Introduction:
What? :
Zion National
Park was founded in 1919 as Utah’s first national park. It is famous for its picturesque
scenery of the Virgin River canyon surrounded by thousand feet tall red-rock
walls topped with white sandstone dome caps. Zion Park is not only about the awe
panoramic views but also destination for amazing hikes.
Zion National
Park is a hiker’s paradise.
This relatively
small park is packed with some of the most amazing and famous hikes in the
United States. From the inspiring hike up Angels Landing rock-cliff viewpoint, hiking
Zion Narrows following Virgin River Canyon, the unique “subway” canyon of the North
Creek Left Fork or the remote Kolob Canyons park section.
There’s a
reason Zion National Park is the most visited park in Utah, with annual
Visitors of over 4 million in 2023, this was the 3rd most visited park in the
United States.
There are many
good reasons lead to the park attractiveness to tourist.
This is because
of its unique picturesque landscape, its location in southern Utah not so far
from Las Vegas and relatively ease of accessibility to the amazing natural
beauty.
Most of the
park visitors are heading to the Virgin River Canyon area, this is only a small
section of the park. This visitor concentration creates a major overcrowded experience.
It is common to see very long line of cars before park entrance and even when
you are inside the park it is common to see situation where there are no
parking spot anywhere in the park. In peak season, weekend, holidays and busy hours
in the day expect a long waiting in line for the shuttle service. At mid-day you
will have thousands of other people hiking the trails. Nothing of this is
helping with your serenity time enjoying nature.
Zion National
Park can be a trip destination by itself, but your visit here can be part of a
long nature-perfect road trip loop. You can combine your visit here with the
four other southern Utah National Parks (Bryce, Capitol Riff, Canyonlands,
Arches), the Grand Canyon in Arizona, several National Monuments and countless
state parks and amazing unique nature destinations.
To best experience
this special place plan, do your “research” and know what you want to do during
your visit.
The following
blog help you in that.
There are four sections to Zion
National Park:
1. The “main section” Zion Canyon:
It start at the
main park entrance and visitor center near Springdale, Utah and along Zion
Canyon Scenic Drive that led to the Temple of Sinawava at the end of the road. It
is along this road that you have access to the most popular hikes, such as
Angels Landing, the Narrows, and Emerald Pools.
For most of the
year, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles and the free Zion
Shuttle service provide visitor access to the locations along the road (see
shuttle section below for more information).
2. Zion High East section:
This area is
along the upper section of highway 9 that crosses the park west to east. Once highway
9 climb up at several steep switchbacks and pass the 1.1-mile-long tunnel it
reaches the east section of the park. Here you can find few hikes and viewpoints.
Most of the
park visitors travel through this road when heading northeast to visit Bryce or
southeast to the Grand Canyon.
3. Kolob Canyons:
This is a
smaller section of the park that is located at the northwest section of the
park, just off highway I-15. This area has a few hiking trails, a large
wilderness area access and its own visitor center.
4. Kolob Highland:
This is the center
remote section of the park that has a separate road leading to it. This area
has a few hiking trails and viewpoints, a large wilderness area access. Only
small fraction of the park visitor come to this section.
Where ?
Zion National
Park located in southern Utah, east of highway I-15, 30 minutes’ drive from St.
Gorge, Utah. The main park entrance is on the west side right near the city of Springdale.
Utah highway 9
cross the park west (highway 17) – east (highway 89).
Connecting St
Gorge, Hurricane and La Verkin cities on the west to Mount Carmel Junction and
Kanab on it east.
No matter from
where you enter the park the view will amaze you.
Already in Springdale
you will see the red-white mountains that Zion is famous of.
If you are
coming from the east entrance, you will drive into the high mountains and once
you are out of Zion—Mount Carmel Tunnel you will be reworded by the breathtaking
canyon.
The entrance to
Kolob high plateau section in the middle of the park is near the town of Virgin.
