Switchback Liquor Store . It’s a state-run liquor store, so it’s closed on Sundays, but the plus side is that they sell full strength (>3.2%) beer if you’re into that.
• Cafe Soleil is an awesome, funky cafe with local art for sale. They have free wifi, friendly staff, and delicious coffee. The food also looked amazing. I highly recommend the dirty soy chai latte (chai with a shot of espresso)

What to Do in Zion National Park

Below are a few of my favorite outdoor adventures and things to do in Zion National Park that I consider a must if you have the time.

1. Climb Angel’s Landing

Shuttle Stop: The Grotto Length: 5.4 miles roundtrip Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet Difficulty: Strenuous Permit required? Yes

Angel’s Landing is the most famous trail in Zion National Park and it isn’t for the faint of heart. That said, anyone who is in decent physical shape and can handle a series of uphill switchbacks can do it (although probably not recommended for those with a fear of heights…unless you want to conquer those fears).

Everyone who wants to hike Angel’s Landing will need a permit . Permits are available via a lottery system two months in advance. Find more information about the Angel’s Landing permit process and apply for your permit on the Zion National Park’s website .

The first 2 miles of the Angel’s Landing hike are paved and well-traveled. We saw families even with small children on this section of the trail. The ascent is fairly steep but there are plenty of places to rest along the way where you can take in the views of the Canyon and the Virgin River below.

After hiking up a series of steep and short switchbacks called Walter’s Wiggles, you reach Scout’s Lookout. At Scout’s lookout, you get a really nice view of the summit and can see down the length of the Canyon. This is a good point to decide whether you are in a condition to continue. Past this point, the trail becomes very exposed as you climb up the spine of the mountain that is less than 5 feet wide in some places. Hiking this section is a thrilling and dizzying experience that requires slow, deliberate steps while making use of the chains and guard rails that have been installed by the Park Service.

After scrambling up 500 vertical feet, you reach the summit where you are rewarded with spectacular 360-degree views of the Canyon.

Tips for Hiking Angel’s Landing:

• This trail can get very crowded and the chains can get backed up during the middle of the day. To avoid the crowds, do this hike very early in the morning or the late afternoon which also happens to be the best times of day for photography due to the position of the sun.
• If at any point you become uncomfortable, stop, take a deep breath, and turn around if that’s the right move for you. It is nothing to be embarrassed about.
• You need two free hands. Make sure you have a backpack for your camera, water bottle, and other belongings.

2. Hike to Observation Point

Note: The Observation Point via East Rim Trail (below) is currently closed due to a major rockfall. Check the official National Park Service Zion trail description page for updates. You can currently access Observation Point by hiking the Observation Point via East Mesa Trail .

Shuttle Stop: Big Bend Length: 8 miles roundtrip Elevation Gain: 2,150 feet Rating: Moderate to Strenuous

While longer with greater elevation gain, you may find that Observation Point is a less strenuous hike than Angel’s Landing. It is also less crowded and was my favorite day hike we did in the Canyon. The trail starts with a series of switchbacks leading up from the Canyon floor. At the top of these switchbacks, the trail turns east into a steep slot canyon providing relief from the sun.

Once you exit the slot canyon, the trail continues to climb around the backside of the mountain overlooking an expansive area called Echo Canyon. This section of the trail provides new topography and different vegetation than what is experienced in the main Canyon and the drop-offs begin to get steeper.

You keep ascending and with one mile to go, the trail wraps back around providing sweeping views of Zion Canyon. During this section, you are on the edge of a vertical drop off with nothing between you and the Canyon floor. Luckily the trail is wide and solid rock, so as long as you watch your footing, there is nothing to worry about.

Eventually, as you reach the Canyon rim, the trail evens off, and the plateau jets out to Observation Point. From here, you tower above Angel’s Landing and have wide-open views of the Valley floor and both the East and West Canyon rims. For more photos, see my blog post: The Epic Hike to Observation Point .

3. Hike The Zion Narrows

Shuttle Stop: Temple of Sinawava Length: 2.2 miles + Elevation Gain: 60 feet Difficulty: Depends on how far you go…

The hike to the Zion Narrows from the bottom up begins with an easy paved walkway called the Riverside Walk at the very end of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Due to its accessibility, you will encounter lots of families, so don’t expect solitude. However, it’s a nice stroll along the Virgin River if you have some time to kill.

Beyond the end of the paved trail is the mouth of the Narrows, which is a 16-mile slot canyon with soaring walls, springs, and sandstone grottos. Hiking the entire Narrows requires a fair amount of logistical planning, but if you are feeling adventurous and have some tennis shoes, you can keep walking upriver as far as you like to do some exploring. Just keep an eye on the time and check the weather before heading upstream. If rain is in the forecast do not proceed.

If you have more time, you can also backpack the Zion Narrows . To this day, it’s one of my favorite backpacking trips in Southern Utah.

Note: The Narrows has been temporarily closed in the past due to high levels of cyanobacteria in the Virgin River. Be sure to check the Zion National Park website for updates before heading on your trip or check with the Visitor’s center upon arrival for the latest information.

4. Drive the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway

From the Canyon Junction to the East Entrance, the section of the SR-9 road is called the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. This is one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever done with endless places to pull off and explore.

While there are not many marked trails in this area, the bountiful slick rock makes for some easy hiking. Unless you are planning on venturing far from the road, you probably don’t need to plan in advance. Just keep an eye on your surroundings and make sure you always know how to get back to the road.

If you are feeling really adventurous and want to do some deeper exploring, photographer Joe Braun has a section on his website devoted to hiking in Zion’s Upper East Canyon that is worth a read. We stopped at Checkerboard Mesa Canyon and spent a few hours tromping around in complete solitude.

Additional Zion National Park Resources

The book and map below provide information that can complement this Zion Travel Guide. I purchased both of these before my trip and found them very useful for planning.

• Hiking from Here to WOW: Utah Canyon Country – This is a fantastic hiking book by Kathy and Craig Copeland. They cover a bunch of hikes in Zion and the surrounding area, including Angel’s Landing and Observation Point. They do an excellent job of describing the hikes, and I would recommend this book to anyone planning to spend significant time in Southern Utah.

• Zion National Park Map from National Geographic – This map gives a very good lay of the land and is more detailed than the map provided by the Park Service. It shows all of the shuttle stops, major hikes, backcountry campsites, and possible water sources on the trails.

What are your favorite things to do in Zion National Park? Do you have any additional tips to add to this travel guide for planning a visit? Leave a comment below!

With two decades of hiking and seven years of van life under her belt, Kristen has dedicated her life to helping people experience the positive effects of nature. As a pioneer in the outdoor blogging space, she founded Bearfoot Theory in 2014 and has since authored more than 350 blog posts about outdoor travel, hiking, camping, and van life. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, Outside Magazine, and Backpacker, and when she’s not on the road, she lives in Park City, Utah with her partner Ryan, their son, and two adventure pups.

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61 Comments

I am planning a trip to Zion for this spring (end of March/early April). When you visited last April, were most of the trails hike-able? Was snow ever a problem?

It varies from year to year, but when I went last April all of the trails were clear. If there is snow, it will likely only be at the top of the canyon and at higher altitudes. In that case, you could stick to trails at lower elevations. I’d recommend checking out this page to get a better idea of the weather. Let me know if you have any other questions! http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/weather-and-climate.htm

Hey Kristen, sawadii kha!

I am researching a trip Zion and came across your post via another blog. Thanks for the super helpful tips and accessible approach.

Were the narrows super awesome? Any other day hikes you recommend?

The Narrows were really amazing. I’d recommend doing it from the top down. You’ll get to see some of the more isolated parts of the Park and encounter less people. The Subway is also a really cool day hike. You need a permit, but it’s totally worth the effort. Let me know if you have other questions. Thanks!

I really appreciate this article…thanks for providing such great information in one place! I live in Utah and have grown up travelling to the Parks, but I’m still amazed at the beauty of Zion every time I visit. I’m excited to follow along on your adventures!

Thanks so much for the comment and glad you found the post helpful! Zion is so amazing…every time it gets better. I also Love your Utah hiking post too! As a new Utah transplant, I’m going to have to check some of these out. Thanks – Kristen

I’m planning on leaving L.A. around 7 pm and getting there around 2 am.. What do I do if I’m waiting for a spot at the south campground? Is there any overnight parking that I can park and wait till morning to find a open campsite?

There is a ton of BLM land surrounding the park where you can camp for free and no reservation is needed. Here is a map that shows all the BLM areas around the park: http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/upload/BLM_Camping_South.pdf Have fun!

Hey Kristen, I am so excited that Linda showed me your blog!! I have had a trip to Zion planned for months now and this would have been so helpful when I was starting, but it is still really helpful now! We are all going to take a trip over there labor day weekend from Thursday to Monday. We are camping the Narrows Saturday night, and from your blog post it looks like Angel’s Landing and Observation Point would be really good day hikes for maybe Thursday and Friday. Do you have any suggestions for other fun little day hikes or things to see to get the most out of our first Zion trip? Thanks so much!

Hey Monique! Great to hear from you. You should definitely do Angel’s Landing. I would suggest doing that first before the holiday crowds show up and do it as early or late in the day as possible when it will be less busy. If you do it early in the day, you can continue hiking up that trail towards the West Rim. Observation Point is also awesome and the view is even better than Angel’s Landing in my opinion. You can also do a side trip to Hidden Canyon from that trail if you have extra time. As for other stuff, the drive up Highway 12 to the other end of the park is very cool and there are a zillion places you can pull off and hike around. Hope that is helpful! Have a blast and hopefully I can connect with you and Linda soon. -Kristen

If you had a choice between doing the Zion Narrows Top Down Route or doing Angels Landing and Observation Point, which would you suggest? I only have one day there so all 3 are impossible.

In warmer months, like May – August, I would say the Narrows. It’s really something special. In colder months, the Narrows would still be nice, but you’d need a dry suit, so you need to think about whether or not you want to hike that far in a dry suit. You also need a permit for the narrows even as a day hike, while Angel’s Landing and Observation Point don’t require a permit. So that is also something to consider.

I am planning a trip to Zion and your posts have been incredibly helpful. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks so much Paul! Have fun out there.

Hello, I am planning to visit Zion in the second week of June of this year. I would like to take my family through the narrows. I have my beautiful wife, and a 3 and 1 year old girls. Would you say that this is a good hike for them for the day? Also, where is a good place to park the car? I know that there is a shuttle, but knowing of a good spot for parking the car would be great advice. Also, would doing the subway be a bad idea with children? thank you for sharing your pictures and information. Very helpful information. Spot on.

Hey Timothy –

I’m not sure the Narrows is appropriate for kids that young…The current is slow but can still be powerful and I think it might be difficult for kids that young to manage. What you could do is take the Riverside trail from the road end to the mouth of the narrows and then make a decision then. You don’t need a permit to hike it from the bottom. The Subway is a pretty difficult day hike so I also don’t think that would be a good option.

Parking is by the visitors center or in town. Hope that’s helpful.

Cheers, Kristen

Awesome blog post! Really helpful information!

We are two photographers and also wrote a blogpost about Zion NP: http://www.travelingwolf.com/blog/2016/5/19/zion-np

Stay awesome!

Thanks for the info. Just boked my trip for November.

Hi Kristen! My husband and I are planning a 2 week camping trip to the national parks in Utah and Arizona the last week of April-May for our honeymoon. How much time would you say that we should plan to spend in Zion? Thank you!

Sounds like a great trip! I’d give yourself at least 3 days in Zion. That will give you time to do the Narrows, Observation Point, and Angel’s Landing, which I think are the main highlights.

Hi Kristin Thanks for all the information here. We are planning a backpacking trip this fall in Zion but cannot find a map of the backcountry campsites. Any idea where I can find them? Thanks

I have this Nat Geo map: http://amzn.to/2nr4sYl and it has all of the Zion backcountry campsites shown

Hi Kristin! First thank you for sharing all this great information. I am planning a Zion, Escalante and, if time, Bryce trip with a 10′ vintage trailer attached to a 4WD truck. Do all of the camping spots you mention allow a tiny trailer? (heck, its smaller than some people’s tents LOL) I am also older and I think some of the advice you gave concerning safety and doability for kids might just help me as well! I fancy myself a tough old lady, but the altitude and heat will certainly put a limit on what I can do. How is the heat normally in early June? Thanks!!

Sounds like you are going to have an awesome trip Kathy! You should be great to go with your trailer and truck. Check out this information from the NPS for more details, https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/campgrounds-in-zion.htm , The heat definitely can be warming up in June but luckily you are going early June and just remember if you are able to do any higher elevation hikes that will help with the heat.

Thanks Kristin for a great blog and tourist guide. I plan on visiting Zion for 2 days. I am in fairly good physical condition, so the different hikes you have highlighted here shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. How would you recommend I arrange my itinerary. I assume I would take the shuttle each day to the different trail start points? Any advice would be greatly appreciated Thanks Graham

Graham, that is awesome to hear you are heading to Zion. I would definitely check the weather conditions when you get there and then make decisions based on the weather. The Narrows has recently been closed so that could adjust your itinerary. Also keep in mind to be aware of the day you hike the Narrows as it is highly likely your shoes will need a day or two to dry out fully! Have an awesome adventure! -Kim

Any advise for hikes with kids? I’ll be in Zion in a month with my 5 year old and 9 year old. I’d love to do angels landing and observation point but I think it’s more than they can handle

Emily that is so exciting to hear you are going to be in Zion. Angels Landing and Observation Point are definitely a bit tough on kids. I would definitely recommend the paved walk along the narrows and exploring the narrows a little bit–the really nice thing about the narrows is that you can go as far as you want and then turn back. Weeping Rock and Emerald Pools trail are two other great trails for kids.

Hi Kristen,

I found your blog a few months back and I love how easy you make it to explore such beautiful places! I’ve googled and Googled like crazy but I always come back to your blog cause it makes more sense! My boyfriend and I will be visiting Zion at the end of July (weather permitting) and we only have a day there. After reading your blog I am assuming that the Narrow would be best for us to try just to get some views in but we are also considering camping overnight as well. I have only camped once in my adult life, plenty as a kid, and my boyfriend hasn’t at all haha. While I know we can figure it all out, do you recommend that this is good place for new camper to stay a night? Also are there any campsite there are right near or on the water? Thanks so much!!

I’ve done a bit more research on the Narrows and we’re not sure that we want to hike in the water without having a shower to head back to before we drive back home to Phoenix afterward, any recommendations on quick walks for drives so we can see the park as best as possible?

The Watchman Trail and Angel’s Landing would be alternatives. However, most likely in the Narrows you won’t be more than knee deep depending on how far you go up.

The campgrounds in the Park have clean bathrooms, safe drinking water, and easy access to all of the sites in the park. You’ll need to arrive early in the morning to try to snag one of the first come first serve sites though, since they go fast. The campgrounds in the park are located right on the Virgin River. There are also privately owned campgrounds in town if the park ones are full. Have fun!

Hey Kristen, Some friends and I are planning a last minute trip to Zion and I am trying to figure out what I need to do. We are big into adventures and just want to do a couple days of backpacking and camping in the wilderness. Do we have to stay at a campground or can we just take off hiking and set up camp when we get tired or find a good spot?

Hello, Larry, thanks for reaching out. Have you checked out the Zion National Park website yet? Here is the link for more information on backpacking there: https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/backpacking.htm . You can make reservations at backcountry campsites up to 3 months in advance and you do need to plan ahead as you will need to get a wilderness permit as well. If you are unable to get a permit last minute for everybody in your group there are still incredible big adventures in the park.

Your blog post has been so helpful! I am planning literally a last minute trip to Zion for this coming weekend! Planning to leave CO early Friday AM (leave Zion Tuesday AM) but of course won’t arrive until later Friday evening, so do you know of any places I could car camp for the night as I’m sure most spots will be taken. I am fond of dispersed camping and plan to head to REI in the AM to pick up the Zion map you mentioned! Also, I have found some open days for Sunday or Monday night I believe in the narrows from top down with availability, but I was just wondering how that works (hike with my entire pack from top down and spend the night at whichever place I found an opening for, spend the night and then finish the hike out the next day? Are all of the campsites listed on the reservation website within the narrows or do I need to stay in the narrows campsites for the top down?) Is it super strenuous from top down having a full pack with gear, tent, etc? Thanks so much!

Hey Meleah, so sorry we didn’t get back to you in time before your trip! We hope you had a great adventure in Zion.

My husband and I will be going early in October. What trails do you recommend? Are the Narrows an option at this time of the year?

Hi, Rosie! Thanks for stopping by. So great to hear you are heading to Zion. Our favorite hikes in Zion are Observation Point ( https://bearfoottheory.com/zion-national-park-observation-point-hike/ ), Emerald Pools, Angels Landing & the Narrows. The Narrows are open in November but the water temperature is definitely dropping so just make sure you are prepared–remember you can always rent gear in town for hiking the Narrows.

Hi Kristen, Love your blog! Are guided hikes in Zion recommend? Or will we easily and safely be able to navigate on our own? Thanks in advance!

Hello Shayna, you can easily navigate hikes on your own in Zion. Make sure to stop in at the Visitor Center and talk with the Rangers if you need any additional suggestions or support–they are great!

Hi Kristen! Thank you so much for this amazing and informative site. We are planning a trip to Zion in either April/May or October. I’ve seen a few things online about the tent caterpillar infestation at the campgrounds in April/May, which can apparently make things unpleasant, because they rain down from the trees and cover tables, tents, and any other surface. Did you have any problem with tent caterpillars while you were there? Thanks so much!

Hi! Thank you so much for all the great info! I love reading your posts. I am so excited about an upcoming hiking trip to Zion in April. We are coming from Texas and are planning to stay in Kanab. We will be hiking for 3 days and hope to hike Angel’s Landing, The Narrows, Observation Point and see what else we might be able to get in. When driving in, can we park at canyon junction to get on the shuttle for the day, or will we need to go on to park at the visitors center? Thanks!

Hi Jennifer sounds like you have an amazing trip planned! There is VERY limited parking at Canyon Junction, I would plan to park at the visitor’s center–the shuttle system is really good in Zion.

Thanks! Do you have a favorite place for watching sunrise or sunset?

Just curious. My family collects National Park Junior Ranger items, and I was wondering, if in your travels you have collected any Jr. Ranger badges and patches? And if you have, do you have any extras for sale or trade? It is a hobby we do as a family; travel to National Parks and do the Junior Ranger program collecting Junior Ranger items. Pat

Hello Pat! Thanks so much for reaching out! My nieces love completing & earning their Jr. Ranger badges as well! We do not have any extras for sale/trade but we wish you best of luck in visiting all the parks.

Hi Kristen, Thanks for an amazing site with a lot of helpful information! I’m planning for a solo trip to Utah (from Sweden!) at the end of August and Zion will be my first stop. I’m planning for 3 days, and consider for the longer day hike observation point or west rim trail. Which one do you recommend? How about getting to the trail head för west rim trail? I’m a bit nervous about hiking alone, but your site gives a lot of courage 🙂 Thanks!

The West Rim is best done as an overnight backpacking trip and requires a shuttle. So since you are traveling alone, I’d recommend Observation Point. There will be a ton of other people on the trail, so you won’t feel all by yourself. Do note that the Observation Point trail is currently closed due to rockfall. Hopefully it will be open by August.

Hi Kristen: my husband and I are trying to figure out a good hiking trip September/October this year…I have always wanted to see Zion/Bryce area but my husband has his sights set on Mt. Shasta. We live in Southern California and will drive where ever it is we go too. We will stay in a hotel/lodge – we have no camping gear and honestly it scares the heck out of me to stay in a tent…We are avid hikers…any advice you can give would be appreciated!

Hi Valerie! September/October is a great time for a hiking trip because crowds disperse after Labor Day weekend and the weather is still nice. Shasta, Zion, and Bryce are all good options. Mt Shasta is a large mountain that requires more serious mountaineering to summit, but the area surrounding Mt Shasta has plenty of hiking trails, lakes, and waterfalls. From my limited experience in the Shasta area, things are more spread out so you’ll likely need to do a bit of research to determine where you want to base yourself and where you want to hike. Zion is gorgeous and is one of my favorite national parks next to Yosemite. What’s nice about Zion is that there’s a lodge directly in the park (Zion National Park Lodge) so you can stay right in the park surrounded by beautiful scenery and access plenty of hiking trails from there. Bryce can be done as a day trip (2 hrs one way) from Zion, or I imagine there are lodging options in that area as well although I’m not directly familiar. I’d recommend doing a little more research on both locations (Shasta and Zion) and to look up photos of both regions so you and your husband can get an idea of what you prefer. Have a wonderful trip!

Thank you for explaining that some of the best times to visit Zion National Park are in the Fall around October and November. My wife and I love to go hiking. We hate the heat though so it would be nice to go explore the park this Fall if COVID-19 hasn’t closed it down.

Thanks for reading, happy hiking!

Hi, my husband and I will be in Vegas the first weekend in October and we are planning to spend a day in Zion. Do you think the water will be too cold to hike the Narrows? We would be going from the bottom up and probably only going about 4 miles in. Since that would be 8 miles round trip, I just can’t physically go any further than that.

Hi Sherri – Zion Outfitters has average water temps by month .

Update. Tickets are no longer needed for the Zion Shuttle. Once you have entered the park paying the fee or using a park pass, you can board any shuttle for free without needing tickets.

Hi Barb, thanks for letting us know! We just updated the post to reflect this 🙂

Awesome guide! We loved our time in Zion last year and want to go back. We hired a local guide company to try canyoneering for the first time and it was a blast! Check these guys out if you’re thinking of trying it: https://allwaysadventure.com/canyoneering-adventures-in-east-zion/

Hi Chad, thanks for the recommendation!

Hello Kirsten, Is Zion National Park Lodge ideal place to stay and use it as a base for 5 days exploring Utah’s mighty fives?

It’s about a 5 hour drive (one-way) from Zion to Arches National Park, so you wouldn’t be able to do that in a day. Realistically, you’d probably only be able to visit Zion, Bryce, and Capitol Reef if you decide to base yourself at the Zion National Park Lodge.

3/16/24. A article update is needed. Please note that the Las Vegas airport has changed its name from McCaren to Harry Reid International Airport. A ceremony was held December 15, 2021.

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The Ultimate Guide to Zion National Park — Best Things To Do, See & Enjoy!

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Where Is Zion National Park?

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Zion National Park is Utah’s oldest national park and was established in 1919. Located near Springdale, Utah, this stunning national park offers the experience of nature at its finest.

A trip to Zion National Park is an unforgettable opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, history, culture, and more. It’s filled with remarkable vistas, gorges, canyons, and rivers.

How To Get to Zion National Park

Zion National Park is located in the southwest corner of Utah near Springdale and Kanab. Zion is only a few hours from Las Vegas and stretches over 3 counties in Utah, including Washington, Iron, and Kane counties.

Flying is the most efficient way to get to the park, depending on where you are traveling from. Several airports are near Zion National Park. Choosing the best airport will help you make the most of your trip to Zion.

Harry Reid International Airport

Located in Paradise, Nevada, Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is a popular base for traveling to Zion National Park.

This airport is considered to be in Las Vegas and offers passengers lower prices and several flight options from anywhere around the world.

An incredible array of airlines are serviced by Harry Reid International Airport, including American, Delta, Southwest, and United. On the ~3-hour journey from the airport to the park, you can enjoy the scenic route and have the ability to stop and visit several canyons and other remarkable sights along the way.

Salt Lake City International Airport

Many travelers choose to fly into Salt Lake International Airport (SLC) because of its close proximity to Zion National Park. This airport features many budget airlines , including Southwest, United, and American, so travelers can search for great deals on flights.

