Zion National Park Trip Plan

Details
Category: Hiking

narrows slot

See our detailed Zion Park articles.

Zion covers a large land area. Zion Canyon is the most popular area in the park and is crowded much of the year. Other parts of the park are not crowded and offer great options.

A shuttle takes people into Zion Canyon. The canyon is closed to private vehicles during most of the year. The shuttle is convenient and efficient. See curreing info about the Zion Canyon Shuttle.

The Narrows (bottom up) and Angels Landing are incredibly popular hikes in the park. No permit is needed for The Narrows from the bottom. The first portion of the Angels Landing hike is open to all comers, no permit needed. The final portion (Angels chain section) requires a permit. See the latest information on the Angels Landing permits.

Overview

Zion is our favorite national park. It offers amazing scenery that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, including auto touring, easy strolls to viewpoints, moderate hikes, and challenging canyoneering adventures. Below we present our approach to visiting the park. These are only highlights. Use the park website and other resources

Hwy 9 provides access to Zion Canyon, which is the most popular area in the park. You will pass through an entry station and will need to buy or present a pass. We recommend buying the America The Beautiful Pass. You can purchase it online before you begin your trip, or pick it up at one of the entry stations. It allows access to virtually all US national parks and recreational lands and will save you money if you plan to visit more than one park.

Most visitors enter the park via the west entrance, which is adjacent to the town of Springdale. Springdale offers excellent lodges and motels, restaurants, gear and supplies and other services. The city of St George is about 40 miles from the west entrance and makes a good base camp for people wanting to visit Zion plus nearby state parks. St George is about 120 miles from Las Vegas and is a convenient stop for people coming from that direction.

The east entrance is about 30 miles from Kanab. There are several nice lodges/resorts near the east entrance and plenty of lodging options in Kanab. Kanab makes a great base camp for people who want to do day trips into Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon North Rim and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Seasonality

Zion has become very popular and visitors need to expect to see crowds and to wait in lines. Fewer people visit during the dead of winter (December – February) but more and more people are coming during those months. The park is incredibly beautiful during stormy weather and there are great winter hiking options.

  • Expect to wait in line as you drive into the park.

  • Expect to wait in line as you board the shuttle

Spring and fall are perfect seasons to visit Zion. Temperatures are mild, both day and night, and conditions are pleasant for most activities. During later spring, runoff may create dangerous conditions around streams. The very popular Zion Narrows high is often closed from mid May into June. The Subway canyoneering route may also be dangerous during that period.

Summer days are hot in the Zion Canyon area, which is located at a low elevation. Daytime highs are sometimes near or above 100 F. Morning hours are delightful and provide a window for hiking and other activities. Summer is a great time to do The Narrows and other water hikes. After sunset, it takes some time before the air cools but summer nights usually become pleasant.

Other parts of the park are at higher elevations where summer temperatures are more mild. Summer is the perfect time to explore Zion’s backcountry.

Winter is mild in Zion Canyon. Daytime temperatures are pleasant for hiking, biking and exploring. Nighttime temperatures often drop below freezing but are seldom extremely cold. Light snow falls occasionally but usually melts quickly.

Many hikes from Zion Canyon go up the cliffs to higher elevations, where there will be snow and ice.

With proper gear, it is possible to do The Narrows and other water hikes during winter. The water is very cold and so wet suites are needed. Zion Adventure Company and other outfitters in Springdale rent and sell equipment.

Heavy snow falls at higher elevations in the park. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are popular in some areas. Snowmobiles are generally not allowed in the park, but are popular in the nearby mountains. The Kolob Terrace Road is not plowed and becomes impassable during winter.

Auto Touring

  • Views are spectacular along Hwy 9, which cuts through the most popular part of park. The park is worth visiting even if you never leave the highway. The highway is open year-round. Some snow may fall on the eastern side during winter but it is quickly plowed.

  • The Zion Tunnel cuts through a sandstone mountain and allows Hwy 9 to connect the east and west park areas. RVs and other large vehicles need arrangements and a permit before they can drive through the tunnel. Bicycles are not allowed.

  • Zion Canyon is closed to private vehicles during most of the year. Many of the park’s most popular features are located in the canyon. The Narrows (lower) and Angles Landing are located here. Private vehicles are not allowed to drive into the canyon from mid-March through November, weekends in February and early March, and during the Christmas/New Years holiday period. A convenient shuttle service is provided to move people into and out of Zion Canyon. It has greatly reduced traffic congestion in the narrow canyon. Park in Springdale, at the Visitor Center or at the Museum to catch a shuttle. In Zion Canyon, the shuttle stops are major trailheads and attractions. See the park website shuttle page for detailed information.

  • The Kolob Terrace Road provides access to the middle part of the park, including the Subway and other backcountry routes. It is a good paved road, steep in spots, that ascends to a very high elevation where amazing vistas allow you to look out over Zion’s rugged canyons. This road is closed during winter because of deep snow. In summer, temperatures are nice because of the elevation. The Lava Point Campground is located here. The road continues to Kolob Reservoir. There is no entry station here and a park pass is not needed to drive this road.

  • The Kolob Canyons Road provides access to the northern portion of the park. It is a good, paved road, steep in spots, that is plowed and open year-round (except immediately after heavy snow). It provides access to wonderful scenery and popular trails.

Roadside Attractions and Easy Hikes

  • Drive Hyw 9 into the park and stop at the Visitor Center. Stroll along the Archaeology Trail or the Pa’rus Trail.

  • Drive Hwy 9 to the Museum.

  • Drive Hwy 9 through the tunnel. Stop and hike the easy Canyon Overlook Trail, if you can find parking. (Parking is along the highway and fills up fast.)

  • On the east side of the park, still driving Hwy 9, stop at Checkboard Mesa.

  • Park in Springdale, at the Visitor Center or Museum, and ride the shuttle into Zion Canyon. All of the shuttle stops are scenic. We recommend at least getting out and strolling around Court of the Patriarchs, Zion Lodge (food, gift shop), and Temple of Sinawava. Stroll down the Riverside Walk as far as you want, then return the way you came in.

Moderate Hikes

There are so many great hikes in Zion, we canyon mention them all here. These are our favorite moderate Zion Canyon hikes.

  • Emerald Pools (It is a moderate hike to the middle pool. If that goes well, consider pushing on to the upper pool.)

  • Grotto Trail

  • Riverside Walk

In the Kolob Canyons area, we recommend these moderate hikes.

  • Timber Creek Overlook

  • Taylor Creek

Serious Hikes and Canyoneering

Zion offers great technical canyoneering routes, but they are beyond our scope here. Below we list our favorite strenuous hikes.

If you want really serious treks, we love The Narrows top down, The Subway top down, the West Rim to Lava Point, and the Hop Valley Trail.

Lodging/Camping

The Zion Park Lodge is wonderful. It is magical staying right in Zion Canyon. But the lodge books solid most of the year and so it is difficult getting reservations.

There are many great lodges/resorts just outside the park (on both the west and east sides). They may sell out over holidays and weekends, so book well before your trip.

There are three developed campgrounds in Zion Park. All require advanced reservations and may sell out. The Watchman Campground, near the visitor center, is open year-round. The adjacent South Campground is closed during the winter. The small Lava Point Campground is located at the top of the Kolob Terrace Road, about an hour’s drive from Zion Canyon, and is closed during winter.

Book park campgrounds on rec.gov.

There are many commercial campgrounds and RV parks in the Zion area.

Primitive camping is allowed on public land outside of the park. These ares do not offer potable water or toilets, but can be nice for experienced campers.