The entrance to
the northwest Kolob Canyon section of the park is just off highway I-15, south
of the small community of Kanarraville, Utah.
Travel Time and Milage:
Las Vegas, NV to
Zion Visitor Center: 2 hours 39 minutes, 160 miles
St Gorge, UT to
Zion Visitor Center: 1 hour, 42 miles
Bryce Canyon to
Zion Visitor Center: 1 hour and 50 minutes, 82 miles
Kanab, UT to
Zion Visitor Center: 1 hour, 41 miles
Page, AZ to
Zion Visitor Center: 2 hours 20 minutes, 116 miles
Salt Lake City,
UT to Zion Visitor Center: 4 hours 23 minutes, 308 miles
When ?
Zion National
Park is open year-round, 24/7.
From weather
and crowd load Spring and fall are the preferred time to visit here.
In summer
temperatures are about 100f during mid-day so plan accordingly.
Winter bring around
freezing temperatures during night and morning, but it usually get warmer and
sunny during winter days.
I know it may
be challenging and no matter when this is, try not to visit the park during main
holidays if you are looking for fewer crowds.
Summer Visits:
Try to start
your hike early in the morning or late afternoon, evaluate the trail climbing
difficulty and your hiking ability. Bring enough water with you to your hike,
snacks and light food, as well use sunscreen, wear hat, sunglasses and long
sleeves.
Summer also is the most crowded time of the years, Zion get several hundreds of thousands of visitors every month, this create a lot of loads on the shuttle system and trail congestion and overcrowded locations.
Early morning visit start (7am) is
my recommended time to be at the visitor center.
Summer may
bring with it a monsoon storms; this heavy rain may create flood in the canyon
so be aware of the weather.
Winter Visits:
Winter months
are cold but not something that prevent enjoying your visit.
The night
temperatures are usually around freezing, and the days are getting warmer to around
50-60f.
One of the many
benefits of hiking in Zion National Park is that its canyon elevation is not
high (4,000-6,000ft), and most trails are doable year-round, thanks to the
typically mild winter weather.
Low clouds and
heavy snow/rain can hide the amazing view the park is famous for. Try to adjust
your visit day to be after the storm.
It generally
snows few times during the winter months but in the lower park elevation the
snow doesn't stick around for long time.
Even without
snow you might find ice on trails, especially early morning after the water
freeze during the night.
When it is cold
below freezing rangers can close the trail sections that have running water or
wall dripping to protect hikers from sliding over the ice that accumulate on
the trail below. Take this into consideration when hiking to popular hikes that
has water, like: Emerald Pools or the Narrows the Subway,.
To visit here
when it is cold, bring extra layers including top layer, beanie, good gloves
and raincoat if it rains.
Using walking
pools and shoes spices can help with stability when it snows.
If you are
planning to hike The Narrow trail in the water of Virgin River or The Subway plan
a head and I do recommend renting a winter waterproof cloths from a local
renting company, see my The Narrow Blog.
Be aware that during the winter month the town of Springdale “slow down” and you can find some shops and restaurants to be close.
There are still plenty of hotels, restaurants and coffee
shops that stay open but overall, this is offseason.
On top of the
less crowed additional huge bonus of visiting Zion in the winter is that there
is no shuttle service, and you can drive with your car into Zion Canyon. Check
for exact shuttle operation dates.
When driving
into the canyon you can be more flexible with your trips and hikes.
During winter
the road to Kolob Canyons and Kolob high park section roads can be close, and
snow is not plowed.
Roads are
usually plowed soon after storms, during the storm prepared for winter driving,
with chains or preferable with 4x4 car.
Check the park
website or call to get the most up-to-date information on current conditions
and weather forecast.
I have visited Zion
National Park (and Bryce Canyon) in the winter several times, including during
or right after/before a snowstorm and it was always a memorable experience.
Additional Winter
Tip:
Do not be
confused, although not so far away the local weather conditions in Bryce Canyon
National Park are different than the one in Zion.