From the airport, it takes 4.5 hours to get to Zion, but there are stunning views of canyons and landscapes on the way.

St. George Regional Airport

St. George Regional Airport (SGU) is the closest airport to Zion National Park, as it is only 1 hour from the park. While it is extremely close, it’s limited to a small number of non-stop flights within the United States.

There aren’t any direct international flights to St. George, but you can take a connecting flight from Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Phoenix (PHX), Denver (DEN), or Salt Lake City (SLC).

There aren’t many budget airlines that fly into this airport. Even though St. George is the closest airport to the park, you may choose a different option to better meet your needs.

Hot Tip: Learn more about the amazing national parks in the area, such as Grand Canyon National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park , in our ultimate guide to U.S. national parks .

Driving is always an option when it comes to getting to Zion National Park, so load up your car, van, or RV with all your road trip essentials.

Highway 9 is the main road to and through Zion National Park . This journey will take you through picturesque small towns and gorgeous landscapes.

If you are taking an RV, there are several factors to keep in mind, such as needing a special permit to travel through tunnels . There are also some difficult roads that you may want to avoid in your RV. This road trip will be a chance of a lifetime, but as always, preplanning will be key for smooth travels.

The closest train station to Zion National Park is the Flagstaff Amtrak Station , which is about 4 hours from the park. This station has car rental offices nearby that can help you select a rental vehicle for the rest of your trip.

Getting Around Zion National Park

Zion is a massive national park, and to help its adventurers, the park offers many free park maps on its website, including an area map, a wilderness map, and a pedestrian map.

The 2 main ways to explore Zion National Park include utilizing the shuttle system and driving. During the busy season, tourists are advised to use one of the shuttle systems to help avoid crowding at the park.

Driving in the park is permitted in many areas. Zion has several scenic drives that lead to popular attractions such as Angel’s Landing, The Narrows, and Kobb Canyons.

March through late November, the park only permits shuttle bus drives through the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. This is the park’s way of reducing traffic during its peak months.

Zion National Park has a shuttle system that is an incredible transportation option to utilize while exploring the park. It stops at 9 different attractions, and you can get off and on at any of the bus stops throughout the park. There are times throughout the park’s busy season when the shuttle is the only option for entering certain parts of the park.

Zion Canyon Shuttle connects the visitor’s center to stops on the Canyon Scenic Drive. In addition, there are shuttles that leave every few minutes and take visitors either north or south to begin their journey.

Park visitors can get on and off the shuttle at any shuttle stop. The system even has a narration guide, so you can listen and learn about the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive as you take in the sights.

Biking is another option for getting around in Zion . Bikers may feel closer to the scenery while riding through this glorious park. But there are some serious considerations to keep in mind. Steep and twisting roads in the park can be hard to traverse, especially in the summer heat. There is also a fee involved to ride bikes around the park. Finally, cell phone service is almost non-existent.

What To See and Do in Zion National Park

Zion National Park is known for its remarkable canyons, awesome hiking trails, climbing opportunities, and camping. The park is a popular summer vacation destination for families and adventure enthusiasts.

With so much to see in this national park, planning to visit for at least 7 days will give you plenty of time to discover the beauty and treasures of Zion National Park.

One of the most popular attractions in Zion National Park is Angel’s Landing. This 1,488-foot-tall rock formation is a sight to behold. The area also has a trail cut into the rock formations that lead to the top of Angel’s Landing , where a panoramic view of Zion Canyon can be viewed.

This trail is strenuous, steep, narrow, and filled with drops of 1,000 feet. It may not be for those who fear heights, but you’ll be rewarded with magnificent canyon views if you take it on.

Hot Tip: When traveling this trail, hikers need to take caution as there are dangers of falling. With drops of over 1,000 feet, the fall risk is dangerous and sometimes deadly.

If you’re seeking a family-friendly or shorter trail, look no further than Canyon Overlook Trail. This hike is only about an hour long and is fairly gentle.  It even features railings in many sections. Arriving at the peak of the trail rewards you with views of well-known landmarks, including Bridge Mountain, East Temple, and the Pine Creek stream.

Checkerboard Mesa is a notorious attraction in Zion National Park. The sandstone hills have crack patterns that appear to look like a checkerboard grid. This magnificent landmark is one of Zion’s most photogenic and recognizable features.

The Court of the Patriarchs is a group of sandstone cliffs featured in Zion National Park. This is said to be the shortest trail in the park and an excellent start to your Zion adventure. This trail is just a 2-minute hike and takes you to a small viewpoint that overlooks the majestic mountain structures throughout the canyon and the towering trees.

This attraction is a picturesque spot for group photos. Sunrise photos at the Court of the Patriarchs are particularly breathtaking.

Zion National Park is home to 3 emerald pool areas. These large steaming pools have solid deposits of minerals around them, giving the pools a unique and intriguing look. Long ago, the pools were blue, but they have changed pH balance over time, giving them a green tint and a captivating name.

These pools can be viewed in 3 different areas: The Lower Emerald Pools, Middle Emerald Pools, and the Upper Emerald Pools. Tourists can view these pools while hiking the Emerald Pools Trail.

This mesmerizing area of Zion National Park hosts stunning views of the crimson canyons and hiking trails with amazing views.

Kolob Canyons is located in the park’s northwest corner and has remarkable peaks and cliffs with 2,000-foot walls . Tourists enjoy the views by taking a scenic drive and hiking the trails, and some even spend several days in this area alone since there is so much to discover.

One of the most popular hikes and attractions at Zion National Park is The Narrows. This canyon hike is known for its narrow parts that are only 20 to 30 feet wide, as well as its depth of 2,000 feet.

This unique hike has adventurers traveling upstream through the Virgin River and crossing slippery, uneven river boulders. Should you choose to brave The Narrows, you will be rewarded with magnificent sandstone walls, roaring waterfalls, and an ultimate feeling of accomplishment when your adventure ends.

Observation Point is a famous landmark in Zion National Park that is an 8-mile round-trip hike. This strenuous hike is a journey up a hill chiseled out from the canyon walls and cliff formations.

The ending viewpoint will have you over 700 feet higher than Angel’s Landing , with an astonishing view of the main canyon and attractions such as Weeping Rock and Angel’s Landing.

This beautiful trail got its name from the Paiute word meaning “bubbling water” and is one of the newer trails at Zion National Park.

Pa’rus Trail is the only Zion trail that permits bicycles and pets, and it is accessible to wheelchairs. This trail is filled with gorgeous scenery, including bridges that cross over the river, endless wildflowers, and even deer.

Another family-friendly trail is the Riverside Walk Trail. Riverside Walk is another trail that is accessible by wheelchair. This hike begins at the Temple of Sinawava and is nearly 2 miles long.

While journeying Riverside Walk, hikers get incredible views of the Virgin River, lush vegetation (including moss, ferns, and trees), and weeping walls that provide water to plant life. Wildlife — including wild turkeys, mule deer, blue herons, squirrels, and chipmunks — can easily be spotted on this hike.

This hike ends in a place where the canyon becomes extremely narrow, with no banks of land on either side of the river. Once you reach this tight squeeze, you have entered The Narrows.

The Subway may be a challenge to accept for experienced hikers. This 9-mile hike isn’t just a walk through the park. It involves rappelling, swimming, and route-finding. Also known as Left Fork of North Creek, The Subway Trail requires an advance wilderness permit.

There are 2 trails to choose from if you decide to conquer The Subway. One trail begins at the Wildcat Canyon Trail and ends at the Left Fork Trailhead. The other begins and ends at Left Fork Trailhead. The Subway is the ultimate hiking experience for extreme adventurers.

Overlooking the entire Springdale area, Watchman Trail is sadly often forgotten about. This easy trail is 3 miles round-trip and is a classic hike experience that’s perfect for first-time visitors to take in Zion’s glory.

Watchman Trail is enveloped by desert greenery such as the prickly pear cactus, shrubs, and a few scattered evergreen trees. The hike is in the open, and little shade is provided, so be sure to have plenty of water, sunscreen, and sun hats to beat the heat, or plan your hike in the early morning or late afternoon.

One of the best ways to experience the greatness of Zion National Park is to journey through Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.

This drive runs through Zion Canyon and is nearly 8-miles-long one-way, depending on where you start. If you choose to drive straight through without stopping, you can finish the drive in 20 to 30 minutes, but if you want to stop and explore along the way, it can take up to 8 hours.

The best time to start on the Scenic Drive is early in the morning . The early morning allows you to beat the crowds and traffic and offers spectacular morning views of the park.

Be sure to plan ahead if you want to take your private vehicle on the Scenic Drive. The drive is closed to private vehicles from March through November, but you can still access it with a free shuttle service.

There are many points of interest along the Scenic Drive, including Canyon Junction Bridge, the Visitor’s Center, Zion Human History Museum , and much more. If you want to see all the famous attractions and landmarks in Zion, your best bet will be to travel the Scenic Drive.

Zion Human History Museum is a wonderful place to learn about the human history of Zion National Park. Visitors can learn about American Indian culture, the pioneer settlement of long ago, and how Zion has grown into a magnificent national park.

Another interesting exhibit at the museum is the water exhibit. This exhibit shows how water is a creator and destroyer and why people have traveled through and settled in Zion. In addition, there are informational videos that provide tourists with a wonderful overview of the park.

This museum is open year-round but has varying hours depending on the time of year. Admission to the museum is included with Zion National Park admission. This is a great place to learn, regroup, and take a break from the heat and walking.

The Best Times To Visit Zion National Park

While Zion National Park is open year-round, there are many times during the year when operating hours, shuttle schedules, and park admission change. Plan your trip ahead so you can visit everything you’re hoping to see during your trip to Zion.

Winter in Zion is an incredible time to sightsee and enjoy all that the park has to offer. These months are much slower than the rest of the year, which is great for guests who want to experience Zion at their own pace with fewer crowds.

A benefit to visiting Zion National Park in the winter is that the park allows private vehicles to drive through. The Scenic Drive explored in your own vehicle makes for a much more comfortable and less stressful visit than riding in the shuttle.

Those who visit during the winter months enjoy the cooler temperatures, which range from 50 to 60 degrees during the daytime. All the trails are open during the winter, which is great for experiencing the beauty of Zion.

Hot Tip: There is a chance you may encounter some icy conditions while visiting in the winter, so be sure to wear boots with traction to avoid slips and falls. While it may snow at times during the winter, snow typically disappears in just a few hours at lower elevations.

Zion National Park attracts 4.3 million visitors each year. If you want to visit the park and avoid crowds, your best option is to come in the late fall, during the winter, or early in the spring.

The weather will be a bit chilly, and some of the facilities may be closed, but if you want a peaceful and more solitary visit, these are the best times to visit.

If you want to avoid crowds but can’t plan your trip during these seasons, there are ways to have a less-crowded experience during the regular season. Begin your park journey in the early morning to beat the crowds.

Zion National Park is home to 68 species of mammals, including kangaroo rats, bighorn sheep, mule deer, foxes, and squirrels. Spring and fall are the best times to get a glimpse of the diverse wildlife found in Zion. The ideal time to see wildlife in the park is early in the morning before the park becomes crowded with tourists.

Traveling is never inexpensive, but there are ways to travel on a budget. For example, February is a great month to visit Zion National Park if you want to save money.

The hotels are typically much cheaper during this time of the year, and there are hardly any crowds. However, more visitors start returning to the park in late February, so try to come early in the month for a more peaceful, budget-friendly trip.

Zion has several events throughout the week, including exciting ranger-led programs that teach visitors about geology, plants, animals, and human history. Guests ages 4 and up can earn a badge by completing a Junior Ranger handbook. These programs are held on a weekly basis.

Zion Canyon Music Festival

The Zion Canyon Music Festival happens each year in late September at the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater, right outside the park entrance. This 2-day event includes music, food, arts, crafts, and lots of ways to have fun . This event is so exciting and fun, you may want to plan a yearly visit to the park so you can sneak in this festival as part of your itinerary.

Red Bull Rampage

The Red Bull Rampage happens each year in late October. This is the ultimate action sports competition and the most extreme mountain biking competition . This televised event is held in the town of Virgin in Utah, which is right near Zion. Bikers ride down mountains, create their own routes, and jump across sections to find their way down to the bottom.

Where To Stay in Zion National Park

Whether you choose to stay in the park in a luxury lodge, campsite, or a nearby town, there are countless lodging options for an unforgettable Zion vacation.

Zion National Park has plenty of lodging options available for park visitors. Stay at a luxurious resort, in a rustic cabin, or in one of several campsites throughout the park.

Zion Lodge has been a lodging option in Zion National Park for decades. This lodge is located inside the park and offers easy entrance to hiking trails and other attractions.

This hotel has modern rooms with private porches and balconies for guests to enjoy. The hotel rooms are stocked with comfortable beds and linens, satellite TV, and full baths.

Zion Lodge also has historic cabins for guests seeking a more rustic experience. The cabins feature cozy beds and linens, gas log fireplaces, a full bath, and a private porch.

Whether you stay in the hotel or in the cabins, Zion Lodge has plenty of amenities, including complimentary Wi-Fi, access to trails and park attractions, and special rates during the off-season.

A visitor’s favorite for Zion dining is the Red Rock Grill at Zion Lodge. This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, so guests can fuel up for a day exploring the park or unwind and rest after a long day of hiking.

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort has something to offer every traveler. From luxury cabin rentals to campsites in the woods, this resort has you covered. Let’s explore some of these unique lodging experiences.

The Cabin Suites are perfect for those who want to experience a rustic ambiance. These cabins are equipped with everything needed to feel at home, including a full kitchen, spacious living areas, and a cozy front porch.

Deluxe Glamping is available at Zion Ponderosa for visitors who like the idea of camping and luxury. The glamping tents have beautiful furniture and the comforts of home, all under a luxury tent. Those who choose to glamp also have access to a sparkling tiered swimming pool, restrooms, and a shower house.

Another fun accommodation at Zion Ponderosa is the Conestoga Wagon camping. This exciting option allows guests to sleep in a covered wagon like the pioneers of the 19 th  century. Other accommodations available at Zion Ponderosa include tent camping, RV camping, and cowboy cabins.

Zion Mountain Ranch

Zion Mountain Ranch is an authentic western destination. This 4-star accommodation allows guests to choose from cabins or lodges when staying at Zion Mountain Ranch.

The private cabins are in the east mountains of Zion National Park. There are several styles for guests to choose from, depending on your needs. Choose from cabins near the main lodge or private, secluded cabins in the prairies or near the edge of the canyons.

Lodges are larger accommodations with plenty of space for families or large groups. Lodges give a rustic ambiance and are scattered in secluded areas on meadows or near the woods, or close to the Buffalo Preserve.

There are several gateway towns near Zion National Park that are excellent options for adventurers who need to take a break, rest up, and prepare for another day exploring the park. Whether you are seeking a location that is lively and exciting or a town that is quiet and secluded, you will have no problem finding exactly what you are looking for near Zion.

Rockville is one of the closest towns to Zion National Park. Only 5 miles from the south entrance, this quiet town is perfect for those wanting an escape from the crowded park areas. Rockville has several inns and bed-and-breakfasts available for lodging. For dining and entertainment, you are just a short 10-minute drive to the shops and restaurants of Springdale.

Springdale is the closest town to Zion National Park. While it is a small town, Springdale is full of restaurants, hotels, and vendors that host a variety of outdoor entertainment.

Springdale is extremely convenient for those who are spending time at Zion National Park. The park’s shuttle service travels back and forth from the park and has 9 stops in Springdale alone. This town features many chain hotels as well as quaint inns and lodges. Springdale is such a popular destination, it’s important to plan well in advance to secure your accommodations.

Virgin is a sleepy town that is a 20-minute drive from Zion National Park. This town is the second closest town to the park and is very small. Balcony One is a well-known restaurant and the only restaurant in Virgin. It is top-rated and has an excellent menu for refueling after a long day in Zion.

There are 3 lodging options available in Virgin, each very highly rated . The Fairfield Inn & Suites Virgin Zion National Park is the only true hotel, and the other 2 are unique options, including glamping in tents and wagons or staying in a tiny home with stunning views.

This peaceful paradise is the perfect escape from the crowds and busy itinerary, and just a short drive to the park when you are ready to head back out to adventure.

Where To Eat in Zion National Park

There are 2 main places to dine in Zion National Park. The nearby towns have a more diverse array of restaurants and diners, but if you need to take a break and eat, you can dine at the Red Rock Grill or Castle Dome Café.

The Red Rock Grill is located in the main lodge building at Zion Lodge. This restaurant serves meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

With a decorative theme that imitates Zion Canyon using its wood and stone accents  and breathtaking views overlooking the floor of the canyon, dining becomes an unforgettable experience.

Castle Dome Café is a seasonal snack bar and Zion Lodge’s neighbor. This café serves an array of café drinks and pastries during the morning and burgers, hot dogs, and french fries throughout the rest of the day. The café also has a patio that serves local microbrews on a beer garden cart for those who want a refreshing drink.

1. Zion Hasn’t Always Been a National Park

Before Zion became a national park, it was a national monument. When it was recognized as a national monument, it was called Mukuntuweap National Monument. It took 10 years for this monument to be renamed and recognized as Zion National Park.

2. The Meaning of Zion

The first settlers were Mormon pioneers. They chose the name Zion, which means sanctuary or refuge in ancient Hebrew.

3. Home to an Ancient Civilization

The original occupants of Zion Canyon were the Anasazi. This tribe was a group of Native Americans who lived and thrived in Zion around 1500 BC. You can find traces of their sandstone villages and rock art throughout Zion National Park.

4. One of the Greatest Engineering Accomplishments of Modern Times

Zion was practically inaccessible to visitors when it first became a national park due to the poor road conditions and limited railroad access. In 1930, the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway and Tunnel was built by cutting through the sandstone cliffs. Drivers today are still surprised when they see the mesmerizing view when they arrive in the park.

5. Home to an Endangered Species

The California Condor has been on the endangered species list since 1967. These incredible birds can be seen soaring above Angel’s Landing or on Kolob Terrace Road.

6. One of the Largest Freestanding Natural Arches on Earth

Zion isn’t commonly thought of when it comes to natural stone arches, but it has several incredible arches that can be viewed in different parts of the park. The Kolob Arch is one of the world’s largest natural arches. It is 287 feet long and can be found in the Kolob Canyons District.

7. America’s Scariest Hike

Angel’s Landing in Zion is considered to be one of the scariest hikes in America. This hike ends at 1,488 feet above the Virgin River and is filled with zig-zag trails up steep hills, terrifying drops, and exposed edges. This attraction brings in many daring adventurers every year.

8. Archaeological Sites

Pieces of history can be found on many sites throughout the park. Adventurers can discover remnants of the past, including rock art, pottery, and smoke stains on the walls and cliffs. These remnants give us clues to the incredible history found in Zion.

9. The Original Zion Lodge Burned Down

Zion Lodge was built in 1925 and sadly destroyed by fire in 1966. The lodge was rebuilt in 1967 and still accommodates visitors each day of the year.

10. Carved by Water

Over 250 million years ago, Zion National Park was covered by water. Over time, huge rivers were carved through the landscape. Water has caused erosion and continues to shape the park even today.

Zion National Park is an unforgettable experience for tourists who love discovery and adventure. From breathtaking views of canyons and cliffs to remarkable trails for hiking and rock climbing opportunities, there is something for everyone. Book your trip to Zion National Park and see what this national treasure has to offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the weather like at zion national park.

The average temperature in the park is 75 degrees. Daily temperatures in the winter are typically in the lower 50s and the summer months can get up to 100 degrees.

How many days should I plan to stay in Zion National Park?

A great vacation in Zion can last anywhere between 2 and 7 days. If you just want to see the main sights and do some light hiking, you can plan for about 2 days. But if you want to experience the park to the fullest, it may be best to plan a trip that lasts 7 days.

Does Zion National Park allow pets?

Pets are not allowed on the park trails (with the exception of Pa’rus Trail), shuttle buses, or wilderness areas. However, if you are staying in the park at one of the campsites, pets are welcome to accompany you.

Do I need a reservation to enter Zion National Park?

You do not need a reservation or permit to visit most areas in the park. However, there are some attractions that do require a permit, such as overnight trips and hiking from the top of The Narrows to the bottom.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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Ultimate Guide to Zion National Park

By: Author Robyn Robledo

Posted on Last updated: January 26, 2024

This blog was updated in February 2023 for accuracy and additional information on visiting Zion National Park.

Zion is one of our favorite National Parks in America (runner up to our #1 favorite, Glacier NP )! Zion is deserving of its popularity! It caters to both first-time national park visitors and experienced adventurers. In this blog, we’ll cover a first-timers guide to Zion National Park, the best hikes for beginners as well as adrenaline addicts, and 2022 updates on shuttles and visitor centers.

Zion National Park is truly magical! There’s an energy force here that will completely mesmerize you and fills my soul with gratitude every time I enter the narrow Zion valley and become immersed in the towering red rock faces.

Even if you don’t have time to explore the many trails in Zion National Park, just driving to the Temple of Sinawava is worth the hour’s detour.

Zion is also an easy place to visit. The main canyon is relatively small, which means you can see most of Zion in just a day. However, the backcountry of Zion is quite large and you could easily spend weeks here hiking all the trails.

Table of Contents

Zion National Park has something for everyone!

Zion beginners will love just exploring the valley floor. Hikers can’t miss the best hike in Zion, Angel’s Landing, and adventurers will love The Subway!

Zion sits adjacent to the town of Springdale , which means you are never far from food, drinks, and a comfy bed. Besides a plethora of options when it comes to hotels in Springdale, the town also has a full-service campground, and right inside the entrance to Zion are two campgrounds with some pretty gorgeous views of the red-striated mountains that make Zion so unique.

Compared to many of the national parks, Zion is very easy to get around. There’s a free shuttle service in Springdale that can get you all around the town and drop you right at the entrance to Zion. You walk a hundred feet or so and you are inside the park where there is another free shuttle that gets you around the park.

Update: As of Fall 2021, you do not need a reservation to use the shuttle! You do still have to wear a mask on the shuttle though. Click here to jump to an update on current shuttle info .

One option, other than get up before sunrise to snag a parking spot early in the morning, is to bike to the trailheads. The Zion Scenic Drive opens at 6 am MDT and typically fills up within an hour. If you choose to bike, please ride single file on the right side of the road.

Where is Zion?

Zion is in the southwest corner of Utah, just an hour from St George and two and a half hours from Las Vegas.

Being surrounded by desert it’s hard to imagine that Zion could really be that gorgeous and I was skeptical the first time I arrived here. Even when I was in the town of Hurricane, a mere half hour from Zion, I remember thinking What is all the fuss about? It’s kinda dry and plain. I’m not really a big fan of the desert ecosystem but even if I was, I’d still be a bit disappointed.

It’s not really until you are in Springdale that you begin to see the towering red faced rocks that make Zion so spectacular and in my opinion, it’s not until you are standing on top of them say from Angels Landing or Observation Point that you know why Zion is so popular.

It’s the contrast of the green valley broken up with the blue curvy lines of the Virgin River’s blue waters backed with the striations of white, pink, and orange hues on the rocks that create this picture-perfect scenery, Zion.

Related: Ultimate Guide to Bryce Canyon NP

Beginners Tips for Visiting Zion National Park

Cost to visit zion.

Zion costs $20 per person or only $35 for everyone in your vehicle and that price covers your entrance to Zion for 7 consecutive days.

We always buy a National Parks Pass (officially called the Interagency Pass) which cost $80 per year.

It’s an incredible value because it gets you and your family into all the national parks for an entire year. You can purchase yours at the entrance or online . And if you are active military or a senior, you can get a free pass!

Driving Through Zion National Park

If you happen to be coming from or going to Zion from Bryce Canyon National Park or The Grand Canyon, your fastest route is through the Zion-Mount Carmel highway. This is a stunning drive, but requires driving through the Zion-Mount Carmel tunnel which has size restrictions so if you are traveling by RV, you’ll want to know your vehicle’s dimensions.

Vehicles over 13 feet 1 inch tall, single vehicles over 40 feet long, or combined vehicles over 50 feet long. Note: bicycles and pedestrians are also not allowed through the tunnel.

If your vehicle is under these restrictions but larger than 7 feet 10 inches wide and/or 11 feet 4 inches tall or larger is required to have a tunnel permit. You can get a permit at the pay entrance. They are $15 and good for two trips through the tunnel within a week. Click here for more details.

Best Time To Go

Zion is open every day of the year!

The best time to visit is anytime outside of summer. Summer is terribly hot and the crowds are insane.

For maximum hiking and adventure, Spring and Fall are the best times to visit. The temperatures are more pleasant and the crowds are thinner this time of year. September is specifically the best time for hiking especially those hikes like the Subway and the Narrows which involve hiking through the river.

Winter is simply stunning ! It’s not likely you will encounter snow but it is a possibility if you time it with a storm. Snow is what makes it so spectacular and there are also many other pros of visiting in winter like fewer crowds!

If you’re prepared to wait out the weather, winter might be the best time to visit!

Related: Reasons to Visit Zion in the Winter

If you visit in the summer, be ready for temperatures in the 90’s and possibly over 100. From mid-July into September it’s monsoon season so you’ll want to use a bit more caution if you do any canyon hikes like the Narrows or the Subway.

Using the Shuttle System

From mid-March to November, plus a few weekends in the winter, there are free shuttles to get around. Two lines run: The Springdale Line and the Zion Canyon Line. Most of Zion is only accessible through the shuttle system.

Important : When the National Park shuttles are running, no private vehicles are allowed on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive .

Fortunately, quite a few shuttles are running so you typically you wouldn’t have to wait more than 10 minutes at any one stop.

Pro tip: If you’re in Zion on a crowded day, it’s faster to park at the south end of Springdale early in the morning and just use the shuttles to get you everywhere you want to go.

Do I Need Shuttle Reservations?

You no longer need a reservation to ride the shuttle. The shuttle operates on a first-come first-serve basis.

When Do Shuttles Run?

Note that the shuttles are only seasonal , typically running from March to November. Generally, they also run the last weekend of December plus weekends in February and March. Check here for exact dates & winter hours and here for the shuttle map.

Outside of these time contains, you can drive your vehicle on the entire Zion Canyon Scenic drive (all the way to the Temple of Sinawava).

How Do I Ride the Zion Shuttle?

The Zion Canyon Line starts at Zion Canyon Visitor Center and hits 7 other stops on the way to the Temple of Sinawava. At the Temple, the bus drops off & picks up passengers then returns via the same route. For planning purposes, it takes 45 minutes to ride from the Visitor Center to Sinwava.

Every Zion Canyon shuttle stops at every location. One exception is buses only stop at Big Bend when heading south (out of the canyon).

The Springdale shuttle is almost identical with 9 stops and buses that pick up every 10-15 min. This bus only stops where passengers are waiting to help the bus move promptly. You’ll need to request a stop with the driver if you want to get out before the visitors center.

I mportant note: Between 9 AM and 1:30 PM, the Springdale Line will only pick up southbound passengers at the Visitor Center. This doesn’t apply to northbound travelers.

Spring, Summer, Fall Shuttle Hours:

• The Town of Springdale shuttle runs every day between 8 AM and 8 PM.
• First bus (on the Zion Canyon Line) leaves the Zion Visitor Center every day at 7 AM
• Last bus (on the Zion Canyon Line) departs from the Temple of Sinawava every day at 7:15 PM

Winter Shuttle Hours:

In the winter, only the Zion Canyon Line runs.

• The first bus departs from the visitor center at 8:00 AM
• The last bus leaves the Temple of Sinawava at 5:45 PM.

You mustn’t miss the last shuttle out of the canyon. If you miss the last bus, the only option is to walk the entire 8-mile road in the dark back to the Visitor Center. About 2 miles back, you’ll reach the Zion Lodge where you can call for a paid shuttle if need be.

Where Can I Park to Ride the Shuttle?

Finding parking is the biggest challenge when riding the shuttle. It’s easiest when you can get parking at the Visitor Center. During the busy season of July and August, aim to arrive before 8 am to get parking here.

If parking is full at the visitor center, there are plenty of parking lots in Springdale, however many of them are paid so look for street signs. Keep in mind that the Springdale Line doesn’t start running until 8 am while the Zion Line starts at 7 am.

Zion Visitor Center

The visitor center is located right when you enter Zion National Park from the south entrance. It is also adjacent to both main campgrounds.

The Visitor Center is a central hub and a good place to start when getting your bearings on the park. You might want to pop into the visitor center and grab a junior ranger book or hiking map if you didn’t get one when entering the pay station.

It’s not necessarily a must to stop in for information, though. This blog covers everything beginners need to know 😉

Related blog: Best Must-Visit Campgrounds in Utah

Hiking Inside Zion National Park

We’ve done nearly all the hikes in Zion Canyon as well as in nearby Kolob Canyon. Here’s a quick breakdown of the top hikes. You can also click here and read our full blog on the top 12 hikes in Zion.

If you’re visiting Zion, we highly recommend you also check out these 12 awesome hikes nearby in St George .

Most Epic Hikes in Zion

Angel’s landing.

Distance:  5.4 miles roundtrip Elevation Change:  1,488 feet Access Trailhead: Shuttle Stop #6 The Grotto Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous

If you only have time for one hike, you have to do Angels Landing…unless you are terrified of heights and even still, you can make it to the first viewpoint and turn around there.

This hike has made it into so many “best hikes in the world” lists that you really should see for yourself how fabulous it is. It’s a steep climb and yes, you do have to hold chains for the final mile of the hike, but it’s really only scary if you have a fear of heights.

We’ve hiked Angel’s Landing in the winter and in the summer and my conclusion is to push yourself and go for it.

It’s not as bad as it seems and it’s only scary when you look down. Truly, it would be VERY VERY difficult to fall off the cliff edge.

Important ! Just updated for 2023. You are now required to obtain a permit through  Recreation.gov  to hike Angel’s Landing.

For younger kids, it might be too challenging, but for outdoorsy families with experience, it’s manageable.

For children aged five and above, it varies based on their listening skills; consider using a climbing harness and sling for added safety.

Starting Angel’s Landing early is advantageous (aim for first light), yet starting later (around noon) in winter resulted in fewer crowds during our experience.

During peak times, delays occur due to people being nervous about the chains, causing slower movement and longer waits for passage.

Observation Point

Currently, as of March 2021, this trail is closed. There is an alternative way to hike this which you can read about on our Best Hikes in Zion blog .

Distance:  8.0 miles roundtrip Elevation Change:  2,148 ft feet Access Trailhead: Shuttle Stop #7 Weeping Rock Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous

My second favorite hike in all of Zion is Observation Point. The hike is 8 miles round trip and has even better views of Zion in my opinion than Angel’s Landing does.

It doesn’t require holding chains although there are a few sections with some exposure. It’s a very steep climb up so you’ll want to have plenty of water and wear layers.

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Hidden Canyon Overlook Trail

Distance:  1 mile roundtrip Elevation Change:  400 feet Access Trailhead: Canyon Overlook Trailhead (accessed by car only) Difficulty: Easy

The Canyon Overlook trail in Zion is the most bang-for-your-buck hiking trail in Zion for beginners! I didn’t even know this trail existed for the first 3 visits to Zion but it turned out to be one of the most stunning.

Due to how easy it is, it can become crowded in the summer. It is a great choice to do during the wintertime.

Related Blog: How to Hike The Subway Top Down .

Distance:  9.5 miles for top-down (6.5 miles for bottom-up) Elevation Change:  1,000 feet rappelled, 400 feet on foot Access Trailhead: Wildcat Canyon Trailhead and/or Left Fork Trailhead Difficulty: Strenuous to Very Strenuous

The Subway is without a doubt one of the greatest day hikes in the world …from the top-down that is.

While the traditional out-and-back hike to the Subway is fantastic, the point-to-point option involving rappelling and canyoneering creates a far more unforgettable experience.

Words cannot explain how incredible this adventure is. The real challenge is snagging a permit to fo this one

I was a bit nervous to do the top-down Subway hike at first and was worried about my kids getting hurt, us getting lost, or flash floods drowning us but if you go prepared, you don’t have to worry .

The Narrows

Distance:  10 miles roundtrip Elevation Change:  Little to no change Access Trailhead: Shuttle Stop #10 Temple of Sinawava Difficulty: Strenuous

The Narrows is, like it sounds, a narrow slot canyon that involves hiking in the stream bed of the Virgin River.

There are a few key logistics involved in this hike.

First is that since you’re hiking in the water, you’ll want good water shoes/sandals, at least in the spring and summer. In the winter and spring, the water is so cold that you’ll want neoprene socks, booties, and a drysuit, all of which can be rented from Zion Outfitters in town.

Second, this trek can be done in summer, fall, and best, winter but you do need to check to see how fast the river is flowing on the National Park website to make sure it’s safe.

Three, you don’t need a permit for this hike. If you hike it upstream from the Temple of Sinawava, you can go as far as Big Spring without a permit. Going all the way to Big Spring is 10 10-mile round trip.

Click here for details on hiking The Narrows . There are guiding services also for hiking the Narrows and outfitters that can get you set up with waterproof gear so you stay warmer while you hike.

Other Noteworthy Hikes in Zion

Riverside Walk – A flat 2-mile roundtrip hike on a paved trail AKA the first mile of the Narrows Hike.

Weeping Rock – A very steep but short .4-mile roundtrip hike. Located at the start of Observation Point and Hidden Canyon.

The Grotto Trail – This flat 1-mile hike connects The Grotto picnic area with Zion Lodge.

Emerald Pools – A pretty flat 1.2-mile hike to the Lower Pools that you can add another mile and a little more elevation gain to if you want to go the Upper Pools.

Watchman Trail – This hike is underrated. It’s a 3.3-mile hike to some gorgeous views and is rarely crowded! Starts from Zion Visitor Center.

Kolob Canyon

There’s a whole other side of Zion National Park that most people don’t know about Kolob Canyon. Kolob Canyon is the western border of Zion’s park boundary and it’s accessed off of Highway 15, a half hour north of Hurricane, Utah.

Kolob Canyon isn’t quite as spectacular as the main canyon but it’s far more secluded and less crowded. For info on all the best hikes in Kolob Canyon, check out this blog .

Related: Best Sport Climbing in St George

A One Day Itinerary

On a one-day itinerary, you have 2 options.

You could take your time and do all of the little hikes, stopping halfway to have lunch or a picnic at the Zion Lodge. If you are visiting in the busy months of summer, get an early start and head north to south along the canyon, starting with Riverside Walk and finishing with Watchman to avoid some of the crowds.

If you’ve got your eye on the epic hikes, I hate to burst your bubble but you’ll have to pick and choose which 1-2 hikes you want to hit. The Subway and The Narrows are all-day adventures.

If you’re not doing the Subway or the Narrows, you could easily finish Angel’s Landing by noon and combine Observation Point with Hidden Canyon and be done by dinnertime.

Where to Stay in Zion N.P.

Camping in zion.

Camping in Zion is such a magical experience, it’s no surprise that Watchman Campground made our list of the Top Campgrounds in Utah .

I think staying inside any of the national parks is the absolute best way to experience them. If you feel up to being outdoorsy, there are two campgrounds inside the park.

South Campground, which allows tents and RVs but doesn’t have hook ups or Watchman Campground which allows tents and RVs and has electricity in site.

If you want to camp inside Zion at Watchman or South Campground, you can reserve your campsite here .

Hotels + Lodges

If camping isn’t your thing, the absolute best place to stay in the heart of Zion NP at Zion Lodge .

However, this is one of the few national parks that is equally as beautiful to stay just outside the park. Like I mentioned earlier, Springdale is super close to the entrance and the shuttle system makes it easy to get in and out of the park quickly. Zion is also one of the few national parks where you still feel connected to the beauty of the area while in town.

I’d still choose a hotel that is closest to the entrance like Cable Mountain Lodge or Flanigan’s Inn so you don’t waste too much time riding the shuttle.

Or search Booking.com below for hotels in Springdale.

Where To Eat + Drink in Springdale

After a fun day of adventuring, we love to head over to Zion Pizza & Noodle Co. for pizza and a pint.

For a good cup of joe and a nice atmosphere, we love Deep Creek Coffee Co, or for more of a sit-down brunch kind of place, head to MeMe’s Cafe.

I hope I’ve inspired you to check out Zion. I don’t know how anyone could visit here and not fall in love with this place.

Remember, you have to get into the valley and hike some trails. Just going to the Visitor Center or even just riding the shuttle won’t do it justice.

We’d love to hear what you think of Zion, tell us what you love about Zion in the comments.

More National Parks Blogs:

• Zion to Bryce to Arches National Park Road Trip
• Best Hikes in St George [Hidden Gems Outside Zion]
• Yellowstone in One Day
• Camping in Glacier National Park
• Best Hikes in Glacier National Park
• 10 Bucket List Things to Do From Grand Teton to Glacier NP
• Best Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park
• Camping in Mount Rainier NP
• 11 Things You Can’t Miss in Mount Rainier
• Ultimate Guide to Hiking, Camping, and Wildlife Viewing at Denali National Park

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Saturday 4th of May 2019

Great, detailed post. I hope to visit one day!

James Kaiser

2024 Zion National Park Travel Guide

Zion is one of America’s most spectacular national parks — a remarkable landscape filled with stunning geology and world-class outdoor adventures.

But with limited time, you’ve got to plan your trip wisely. Zion: The Complete Guide puts the best of Zion National Park at your fingertips, helping you plan an unforgettable adventure!

Discover the Best of Zion National Park

The #1 Zion guidebook.

Zion National Park Travel Tips

Best Times to Visit

There’s never a bad time to visit Zion. Sunny summers, snowy winters, spring wildflowers, autumn foliage — Zion has it all!

Best Driving Routes

Learn the best driving routes to Zion. Experience natural wonders, fascinating sights, and great restaurants along the way.

Best Zion Hotels

From rustic lodges to upscale B&Bs, find the best places to stay inside and outside Zion National Park.

There’s no better way to put Zion’s remarkable landscape in perspective than visiting a spectacular viewpoint.

From day hikes in Zion Canyon to overnight backpacks along the rim, there’s no shortage of incredible trails in the park. The more effort you put in, the more you’ll be rewarded!

Seasonal Weather

Learn about Zion’s seasonal weather patterns, including thunderstorms during monsoon season and dangerous flash floods. Understanding nature’s warning signs will help you plan a safe trip.

Camping in Zion

Discover the best campgrounds and campsites in Zion National Park. There’s nothing like spending the night surrounded by Zion’s stunning scenery.

Camping Near Zion

When park campgrounds are full — or you want modern luxuries like hot showers or wifi — consider these great private and public campgrounds near Zion.

Introduction to Zion National Park

Adapted from Zion National Park: The Complete Guide

Located in southwest Utah, Zion is a small park filled with big adventures. Sculpted by the Virgin River over the past two million years, Zion Canyon shelters some of America’s most incredible scenery.

Sheer cliffs tower above narrow slot canyons, dramatic hiking trails rise to panoramic viewpoints, and unlikely springs nourish cool, lush oases. It’s as if Mother Nature gathered everything lovely about the desert Southwest and placed it into a single, scenic masterpiece. 

Radiating out from Zion Canyon are additional marvels. East Zion is a sprawling expanse of wavy sandstone, easily explored along a 10-mile road. Southwest Zion marks the northeast fringe of the Mojave Desert, which is home to amazing plants and animals.

To the west, Kolob Terrace Road rises through bold canyons into an alpine forest of aspen and pine—a landscape more like the Rockies than the desert Southwest. And Zion’s most remote destination, Kolob Canyons, is a rugged outpost with towering rock spires, gorgeous hiking trails, and one of the world’s largest free-standing rock arches.

All this natural beauty is made possible by Zion’s geology. Over the past 300 million years, Zion has hosted a head-spinning variety of unlikely environments, including tropical seas, sand dune deserts, lakes, rivers, and swamps. Each environment laid down a new layer of eroded sediments, which were ultimately buried and compressed into sedimentary rocks. Tectonic forces pushed these rock layers thousands of feet above sea level, and rivers carved through the scenery to create Zion’s legendary canyons and cliffs.

At 230 square miles, Zion National Park is just one-eighth the size of Grand Canyon . Although relatively small, the park’s wrinkled topography is a natural jungle gym that lures outdoor junkies from around the world.

Easy day hikes and multi-day backpacks crisscross the park, opening up hidden alcoves and forested plateaus. Biking is a great way to explore Zion Canyon, and rock climbers enjoy some of America’s most accessible big walls.

Perhaps most extraordinary is Zion’s world-class canyoneering. Dozens of narrow canyons slice through the park, luring canyoneers who hike, scramble, swim and rappel through the psychedelic slots. You could easily spend a month in Zion and not run out of things to do. So let’s get started!

Discover the best of Zion National Park

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The Ultimate Zion National Park Travel Guide

Of Utah's five national parks, Zion stands out for its geological wonders, a place where water and sand meet to form arguably the most dramatic landscape in the country. Here's our primer on how to see it all, from big hits like Zion Canyon and the Narrows to the gems many visitors overlook.

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The first time I road-tripped from Los Angeles to Zion National Park, I remember thinking that the Virgin River Gorge, which cuts a deep slash across Arizona’s northwest corner, was something like a certain literary wardrobe : You entered on one side via the quiet Nevada desert, then emerged a handful of twists later into the magical expanse of Utah, which practically vibrated with otherworldly sights. But the journey was nothing compared to the destination—Zion brims with bucket-list backdrops, from its intoxicating blend of brilliant colors to its serpentine canyons and sheer cliffs, that since my very first visit have never failed to leave me awestruck.

One ingredient in that Zion special sauce is that the Colorado Plateau , Great Basin , and Mojave Desert all converge here to create a landscape of geologic wonders. The resulting peaks, mesas, hoodoos, and canyons have been sculpted for millennia by a multitude of forces, including wind and ice, volcanic activity and seismic uplift, and perhaps most of all, the thunderous flow of the Virgin River. In fact, the park’s main draw, Zion Canyon, which acts like the desert analogue to Yosemite Valley —albeit one crafted of vibrant Navajo sandstone—grows deeper and wider each year thanks to this powerful waterway.

It’s not hard to understand why Mormon settlers felt a spiritual connection to the land when they arrived in the mid-19th century, or why their influence resulted in a handful of English-language place names in the park that are heavy on religious references: Towers of the Virgins, Tabernacle Dome, the Three Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob). But the park’s human (and spiritual) history goes back much further, first to the Ancestral Puebloans and then to the Southern Paiute people who’ve been stewards of this land since it was known as Oawingwa—“a place where the stream flows.”

So while Zion National Park—which was originally designated as Mukuntuweap National Monument in 1909, named for a Paiute word that loosely translates to “straight canyon”—celebrates its centennial this year, know that this is an ancient place. And chances are, no matter how much time you spend here, the same forces that have stirred other people’s souls for thousands of years will make a beeline straight for your own.

What You Need to Know Before Visiting

Water rules everything around you. Those same forces that shaped Zion’s canyons and cliffs are still hard at work. Staying on top of the weather forecast is crucial for not only enjoying your visit but ensuring that you stay safe. Even a light rain is enough to make slickrock—basically, smoothed sandstone—live up to its name; tread lightly, and avoid trails and routes with steep drop-offs (like the famous Angels Landing) when rain or ice is present. Also avoid canyoneering or hiking in narrow canyons when a threat of rain exists; flash-flood danger is real. Check the weather for the immediate area where you’ll be traveling and also at the canyon’s source point. The National Weather Service’s flash-flood-potential  rating is a great resource. Make tracks to higher ground if you encounter any of these signs of a possible flash flood: the sight or sound of an approaching storm, sudden debris flows, water becoming murky, loud noise upcanyon, rising water levels, or increasing current strength.

There’s more to the park than Zion Canyon. Sure, the canyon features some of the most iconic scenery and nearly all of the park’s services, but considering it’s a tiny drop in a 148,000-acre bucket, you’re missing out if you don’t venture further afield. It’s worth the 45-minute drive from the main entrance to reach the park’s northwest corner and Kolob Canyons, a series of parallel fissures guarded by tall sandstone fins that glow a fiery red during sunset. Park at the Kolob Canyon Viewpoint, and hike the trail that climbs above it for a front-row panorama (and a little more solitude). Crowds also thin out in the park’s East Rim area, located—you guessed it—east of Zion Canyon and adjacent to the east entrance. Here, State Route 9 (SR-9) is called the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway , and it’s such a beautiful drive that I once cruised it every single day during a trip—and still wish I’d spent more time out there. The sandstone here lacks oxidized iron, which makes it much whiter than in the main canyon; a prime example of both the color and the wild weathering process that shapes these formations is the cross-hatched Checkerboard Mesa towering near the east entrance.

You can get around without a car. The park has  a shuttle system  to address auto congestion in Zion Canyon. While you can still drive into the canyon (and along SR-9 as it bends toward the east entrance), you will find very limited parking options south of Canyon Junction. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, the park’s main thoroughfare, is restricted to shuttles and hotel guests from roughly mid-March through October, along with November weekends and the Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and Presidents’ Day holidays. During this time, you can catch two free shuttles, one that makes several stops in the town of Springdale, just outside the main entrance, and another that runs the length of Zion Canyon. Long lines form for the latter during summer months and busy weekends; practice patience—and maybe bring a good book.

How to Get There

Zion National Park is located in the southwest corner of Utah , about an hour east of Saint George, a midsize city stuffed with all the conveniences you won’t find the closer you get to Zion. It’s possible to fly into the regional Saint George Airport, an hour’s drive west of the park’s south entrance in tourist-friendly Springdale. But most folks opt for a flight into the more budget-friendly Las Vegas McCarran International, just under three hours west of the park’s main entrance. Zion’s east entrance occupies a lonely but beautiful stretch of SR-9. The  Kolob Canyons Visitor Center is 40 miles northwest of Zion Canyon, just a few wheel turns from bustling Interstate 15.

What’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Zion?

December through February marks the park’s low season, when crowds thin out due to colder temperatures that range from 50 to 30 degrees (including subfreezing nights) and frequent precipitation—but the brave souls who persevere are rewarded with the high-contrast splendor of stark white snow decorating bright red cliffs. While some of the park’s high-elevation roads (including Kolob Canyons Road and part of Kolob Terrace Road) close once snowfall accumulates, Zion Canyon is still open for business.

Visitors return once spring arrives in March, when temperatures are around 40 to 60 degrees. Every week the temperature ticks steadily upward, leading to snowmelt that feeds an array of wildflowers that usually begin sprouting in April. That same rapid thaw also means a high flow rate for the Virgin River. For safety reasons, the popular Narrows area of the canyon is typically off-limits to hikers in spring.

By June, the mercury tips toward triple digits, where it will hover most afternoons throughout the summer. This makes it a perfect time to visit the park’s upper elevations along the Kolob Canyons and Kolob Terrace areas, and to hike the Narrows, which is typically much cooler than the rest of Zion Canyon. But stay vigilant—monsoon season begins in mid-July and runs through mid-September, which means that a perfectly sunny morning can easily give way to a stormy afternoon and flash-flood warnings.