Bryce elevation
(8,000 feet (2,438 m)) is much higher than Zion (4,000-6,000 feet (1,500 m)),
temperatures are much colder, and it gets a lot more snow.
Spring:
Spring is a
wonderful time to visit Zion.
The weather is great
for travelers, warm daytime temperatures and cool nights.
Most days are
sunny and no clouds.
Just be aware
that you may not be able to hike The Narrows. In the spring, as result of snow
melt Virgin River flow rates is high, and the trail is closed (usually reopens
in May).
Fall and early winter:
Fall is a great
time to visit Zion.
The weather is great
for travelers, warm daytime temperatures and cool nights.
Most days are
sunny and no clouds.
You will find
less crowd.
October and
November bring with it the view of trees fall colors in the canyons.
Where to Stay and Eat ?
Right on the
park west entrance you can find the town of Springdale. Here you can find many
hotels, restaurants, shops and many tourist services.
The cities of
Hurricane and St. Gorge are also a good option for travelers.
You can easily
find many camping, glamping, motels and luxury hotels in the Zion area.
On the park east
entrance the nearest “big” town is Kanab, Utah.
For hotel accommodation
inside the park there is only one place Zion National Park Lodge.
The lodge,
located along the canyon road, shuttle stop #5, there is the only snack bar, full
restaurant and souvenir store.
No service or
other stores/food available on Zion-Mt. Carmel Road (highway 9).
Find the right
basecamp for you, be it Springdale, St. George, Cedar City, East Zion, La
Verkin or Kanab. Start with The Complete Zion itinerary for ideas.
There are many Airbnb,
camping areas, RV options, BLM sites, and even glamping resorts nearby.
Campground:
There are 3
campgrounds in the park (they may be under construction due to the flood), make
a reservation well in advance.
Watchman
Campground: Camping year-round. Reservations only.
South
Campground: Camping Spring through Fall. Closed for rehabilitation work.
Lava Point
Campground: Camping Spring through Fall. Reservations only.
You can find
many restaurants and stores in Springdale but for your day trip I do recommend
taking with you a light lunch/sandwiches and snacks for your day trip. Travel
out and back in with the shuttle to eat at Springdale can consume a lot of your
time.
Gas Stations:
You can find
gas station at Springdale and there are gas stations at Carmel Junction.
Entrance Fee:
Zion National
Park enter pass costs $35 per vehicle. This pass will cover your visits to Zion
for one week.
If you want you
can buy a year pass for all US National Parks, that will cost you $80.
No need to pay
or reserve the free park shuttle.
Permits:
Hiking to the
upper section of Angel Landing viewpoint is require a permit
Hiking the
Subway trail is requiring a permit.
Hiking in The
Narrows upstream as far as Big Spring does not require a permit.
Permits are
required for this 16-mile through-hike of the Virgin River Narrows from
Chamberlain's Ranch to the Temple of Sinawava.
Any overnight
wilderness camping require a permit.
Overnight
camping is not allowed in the lower section of the canyon.
When you got
the permit, please print it or download it because in many places in the park
there is no cell service.
General information:
Restrooms are
located at many trailheads shuttle stops.
There is no
cell services in the canyon.
Water filling
stations are located in many trailheads and shuttle stops.
Extremely busy
park, come as early as you can for the first shuttle going into the canyon.
Even during
winter when shuttle is not in service, and you can drive into Zion Canyon
Scenic Drive come early. Parking along canyon road is limited and may get full.
If you plan to
do a specific hike, make sure you know the correct shuttle stop for it
trailhead.
Warning from drinking river water:
You will need
to bring your water with you to most of the hikes !
River, springs
and pools water are not safe for drinking even with filter system, there is a
toxic cyanobacteria that pass through hikers filtering system.
If you need to
filter water use drinking water directly from springs (i.e. not from rivers,
streams, or other water bodies).