September offers one last hurrah for heat seekers (between 60 and 90 degrees) before the temperature begins to dip by ten degrees come October. The upside is that cooler weather brings colorful foliage as canyon cottonwoods and aspens erupt in bright yellow displays. By November, the leaves have all but disappeared, replaced by a shimmering layer of frost that develops overnight. This is a wonderful, less crowded time to enjoy the park, as long as you arrive armed with an assortment of layers.

Where to Stay

There are two large campgrounds in Zion Canyon —the South Campground  (from $20), with 117 sites, of which three are wheelchair accessible, and 190-site  Watchman Campground  (from $20), which has seven accessible sites and six for groups. Both are located on either side of the visitor center near the main entrance. While South Campground is closed November through February, Watchman is open year-round and offers a little more seclusion for campers, since it’s tucked further back from the main road. It’s also just a short walk from here to restaurants, shops, and groceries in Springdale. I took full advantage of this fact by planting myself at any number of local establishments with a book and an adult beverage each night during an exceptionally cold fall camping trip. If you don’t mind snoozing just outside the park, the private Zion Canyon Campground and RV Resort  (from $49 for a tent; $59 for an RV) is open March through November and offers amenities like a swimming pool and showers.

Zion Lodge  is the park’s sole lodging option, and a night in one of its 76 Craftsman-meets-southwestern-style rooms, six suites, or 40 cabins is hard to come by (from $217). Plan to reserve one a year in advance, especially if you’re going to visit during peak season or around a holiday. You’ll see more options in Springdale, including both chain and boutique hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and private vacation rentals, although it’s very rare to find anything under $100 in town. Drive a half-hour west to the tiny burgs of Hurricane and La Verkin for more affordable digs. Near the east entrance, Zion Mountain Ranch  (from $179) and Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort  (tents from $30) both feature an assortment of cabins and lodges that straddle the line between rustic and upscale; the latter also offers campsites and Instagram-worthy glamping options.

What to Do While You’re There

I’d be remiss not to recommend the iconic Angels Landing , a 5.4-mile round-trip that spends its last half-mile snaking up a precipitous sandstone fin outfitted with chains to hold onto (and sometimes bottlenecked by   terrified hikers). For those who wish to skip the adrenaline rush, Observation Point offers a less heady alternative, with excellent views downcanyon; it’s an eight-mile round-trip, accessed via the East Rim Trail from Weeping Rock  (which is currently closed due to rockfall ).

Of course, most Zion visitors can’t ignore the siren call of the Virgin River Narrows . This iconic slot canyon can be accessed on both ends. The classic route involves a 16-mile descent (with wading and swimming but no technical maneuvers required) from Chamberlain’s Ranch , a private property located outside the park’s boundaries; top-down hikers also have the option to camp along the way at several designated sites. Many casual hikers, outfitted with sturdy shoes, trekking poles, and wet- or drysuits, depending on conditions, wander in for a look at the end of the paved 1.1-mile Riverside Walk  that begins at the gorgeous Temple of Sinawava.

Elsewhere in Zion Canyon, choose from several routes that access Emerald Pools , a cliffside oasis complete with waterfalls and hanging gardens. While the Lower Emerald Pool Trail is currently closed for repairs , you can access the area via the easy, short  Kayenta Trail out of the Grotto, a picnic area along Zion Scenic Drive. Further afield, park on the east side of the mile-long Zion–Mount Carmel Highway to access the Canyon Overlook Trail , just a half-mile each way but big on views and especially beautiful during sunset. And be sure to save time for the Kolob Canyons segment of the park; the five-mile round-trip along the Taylor Creek Trail is especially nice on a hot day, with plenty of shade and creek hopping to cool you off en route to a pair of historic cabins and an even bigger payoff beyond—the impressive Double Arch Alcove.

Backpacking

Sure, you can day-hike or even backpack sections of the  La Verkin Creek , Hop Valley , Wildcat Canyon , West Rim , and East Rim Trails, but why not link them all together for a grand adventure traversing the park on the 48-mile Trans-Zion Trek ? You’ll need to snag a wilderness permit and reserve campsites if you’ll be bedding down along the La Verkin Creek, Hop Valley, or West Rim segments.

While bouldering is scant, big-wall climbers will find plenty of stoke on Zion Canyon’s sheer sandstone cliffs, especially when temperatures mellow out in the fall and spring. Permits are required for routes that require a bivy. Avoid climbing when the rock is wet, keep an eye out for any route closures (birds like to bed down in sinker cracks), and leave the power drills at home.

Canyoneering

While the Narrows is often touted as a beginner’s canyoneering experience, be sure you’re well practiced in rappelling, downclimbing, and rope work—or travel with someone who has these skills locked—before descending any canyon. Also check the weather religiously to avoid becoming trapped in a flash-flood situation, especially in slot canyons where it’s impossible to reach high ground.

The 9.5-mile Left Fork route —more commonly known as “the Subway”—resembles a brightly colored, oblong tunnel and is one of the most popular canyoneering routes in the park, beginning at the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead on Kolob Terrace Road. Widely considered an actual beginner’s canyoneering experience, with fewer technical features than some other routes, the 11-mile trip down Orderville Canyon begins at its namesake trailhead just outside the park’s east boundary and deposits travelers into the Narrows. Experienced canyoneers can enjoy the five-mile romp down Mystery Canyon , which begins at the East Mesa Trailhead near Zion Ponderosa Ranch and ends in the Narrows after a 120-foot rappel over Mystery Falls.

All canyoneering trips require a permit (typically reserved up to three months in advance), and due to their popularity, both Mystery Canyon and the Left Fork require application through a lottery system during the high season (April through October). Those with more flexible schedules can toss their names in up to a week in advance for what’s called the last-minute drawing; any remaining permit slots are allocated for walk-ups. There’s also a frequent-flier program of sorts for repeat visitors called the Zion Express Membership, which allows for an expedited process when it comes time to convert your reservation to an actual permit. Zion Adventures  also offers a variety of guided trips based on experience level (from $129).

It’s possible to kayak the Virgin River when the flow rate is high enough, usually in the spring months, though you’ll need a wilderness permit, advanced whitewater skills, and the willingness to go it alone, as there are no outfitters who operate in the area. Rapids range from Class I to II near the Temple of Sinawava and become gnarlier the closer you paddle toward the visitor center.

Horseback Riding

Equestrians can access most established trails in the park, with the exception of those that originate in Zion Canyon. The Sand Bench Trail , which makes a soft meander beneath the iconic Court of the Patriarchs formations, is the only exception. If you are horseless but dreaming of a trot, book a trip with Canyon Trail Rides  (from $45 for an hour).

The Best Places to Eat and Drink Around Zion

The park’s sole grub hub is Zion Lodge , which features the casual Castle Dome Café (open April through October) and a sit-down restaurant, Red Rock Grill , which I can personally attest is an excellent alternative for Thanksgiving dinner if your friend, say, bails on your holiday camping trip at the last minute.

Otherwise, the nearest food options (apart from the locally sourced ingredients and lumberjack-chic vibes at Zion Mountain Ranch’s Cordwood restaurant ) are located just next door in Springdale. For breakfast, the caffeine and eats at Deep Creek Coffee Company are excellent (the quinoa-based Southwest Bowl is pure bliss), but I’m just as happy to tuck into a plate heaped with huevos rancheros at Oscar’s Café across the street. I typically pack a lunch to go, but Café Soleil , right near the park entrance, slings tasty wraps and sammies, including lots of gluten-free options. When the dinner bell rings, make like a local and head to the Bit and Spur Restaurant and Saloon , which has eclectic fare—like smoked hen mole and sweet potato tamales—that belies its boozy name, or dig into inspired southwestern cuisine at the colorful Whiptail Grill , housed in a decommissioned service station.

If You Have Time for a Detour

The Greater Zion area, as it’s sometimes called, is the kind of place you could explore and enjoy for a lifetime, but if you only have a few extra days, consider carving out time to visit other public lands located nearby. Top of the list for most people is Bryce Canyon National Park , a sister park located about two hours northeast of Zion’s main entrance. Like Zion and the Grand Canyon , Bryce is part of the Grand Staircase, a massive geologic region defined by its colorful layers of sedimentary rock; but unlike the other parks, Bryce is absolutely brimming with hoodoos, fantastic towers caused by erosion. For a different view of the Grand Staircase, head north two hours from Zion to Cedar Breaks National Monument , with a three-mile-long striated amphitheater as its centerpiece.

Southern Utah is famed for its world-class mountain biking, but in Zion, bikes are restricted to the Pa’rus Trail (which is also one of the most accessible paths in the park) and paved roads. Just outside the park, however, incredible singletrack and slickrock playgrounds await. Hurricane Rim and Gooseberry Mesa , located near the town of   Hurricane, are two of the most popular nearby mountain-bike areas, with a mixture of highly technical, moderate, and chill trails. The Santa Clara and Green Valley areas west of Saint George also offer a mix of desert rides. Check in with the folks at Zion Cycles in Springdale for recommendations and rentals.

How to Be Conscious

While you won’t find them on the well-trodden paths in the main canyon, cryptobiotic soils exist in many areas of the backcountry. These living organisms, which help stabilize the soil and nurture plant life, can take hundreds of years to form, so stick to durable surfaces like slickrock when traveling off-trail.

It’s required that all travelers in the Narrows carry their solid waste out using a portable “toilet kit,” or WAG bag, which theoretically helps neutralize odors while keeping your deposits contained. This helps prevent contamination in waterways and fragile ecosystems. While it’s not required for other canyons, the practice is highly recommended as a form of good stewardship.

Zion Canyon is home to peregrine falcons and, as of recently, a pair of California condors who chose to start a family on the vertiginous cliffs below Angels Landing. Climbing is currently restricted in their nesting area, and various other park locations (including Cable Mountain, Court of the Patriarchs, and the Great White Throne) are frequently closed to climbers to allow the falcons to nest in peace.

• Zion National Park

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Zion Utah National Park Shaka Guide

The Ultimate Zion National Park Travel Guide

January 02, 2024

Why Visit Zion National Park?

Come with us to explore Utah’s first National Park. Follow the path of the native peoples and Mormon settlers.

Trek through rugged deserts and slot canyons. Pass under weeping stones into verdant oases. Explore cool ponderosa pine forests among the mountaintops. 

Zion National Park is so much more than just mesas and canyons—and more visitors are discovering that for themselves.

As the third most popular national park in the nation, Zion saw 4.5 million visitors in 2019 alone. 

After all, who can resist the majesty of Zion? Of its soaring pink and gray sandstone? Of its crisscrossed mesas? Of its ephemeral falls? 

The stunning geology in Zion resulted from about 150 million years of sedimentation and uplift.

Thanks to these events, the sandstone features in Zion are among the tallest and most spectacular in the world.

In Zion, there are nine distinct visible rock layers, each with its own unique color, fossils, and history.

With Shaka Guide, we’ll not only show you all of these beautiful features, but we’ll also help you to understand them, through stories of geology, history, and biology.

Once you arrive, you’ll agree—in all of the world, there’s truly nowhere else like Zion.

The park has four distinct regions. These are: 

Zion Canyon

• Kolob Canyons
• Kolob Terrace

Many visitors to the park are only familiar with Zion Canyon, the park's most popular section.

However, Zion National Park is divided into four regions, each with its own unique environment.  These regions are:

• Kolob Terrace, and

While many visitors will only choose to visit Zion Canyon, if you’re taking Shaka Guide’s Zion National Park Tour, we’ll give you the chance to explore all of Zion.

Where is Zion?

Located in southwestern Utah, Zion is just two hours from the Grand Canyon and less than three hours from Las Vegas. Even if you’re just passing through, there’s plenty of adventure to be had out here!

Getting to Zion National Park

Located on UT-9 in Washington County, Utah, visitors from the West will pass through Hurricane to begin their journey, while visitors from the East will begin at Mt Carmel Junction, just about 20 minutes north of Kanab.

Airports Near Zion National Park

• SGU Regional Airport-47 miles, 1 hr, St. George, Utah
• Cedar City Regional Airport-61 miles,  1 hr 10 minutes, Cedar City, Utah
• McCarran International Airport-173 miles, 2 hr 50 minutes, Las Vegas, Nevada

Cities Near Zion National Park

• Hurricane, Utah-24 miles, 30 minutes
• St.George, Utah-42 miles, 55 minutes
• Cedar City, Utah-58 miles, 1 hr
• Las Vegas, Nevada-168 miles, 2 hr 40 minutes
• Salt Lake City, Utah-316 miles, 4 hr 20 minutes

Getting Around Zion National Park 

Mandatory Shuttle Service 

Since 2000, Zion has implemented a shuttle service in an effort to ease park congestion.

Shuttle season in Zion is from February to November (and again at Christmas).

During shuttle season, personal vehicles are not permitted in Zion Canyon, so visitors will need to catch a shuttle. 

There are two shuttles in Zion, the Zion Canyon Shuttle and the Springdale Shuttle. The Zion Canyon Shuttle is free and runs from 7 a.m. to early evening.

The Zion shuttle ferries visitors from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center all the way to the Temple of Sinawava—Zion Canyon’s final stop.

There are nine stops along this route altogether, and the shuttles run both ways. Shuttle stops occur at each stop every 10-15 minutes.

You may get on and off at any point. See when to visit for a more detailed schedule or check the Zion NPS website for the most up-to-date shuttle schedule.

The second shuttle is the Springdale shuttle. This shuttle runs visitors from the town of Springdale to the Zion Canyon Village.

From there, it is a short walk to the pedestrian entrance. For visitors parking in the town of Springdale, you will catch this shuttle to enter Zion before embarking on the Zion Canyon Shuttle.

There are nine stops located inside the town. There is no fee to use the Springdale shuttle.

Where to Stay In and Around Zion National Park

You know what they say, “location, location, location.” Well, it’s no different in Zion.

While there’s always some variability, generally, the closer you are to Zion Canyon, the more expensive accommodations become.

These are some of the options you have for accommodations, from closest to furthest.

Stay Inside Zion Canyon

For those who want to maximize their time inside the park and can book far in advance, the Zion National Park Lodge is for you.

Zion National Park Lodge is the only hotel inside of the park, and is, understandably, quite popular.

For the busy season, these rooms may be booked out months prior, so it’s important to plan ahead.

Reservations are usually around 230 dollars a night, depending on the season, and can be made up to 13 months in advance.

Stay in Kolob Terrace

Though few, there are some accommodations in Kolob Terrace. Staying here will offer you a scenic retreat in the beauty of Zion without all of the hustle and bustle of Zion Canyon. 

There are two places available for visitors to stay: Lazalou Zion Retreat and  Zions Tiny Oasis .

These luxurious tiny home rentals begin at about 400 dollars a night.  If you are looking for something less extravagant, there are a few cabins for rent near Kolob Reservoir, located at the top of the mountain.

Stay in Springdale

Not all of us can book our vacations 13 months in advance, so for the rest of us, Springdale offers the closest last-minute accommodations near Zion Canyon. And, no fear, there are plenty of selections to choose from.

Springdale is quite literally the gate to Zion, so for those prioritizing convenience, this is the place to look.

Springdale is also a hub of restaurants, culture, and activities for those looking to have everything within walking distance.

After all, you’ve driven enough! For hotels, you’ll be looking at around 300 dollars a night.

And for Air B&Bs, their prices are usually similar, though they sometimes go as low as 200. Just don’t forget all of the cleaning fees!

Stay in Virgin/Rockville

There are just a few hotel options in Virgin and Rockville, two tiny towns just 10-20 minutes outside of Zion Canyon.

The rates here are quite a bit cheaper, usually 50 to 100 dollars less than in Springdale.

If a twenty-minute drive is worth it to you, consider saving a few bucks by staying in Springdale or Rockville for anywhere from 150-250 dollars a night.

Be aware, though, that when we say tiny town, we mean it!

There are only three restaurants in Virgin and none in Rockville, so if you’re looking for a peaceful, quiet stay, this is the place for you!

Stay in La Verkin/Hurricane

La Verkin and Hurricane are located about 30 minutes away from Zion Canyon but are by far the most economical choices.

Hotels around this area can cost anywhere from 100-200 dollars on average.

Additionally, for those who choose to stay in this area, there are several restaurants and convenience stores located nearby.

For many, this will be the best of both worlds, offering affordable prices and a convenient location.

Camping in Zion National Park

Looking to make a genuine connection with nature while visiting Zion? Because the area around Zion remains relatively warm well into November, camping can be surprisingly pleasant for the majority of the year.

So where should you pitch your tent in Zion? South Campground is probably the best place to camp in Zion, for both convenience and comfort.

The campground is spacious and shady and is located just past Springdale by the South Gate entrance.

The biggest bonus to staying here? No line-up for the gate checks in the morning! Reservations for South Campground are strongly recommended. Book reservations up to two weeks in advance here. 

If South Campground is full, consider staying at Watchman Campground, just a few minutes from South Campground.

Reservations for Watchman open six months in advance, so if waiting until two weeks before your trip seems to cut it a little too close for comfort, this is a great option. 

Both South Campground and Watchman Campground will run you about 20 dollars a night for tents only, and 30 dollars for electricity hookups ( available at Watchman only).

Other camping options include Zion Canyon Campground, Zion River Resort, Hi-Road Campground, Lava Point Campground, and Kolob Reservoir.

Glamping in Zion

But what if camping seems a little too, erm, rustic for your taste? Then how about glamping? It’s just like camping...but glamorous!

Glamping tents may feature beautiful furnishings, stoves, ACs, patios, private bathrooms—even housekeeping!

The prices and amenities included vary wildly in Zion, and there are many different glamping options scattered throughout the area.

They can be a little harder to find, but trust us—there’s no shortage of choices! For those looking for a glamping experience with fewer frills, consider the following:

• Zion Glamping Adventures
• Zion Wildflower Resort
• Zion Backcountry
• Whispering Pines
• Gooseberry Mesa Yurts
• Zion Weeping Buffalo , and
• Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort

For those who are looking for an unforgettable luxurious experience, Open Sky Zion and Undercanvas Zion offer lavish glamping accommodations.

When to Visit Zion National Park

Zion National Park is open every day of the year, including holidays. However, certain park services may be unavailable during holidays.

Generally speaking, facilities, e.g. the visitor center, are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. During holidays and in wintertime, these hours may be reduced.

Zion’s shuttle hours vary from month to month. Aside from the last week of December, the first shuttle leaves the visitor center at 7 a.m. and the last shuttle leaves the Temple of Sinawava at 7:15 p.m.

During late summer, the last shuttle departs one hour earlier, at 6:15 p.m.

It’s important to check the daily shuttle schedule while in Zion to confirm as the schedule may change at any time.

RELATED: When's the Best Time to Visit Zion National Park?

Weather in Zion National Park by Season

After carefully planning our perfect trip to Zion, the last thing we want is to have our plans go awry due to bad weather.

While Zion rarely gets rained out (only 68 days of rain a year!), it is very possible that you will encounter a flood watch or warning during your visit.

In this case, many canyons and riverside hikes will become unsafe.

Additionally, after snowfall, parts of Kolob Terrace and Kolob Canyons may be closed.

It is important to have backup plans in place and to respect Mother Nature’s warnings. No hike is worth risking our safety!

Additionally, Zion’s temperatures vary wildly. From day to night, summer to winter, and lowlands to plateaus, Zion can swing from sweltering to chilling to everything in between.

If you are traveling in the summer, anticipate triple-digit days. In the winter, be prepared for snow.

No matter the season, be sure to bring plenty of water as well as temperature-appropriate attire for your trip to Zion.

Zion is very arid and this low humidity means visitors can quickly become dehydrated. The best way to ensure a great time in Zion is to come prepared!

This may go without saying, but that extra vacation day that you get for Labor Day? You might want to just save that.

Holidays in Zion can get very crowded...and expensive! Basically, everyone has the same idea of traveling to Zion for holidays, and that means that an already-crowded park swells with people on these long weekends.

For instance, on the fourth of July in 2019, Zion saw 94,000 visitors over that weekend alone.

That’s a lot of people! If you’re very patient, it may still be worth it to visit Zion during the holidays but expect long lines for shuttle rides and popular hikes such as Angel’s Landing .

As the winter snows begin to melt, Zion enjoys warm days, cool evenings, and the return of life to the canyon.

Daytime temperatures remain warm, climbing from the low 60’s in early spring to the high 80’s towards May.

Nighttime temperatures tend to stay a bit chilly, falling as low as the 40’s or 50’s.

While it might be a bit too cool for trekking through the brisk water of The Narrows, Spring is an excellent time to enjoy some of Zion’s longer and warmer trails or to take on an extended backpacking trip. 

Zion experiences the most precipitation during late winter and early spring.

Unfortunately, this means that certain areas, like The Narrows, may occasionally be closed due to snowmelt and rising water levels.

The good news is that this precipitation brings to life the park’s ephemeral falls and flowers.

Many of Zion’s plants hurry to take advantage of these precious seasonal rains.

Flowers like the Desert Marigold, Slickrock paintbrush, and Claret cup cactus speckle Zion in beautiful reds and golds.

As far as crowds go, March and April are relatively peaceful, while the month of May gets very crowded.

While the weather is fantastic in May, be prepared to rub elbows with tourists, as this is the start of Zion’s peak season.

In summer, Zion is the hot spot to be. And that’s meant both literally and figuratively.

Temperatures can easily soar into the triple digits, and crowds from all over rush in for fun under the desert sun.

For many parents with schoolchildren, this will be their summer vacation, and popular and shorter trails can get pretty crowded with families.

This is especially true in June and July. If you really want to visit Zion during the peak summer season, consider visiting in late August.

This month sees a slight drop in the number of visitors as well as temperatures.

Be aware that summer in Zion is also known as the monsoon season.

Be sure to check the forecast regularly for heavy precipitation and flash flood watches.

If you are looking to avoid crowds or paying premium prices, summer in Zion may not be for you.

For those looking to hike Zion’s most popular trails, such as Angel’s Landing , expect to practice a lot of patience as you make your way through the crowds.

On the upside? Summertime in Zion is a great time to hike through shaded slot canyons, raft down the Virgin River, or visit Zion’s higher-elevation attractions.

My personal recommendation? Take advantage of a Shaka Guide secret and visit some of the lesser-known, cooler sections of Zion National Park—like Kolob Canyons and Kolob Terrace.

Temperatures up at the top of Kolob Terrace can be as much as ten degrees cooler, and most visitors don’t even know about these hidden gems. 

Ahh, fall in Zion National Park. No matter your travel plans, fall is a wonderful time to visit Zion.

As the temperatures begin to cool off and the crowds begin to dissipate, Zion becomes a much more navigable place. 

September still sees temperatures regularly rise into the 90s, but the evenings are beginning to grow a bit cooler, sometimes dropping as low as 60 degrees.

The beginning of September can still be very crowded, with many families trying to squeeze in a last-minute summer vacation.

The end of September starts to see the crowds diminish, and by November, Zion is a place of peace once again.

Even in November, Zion is fairly warm during the day, with highs in the mid-60s.

Nighttime in November finally sees some real chills, though, with temperatures sometimes dropping below 40 towards the end of the season. 

As the days grow shorter in Zion, the leaves begin to change, and reds, golds, and purples begin to color the park.

Higher elevations see fall colors begin to emerge in mid-September, while lower elevations will have to wait another month—until about the middle of October.

Most visitors agree—the best time to visit Zion is in the Fall. The weather, the prices, and the crowds are all very reasonable. An added bonus?

All park services, including the museums, continue until November, meaning visitors during the fall won’t have to miss a thing. Except for the crowds, that is.

Winter is by far the least popular season to visit Zion. But for those looking for a sense of peace and isolation, there really is no better time to visit.

Zion still has plenty of gorgeous scenery to offer its wintertime visitors. In fact, there’s nothing quite like waking up to a snow-dusted canyon or driving up to see the frosted evergreens high on the mountain.

Just be sure to come equipped with some good snow boots and a heavy jacket, because things can start to get pretty chilly around mid-December.

Expect temperatures to reach the mid-fifties in the day and drop to around 30 degrees at night.

For visitors traveling to Zion in winter, expect some park closings to accompany the icy temperatures.

While Zion Canyon will be open throughout the year, higher elevations such as Kolob Terrace and Kolob Canyons may sometimes be closed due to snowfall.

Additionally, some hikes, such as Angel’s Landing , may be too dangerous to attempt due to icy conditions.

Winter months see the most precipitation of any season in Zion, so come equipped to hike through snowy and rainy weather.

There are a few other perks to visiting Zion in the winter as well. Winter is the only season in which travelers can drive their own vehicles through Zion Canyon.

That’s right, no shuttle buses during winter! (Aside from Christmas week.)

Plus, winter is by far the cheapest season to visit, so it may just save you a bit of stress, as well as a few dollars, to plan your trip to Zion as a winter getaway.

Things to Do in Zion National Park

1. driving tours: shaka guide's zion national park tour.

While Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to personal cars during the busy season, winter visitors are free to drive themselves through the canyon.

Outside of Zion Canyon, there are plenty of other beautiful vistas for drivers to visit year-round. For those looking for a cruise with views, we have three fantastic options.

Our first recommendation is one of the most scenic drives in Zion National Park—Kolob Terrace.

This 40-minute scenic drive climbs up about 5000 feet in elevation, winding its way from desert prickly pear and cottonwood trees up through mountain sagebrush and ponderosa pines.

Take the drive all the way up to the 8,000-foot high summit to overlook black lava fields, cinder cones, and wind-worn hoodoos. 

Though short, Kolob Canyons offers visitors several scenic pullovers and a break from the hustle and bustle below.

This section of the park features more visible rock formations than anywhere else in Zion.

This is a particularly excellent stopover if you find yourself to the west of Zion Canyon.

Finally, in East Zion, drivers can enjoy beautiful viewpoints unlike anything else in the park.

This scenic drive will take visitors along sky-high hairpin turns, through the historic Mt.Carmel tunnel, and out into miles of stunning slickrock.

Definitely a must-see for visitors looking to experience the best of Zion.  

Check out our Zion National Park Tour to visit ALL three of these regions and Zion Canyon. 

by KellyVanDellen 

For those looking to take on a few good hikes, Zion is certainly the place to be.

In fact, Zion is home to so many fantastic hikes, that you’ll be hard-pressed to find ones you don’t want to do.

We’ve curated a list of what we think are the best hikes that Zion has to offer: 

• Angel’s Landing-Zion Canyon (advance reservations required)
• Emerald Pools Trail-Zion Canyon
• The Narrows-Zion Canyon
• Canyon Overlook Trail-East Zion
• Timber Creek Trail-Kolob Canyons
• Cave Valley Trail-Kolob Terrace
• Northgate Peaks Trail-Kolob Terrace

Feeling excited for what’s to come? Feel free to salivate over your amazing Shaka Guide Itinerary.

For a complete list of available hikes, check out the highlights in the tour app, and for more thorough trail descriptions, take a look at our hiking guide.

3. Backpack

Zion is a backpacker’s paradise. With dozens of backpacking sites and multiple camping areas, there are plenty of options for those travelers looking to form a deeper connection with Zion’s wilderness.

Before you start packing your camping gear, there are a few things to note.

First, all backpackers must have a valid wilderness permit and must stay overnight in their designated wilderness backpacking area.

Secondly, reservations for backpacking sites can be made either online or in person on a first-come-first-served basis.

Half of the sites will be made available for online booking, while the other half will be available for in-person inquiries only.

If you want to make a reservation for one of these sites online, sites for the month open for reservations on the fifth of the month prior.

It is not uncommon for these sites to fill up within minutes of opening.

Online reservations can be made at the Zion Wilderness Reservation site.

Permit prices are as follows:

• $15.00 for 1 to 2 people
• $20.00 for 3 to 7 people
• $25.00 for 8 to 12 people

Zion has several backpacking trails for visitors to choose from.

• Wildcat Canyon and Connector Trails-Zion Canyon
• Virgin River Narrows-Zion Canyon
• La Verkin Creek Trail- Kolob Canyons
• West Rim Trail-Kolob Terrace
• Hop Valley Trail-Kolob Terrace
• Southwest Desert Trails-Anasazi Way
• East Rim Trails-East Zion 

For further details on these wilderness hikes, check out our hiking guide.

4. Zion Canyon Visitor Center

When you arrive at Zion Canyon Visitor Center, take a chance to read the information plaques, talk to the rangers, and grab a map before you hit the trails.

While at the center, visitors should also review the schedule for ranger-led activities.

These activities—including ranger walks—allow visitors to learn from the experts while hiking some of Zion’s most popular trails.

At the end of the day, when you’re heading back out, don’t forget to grab some souvenirs to take home with you from the gift shop!

5. Zion Human History Museum/Ranger Tours

Visitors to the Zion Human History Museum can escape the weather and browse through over 300,000 permanent exhibits on the human and geologic history of Zion.

The museum also shows a free 22-minute film on Zion National Park’s history, played every half hour. 

But what’s the number one activity at the Human History Museum? Definitely the ranger talks.

Visitors are encouraged to enjoy a ranger-led discussion held on the back patio of the museum.

These informative talks are free, with no reservation required.

Take the opportunity to learn about Zion’s history, geology, and biology from the park’s foremost experts! 

Thanks to the Virgin River, visitors to Zion can enjoy some swimming even in the desert. But don’t pull out that swimsuit just yet!

There are some important water safety facts that all swimmers and visitors should know.

Since the summer of 2020, Zion’s Virgin River and its tributaries have been experiencing toxic cyanobacteria blooms.

Side effects of exposure in humans are usually mild and may include skin irritation or gastrointestinal distress.

Exposure to these cyanobacteria in dogs, however, has a high degree of fatality.

Keep all pets away from the water, and, in the case of exposure, rinse the animal’s fur and skin immediately.

If swimming, humans must not drink or submerge their heads underwater, as doing so can potentially cause kidney or liver damage.

Visitors can check the current safety warnings at the Zion NPS website . 

Where to Swim in Zion National Park

Well, now that the scary part is out of the way, where do people who want to swim need to go? Well, there are a couple of places to take a dip in Zion.

You can find them listed below. For more information on the Pine Creek Trail, be sure to check out our hiking guide.

• Kolob Reservoir-Kolob Terrace
• Pine Creek Trail- East Zion
• Virgin River Swimming Hole-Canyon Junction Shuttle Stop

7. Rafting/Kayaking

Looking for some real excitement? How about catching an adrenaline rush by rafting down the white rapids of the Virgin River?

If you’re an experienced rafter, you can pick up your wilderness permit from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and go it alone.

For those who prefer a guided tour, usually, the tour guide will take care of your wilderness permit for you.

8. Canyoneering

For those who long for a sense of adventure and exploration, Zion is a canyoneering paradise. Swim, scramble, crawl, and climb your way to new and exciting sights and heights.

Many of Zion’s canyoneering routes are beginner-friendly, but for those who would love an expert’s advice, Zion has no shortage of guides willing to take you on the adventure of a lifetime. Just don’t forget your wilderness permit!

Consider some of these popular locations in Zion for your canyoneering adventure.

• The Subway-Kolob Terrace
• Orderville Canyon-Zion Canyon
• Mystery Canyon-Zion Canyon
• Pine Creek-East Zion

9. Rock Climbing

Zion National Park is renowned for its soaring sandstone cliffs, sometimes rising as high as 2,000 feet.

Needless to say, Zion abounds with excellent climbs, both overnight and single day.

Many of the climbs inside the park are higher-difficulty, so be sure to check the recommended skill level before you head out.

For those who are a little wary about breaking into rock climbing, consider trying rappelling, instead.

It’s all the fun of the descent—without the long climb!  Looking to simplify the experience?

Grab a guide to take care of all the prep work, research, and gear rental. Then, all you have to do is climb! 

There is only one trail available for biking inside Zion National Park, and that’s the Pa’rus trail.

This is a paved riverside trail located just past the visitor center and is just shy of 2 miles each way.

Additionally, avid cyclists can enjoy biking Zion’s many scenic drives, including the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive inside the main canyon.

Outside of the park, there are several thrilling areas for mountain biking, including the recommended Gooseberry Mesa Slickrock Trails.

It’s considered one of the best technical mountain biking trails in the United States.

11. Horseback Riding

From March to October, visitors have the option to explore Zion in much the same way that the pioneers did—on horseback.

The horseback trails in and around Zion are slow-paced and beginner-friendly.

There are several companies and ranchers around Zion offering guided horseback rides for those hoping to hit the dusty trail. 

While there is no ATV riding inside of Zion National Park, there are several areas nearby for those looking to crank up the throttle.

Sand Hollow and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Parks are excellent options for those looking to tear up some sand. Some tours even offer sandboarding or sand-sledding add-ons!

13. Visit a Ghost Town

The abandoned 19th-century ghost town of Grafton is famous as the perfect setting for old Western films and excellent selfies.

For all you movie-buffs, Grafton served as a filming location for such great classics as In Old Arizona and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Beyond inspiring filmmakers, it is also thought to be the most photographed ghost town in the West! 

Where to Eat in Zion

Feeling famished after a day full of hiking? There are plenty of places around Zion to sit down for a delicious meal.

Springdale, right outside of Zion’s south gate, has no shortage of places to eat.

If you’re feeling ravenous and want a diverse menu, hit up Oscar’s Cafe .

We can guarantee you won’t leave hungry. Another Springdale favorite is Thai Sappa , featuring a menu filled with fresh, balanced Thai flavors.

If you’re staying in La Verkin, be sure to check out Stage Coach Grille , which features fresh locally sourced beef.

And if you’re heading through Hurricane on your way to or from the airport, you have to swing by Cross Country Diner . Trust us, you will not be disappointed.

There is only one spot to eat in the park, and that’s Zion Lodge’s Red Rock Grille in the Zion Canyon region of the park. 

Activity Costs

So, how much will it cost you to enjoy some of those thrilling guided adventure tours?

While they vary from company to company, we can provide you with some estimates of what to expect.

• $300-600 per vehicle, all-day, unguided (prices vary depending on vehicle type)
• $150-200 pp, 2-hour guided tour

Horseback Riding

• $100 pp, 3-hour guided tour
• $50 pp, 1-hour guided tour

Mountain Biking

• $75 per full-suspension bike, all-day, unguided
• $250 pp, all day, guided tour

Rock Climbing

• $40-60 per day, gear only, unguided
• $200-300 all day, guided tour

Canyoneering

• $200-300 pp, all day, guided tour

Kayaking/Rafting

• 60 per kayak all day, unguided
• 30-100 pp all day, guided tour

Shaka Guide Driving Tour 

• $9.99 for the Zion National Park Tour
• $18.99 for the Moab Bundle 
• $34.99 for the Utah & Mighty 5 Collection 

Transportation Cost

Most visitors choose to drive themselves through Zion. For those renting a vehicle, car rentals from St.George airport can get quite expensive.

For a budget car, expect anywhere from 70-100 dollars a day after taxes and fees.

The price of rentals from Las Vegas is generally about the same to slightly more expensive, anywhere from 80-110 dollars a day.

Gas tends to be slightly above the national average near Zion. If driving from Las Vegas to Zion National Park, expect anywhere from 30-50 dollars round-trip in gas alone.

Lodging Cost

The price of your accommodations will vary based on proximity to Zion Canyon, season, and amenities.

For primitive camping, prices start at about 20 dollars per night. Not a bad deal for a room with a view.

For luxury glamping, however, the prices can soar to over 600 dollars a night.

If you’re traveling in spring through fall, expect anywhere from 200 to 300 dollars a night for a 2-3 star hotel, depending on how close you are to the south gate of Zion.

Anticipate anywhere from 10-20 dollars per person for lunch, and 15-25 dollars per person for dinner.

Picnic lunches are an excellent way to save some money and can lower your price to about 5 dollars per person.

Miscellaneous Expenses

• Narrows Gear Rental Package- $30 pp per day
• Bivy Permit-$15 (for all overnight climbs)
• Springdale Parking-$20 per vehicle per day
• Wilderness Permit- $15, up to two people

Additional Park Entrances

• Sand Hollow State Park,-1 non-residential vehicle, single day -$20
• Coral Pink Sand dunes Sate Park-1 vehicle, single day-$10
• Snow Canyon State Park-1 vehicle, single day-$10

Zion National Park FAQs

What’s the elevation of zion national park.

Zion National Park’s elevation ranges from 3,500 feet to 8,000 feet.

How far is Zion National Park from Bryce Canyon National Park?

It’s about 86 miles or a two-hour drive to Bryce Canyon.

Are there other state parks in the local area?

Yes, there are three state parks in close proximity to Zion. Coral Pink Sand Dunes is located 45 miles east of Zion, Sand Hollow is 39 miles to the Southeast, and Snow Canyon State Park is located 55 miles west.

Are pets allowed on any trails?

Pets are only allowed on the Parks trail.

Will I have a cell phone signal in Zion?

Visitors should anticipate limited cell service becoming more unreliable as they proceed further inside the canyon.

Where can I get wifi in the park?

The Zion Canyon Visitor Center and the Zion Human History Museum both have free public wifi.

Where is the closest gas station to Zion National Park?

In Springdale, just one mile from the south gate entrance, there are two gas stations.

Is there a way to refill my water bottles?

There are multiple refilling stations in Zion Canyon and one in Kolob Canyons. There are none in Kolob Terrace or at East Zion. Fill up before you arrive. 

Is there any free parking in Zion?

Yes, there is free parking available at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. Expect to arrive before 8 a.m. if you hope to make use of Zion’s free parking. Later in the morning, the parking lot will be filled.

With so much to see and do, it’s easy to have a great time at Zion National Park.

For the best experience possible, be sure you’re coming prepared with plenty of water and the right gear, and try to avoid peak times.

If the crowds get a little overwhelming or the weather won’t quite cooperate, try to be flexible in your plans.

Zion National Park is a surprisingly large park with plenty for visitors to discover.

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Ready to plan your trip to Zion? Check out our Zion National Park Tour . With over a dozen stops and visits to all four sections of the park - you won't want to miss it! 

We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at [email protected] .

For more detailed information to help you plan, check out our Zion National Park Itinerary and Know Before You Go article.

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Zion National Park   Travel Guide

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18 Best Things to Do in Zion National Park

As one of the top national parks in the U.S. , Zion National Park brims with awe-inspiring views and outdoor adventures, especially for hikers. Travelers can experience the sunset-colored canyons along any one of the park's iconic out-and-back

• All Things To Do

The Narrows The Narrows free

With the Zion Canyon's striated, orange-red walls towering 1,000 feet overhead and the Virgin River, the slimmest section of Zion Canyon is known as The Narrows. It's one of the park's most popular hikes and starts tame with the one-mile Riverside Walk , a wheelchair-accessible hike. After that, hikers will get wet since the trail disappears into the Virgin River where hikers will be wading or even swimming upstream through the slot canyon. 

Most visitors hike The Narrows in the summer or late fall when the waters are at their lowest levels and air temperatures are at their warmest. Would-be hikers need to check-in with a park ranger for the water flow rate (this can close the Narrows trail) and the possibility of storms are in the forecast. The Narrows can fill quickly with life-threatening flash floods. Spring sees increased snowmelt run-off and cooler water temperatures making the hike less pleasant.

Angels Landing Angels Landing free

While visiting Zion Canyon in 1916, Methodist minister Frederick Vining Fisher is said to have inspired the name of this popular rock formation. According to park lore, he joked that only an angel could land on the rock's elevated perch. Today, Angels Landing has become one of the most popular hikes in Zion, thanks to its stunning views and the harrowing journey required to reach it. Hikers will ascend 1,488 feet during the 5.4-mile round-trip hike, some of which features sheer cliffs and steep switchbacks that includes a chain guide rope for the final push to the summit.

Beginning in 2022, any park visitor who wants to hike to Angels Landing must apply for a timed-entry special permit available by lottery via Recreation.gov . Applications cost $6 per person. If you're able to secure a permit, it costs $3 per person. If you're not able to obtain a permit (or have a fear of heights), you can hike to Scout Lookout, which is located at the base of Angels Landing. You can access Scout Landing via the challenging West Rim Trail, which does not require a permit. The 3.6-mile out-and-back trail to Scout Lookout is considered difficult due to its steep elevation gain (more than 1,000 feet) and series of switchbacks. For groups, Scout Lookout (where restrooms are available), is a good meeting point if part of the group did not secure a permit. 

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive Zion Canyon Scenic Drive free

U.S. News Insider Tip : Zion Lodge offers a large grassy area in front that is a popular place for picnics and post-hike relaxation. Beer, coffee drinks and light snacks are available to purchase seasonally on the patio. – Catherine Parker

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is one of four main roads in Zion National Park. Along this road, visitors can access famous park landmarks, including Zion Lodge, Angel's Landing , the Court of the Patriarchs and Weeping Rock , to name a few. For much of the year, the only way to access Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is via the park's free shuttle bus. Since 2000, the shuttle bus has carried visitors up and down Zion Canyon, reducing traffic issues along with improving the canyon experience. The shuttle operates daily from March through November. In winter (usually weekdays in December and daily in January and February), visitors can drive their own vehicle along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.

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Pa'rus Trail Pa'rus Trail free

U.S. News Insider Tip: This trail appeals to a wide range of visitors, so it's the most crowded and everyone from newborns to great-grandparents are found along its route. – Catherine Parker

Pa'rus Trail, a wide concrete sidewalk, is probably the easiest 3.5-mile hike in Zion National Park. Connecting the Zion Visitor Center to Canyon Junction, it's also a great way to reach various sites throughout the park, such as the South Campground and the Zion Human History Museum without riding the shuttle. Plus, its pleasing views of the "bubbling waters" of the Virgin River, for which it derives its Paiute name, are incredibly enjoyable, too. For pet owners, the Pa ' rus Trail is open to pets on leashes, as well as bike riders.

Riverside Walk Riverside Walk free

If you aren't up for hiking The Narrows , but still want to admire the beautiful Virgin River, consider the Riverside Walk as a much lighter alternative. Accessible via the last stop on the Zion Canyon shuttle (the Temple of Sinawava ), this 2-mile (round-trip) pathway is often called the park's most picturesque trail because it includes striking natural features, including grand, leafy canyon walls on either side and plenty of trees in between, providing a rare amount of shade in the open spaces of Zion. What's more, interpretive signs guide visitors to the important features of the area. Because the path is paved, relatively flat, and accessible to strollers and wheelchairs, it can get crowded.

Recent hikers said this hike is suitable for kids and families, along with those who have mobility concerns thanks to its relatively short distance and easy terrain. Visitors found the scenery along the pathway to be striking with the up-close views of the canyon waters and the Virgin River. However, some noted that because it acts as the entrance to The Narrows, the trail can get very crowded.

Canyon Overlook Trail Canyon Overlook Trail free

This mile-long moderate trail offers expansive views of Zion Canyon along with the Towers of the Virgin and a slot canyon below. Because of its relatively short length and amazing views, this is also one of the busiest trails in Zion National Park. As you ascend a little more than 160 feet up the path, keep your eyes peeled for Zion's big horn sheep, which are known to frequent the Canyon Overlook Trail.

Recent travelers suggested starting your hike early in the morning or late in the day to avoid the heaviest crowds. Others say that although the trail is relatively short, it's still a challenge because there are steps, along with some narrow, rocky sections and drop-offs, some of which are not fenced.  

Kolob Canyons Kolob Canyons free

Travelers itching to get away from the crowds in Zion Canyon will enjoy a day in the northwestern Kolob Canyons. Located about 40 miles north of Zion Canyon, the Kolob Canyons offers parallel and narrow box canyons that create 2,000-foot cliff walls from the mountain peaks. As you drive along the 5-mile stretch of Kolob Canyons Road, it's easy to see why this section of the park was dubbed Kolob, which, in Mormon scripture means "residence closest to heaven." Visitors are treated to verdant desert canyons, waterfalls and towering peaks made of Navajo sandstone. For hikers, there are three out-and-back trails ranging in length from 1 to 14 miles.

Recent visitors appreciated how easy it was to reach this area of the park from Interstate 15. Travelers were relieved to find a lot less foot traffic at the Kolob Canyons and some even found it to be more beautiful than Zion Canyon. Visitors highly recommended taking the mile-long Timber Creek Overlook Trail for its view.

Canyon Junction Bridge Canyon Junction Bridge free

At the intersection of the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and Zion Canyon Scenic Road , the Canyon Junction Bridge crosses the Virgin River. For photographers, this is one of the iconic images of Zion National Park as both sides of the canyon frame the image with the river flanked by trees running through the center of it. In the afternoon, the sun lights up the Watchman rock formation and it looks like it's glowing.

According to recent visitors, stopping or parking on the Canyon Junction Bridge will get the attention of park rangers as snapping pictures here is not allowed. Travelers suggested parking at the Zion Human History Museum and taking the Pa'rus Trail to the Pine Creek Bridge, a pedestrian bridge where you can safely take pictures. One photographer also mentioned this area is a prime place to snap nighttime photos of the Milky Way (Zion is a designated International Dark Sky Park).

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Observation Point Observation Point free

When hikers crest the Observation Point trail, they will find themselves at one of the widest sections of Zion Canyon at an elevation of 6,521 feet atop Mount Baldy. With a bird's-eye view, hikers can take in almost all of Zion's top attractions. Because hikers will ascend 2,148 feet during this 8-mile, round-trip hike, it's not for the faint of heart. Though the East Rim Trail to Observation Point is temporarily closed due to a rock fall, hikers can venture out of the park to the East Mesa Trail. The 7-mile in-and-out route includes a 702-foot elevation gain. The trailhead is located about 10 miles north of the park's east entrance.

Several travelers recommend hitting the trail early to avoid high temperatures and also suggest pacing for the strenuous uphill hike and the return descent. You'll want to bring plenty of snacks, as the National Park Service estimates this hike will take about six hours to complete. Others mentioned bringing sunscreen and plenty of water since some of the trek will be in full sun.

Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel free

U.S. News Insider Tip : Don't blink or you'll miss the windows bored through the walls of the tunnel. This area is congested, especially when rangers stop the flow for oversized vehicles. – Catherine Parker

In the early 20th-century, park promoters wanted to create a way for visitors to easily access the east side of Zion National Park, as well as nearby parks like Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon . With the creation of the 25-mile-long Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, travelers could tour the Utah national parks in a loop. The now famous Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel was part of this highway project. Bored straight through the sandstone cliffs above Pine Creek Canyon, this 1.1-mile-long tunnel was first started in the late 1920s and saw its first vehicle in 1930. When it opened on July 4, 1930, it was the longest mountain tunnel in the U.S. Today, the sandstone tunnel is a major thoroughfare and top Zion National Park attraction. As you drive through it, you'll see large windows cut out of the sandstone – in addition to light and ventilation, the windows offer drivers a peek at the spectacular views outside the tunnel. 

Court of the Patriarchs Court of the Patriarchs free

The three distinct striated peaks in this rock formation are known as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. There were named by Methodist minister, Dr. Frederick Vining Fischer, who visited Zion Canyon in 1916 and named many of the features in Zion after religious figures. The Court of the Patriarchs is located about a third of the way up Zion Canyon. Though the Court of the Patriarchs is viewable from the road, there's also a 0.2-mile round-trip trail that travelers can hike to reach a better viewpoint.