Shuttle System
Park Shuttle service
is free of charge, no need for any reservation, first come firs ride, and is
the only option most of the year (Feb. – Nov. and holidays) to get into the Zion
Canyon.
Zion National
Park's shuttles recorded about 5.2 million boardings, The Zion National Park
shuttle fleet consists of 26 electric-powered buses, new to the park in 2024.
In busy days
(national holidays and summer weekend) there is a long line of people waiting
for the shuttle, be patient.
Shuttle
schedule (first and last buss) is vary by seasons, check the park website for
exact schedule.
Because parking at the visitor center is limited and it get full early morning many visitors park their car in town, pay parking fees at pay-stands (I think it costs $20 to park in Springdale per day).
From here you can walk to the park visitor center or
use a free shuttle system, operate by the city of Springdale, to serv all hotel
guests and tourists that park their car in town.
Biking and E-biking
You can always
rent a (e)bike and ride into the park canyon road.
offroad
mountain biking is not permitted within the park's boundaries on any trail.
Bicycles are
allowed on the paved road in Zion Canyon, making them a great option for
transportation from trail to trail.
When the
shuttle is in service the road is empty from any other car most of the time but
be aware of the wide long buss traffic.
Park Roads:
There are only
4 roads in the park, only one of them is crossing it east-west.
Zion-Mount Carmel Highway: This road open
year-round. Sometimes it is closed due to snow, ice, or rockfall. Plan for a
slow drive, tunnel operated as one way road, limited roadside parking and traffic
congestion.
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive: this is the
starting point for many of the park hikes and destination. Only accessible by
free shuttle bus for most of the year. Please check the seasonal shuttle
schedule.
Kolob Canyons Road: Closes
frequently in winter due to snow but open for most of the year. Kolob Canyons
Visitor Center at the entrance is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kolob Terrace Road: From fall to
spring, this road usually closes for several months due to snow. This seasonal
closure begins at Maloney Hill - which is about one mile east (signed north) of
the Hop Valley Trailhead. The road ends outside the park boundaries at Kolob
Reservoir.
Drive the Zion-Mount Carmel
Highway
This winding
scenic drive connects the Visitor Center to the east entrance of the park.
Along the switchbacks between Canyon Junction and the tunnel entrance you can
enjoy from the several roadside parking the great views of Zion National Park.
Between the
tunnel east exit and the east park entrance, the road follow Pine Creek and pass
in a beautiful landscape, with pink, orange, yellow, red and white sandstone
rocks and domes.
There are few
hikes’ trailheads along this road, the most popular is Pine Creek Canyon
Overlook.
Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel:
Construction of
the 1.1-mile Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel began in the late 1920s and was completed
in 1930. At the time that the tunnel was dedicated, on July 4, 1930, it was the
longest tunnel of its type in the United States. The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel
(and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway) provides direct access for travel between
Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Zion National Parks.
Tunnel is open
to two-way traffic.
Standard sized
passenger vehicles can go through the tunnel whether rangers are present or
not, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Oversize
vehicles (like most motorhomes, recreational vehicles (RVs), and travel
trailers) always require one-way traffic control by park rangers to go through
narrow tunnel.
The tunnel is
only open to oversize vehicles on a regular schedule when rangers are present
to manage traffic. Those hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Note: There
is $15 fee for oversized vehicles to drive through the tunnel. An oversized
vehicle is any vehicle that is 11 feet 4 inches or higher and 7 feet 10 inches
wide or wider. If your vehicle is taller than 13 feet 1 inch you cannot pass
through the tunnel. The oversized permit that is good for two trips through the
tunnel within 7 days.
How Many Days Do You Need to Visit
Zion?
Ideally, you
need at least two to three days to visit the main sections of Zion National
Park, if you are short on time a one full day is also an option.
With two full
days you will have enough time to hike the 2 most popular and rewording hikes
in the park, Angels Landing and The Narrows. During each day of your visit, you
can also add in one of the shorter, easier trails, such as the Riverside Walk, Canyon
Overlook or Emeral Pools.