According to recent visitors, this a must-see when visiting Zion Canyon. Several travelers suggested taking the short, steep hike to the viewpoint instead of admiring the Court of the Patriarchs from the shuttle stop. Several also said there is an interpretive sign to help visitors distinguish the names of the peaks in the area.

Emerald Pools Emerald Pools free

Zion National Park is known more for its towering rock formations than its gushing waterfalls, but one area where you can catch a glimpse is the Emerald Pools. Found nestled between striking peaks of the park and with views of the Zion Canyon from the upper trails, this area is within walking distance of Zion Lodge. The pools are a result of one flowing stream as the water makes its way over cliffs and down a series of waterfalls before landing in the pools that dot this small area of the park.

Visitors can access the pools via three separate trails. The 1.2-mile Lower Emerald Pool loop trail is the easiest as it's on a roughly paved path. From here, hikers can reach the Upper Emerald Pool trail. The Middle Emerald Pools Trail is a 2.2-mile unpaved trail with a steep, 150-foot climb that the national park labels as moderate in difficulty. The Upper Emerald Pools Trail is a 1-mile trail with a 200-foot gain that forks off the Middle Emerald Pools Trail. The best time to visit the Emerald Pools is during spring, when runoff from winter's snow creates more robust falls.

Watchman Trail Watchman Trail free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Shuttle passengers should pack a bag for the day in Zion Canyon with high-energy snacks (if hiking), a water bottle, a hat and sunscreen along with a layer, just in case. – Catherine Parker

The 3-mile round-trip Watchman Trail doesn't ascend the Watchman Spire, but it does afford a spectacular view of the Watchman, Temples and Towers, lower Zion Canyon and the town of Springdale. As the trail only ascends about 400 feet, it's a good path to start out on for those new to hiking and features desert cacti and greenery along the way.

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Weeping Rock Weeping Rock free

Zion National Park might be in the desert, but it's not completely devoid of water. In addition to the Virgin River, there are several areas within the park where groundwater oozes out of the cracks and crevices in the Navajo sandstone, including at Weeping Rock. Thanks to the water supply, moss and plants form a hanging garden along the rock face, and it's possible for a drip or two to land on hikers. To see the Weeping Rock, visitors can take a 0.4-mile paved trail that climbs nearly 100 feet in elevation.

According to recent visitors, this hike is steep, yet short, so it's not exhausting. Many recent visitors found the view stunning and worth the effort. Summertime visitors appreciated the occasional drips from the sandstone on a hot day. A couple of hikers mentioned that if others were short on time, this area was similar to the Lower Emerald Pool .

Checkerboard Mesa Checkerboard Mesa free

Between the east entrance of the park and the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel , this sandstone formation features cracks and fissures in a horizontal and vertical grid, resembling a checkerboard. What's more, the Checkerboard Mesa is lighter in color than some of the surrounding sandstone, adding to its distinctive look. With a lookout point and parking lot, this is a popular stop on the east side of the park.

Several recent visitors said Checkerboard Mesa was worth a stop for the unique rock markings. A few reviewers said the best time to visit is in the morning when crowds haven't filled up the small parking lot. According to travelers, you'll also want to keep your eyes peeled for the mountain goats that frequent the area.

Temple of Sinawava Temple of Sinawava free

Located at the beginning of Zion Canyon, the Temple of Sinawava is a natural amphitheater formed by the Virgin River. The towering canyon walls and surrounding vegetation create a dramatic scene that visitors flock to see. The Temple of Sinawava forms the gateway to two popular hikes – the Riverside Walk and the Narrows . Day-trippers can take the Riverside Walk for a 2.2-mile hike that is mostly flat. Visitors who are interested in more of a challenge can continue on to the Narrows, which starts at the end of the Riverside Trail and is labeled a strenuous trail that covers up to 9.4 miles roundtrip. This trail does not require a wilderness permit, through rangers advise would-be hikers that 60% of the hike will be in cold water and hikers might have to swim. Hikers are advised to check in with rangers for the forecasted weather as this is an area that is prone to flash flooding.

Travelers gushed over the experience hiking along the Riverside Walk and several mentioned it was the most popular hike and easy enough for most. Wintertime visitors mentioned the drinking water was turned off in the area so others should pack water. Most who went to the end of the Riverside Walk mentioned there was water on the trail, close to The Narrows trailhead.

Zion Human History Museum Zion Human History Museum free

Inside of one the historic Mission 66 buildings (the mid-century initiative to modernize national park facilities), the Zion Human History Museum houses a collection of rotating artifacts found in the park. Visitors can learn about human history in the area, from the Southern Paiute from thousands of years ago to the Mormon pioneers of the 1800s. Water, and its role is role in creating and sometimes destroying the desert landscape, is also a theme. Visitors will also find exhibits on geology, the park's flora and fauna, and the tools used by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

In addition to the exhibits, the building itself is worth a stop: it was used as the Zion Visitor Center until 2002, when a new building opened. The back patio offers views of West Temple and the Towers of the Virgin with the Bridge Mountain visible from the front. Rangers recommend this area for sunrise and sunset since visitors can drive and park in the area. Visitors will find a bookstore inside the Zion Human History Museum as well.

The Subway The Subway free

Adventure travelers who have successfully traversed the heart-stopping Angels Landing and lengthy The Narrows should choose The Subway as their next challenge. Aptly named for resembling subway tunnels, The Subway – also known as the Left Fork of North Creek – is a slot canyon that is not for the faint of heart and should only be attempted by experienced hikers. Not only do you need a wilderness permit, but the National Park Service also recommends that hikers traverse this natural wonder with someone who has already completed the hike.

While this all may sound intense, the unique geography truly makes for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Though there are two routes available along The Subway, it's recommended that hikers take the Bottom-Up Route, which does not require rope, repelling skills and a wet suit for swimming through deep, cold pools like the Top-Down Canyoneering Route. However, the 9-mile-long Bottom-Up Route does require climbing boulders, crossing creeks and ascending about 1,300 feet. All hikers need to have the most detailed route information available for their hike.

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Home > Usa Parks > Zion National Park Travel Guide

Zion National Park: Travel Guide to Enjoy a Utah Masterpiece

Zion’s soaring cliffs form one of the most majestic and evocative canyons in America. In this park, located in Utah, the imposing monoliths are bright red and white and are surrounded by green forests and valleys rich in fauna. Zion deserves special attention not only for its beauty but also because, compared to many other parks, the visit requires careful planning.

It is in the mountains and offers vast and exceptional views, but to reach many of them you will have to get there by hiking . What if you want to go on a scenic drive of Zion or want to visit it only in passing? It is still possible, but you have to know exactly where to go, otherwise you risk wasting time. Here is a detailed travel guide to visit Zion National Park . 

PS : Do you want to know what’s worth seeing in this park? Read our guide to the best things to do in Zion National Park .

Zion National Park Map

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Zion National Park is located in southern Utah . In addition to St. George Airport, a small airport, Las Vegas International is the closest main airport to the two sections of the park (178 miles), even though Zion, like other U.S. national parks , is usually visited as part of much larger road trips that can also start from major cities in California .

The main section of the park, known as Zion Canyon , is located near Springdale , while a separate section of the park, called Kolob Canyons , is located near Kanarraville, on I-15, 40 miles away (50 minutes by car). The two sections are separate and you cannot drive from one section to the other inside the national park.

Below are directions for those traveling to the main section of the park coming from the west and east.

• Coming from Las Vegas (southwest) you’ll have to drive 127 miles along I-15. You may consider also making a stop halfway at the Valley of Fire (I highly recommend it!). Then, after St. George , you’ll take Exit 16. From here you will take a short drive on UT-17 to La Verkin and then take the scenic UT-9 until you reach the west entrance to the park at Springdale ‘s.
• If you come from Salt Lake City (northwest), you will take Exit 27 (Anderson Junction) off of I-15 until you reach La Verkin. From there follow the same directions found in the previous point.
• If you’re coming from Kanab , Page , Bryce , Moab . .. (East), you’ll need to take Route 89 and then turn onto Mount Carmel Junction . Then you’ll take  UT-9 and drive 25 miles to get to the park via the East Entrance . This stretch of road, especially the last 13 miles, is very nice to drive, as you will see.

Kolob Canyons , located along I-15, is easier to reach. Those coming from the south ( St. George ) and those coming from the north (Provo, Salt Lake City) will have to get off I-15 at Exit 40. This area is very beautiful and easily accessible, but it is not so vast and is less popular than the main section of Zion.

In the map below, you can find the main points of reference for visiting the park. The Visitor Centers for their respective areas, and the zones into which the park is divided.

Zion National Park is open 24 hours a day every day of the year. The Zion Canyon Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Since it is a national park, you can use the America the Beautiful Pass . If you don’t have it, the entrance fee is $35 per vehicle . If you did not enter the park by car, you will pay $20 per person at the Visitor Center entrance.

The park is open year-round, but the ideal time to visit is from March to October when the weather is perfect for hiking. The very best times to go are autumn , with its warm colors and mild climate, as well as late spring.

Summer , being a vibrant and verdant season, draws visitors to Zion, but remember that temperatures are higher and as a result some hikes may be a little more tiring. You’re not in the desert, of course, but you’ll be hiking in the sun !

Winter also has its advantages. Not only is the park less crowded, but the colors of the canyon are even brighter and create a beautiful contrast with the white snow. Certainly the weather is much colder and can be challenging for less experienced hikers.

The dates vary from year to year, but approximately from April to the end of October the main road of the park (Zion Canyon Scenic Drive) is closed to car traffic , so you must park your car and use the free shuttle provided by the park. During the rest of the year, when Zion is less crowded, you can drive along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive .

Basically, you have two ways to visit a park. Either you make a quick stop  at the national park or explore it in depth , spending as much time as possible there.

Let me try to explain. Zion National Park is not ideal for a short visit like Bryce Canyon , Monument Valley or Grand Canyon , places where you have the option of taking long hikes, but can be visited quite quickly because the best viewpoints are easily reached with short trails or are located directly on the road. Zion National Park is not that kind of park, because it takes time and energy to see the best views or go on the most adventurous hikes.

Not everyone takes this into account, so we often find ourselves answering the decisive question “can I visit Zion and Bryce on the same day, given the proximity?” . I answered no both here and here , stressing the fact that if you are heading to Bryce Canyon, you have limited time to visit Zion , driving along the stunning Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway , which is an illustration of the beauty of Zion. It will not be an extended visit which, as you will see in the next point, takes at least half a day.

If you still want to visit Zion within a short time frame, there is another option, which is to visit Kolob Canyons , but that would change your itinerary completely. As it was mentioned earlier, Kolob Canyons cannot be reached by taking UT-9, but are is accessible from I-15, the fastest route between Las Vegas and Bryce . The views of Kolob Canyons are remarkable and easy to get to, so it’s a perfect solution. In this case, don’t take the UT-9 on your way to Bryce Canyon.

Let’s be clear, it takes days, not hours , to visit Zion comprehensively and enjoy all its splendor (views and paths)! However, often on road trips you don’t have that much time. If that is the case, an adequate visit to the main section of the park (Zion Canyon) requires at least half a day .

In theory, you can manage to do it in 3 hours , but the more time you spend on the trails, the more you will enjoy the visit. You have to take into account that from April to the end of October you have to use the shuttle to move around the park, which limits your ability to move around independently and can extend the time even further .

Those who want to visit both Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyons will have to set aside the whole day or most of the day, depending on the next stop.

How To Get Around: Shuttles and Scenic Roads

As you may have gathered, there is a very important question: how can you get around the park?

Let’s start with Zion Canyon. Running through this section is the 6-mile-long Zion Canyon Scenic Drive , along which all of the park’s main trails start. As mentioned above, during the low season you will be able to drive on this road independently with your rental car. To get there, simply drive to Canyon Junction, turn off of UT-9 at the junction (for the exact location, see here ), a stone’s throw from the Virgin River Bridge.

From April to the end of October , however, you will not be able to drive on this road. Instead, you will have to use the free shuttle service departing from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center . The shuttle has 9 stops along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, and each serves as a reference point for various trails.

Zion Canyon Shuttle

The Zion Canyon Shuttles depart from the Visitor Center every 7-10 minutes during the high season and take about 40 minutes to cover the entire route and reach the last stop (Temple of Sinawava ), where the Riverside Walk begins, leading to the famous The Narrows. Besides this, the main stops are Zion Lodge, The Grotto, Weeping Rock and Big Bend.

Shuttle frequency and start time vary from month to month, so check here for updates.

Where to park?

There is free parking near the Visitor Center, but it fills up very quickly in the morning: you can check the number of places available on the electronic billboards along the street, near the West Entrance (Springdale) tollbooth. What should do in the very likely event that you find the parking lot full ? There are three options:

• come back later , keep circling around until you find a spot.
• leave the Visitor Center and look for a spot on the streets of Springdale, but most of the parking is not free.
• if you are staying at a hotel in Springdale , ask the staff if you can leave your car in the hotel parking lot . Usually there are a few spaces available for guests who do not want to move their car (in my experience, at least at Zion Park Motel this is the way it works!).

Springdale Shuttle

Okay, let’s say you had to leave your car at the hotel parking lot or you found parking in Springdale. Either way, you might be a long way from the Visitor Center! Don’t worry: there is the Springdale Shuttle that makes 9 stops along the entire Springdale extension on UT-9 to the Visitor Center for free . The southern terminus is Majestic View Lodge: it takes about 10-15 minutes to get from here to the Visitor Center.

Again, the frequency of the shuttles is 7-10 minutes during the high season, but it varies month to month.

Take your ticket or card with you!

Normally, to enter a national park you just need to buy a ticket or present the American the Beautiful Pass at the tollgate, after it is no longer required to show your ticket or pass. Usually no one takes the ticket or pass with them while hiking; instead, most people leave it in the car.

Well, this does not apply to Zion because, as you may know, you can also get to the Visitor Center on foot or by the Springfield Shuttle. For this reason, since it’s hard to tell if you have already presented the entrance ticket, the rangers at the Visitor Center ask everyone for the entrance ticket.

Take it with you because even if you explain to them that you left it in your car (as we did), they might be strict and make you pay the entrance fee again. It didn’t happen to us, the ranger was understanding, but it’s good to come prepared.

The Zion-Mt. Carmel Junction Highway is another scenic road in Zion National Park. As such, visitors pay a fee to travel on UT-9 in both directions. Unless there is a sudden road closing, this road can be driven all year round. For more information, please refer to our in-depth guide.

Kolob Canyons Road can be driven all year round, but you are required to pass through the Visitor Center (directions are well marked after the highway exit at the junction with Kolob Canyon Road) to show your entry ticket before driving to the beautiful canyon viewpoint at the top.

All our articles on Zion National Park

In Utah, there is no shortage of scenic roads, and Scenic Byway 9 (SR-9) can easily be counted among them not only because of the beauty of the views that can be seen along the road, but also because the experience of driving it is different from the classic straight roads of desert areas. Are you curious to know more? …

Itineraries nearby

• Places To Stay in Zion
• Things To Do in Zion
• Zion Deals & Packages
• Zion Camping & RV Parks
• Hiking in Zion
• Zion Visitor Center
• Buy Zion Maps & Tees
• Angels Landing Hiking Trail Guide

Zion Travel Guide

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Oh Zion, sweet Zion (us locals know it’s Zi-uhn, not Zi-ahn), I’ll be danged if you’re not Utah’s crowning jewel. The oldest national park in the state is also its most popular, hence the mandatory (but fairly convenient) shuttles in the high season.

Zion is nestled at the nexus of three distinct geographical regions — the Colorado Plateau, the Great Basin and the Mojave Desert — which makes for an explosion of red rock, lush vegetation, dramatic cliffs and canyons, and breathtaking (no literally — bring an inhaler and a paper bag) views. I’ve uttered the phrases, “I feel like I’m in Jurassic Park,” and, “I feel like I’m on Mars,” on the same Zion trail. (With the title and the film locations locked down, my Space Dinos!™ script should write itself…)

Asides aside, let’s get down to what matters: the hikes.

Here are a few “mild” hikes to help get you acquainted:

Lower Emerald Pools Trail : Note: You are not experiencing a mirage. 1.2 miles roundtrip.

Pa’rus Trail : from the Paiute word meaning “bubbly, tumbling water”, the trails is a fun, paved trail that follows the Virgin River through Zion Canyon. 3.5 miles rountrip.

Grotto Trail : nice and easy, and you don’t have to work too hard for the spectacular canyon views. 1.0 miles roundtrip.

You’ve convinced yourself you like camping, you’ll do what it takes to get a selfie, your kids are grown and susceptible to bribes.

Ready for more? It’s time to get in to the more moderate hikes of Zion:

Weeping Rock Trail : A 100-foot shower in the desert. A Ferngully fantasyland. 0.4 miles roundtrip.

Watchman Trail : A hike for early birds or sunset goers (it’s a scorcher). 2.7 miles roundtrip.

Canyon Overlook : Short but sweet, with a view. 1.0 miles roundtrip.

Middle Emerald Pools Trail : Sparkling pools. Fun for the whole family. 2.0 miles roundtrip.

Your hiking boots cost more than your rent, Michelangelo could have modeled David’s calves after yours, you have outdoor gear we’ve never heard of.

Hang on, things are gettin’ spicy. These are strenuous trails, but totally worth every ounce of sweat.

Angels Landing via West Rim Trail : Hike along a Jurassic-sandstone knife edge. 5.4 miles roundtrip.

Observation Point via East Rim Trail : Longer hike that makes you earn the postcard views. 8.0 miles roundtrip.

The Narrows : Dark, cool, nearly sacred slot canyons. 9.4 miles roundtrip.

Check out more Zion hiking trails  here .

Guide to Zion National Park | Photo Gallery

View Along The Emerald Pools Trail

How much time do you have?

If you have half a day….

Only have half a day to spend in Zion? we’d put money down that you end up extending your stay, but if you’re serious about your time constraints, here are some incredible drives, viewpoints and quick hikes to choose from.

Drive Zion–Mount Carmel Highway. It’s only 27 minutes from the South Entrance to Checkerboard Mesa near the East Entrance but you’ll want to stop along the way.

Pick three hikes in Zion Canyon. Shuttles run every 10 minutes and drop you right at the trailheads for Pa’rus Trail, Court of the Patriarchs viewpoint, Emerald Pools, Riverside Walk, Weeping Rock, Mouth of Narrows, Canyon Overlook Trail. The lodge (shuttle stop #5) is a nice spot for lunch and a souvenir.

If you have A FULL DAY…

Planned a full day in Zion? Or you planned a half-day and couldn’t bring yourself to leave? Good. You’re going to need it.

Pick five hikes in Zion Canyon. Go ahead. Look at the list above and get greedy. You’re going to need to hustle to pack five hikes into a single day, but it’s possible. And if you only do four, all the more reason to come back later!

Or, if you want to swap quantity for high-adventure quality, skip the others and tackle Angels Landing. A hike for the unfaint of heart, this will be a view you will keep in your mind the rest of your life. Steep switchbacks, dramatic drop-offs, chain-assisted ascents, melt-your-face-off views from the top. It’s only five miles but with this kind of hiking it can take 4–5 hours.

If you have THREE DAYS…

Yes! Now we’re talking. For three well spent days in Zion, do all of the above, plus…

Get wet. Zion has a pair of famous watery slot canyon hikes. The Narrows is a classic. Spend a day going in and out or do the whole thing top to bottom overnight. The Subway is a more intense slot canyon experience. Swim, hike, climb, camp, marvel.

Kolob Canyons. Beautiful finger canyons northeast of the main part of the park accessed by Exit 40 on I-15. A bunch of lesser-known hipster hikes just waiting to be explored by travelers in the know.

Watchman Trail. A nice, quick warm-up or cool-down hike for sunrise or sunset.

Hidden Gem: Many Pools Trail

If you want an unearthly experience without the hassle of space travel, then might I introduce you to a hike with more nicknames than that cool kid at your high school: Many Pools Trail , aka The Route Canals, aka The Twins, aka Puddle Jumper (I just made that one up).

It’s on the east side of the park along UT–9 —not on the shuttle route — and it’s made up of a pair of drainages with fascinating pothole formations running alongside.

It’s rated “moderately strenuous, ” meaning bring your Patagonia-wearing, Chaco-tan-lined children along with you.

Catch this one in the spring during runoff or after a rainstorm and you’ll see some pretty incredible stuff.

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Zion Utah National Park FAQs

L ooking to explore one of America’s most stunning national parks? Get the answers to all your burning questions about Zion Utah National Park with this helpful guide. Learn what activities you can do, where to stay, and more!

All You Need To Know

The best-known national park in Utah, Zion NP is a must-visit destination with its towering canyon walls, lush green forests, and the Virgin River snaking through the canyon.

Visitors can enjoy a range of activities such as hiking, horseback riding, and rock climbing.

The park’s most famous hike is Angel’s Landing, leading to a 1,200-foot-high view of the canyon that is both thrilling and unforgettable.

More Utah Posts

• Utah Mighty 5 National Parks Trip Planner
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About Zion NP

Zion National Park is a stunning and iconic national park located in the southwestern United States , primarily in the state of Utah.

Known for its breathtaking landscapes, unique geological formations, and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Here’s a comprehensive overview of Zion National Park:

Zion National Park is situated in southwestern Utah, near the town of Springdale.

Part of the larger region known as the Colorado Plateau and surrounded by other notable national parks and protected areas.

Including Bryce Canyon National Park , Grand Canyon National Park, and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

It is famous for its dramatic canyons and towering cliffs, which were formed over millions of years by the erosion of the Virgin River cutting through layers of sedimentary rock.

The most prominent feature is Zion Canyon, a deep and narrow gorge that stretches for 15 miles, with walls rising up to 2,640 feet.

Zion National Park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including mule deer, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and a variety of bird species.

Visitors may also encounter smaller creatures like squirrels, chipmunks, and reptiles.

The park’s unique geography allows for a wide array of plant life to flourish.

You can find desert plants like Joshua trees, as well as lush riparian vegetation along the Virgin River.

Scenic Drives :

There are several scenic drives within the park that offer breathtaking views.

The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive are two of the most popular routes.

The former includes the famous Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, while the latter takes you through the heart of Zion Canyon.

Hiking at Zion National Park

Zion is a hiker’s paradise with a variety of trails suitable for all levels of experience.

Some of the most popular hikes include Angel’s Landing, The Narrows, Observation Point, and Emerald Pools.

Plan ahead as permits are required for some hikes.

Rock Climbing :

The towering sandstone cliffs of Zion National Park attract rock climbers from around the world.

Of course, climbers should be experienced and well-prepared as climbing routes vary in difficulty.

Zion National Park Camping

The park offers several Campground s, including the South Campground and Watchman Campground.

During the peak season, reservations are recommended.

You can always stay outside of Zion Canyon. We stayed at Zion River Resort which is only 14 miles away in Virgin, Utah.

Visitor Centers :

The park has two visitor centers: the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center.

Here, you can obtain information about the park, maps, and permits.

Zion National Park Weather

Zion National Park is open year-round, but the best times to visit are spring and fall when the weather is milder.

It’s essential to be prepared for varying conditions.

Summers can be extremely hot, and winters may bring colder temperatures.

Conservation :

In addition, Zion National Park is dedicated to preserving its unique natural features and ecosystems.

Leave No Trace principles to minimize their impact on the environment.

Accessibility :

The park strives to be accessible to all visitors. Shuttle buses operate in Zion Canyon to reduce traffic congestion and minimize environmental impact.

There are also accessible trails and facilities for those with mobility challenges.

Zion National Park Conclusion

Zion National Park is not only a haven for outdoor enthusiasts but also a place of immense natural beauty and wonder.

Its towering red rock formations, lush canyons, and diverse ecosystems make it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in exploring the natural wonders of the American Southwest.

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Where to Stay In And Around Zion National Park: Our Favourite Places

Written By: The Planet D

United States

Published On: April 28, 2024

Zion National Park spans over 146,000 acres of pure beauty. You’ve got the teetering climb up Angel’s Landing, the Narrows and its novelty hike through the river, and so many viewpoints that you’ll struggle to decide which to visit first. The hikes just astound you in Zion National Park. But with so much to do, it is no wonder we always get questions about where to stay in Zion National Park and what the best Zion National Park lodging is. After countless visits to this park (Which is one of our favorites in the USA), we put together this deep dive into the area to help you decide.

Table of Contents

Best Places to Stay in Zion National Park

You have a few different options for finding places to stay in Zion National Park. There are limited choices if you’d like to stay inside the park itself (think one hotel and lots of campgrounds), or you can stay in one of the nearby towns, just a short drive or walk to the park entrances. These towns have much more choice in terms of hotels, and you’ll just need to drive into the park each morning to enjoy its popular trails. Zion National Park lodging is pretty varied.

In this guide, we’ll weigh everything up for you to choose the best Zion National Park lodging for your trip. Whether you want a hot tub, fitness center, or private deck overlooking amazing views, we’ve got you covered. Here’s where to stay in Zion National Park.

1. Zion National Park Lodging (Inside The Park)

So, let’s start with the most obvious option first. For many, staying in the park itself makes sense if you’re visiting Zion National Park .  Waking up overlooking red-tinged sandstone views just sounds magical, doesn’t it?

Staying inside the park is possible, but you must be organized or very flexible. There’s only one hotel option with the park – Zion Lodge. We’ll discuss this hotel more in a second. Still, you must understand that if you want a hotel experience inside Zion National Park, check availability and book in advance. Obviously, with just one hotel option, rooms go fast, especially in peak months like summer.

Otherwise, there are many campgrounds to choose from, so pack your tent or start up your campervan: South, Watchman, and Lava Point Campground are all great options. And camping inside Zion National Park is great fun.

Luxury: Zion National Park Lodge

Zion National Park Lodge  is the only hotel actually set within Zion National Park. The historic lodge dates back to 1924 and offers rustic cabins with a ridiculously convenient location. While it might not be the most extravagant luxurious accommodation choice, it definitely qualifies as the most luxurious place to stay in Zion National Park, given that it’s the only place you can bag an actual hotel room. There’s also a quiet, imposing beauty to the property, with a dark wooden exterior lit up against its sandstone cliff backdrop.

Zion National Park Lodge is open year-round and has fantastic views. It’s easily one of the best hotels in the region, and its excellent location sets it apart. There’s an on-site restaurant, free parking, and comforts like free Wi-Fi and TVs in each cabin, room, or suite. If you want comfort inside Zion National Park, you’ll have to check availability at Zion National Park Lodge, which provides easy access to the park’s attractions.

Mid Range: Under Canvas Zion

Okay, we’ll be completely honest:  Under Canvas, Zion   technically  straddles the Zion National Park border on its north-western Kolob Terrace region. However, since the only other options inside the park are campgrounds, we decided to highlight one of the few potential glamping sites. You’ll be right on the Zion border and get a more remote experience with the comfort of deluxe glamping tents.

Guests can enjoy a fire pit, horseback riding tours, hot air ballooning, and on-site yoga sessions. The tents feature huge beds; some have stargazer elements, with transparent sections to admire the night sky. Under Canvas Zion might be a rather cheeky addition to the ‘inside Zion’ section, but the promise of gorgeous glamping sites on the national park border should be a strong enough selling point for you. Definitely check availability for its glamping tents.

Budget Hotel: South Campground

South Campground  is where to stay in Zion National Park if you are a hardy camper and happy to ‘rough it’ to stick to a budget. It is further into the park than its neighbor, Watchman Campground. The campground is basic but has water access, showers, a laundry room, and toilets. There’s even a playground for families.

You can bring a tent or an RV. It is an easy walk into Springdale for town amenities or a stroll to the shuttle for Zion’s main trails and attractions. You are literally minutes away from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and Pa’rus Trail. You can also walk to the Zion Human History Museum in as little as 20 minutes. Considering you are camping inside Zion National Park, you still have easy access to more formal attractions and town amenities. It’s a nice balance that makes South Campground worth considering if you’re traveling to Zion on a budget.

Pros Of Staying inside Zion National Park

• It is an excellent location to access all the trails, which gives you a head start if you want to access trails early in the morning to beat the crowds.
• You don’t have as much driving time as you can use the free shuttles and walk around the park. Many attractions are just minutes away from the accommodation in Zion National Park.
• You get gorgeous views galore and experience Zion when most people go home.

Cons Of Staying inside Zion National Park

• You do miss out on amenities like restaurants, with limited choices for dining inside the park. If you want a restaurant meal, you’ll have to head to Springdale, just outside the south Zion National Park Entrance or stay at Zion Lodge so you can dine at the on site restaurant.
• There is little diversity in terms of hotel options and pricing. If you look at hotels outside Zion National Park, you’ll find better value for money.
• You’ll only see Zion rather than get to explore other areas as well.

2. Springdale

Springdale is the trusty second-in-command for staying near Zion National Park; most visitors choose this as their base. If you missed the boat and found Zion National Park Lodge to be booked out or just fancy more hotel options, Springdale is your best shout. The town is literally steps away from the south entrance of Zion National Park, meaning you could still walk to any of its main attractions if you really wanted to – just with the added bonus of more hotel choices and better amenities. Springdale is a great location if you want proximity to Zion’s attractions but a more urban experience than you get from in-park lodging. It is where you can stay in Zion National Park for utter convenience.

Zion’s south entrance is served by a mandatory Zion Canyon Shuttle for much of the year. This shuttle runs through Springdale itself, meaning you don’t even need to spend extra driving time. When staying in Springdale, you’ll be a short walk from your nearest pick-up point.

Aside from being really convenient, Springdale is also a gorgeous town. The small handful of houses, restaurants, and hotels sit against a backdrop of sandstone cliffs, and the Virgin River snakes through the town. Thanks to the scenery, it feels like you are already in the park, and you won’t miss out on any of that ‘wow factor’.

Luxury: Cliffrose Springdale, Curio Collection

Cliffrose Springdale   is a beautiful 4-star hotel on the riverfront in central Springdale. Upscale and immensely sophisticated, we greatly admire how Cliffrose Springdale balances modern and traditional design. Its stunning architecture uses wood and sandstone to seamlessly blend into the environment while showcasing large, modern windows for abundant natural lighting. Inside, each room offers a private deck or balcony with plush bedding and contemporary decor.

However, the real reason we added this luxury hotel to this guide is its hot tub, fire pits, and seasonal outdoor pool. It has a real outdoor ambiance where guests can relax with different activities after a busy day in Zion National Park. Imagine soaking in a hot tub at your lodging after a long day in Zion.

Furthermore, Cliffrose Springdale is a designated stop on the Springdale shuttle to the park, so reaching the main Zion trails is easy.

Mid Range: Red Rock Inn Cottages

Red Roc k Inn Cottages  has comfortable rooms and an unpretentious vibe. Guests get homely rooms with flat-screen TVs, minifridges, and coffee-making machines. Each room has views of Zion Canyon or the property’s serene garden areas. And if you do want to upgrade your experience, you can splurge on a special room with a private hot tub. Red Rock Inn Cottages are the perfect Zion National Park lodging for anyone wanting a comfortable stay.

Guests get a complimentary breakfast and parking. In summary, Red Rock Inn Cottages is just a beautiful property to use as a base, putting lots of effort into its interior design and making it visually appealing. This lodging is where you can stay in Zion National Park to kick back in a hot tub and embrace homely comforts. Check availability in advance as this is a popular accommodation choice and is open year-round.

Budget: Zion Canyon Cabins

Zion Canyon Cabins  are adorable log cabins situated centrally in Springdale. These cabins are ideal for nature lovers or those who like a more rustic aesthetic. Even better, they are some of the most budget-friendly accommodations in Springdale—which, remember, tends to hike accommodation prices up given its incredible location and access to Zion National Park.

Zion Canyon Cabins have a seasonal outdoor pool and communal fire pits. The communal fire pits are great for meeting new people, and there’s an outdoor grill and BBQ area for cooking. It might seem a little pricey, but it’s worth reiterating that Springdale accommodation prices are higher than in other areas. There’s just a premium price tag because of its convenient location. Still, comparably, Zion Canyon Cabins are your best option for snagging the most competitive price.

Pros Of Staying in Springdale

• You can easily catch the shuttle, drive, or walk into Zion National Park. Springdale is really convenient, and it is located next to Zion’s south entrance.
• Springdale has many amenities, including many hotel options and restaurants, so you can budget better with more choices.
• Springdale is widely recognized for its beauty and is a genuinely pretty little town and place to stay. You’ll enjoy a backdrop of sandstone cliffs and the nearby Virgin River; you don’t miss out on natural beauty by staying in Springdale.

Cons Of Staying in Springdale

• Springdale is the top choice amongst those wanting to stay outside Zion National Park, so it gets busy. Remember to check availability and book in advance. Also, be prepared for crowds in peak seasons.
• Springdale needs more attractions (if we are being picky). It is beautiful, but otherwise, it is a launchpad to see Zion National Park rather than a tourist destination in its own right.
• Prices can be slightly hiked up for tourists because Springdale is such a ‘through-town’.

3. Mt Carmel Junction

Cast your eyes to the other side of Zion National Park; Mt. Carmel Junction is a short 15-minute drive from the eastern Zion National Park Entrance. Unlike staying in Springdale, you’ll need to drive your way into the park. It isn’t close enough to be within walking distance, but you’ll be driving to Zion National Park on the Mt. Carmel Highway Scenic Drive. The ‘commute’ into the national park is one of the most scenic drives in the region, and it’s still pretty easy access.

Mt. Carmel Junction is tiny and a really sweet place to stay. If you want somewhere slightly less popular (read: busy) than Springdale, this is where to stay in Zion National Park. It has several restaurants, gift shops, and an all-necessary fuel station. Accommodation is limited, but you have many hotels and RV parks to choose from. If you want to feel a little in the sticks, Mt. Carmel Junction is ideal. It has decent amenities but is much less touristy.

Mt. Carmel Junction is also a great place to explore places apart from Zion National Park. You’re just a short drive from the Belly of the Dragon Trail, which starts by walking through a vast tunnel and Elkhart Cliffs Slot Canyon. You are just a 20-minute drive from Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, too. It’s a great location to get more out of your trip and detour from the standard tourist trail. The nearby hiking trails are much quieter than the major trails in Zion, so it’s a nice balance for your itinerary.

Luxury: Zion Mountain Ranch

Zion Mountain Ranch   is the most luxurious accommodation option in Mt. Carmel Junction. The historic ranch has a mixture of wooden cottages and luxurious suites—all adorned in luxurious, traditional old Western style. And even better, there’s a herd of bison on an on-site reserve, which is amazing for animal lovers and those wanting to spot wildlife when visiting Zion.

There’s parking and an on-site restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and evening meals. Zion Mountain Ranch is secluded and a great place to embrace the more rural, authentic atmosphere of Mt. Carmel Junction. Definitely check availability for its stunning suites.

Mid Range: Best Western East Zion Thunderbird Lodge

Best Western East Zion Thunderbird Lodge   is a little more modern, offering fantastic mid-range accommodation in central Mt. Carmel Junction. Guests get access to queen and king rooms, with the option to upgrade to suites. The room decor is light and boutique-style, providing a peaceful space to retreat to after all your sightseeing and hiking in Zion National Park. There are complimentary toiletries in each, as well as in-room entertainment.

You can find a large outdoor pool on-site, 24-hour reception, and laundry facilities. The latter is a nice touch, considering you’ll get so mucky in Zion National Park. Of course, there’s free WiFi and parking, and overall, it is a reasonably priced and comfortable experience in Mt. Carmel Junction.

Budget: Mt. Carmel Motel & RV Park

Located just north of Mt. Carmel Junction’s center is  Mt. Carmel Motel & RV Park , the region’s best budget-friendly accommodation. Mt. Carmel Motel & RV Park is undoubtedly the most competitively priced place to stay in the area, with basic but comfortable rooms and a handy location to head into Zion National Park. The motel is modest and down-to-earth but in a tasteful way.

The motel has only six rooms, so you are guaranteed a more lowkey atmosphere. Each room has a mini fridge, microwave, and coffee machines. Of course, this is great for keeping your eating bills low, and you can upgrade to a cabin option that features its own private kitchen for a self-catered stay, too. If you want a budget stay in the Mt. Carmel area, this motel is for you.

Pros Of Staying in Mt. Carmel Junction

• Mt. Carmel Junction offers a more authentic and less touristy experience. It is more relaxed than other places like Springdale.
• You have loads of different places to sightsee nearby, including slot canyons and trails that take you through tunnels. All of these trails are much quieter than those in Zion National Park, giving you more balance for your itinerary.
• The driving route to Zion National Park takes you on a scenic highway and only takes 15 minutes.

Cons Of Staying in Mt. Carmel Junction

• You aren’t within walking distance of the park, so you must be happy driving.
• There are limited amenities in Mt. Carmel Junction, so it isn’t suited to anyone wanting many bars and restaurants.
• Similarly, you are limited in terms of hotel options. You should book accommodation in advance to avoid it selling out.

4. Hurricane

Hurricane is the furthest option when researching where to stay in Zion National Park, approximately 30 minutes from Zion’s south entrance. So, why bother with the drive? Well, Hurricane is the closest city to the national park, meaning tons of amenities for your visit and lots of entertainment. If you’re more of a city lover, Hurricane is the most entertaining place to stay near Zion National Park.

Hurricane has the Hurricane Valley Heritage Park Museum and Pioneer Corner Museum for tourists. You can also visit Quail Creek State Park, Sand Hollow State Park, and Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. It’s a great base to explore many different attractions around Utah. It also has more residential attractions, like a cinema, golf courses, splash pad, coffee shops, and many parks. It’s where to stay in Zion National Park if you want a busier city experience while away from Zion’s hiking trails. You have everything you need on your doorstep.

Hurricane is our top recommendation for anyone who wants endless entertainment choices and many hotel options. If you book a stay in Hurricane, you’ll have a much more packed itinerary.

Luxury: The Dwellings

The Dwellings   is boutique accommodation just north of Hurricane’s center. It’s out of the hustle and bustle and offers tastefully decorated deluxe studios, complete with private terraces. If you want a luxury base in Hurricane, The Dwellings is a fabulous choice. Each studio features a kitchenette and hot drinking-making facilities. Guests have a self-contained living space, with bedrooms and adjoining seating areas, plus ample access to outdoor space.

Spending long days in Zion, it’s nice to know you have somewhere peaceful to retreat to and rejuvenate. For extra peace of mind, there’s parking on-site and family rooms for those who’d like them. The hotel was only built in 2020, so the decor is trendy and tasteful too.

Mid Range: Wingate by Wyndham Hurricane

Wingate by Wyndham Hurricane  is located in the heart of Hurricane and is the place to stay if you want a mid-range property in the heart of the city’s action. As a chain hotel, this property is more like a traditional hotel experience, with a grand lobby and guest room layout. The 3-star hotel has a 24-hour reception desk and a spacious car park. It is a great base in Hurricane and ticks all the necessary boxes for a very reasonable price.

Each room has an ensuite with complimentary toiletries, and you get a fridge that comes in handy for storing grocery-bought food and saving money on eating out. Wingate by Wyndham Hurricane has an onsite outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, and business center. Overall, it is a welcoming and reliable base when staying in Hurricane.

Budget: Hurricane Hideaway Lodging

Hurricane Hideaway Lodging  has hotel rooms that are about as central as you can get in Hurricane. You’ll have doorstep access to the city’s entertainment and amenities like restaurants, perfect for getting the most out of your experience. It is only a few minutes on foot from the Hurricane Valley Heritage Park Museum and a tasty Peruvian restaurant, Peruvian Flavors. You are a block away from Hurricane’s shop-lined Route 9. For a budget-friendly rate, great location, and comfortable rooms, you can’t top this hotel.

Each room comes with coffee machines, minifridges, and microwaves. Anyone passionate about budget travel knows the magic of this magic combination. You’ll be able to squirrel away leftover food safely and make the most of grocery shopping. You also get a private bathroom, WiFi, TV, and access to communal outdoor seating. It is a great deal if you want to experience Zion National Park on the cheap.

Pros Of Staying in Hurricane

• You get a city atmosphere with many more activities and entertainment. This is ideal for staying entertained in the evenings when you likely aren’t spending time in Zion National Park anyway.
• Hurricane has many more hotel options, so you can find better deals and rates.
• There’s a lot to explore nearby, including museums in the city center and state parks around its outskirts.
• You are only a 30-minute drive from the national park, which is still very convenient.

Cons Of Staying in Hurricane

• You aren’t within walking distance of the national park, and the drive isn’t gorgeous, like Mt. Carmel Junction’s scenic highway. You’ll need to be happy driving at least an hour return each day.
• Hurricane is a city rather than a scenic town, so you will get a different scenery and views than you would staying in Springdale.
• Hurricane is busy. Get ready for crowds.

FAQ’s About The Best Areas to Stay in Zion

You now know exactly where to stay in Zion National Park. Are you choosing to stay near the quiet eastern entrance? Or beautiful Springdale or the citified Hurricane? Choosing a location is as crucial as deciding on your lodging. Though, of course, weighing up between a hot tub or pool is pretty exciting.

Before you go, though, let’s look at some of the most commonly asked FAQs. Here’s some quickfire information that could help you narrow down your choices.

Where do people stay when visiting Zion National Park?

Most people stay in Springdale, as it’s the closest town outside the national park and has the most hotel and amenities options.

Is it better to stay inside or outside Zion National Park?

It depends on what you enjoy doing. Overall, we’d recommend staying just outside of Zion National Park. You won’t notice much of a difference if you stay in Springdale.

Is it better to stay in Zion or Bryce Canyon?

Both offer similar accommodation choices, with one central hotel in each park and a cluster of hotels near the park entrances. However, Bryce Canyon is generally a little quieter, as Zion National Park is the most popular of the two.

How many days do you need in Zion National Park?

You need at least three days in Zion National Park. We suggest more than three days if you want to hike a few significant trails (think the Narrows and Angels Landing). You’ll need some downtime in between, and you don’t want to tire yourself out on major trails only to miss the shorter routes and experiences.

Where not to stay in Zion National Park

When staying in and around Zion National Park, we recommend staying within a 30-minute drive. You want to maximize your time in the park, and by staying further away, you’ll lose a considerable chunk of your day to driving. This is worse for your energy levels and itinerary and means other people are more likely to beat you to those precious few car parking spots. Make your life easier by staying close to the park and its entrances. Similarly, while vacation rentals and Airbnbs are great, having a more formal lodging site is great for added luxuries at the end of a long day.

These are a few of the places near Zion National Park that we’d suggest avoiding:

Hildale is a town bordered by Colorado City on the Arizona border. It has some pretty gorgeous glamping sites and a history closely interlinked with Warren Jeff’s cult—which is interesting for anyone interested in darker US history.

However, more suitable options exist for those looking to stay near Zion. We recommend avoiding this spot as it takes over an hour to reach the national park by car. Travel time will take up a considerable portion of your day and tire you out before you even arrive.

If you’re looking for glamping, check out Under Canvas Zion instead. It’s located in the Kolob Terrace region, just a 35-minute drive from the park.

2. St. George

St. George is the first port of call when you enter Utah from Nevada, and if you’re driving from Las Vegas, you’ll pass straight through this southwestern city. It’s a cool place, with petroglyphs, dinosaur remains, and doorstep access to Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. An excellent place to stop on a road trip? Absolutely. But we wouldn’t recommend staying here if you want to visit Zion National Park.

St. George is just a little bit too far from the park entrance, taking around an hour one way by car. You’ll probably drive through Hurricane, too, which means you often catch city traffic at peak hours.

Instead, stay in Hurricane itself for half your daily journey time and then take a day trip to St. George to see all it has to offer on non-Zion day.

Kanab is difficult to rule out because it is a quirky border town. However, it is a bit too far to justify choosing it for accommodation when visiting Zion National Park. It takes roughly an hour to reach the park from Kanab.

We will say, though, to stay in Mt. Carmel Junction and then make a day trip to Kanab. Kanab has Little Hollywood Land and dozens of nearby trails, including Moqui Cave Natural History Museum and a couple of slot canyons.

Why we love Zion National Park

To be honest, who doesn’t love Zion National Park? The park is overflowing with character and good looks. You can admire the sandstone canyon walks and narrow ridges or walk through rivers. It’s the sort of national park that challenges preconceptions. It’s no wonder it’s considered one of the  best national parks in the USA .

Zion National Park is an easy passion point for us as we love our hiking trails and US national parks. There’s so much to see. Check out some of the attractions around Zion National Park, too; don’t just pigeonhole yourself into walking the major trails. Visit the lesser-visited slot canyons and state parks dotted around its edge.

Its surrounding area is just part of Zion National Park’s beauty and allure; deciding where to stay in Zion National Park is a great decision. Whether you pick a spot near a Zion National Park entrance, stay inside the park itself, or pick a more distant base—like the exciting city of Hurricane—we hope you have a wonderful time.

Plan Your Next Trip to Zion With These Resources

• 10 Best Hikes in Zion National Park, Utah
• Utah National Parks: How to visit The Mighty 5
• The Very Best Things to do in Salt Lake City, Utah
• Best National Parks – USA Edition
• 12 Bryce Canyon Hikes That Will Blow You Away

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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3 Easiest Hikes (For Beginners) At Zion National Park

Zion National Park is full of great hiking trails for all ages and abilities. These three easy Zion National Park hikes are ideal for beginners.

• Zion National Park offers hikes for all skill levels, including easy, beginner-friendly trails with stunning views.
• The park's most famous hike, Angel's Landing, requires a competitive permit, making it inaccessible for many travelers.
• The Pa'rus Trail, Zion Narrows Riverside Walk, and Zion Canyon Overlook Trail are perfect for beginners seeking safe, scenic hikes.

Zion National Park is the most popular of Utah's Mighty Five, and one of the most-visited national parks in the US. There is no doubt that Zion National Park deserves a place on everyone's bucket list, but the park's somewhat rugged appearance may put off some guests.

It's true, Zion is home to America's most dangerous hike, Angel's Landing . This difficult hike is only accessible with a permit, earned through a highly competitive lottery process. One of the most exclusive hikes in the US , many travelers are unable to even consider Angel's Landing.

There are plenty of other challenging hikes in Zion National Park to be aware of as well, many offering dramatic views that feel unattainable otherwise. Despite these intimidating trails, Zion National Park has plenty to offer for beginner hikers, with easy, paved trails surrounded by scenic views of the best of Zion Canyon. With no lottery systems to juggle or hiking poles to pack, these easy Zion National Park hikes are perfect for beginners (or anyone looking for a casual day in the park!).

Zion National Park has an entrance fee of $35/vehicle to enter. Hikers must pay the entrance fee, either at the entrance or in advance at Recreation.gov , before accessing any of the trails in Zion National Park.

Forget Zion: Visit Utah's Most Underrated National Park

Pa'rus trail, alltrails rating: 4.5 /5.

As the only dog-friendly trail in Zion National Park, Pa'rus Trail is perfect for every visitor to Zion National Park. Families with strollers, those who use wheelchairs, or even those looking to go hiking for the first time can enjoy this scenic Zion hike.