Zion Visitor Center:
No matter for
how long you are coming to Zion you will start your day at Zion Visitor center.
Here you will
find the shuttle boarding platform, knowledgeable rangers that can help you
with trip planning, and provide up to date trail information. Here is also the
wilderness center for getting permits.
At the visitor
center there is a large souvenir store.
There is a
smaller visitor center at the entrance to Kolob Canyon northwest section of the
park.
Zion Human History Museum:
If you want to
learn about the American Indians and the pioneers who lived on this land, then
the Zion Human History Museum is worth a visit. It is one of the first stops on
the Zion Shuttle.
Zion Visit Itinerary:
You can enjoy
your Zion visit just from visiting few viewpoints along the main roads and doing
short hikes near the river but to really enjoy this park I do recommend planning
for doing day hiking in the park.
One Day in Zion:
With one full day
in Zion, you have enough time to hike one long hike with a shorter trail at the
afternoon.
You must start
your day early and take the shuttle into the park. Starting early will help you
avoid the crowds on the trail, live enough time to do other day activity and
escape the heat during mid-day. In the morning, hike one of the longer, more
strenuous trails and later in the afternoon you can hike a shorter one or enjoy
a sunset viewing.
You will need
to decide between Angels Landing or The Narrows, both are long hikes that
involved with hiking planning.
Angel Landing
hike must have a permit if you plan to hike the last section of the trail (see
my dedicated blog), you can also hike to Scout Lookout mid-trail, the view from
there is also rewording.
The Narrows
involved with walking in the Virgin River, you may want to rent a special river
walking clothing in advance. The first section of this hike can be completely
overcrowded, as you hike more into the canyon you will see less people.
If you really
want to do them both at the same day start early with Angel Landing, take the
shuttle to the last stop and hike as time permit into The Narrows. From there
take the shuttle back to the visitor center.
Two Days or More:
With two days
you can have enough time to do and hike both Angels Landing and The Narrows
hikes.
You will find
the time to hike to Emerald Pools and Pine Creek Canyon Overlook.
If you have another
day, you can hike high above Angels Landing and do more sections of the West
Rim Trail.
You may visit
other park sections and dedicate a day visiting Kolob Terrace Road, hike to the
Subway if you will have a permit, hike North Gate tower, visit Kolob Reservoir.
Additional day can be dedicated to visiting and hiking Kolob Canyon section of the park.
Hikes In Zion National Park
Zion National
Park is one of the best spots in the United States to go hiking. From the inspiring
view from Angels Landing, walking miles into Virgin River, to the family
friendly walks up to long multi-day backpacking.
Important Note: Some trails
are under constant closer in Zion National Park. Hidden Canyon has a long-term
closure due to a massive rockfall and Observation Point cannot be accessed from
the Weeping Rock trailhead. The bridge near Zion Lodge is close so Emeral Pool
access is from shuttle station #6 (Grotto).
I recommend
checking the Zion National Park website for up-to-dates information on trial
closures and conditions.
Angels Landing:
This is the
most popular hike in Zion National Park. The final hike climb involves scaling
a narrow ridgeline with rock scrambling and chain-assisted sections. Many find
this section as scary and there is some danger element here, but it can be done.
It can get extremely crowded and slow progress along the chains section, be
patient with other and stay safe.
If you plan to
hike to Angels Landing, you must have a permit in advance for the last climbing
section.
Link to my Blog
about this Hike
The Narrows:
Hike in the
Virgin River through beautiful narrow canyons with thousands of feet walls on
both side. Hike the Riverside Walk, pass it and get into the river water, hike
upriver for several miles, and turn around when you are done.
You can also do
a 16 miles long hike as a two-day backpacking trip.
Link to my Blog
about this Hike
Riverside Walk:
This is the
first section of The Narrow hike, but it is paved path. It provide a glimpse of
the scenery where the river enter the narrow canyon. This easy flat hike is perfect
for all ages and ability levels. It start at Temple of Sinawava last shuttle
stop and it is 2 miles round trip and ends at the Virgin River.