There is currently toxic algae in the water that can kill dogs if ingested. Those taking their dogs on the Pa'rus Trail must keep their pets out of the water.

Wide and paved throughout, the Pa'rus Trail offers dramatic views of the river and the mountains. The trail also includes several bridges over the river itself, breaking up the trail's three-mile run.

If three miles feels like a bit much for novice hikers, the Pa'rus Trail follows an out-and-back pattern, making it easy to turn around at any point to shorten the hike. With unobstructed views throughout, even a shortened version of this trail is bound to be awe-inspiring.

Nearly six feet wide at most points with a mild 130-foot elevation change, the Pa'rus Trail resembles more of a desert walk through Zion's dramatic formations. As one of the best easy hikes in Zion National Park, the Pa'rus Trail proves it doesn't take an intense climb to enjoy a stunning view.

There is minimal shade along the Pa'rus Trail. Hikers are encouraged to pack plenty of extra water and start earlier in the day if possible.

Zion Vs. Antelope Canyon: Comparing Their Most Popular Trails

Zion narrows riverside walk, alltrails rating: 4.6 /5.

The Narrows are well known as one of the many dangerous Zion National Park hikes besides Angel's Landing , but the trail to this deadly slot canyon is one of the easiest hikes in Zion. Gaining less than 200 feet in elevation over its two-mile run, the Zion Narrows Riverside Walk is considered one of the best kid-friendly easy hikes in all of Utah .

During peak season, which runs from March through November, Zion National Park visitors cannot drive private vehicles through Zion Canyon. To access trails along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, (including all the easy trails in this article), travelers must either hike to the trailhead or take the free Zion Shuttle .

The hike follows the Virgin River, the same waterway that has been carving away at Zion Canyon for thousands of years. Settled at the base of the canyon, this hike avoids some of the cliff-edge views that many of the hikes in Zion National Park feature.

For beginner hikers who may not feel particularly steady on their feet yet, the wide, paved, safe trail of the Zion Narrows Riverside Walk may be the ideal starting point.

Another thing that makes the Zion Narrows Riverside Walk one of the easiest hikes in Zion National Park is the out-and-back style of the trail. While the entire route is just under two miles, hikers can opt to turn around at any point to shorten the hike to align with their ability levels.

Thankfully, the views of this beginner-friendly Zion hike begin immediately, proving it is one of the best easy hikes in the park.

The Narrows themselves are currently closed to hikers due to high water levels. Hikers on the Zion Narrows Riverside Walk should keep an eye out for postings and be sure not to enter any closed areas.

Adventures In Hiking: 10 Best Hikes You Can Do In Zion National Park

Zion canyon overlook trail, alltrails rating: 4.8 /5.

The main event of Zion National Park is Zion Canyon itself, so beginners will be glad to know that these dramatic views are accessible without a precarious balancing act. At less than a mile round-trip, the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail is ideal for those without the endurance to try one of Zion's longer hikes.

Given the deceptively high altitude of Zion National Park (this is the high desert after all), these short trails are a great way to test one's abilities without getting stranded way up on the rim of the canyon.

The Zion Canyon Overlook gains only 150 feet in elevation, but hikers will be staring out at the entire expanse of Zion Canyon, including The West Temple, Towers of the Virgins, Streaked Wall, and Beehives natural formations.

This easy Zion National Park trail has one other major perk for hikers: it has some protective railing along the edge. This extra layer of safety can be reassuring for those less experienced hikers looking to enjoy Zion National Park's most iconic view.

While the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail does have some protective measures in place, hikers should still exercise caution around the edge of the canyon.

Zion National Park is well known for its incredible hiking trails. While many of its most famous hikes, including the dangerous Angel's Landing, are not suited for new hikers, Zion National Park has something for everyone.

The Pa'rus Trail, the Zion Narrows Riverside Walk, and the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail are three of the easiest hikes in Zion National Park. Each hike is a manageable distance, is easy to shorten, and has minimal elevation changes. These factors, paired with their incredible views, make these three easy Zion hikes some of the best in the park.

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Zion National Park 1 Zion Park Blvd. Springdale, UT 84767

435-772-3256 If you have questions, please email [email protected]. Listen to recorded information by calling anytime 24 hours a day. Rangers answer phone calls from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. MT, but a ranger may not answer if they are already speaking with someone else.

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National Park Service summer 2023 travel guide

Summer 2023 is predicted to be yet another busy travel season as the dust from the pandemic settles and travelers try to make up for lost time. A report by the U.S. National Park Service predicts that visitation will continue on an upward path this summer, making for potentially crowded parks as numbers return to pre-pandemic levels.

Most people visit national parks to escape the city and immerse themselves in a serene, hushed landscape, but when thousands of people have the same idea, the peace of a national park visit might be interrupted by full parking lots and long lines. However, for those planning on visiting national parks this summer, there are a few tricks that can ease the stress.

Fuel, flights, hotels and crowds: Your summer 2023 travel guide

Over 40 million Americans will be traveling for Memorial Day: Here’s how you can prepare

Another group has issued a travel advisory to Florida. What has the governor said?

Tips to beat the crowds: Our country’s most popular national parks are busy for a reason — they’re home to some of our nation’s most notable natural landmarks. For those who prefer nature without people, here are some ways to lower the chance of encountering large crowds, even at the busiest parks.

The Denver Post provides several ways travelers can avoid crowds at Zion National Park, but many of these tips can be implemented at other parks. If offered at the park, taking a shuttle to a destination or riding a bike is a way to eliminate the hassle of parking and experience the park up close and personal.

The Post also suggests visiting public lands just outside of the parks, which can offer the same scenery with a fraction of the people. According to KOA , national parks are busier during the weekend and holidays, and in the middle of the day. Visits mid-week, or at sunrise or sunset could produce a lighter crowd.

Another way to experience the parks without crowds is to visit a park with lower visitation numbers. These hidden gems put the beauty of our nation on full display, and parkgoers probably won’t have to wait in long lines to experience it.

Busiest national parks: Forbes reported that the following parks are the busiest in the country. If traveling to any of these parks, expect crowds, have patience, be flexible and allow time for delays.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Grand Canyon National Park.

Zion National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park.

Acadia National Park.

Yosemite National Park.

Yellowstone National Park.

Joshua Tree National Park.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Glacier National Park.

Indiana Dunes National Park.

Grand Teton National Park.

Hot Springs National Park.

Olympic National Park.

Bryce Canyon National Park.

Parks that require reservations or timed entry: After being stuck inside during the pandemic months, Americans were eager to get outside, flocking to our country’s parks. 2021 and 2022 saw record-breaking visitation numbers in several U.S. national parks, which caused many parks to implement reservation and timed-entry services in order to mitigate the influx of people. The following national parks still have some of these systems in place, and require timed entry or reservations for certain roads, trailheads, or other landmarks, per USA Today :

Arches National Park: Timed entry vehicle reservations are in place until Oct. 31 at $2 per vehicle.

Zion National Park: To hike Angels Landing permits are required year-round. Seasonal lotteries are closed, but daily lotteries are still available. Entry to the lottery is $6 for up to six people, and winners pay an additional $3 permit fee per person.

Acadia National Park: Timed entry vehicle reservations are in place for Cadillac Summit Road through October 22 at $6 per vehicle.

Glacier National Park: Timed entry vehicle reservations are in place for Going-to-the-Sun-Road, the North Ford, Many Glacier and Two Medicine until September 10 at $2 per vehicle.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Timed entry park access permits are required until October 22 at $2 per vehicle, depending on the permit.

Shenandoah National Park: Day-use tickets are required for entry to Old Rag Mountain until November $30 at $1 per person.

Haleakala National Park: Reservations are in-place year-round to visit the sunset at sunrise, for $1 per vehicle.

Least visited national parks: For those who want to get off the beaten path in an attempt to avoid the masses, here are some of the least visited parks in the U.S, according to CNN .

Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve (Alaska).

Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska).

Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (Alaska).

Isle Royale National Park (Michigan).

North Cascades National Park (Washington).

Katmai National Park and Preserve (Alaska).

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve (Alaska).

Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida).

Great Basin National Park (Nevada).

Congaree National Park (South Carolina).

Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas).

Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota).

Pinnacles National Park (California).

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• Bryce Canyon
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Explore the Majestic Natural Beauty of Yosemite National Park

2025 dates: may 22nd – october 27th.

Under Canvas Yosemite is located on 85 acres of forested land featuring unique glamping accommodations, a main lobby tent complete with café-style dining, upscale lounge areas luxuriously furnished by West Elm, and other elevated offerings. Located just 10 minutes from the main entrance to Yosemite National Park at Big Oak Flat, our very first California location is easily accessible from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, and Northern California. Sleep amongst towering California Black Oak and Ponderosa Pine forests in king-size beds with plush linens and private, ensuite bathrooms. Immerse yourself in the stillness of nature and explore one of the nation’s most historic national parks from Under Canvas Yosemite, where a stay is part of the upscale, outdoor adventure!

Recognition

"Our spectacularly beautiful property will offer exceptional access to one of the most iconic national parks in the country, inviting guests to discover the beauty of the park and immersion in nature in an entirely new way."

"The company chose the Golden State’s most visited national park for its first outpost, which will boast 80 acres of scenic land and amenities just a few miles from the west entrance of Yosemite National Park."

Explore Under Canvas Yosemite

Organic Bath Products

Upscale, organic bath products stocked in your ensuite bathroom

Yosemite Shuttle Stop

Walk to the YARTS shuttle stop providing car-free access to Yosemite National Park.

On-Site Dining

Our menu embraces both seasonality and locally sourced produce

Experience Coordinator

Let us help you plan the adventure of a lifetime

USB Battery Packs

Charge your devices using our bedside battery packs

Fire Pit & S'mores

Nightly fires and complimentary s’mores available

Complimentary Activities

Live music, morning yoga, kids activities and more

West Elm Furnishings

West Elm furnishings adorn our expansive lobby tents

Description

Our Suite Tent offers all the amenities of a Deluxe Tent, with the addition of a lounge area with queen-size sofa-bed.

Available At

• Lake Powell – Grand Staircase
• North Yellowstone – Paradise Valley

Key Features

• Bedroom wing with king size bed and luxe linens
• Lounge area with leather queen size sofa-bed
• Private bathroom with shower, sink & flushing toilet
• Private deck with lounge chairs
• In-tent heating

El Capitan Suite

The El Capitan Suite is designed for families and groups looking for an elevated experience. Enjoy our traditional Suite Tent combined and our Deluxe 2 Twin Tent connected by an expansive private deck with outdoor lounge seating.

• Suite Tent with bedroom wing, king size bed and luxe linens
• Lounge area with queen sofa-bed
• 2 private bathrooms with shower, sink and flushing toilet
• Deluxe Tent with 2 twin beds and luxe linens
• Connected private deck with outdoor lounge chairs

The Stargazer offers all the upscale amenities of our Deluxe Tent with a viewing window above the king bed. Enjoy a private ensuite bathroom, in-tent heating and private deck. Perfect for couples looking for an elevated glamping trip.

• King bed with luxe linens
• Night sky viewing window above bed

The Deluxe tent boasts a plush king size bed, a private ensuite bathroom with a shower, sink and flushing toilet. Enjoy the night stars on your private deck before retreating into your upscale tent with in-tent heating.

• King size bed with luxe linens
• Private bathroom complete with shower, sink & flushing toilet

Explore Yosemite National Park

Explore the grandeur of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains with upscale, safari-inspired glamping tents just minutes away from Yosemite National Park. Known as “the most beautiful place on earth”, Yosemite Valley is known for its world-class rock-climbing among granite cathedrals and is a haven for stunning hikes, waterfall vistas, and abundant wildlife. Under Canvas Yosemite serves as the perfect base camp to explore some of the top natural wonders in the valley, including Glacier Point, Half Dome, El Capitan, and North America’s largest waterfall, Yosemite Falls, making it a true bucket-list destination.

Directions & Travel Info

Directions from Fresno Yosemite International Aiport

Get on CA-180 West and follow it for 2.9 miles. Take exit 57A for CA-99 North toward Sacramento. Follow CA-99 North for 28.5 miles and take exit 162 and take a right onto Rd. 22 and follow for 16 miles towards Le Grand, CA. Just after Le Grand, CA turn right onto S. Cunningham Rd and continue for 6.5 miles. Turn right onto CA-140 East and follow for 15.9 miles. Turn left towards Mt. Bullion Cutoff Rd and continue for 3 miles, then take a left onto CA-49 North for 21.6 miles. In Coulterville, CA, turn right onto Greeley Hill Rd and follow for 12.6 miles (turns into Smith Stanton Rd. after 8.4 miles). Turn right onto CA-120 (Big Oak Flat Rd.) and follow for 10.3 miles. Turn right on Hardin Flat Road where you will find signs for Under Canvas Yosemite.

Directions from Sacramento, CA

Take CA-99 South toward Fresno, CA for 45.9 miles. Take exit 252B for Golden Gate Ave (CA-4 East) and follow for 35 miles. Once you reach Copperopolis, CA turn right onto Main Street and continue onto O’Byrnes Ferry Rd. Turn left onto CA-108 East/CA-120 East (signs for Sonora). Turn right to continue on CA-120 East. Continue straight on CA-120 East as it becomes Montezuma Road. Follow for 33.8 miles and turn right onto Hardin Flat Road where you will see signs for Under Canvas Yosemite.

Yosemite FAQs

Yes, the free Yosemite Valley shuttle system, also called YARTS, provides free and convenient access around Yosemite Valley. Under Canvas Yosemite has a YARTS stop right outside of it’s entrance.

Yosemite National Park is home to the world’s most massive tree species, the Giant Sequoia, which is sometimes called the “Sierra Redwood”. Under Canvas Yosemite has California Black Oak and Ponderosa Pines on property.

Yosemite National Park is 170 miles or about three and a half hours from San Francisco, CA.

Dogs are allowed in Yosemite National Park on paved roads, sidewalks and bicycle paths as long as they are leashed. Dogs are not permitted on any non-paved trails. Dogs on a leash are allowed, but only on paved roads, sidewalks and bicycle paths. Under Canvas Yosemite is dog-friendly.

The best times to visit Yosemite are May through September, when the park is accessible, and the weather is comfortable. Under Canvas Yosemite is open May through October each year.

Seasonal and Locally Sourced Menu

We feature seasonal food and beverage offerings that prioritize locally-sourced ingredients from nearby purveyors.

Nightly S'mores

For dessert, you become the chef with our complimentary s'mores packs and nightly campfires.

Choose from a selection of wines, beers and cocktails to enjoy during dinner or around the campfire.

Grab N Go Options

On the run for a day full of adventures? Snag breakfast, lunch or snacks to enjoy on the road, or trail.

Rise and Shine

Enjoy tasty and nutritious breakfasts items and morning beverages just steps from your tent.

Dining Al Fresco

Dine with unparalled views just minutes from Yosemite National Park.

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Under Canvas offers locations around the U.S., near some of the nations most iconic national parks and extraordinary landscapes. Book your stay at Under Canvas Yosemite and continue the adventure at Under Canvas Zion, Under Canvas Bryce Canyon, Under Canvas Lake Powell – Grand Staircase, Under Canvas Grand Canyon and beyond.

Select dates to view availability.

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Front Desk Manager Zion National Park

Live. Work. Explore. as the Front Desk Manager at Zion National Park! Free housing & meals!

Zion translates to "place of peace and refuge" and offers extraordinary recreational possibilities!

Front Desk Manager

Live. Work. Explore. as a part of our Lodging team in Zion National Park!

As a sanctuary with over 146,000 acres of cliffs, canyons, diverse plant and animal life, and uninterrupted beauty, Zion is a place of peace and refuge. We operate a variety of dining facilities, a retail shop, and the only in-park lodging. For those that live and work in the park, there are endless opportunities to explore the amazing wonders that surround you.

No matter what your job is, you will be a proud steward of the park and play an essential role in providing warm and friendly hospitality to all our guests.

We’re hiring a Front Desk Manager to Live. Work. Explore. in Zion!

Job Summary: The Front Desk Manager has responsibility for all aspects of the Front Desk operation. The Front Desk Manager is also responsible for the training, coaching, and daily operations of guest services for the hotel. This includes the front desk, reservations, and audit as well as general guest services working side-by-side with the team daily. This position helps to set the tone for the guest experience and demonstrates leadership by setting the example of exceptional guest service.

The Details: Position Type: Full-Time, Year-Round Pay: $ 43,000 Annually  Housing and Meals:  Complimentary Schedule: Typical schedule is 40 hours, 5 days/per week (may include weekends, evenings, and holidays)

Why Zion National Park? We are a welcoming community who work hard, share a real passion for the environment, and enjoy crafting memorable experiences for our guests. As part of the Xanterra Travel Collection®, we are the primary authorized concessionaire in Zion, and proud stewards of the park.

Life in Zion:

• Employee housing (single-status housing or RV site) and on-site employee meals (cafeteria-style)
• Free on-site laundry facility, employee shuttle service, Wi-Fi (limited bandwidth), employee gym
• A fast-paced, exciting work environment with plenty of upward mobility and growth opportunities
• Meet people of all ages from all over the country and world!
• Paid Time Off/Holidays
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 401K Saving Plan with match
• Flexible Savings Account
• Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Supplemental Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Programs
• Learning and Development Programs
• $350 Referral Bonus Program
• Retail, Lodging, and Travel Discounts
• 15% Verizon Wireless Discount
• Unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities
• Direct access to Zion National Park's restricted Canyon Scenic Drive

Responsibilities:

• Properly train the team to deliver efficient and effective service to guests and park visitors.
• Provide constructive feedback to staff.
• Enforce adherence of employees to the dress and appearance policy.
• Regulate shift coverage for optimum effectiveness by scheduling full staffing at busy times and eliminating over-staffing at slow times.
• Complete payroll on a daily/weekly basis for all front desk personnel.
• Resolve guest relation problems skillfully with a willingness and desire to understand a guest's viewpoint while keeping within Company policies.
• Organize and maintain Front Desk records and equipment in accordance with company policies and control the inventory of supplies and forms.
• Provide managers on location with a weekly occupancy forecast to enable them to plan staffing and supply needs for the following week.
• Become familiar with and train emergency fire evacuation and safety procedures as needed.
• Serve as Manager on Duty.
• Facilitate the lodging and administration of all group tours in partnership with group tour coordinator.
• Lead employee recognition programs and motivate staff daily.
• Partner closely with the housekeeping, group sales, maintenance, accounting and department managers to ensure outstanding guest service standards.
• Maintain communication channels within the desk staff and related departments.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of High School education, post-high school education preferred.
• Must have at least two years of front desk/manager or equivalent experience in a guest service leadership role.
• Knowledge of Opera is preferred.
• Basic sales and accounting skills required.
• Must have previous experience supervising others and conducting performance reviews.
• Must have outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to appropriately address guest concerns.
• Ability to work quickly and thoroughly under pressure.
• Must be able to gain knowledge of park facilities, activities, features, and surrounding communities.
• Must be flexible to changes in procedures.
• Must have basic organizational skills and be able to multi-task.
• Ability to interpret and enforce Zion Lodge/Xanterra policies and procedures.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

How to Apply

Click "Apply Now" to submit your application today!

Contact Info

• Johanna Howes
• [email protected]
• (720) 780-3139
• www.xanterrajobs.com

See which popular national parks are requiring reservations for summer 2024

Every year, it seems that more national parks are requiring timed-entry reservations . Sometimes, it’s just to drive into a park . Other times it’s for specific, sought-after activities .

This summer is no different, with Mount Rainier and Yosemite joining the mix. The requirements add an extra step and expense for travelers, but they’re not meant to be a hurdle.

“The timed-entry system reservation system is not to limit visitation but to spread it out more equitably throughout the day,” Mount Rainier National Park ranger Terry Wildly told USA TODAY in February.

In the past, she said, visitors had to wait up to three hours just to enter the popular park, and some caused lasting damage to meadows when venturing off the trail to avoid crowds. 

As Mount Rainier rolls out reservations this summer, here’s what other park visitors should know.

How many national parks have timed entry?

Only a fraction of America’s 63 national parks require timed-entry reservations or permits for particularly popular experiences. In most cases, they’re only for certain portions of the park during the busiest times of day. 

◾ Acadia National Park will require timed-entry reservations for vehicle access to Cadillac Summit Road from May 24 through Oct. 22. There are two types of reservations, Sunrise and Daytime, with varying restrictions. Each reservation costs $6 per vehicle and may only be purchased online, not in the park. A separate $35 vehicle entry fee is also required for the park.

◾ Arches National Park requires timed-entry reservations for all vehicles entering the park between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. through Oct. 31. Timed-entry tickets cost $2. A separate vehicle entry fee of $30 is also required.

◾ Glacier National Park will require timed-entry reservations for vehicles accessing North Fork and Going-to-the-Sun Road from the West Entrance between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. from May 24 through Sept. 8. Reservations will not be required for vehicles entering Going-to-the-Sun Road from the St. Mary Entrance nor will they be required for Two Medicine, like they were last year. However, they will still be required for Many Glacier between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m from July 1 through Sept. 8. Each type of reservation costs $2. A separate $35 vehicle entry fee is also required for the park.

◾ Haleakalā National Park requires reservations year-round for visitors who want to watch sunrise from the summit. Summit sunrise reservations cost $1 and are required for every vehicle entering the park between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. A separate $30 vehicle entry fee is also required for the park.

◾ Mount Rainier Natonal Park , for the first time, will require timed-entry reservations for two of its most popular areas: Paradise Corridor from May 24 through Sept. 2 and Sunrise Corridor between July 3 and Sept. 2. Reservations will only be needed between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Each type of reservation will cost $2. A separate $30 vehicle entry fee is also required for the park.

◾ Rocky Mountain National Park will require timed-entry reservations to access most roads between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. from May 24 through Oct. 14. Visitors who also want to access the park’s busy Bear Lake Road will need a specific type of reservation, Timed Entry+, between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May 24 through Oct. 20. Timed Entry+ covers all park roads. Both types of reservations cost $2.

◾ Shenandoah National Park requires day-use tickets to hike Old Rag Mountain through Nov. 30. Tickets cost $2 per person and can be reserved 30 to 5 days in advance. The day-use tickets are separate from the park’s $30 vehicle entry fee .

◾ Yosemite National Park now requires reservations for vehicles entering the park between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. on certain days. Through June 30 and between Aug. 17 and Oct. 27, they’ll only be required on weekends and holidays. But they’ll be required every day from July 1 through Aug. 16. Peak hour reservations cost $2, on top of the $35 vehicle entry fee for the park.

◾ Zion National Park is continuing to pilot its permit system for its popular Angels Landing hiking trail. Permits can be obtained through a seasonal lottery or daily lottery on Recreation.gov. Lottery registrations costs $6 for up to 6 people for each lottery. Permits cost $3 per person. That’s on top of the $35 vehicle entry fee for the park.

When can I make park reservations?

Dates vary by park, but all national parks book reservations through Recreation.gov .

The great outdoors next door: Hot to find hiking, camping, more near you

Which national parks in Utah require reservations?

Of Utah’s “ Mighty 5 ” national parks, only Arches requires reservations for park entry.

Do you need reservations to get into Zion National Park?

No. Reservations are not required to enter Zion, just permits to hike Angels Landing.

Can I get into RMNP without a timed entry?

Yes. Rocky Mountain National Park’s timed-entry requirements don’t begin until May 24. Even after that, reservations will only be required during peak hours.

Are reservations required for Yellowstone?

No. Yellowstone does not require timed-entry reservations. However, permits are required for specific recreational activities , such as backcountry camping and boating.