Link to my Blog
about this Hike
Emerald Pools Trail:
This is relatively short, popular trail connects three pools of water and waterfall. This hike is about 3 miles, depending on how far you hike.
At the end of 2024
the bridge crossing the river near the Zion Lodge is close, so you need to
start your hike at Grotto (shuttle stop #6) and use Kayenta Trail to access the
pools.
Link to my Blog
about this Hike
Canyon Overlook Trail:
This short and easy hike leading to one of the best views in Zion, it is a must visit location when visiting the park.
It is only 1-mile round trip and starts near the
Zion-Mount Carmel tunnel the main challenge here is to find a parking spot near
the trailhead.
Link to my Blog
about this Hike
Watchman Trail:
This short
trail starts near the Visitor Center and offers nice views over the southern
part of Zion National Park. This is about 3 Miles Round Trip.
West Bank of the Virgin River
Start at the
Court of the Patriarchs up Zion Canyon Road, and end at the Grotto trailhead.
This is 2.6 Miles One Way easy hike along the river.
You can connect
this hike to go and visit Emerald Pools.
You can do this
hike one way because you can get the shuttle and keep going to your next
destination.
Observation Point:
This trail led
to amazing views over Zion National Park canyon. Currently, because of closer
of Weeping Rock Trailhead, you can get here only from the East Mesa Trail.
West Rim Trail:
The West Rim
Trail is a long-distance hike through Zion National Park. With amazing views,
very few hikers on the trail. The West Rim Trail can be hiked as a long day
hike from Lava Point down to the canyon or as a two-day backpacking trip.
You will need
to arrange a shuttle service in advance to lava Point.
Kolob, The Subway:
One of the long
challenging day hikes to an amazing slot twisted canon the dig a round bottom
into the canyon rock.
You need a
permit to hike here.
Kolob, West gate:
Hike to impressive
domes towering the central wilderness section of the park
Link to my Blog
about this Hike
Kolob Canyon:
This is one of
the longer day hike or multi-day backpacking trip to a remote isolated section
of the park.
Here you can
see Kolob Arch and be amazed by LaVerkin Creek, Slot Canyon and Wilderness.
Link to my Blog
about this Hike
Kolob, Taylor Creek Trail
A great few hour’s
hike at the Kolob section of the park. The hike follow the Taylor Creek Middle
Fork, it passes few old cabins and end at a large rock overhang alcove.
Link to my Blog
about this Hike
Best Viewpoints in Zion National
Park
If you want a
spectacular view of Zion National Park, below are my top viewpoints:
Canyon Junction
Bridge
Canyon Overlook
Angels Landing
Observation
Point
West Rim Trail
From the road
climbing to the tunnel
Kolob Canyon Viewpoint
Lava Point
Places to visit near Zion National
Park
Grafton Ghost Town
Wire Mesa Loop Bike Trail
Canaan Mountain Wilderness
Bryce Canyon National Park
Highway 12 Scenic Bayway
Capitol Reef National Park
Cedar Breaks National Monument
St. Gorge, Utah
Snow Canyon State Park
Red Cliffs Desert Reserve
Kanab, Utah
Kanab Peekaboo
Canyon
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Buckskin Gulch
Toadstool Hoodoos
Page, Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park
On top of the
endless nature visiting and hiking possibilities there are many other nearby outdoor
activities. You can do here activities like mountain biking, canyoneering,
horse riding, kayaking, ATV and side by side and many more.
Summery:
Zion National
Park is the probably the pinnacle of Utah’s "Mighty 5" national parks
and there is a good reason why it is one of the most-visited national parks in
the US.
The towering
red and white Navajo Sandstone cliff walls overlooking Zion Canyon, and the Virgin
River canyon provide amazing view and unforgettable visit experience.
No matter which
time of the year you will visit here I promise that you will enjoy it.
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