Of Utah’s Mighty 5, Zion National Park is probably the most popular and consistently makes the lists of best national parks. So, if you are heading to this famous park make sure you are prepared before you go.
Park History
The area that is now known as Zion National Park was once hunting grounds for natives before fur trappers and Mormons began colonizing the areas around it. But in the 20th century, the beauty of the area became recognized as a potential area for tourism.
The area was not easily habitable, prior to tourism, the Mormon colony struggled to survive thanks to regular flooding of the Virgin River and poor land making agriculture challenging.
In 1909, there was a presidential executive order to create Mukuntuweap (Zion) National Monument, in Zion Canyon. This creation turned out to be virtually inaccessible to visitors.
Shortly after the Utah State Road Commission began constructing a road to connect southern Utah to the rest of the state. State officials then worked the Union Pacific Railroad to develop rail and automobile links to the area.
By 1919, Zion National Park was designated and signed into law becoming Utah’s first National Park. It now sees over 4.6 million park visitors every year.
General Park Information
Location
1 Zion Park Blvd., State Route 9, Springdale UT 84767
The Zion Canyon Scenic drive is the best way to see the area and is a must do for any visitor.
Hours of Operation
Depending on the year the hours may change so be sure to check the Zion National Park website for the most up to date information.
Welcome Center: 8am – 8pm
Park store: 8am – 8pm
Shuttle services
In 2000, with the increase in visitors a free shuttle service was instituted. This was meant to cut down on parking issues and traffic. It also was better for the environment because these shuttles run on propane.
Fast forward a few years and now they are hoping to switch their fleet to 100% electric. So leave your private vehicles in the parking lot and take advantage of these shuttles.
Hours of operation: 6am – 8:48pm
Park near the Visitor Center. The shuttle then stops at 5 locations along the scenic drive. Keep in mind that not all shuttles are traveling the same route. Check the website for more information.
There is a bike rack on the shuttle. No pets are allowed on the shuttle, with the exception of service dogs.
Park Accessibility
The park visitor centers, museum, restroom, shuttles, picnic areas and Zion lodge are all accessible.
There are also several campsites that are designated wheelchair accessible and the Pa’rus Trail and Riverside Walk offer accessible hikes
Best season to visit
The peak season tends to be in the summer but a great time to go is late September – October. At this time, the weather is cooler and the crowds are almost non-existent. There are no lines for the shuttle and Angel’s Landing is practically empty.
Passes and fees
Depending if you are staying for the whole week or looking for a seasonal pass will depend on the entrance fee.
Private vehicle (good for 7 days): $35
No vehicle (per person; good for 7 days): $20
If you plan to do more than just the one park I highly recommend getting the American the Beautiful pass. If you are planning to visit all 5 of Utah’s National Parks and maybe some others in the country, this pass will pay for itself ($80).
Closest Major Airport
If you are flying in to hike Zion National Park you have a couple of options.
From Las Vegas: 160 miles away (2 ½ hour drive), you will need to rent a car. However, car rentals can be very cheap in Vegas (during my trip I paid $6/day for a car rental in October). There are also some cheap hotels if you need to spend the night before making the drive to Zion National Park.
From Salt Lake City: 308 miles (4 ½ hour drive). You will also need to rent a car and it can be a bit of a haul from the capitol city of Utah.
Where to stay
Depending on what you are looking for, from the luxury to the primitive, there are several options near the park.
Hotels
Springdale is the town immediately outside the park and therefore a popular place to stay.
Zion National Park Lodge (~$229/night) is the closest place to stay to the main entrance.
La Quinta Inn and Suites (~$169/night) is a bit more budget friendly along with the Best Western plus Zion Canyon Inn (~$190/night).
Not exactly budget options. If you are planning to stay the night and spend the day doing some shorter hikes, I recommend driving there from Las Vegas or Cedar City for more affordable lodging. It may mean a bit of a further drive but you can save a lot of money.
Hostels
There are a couple of hostels nearby, if you are looking for something a bit more affordable. Though I warn you, by affordable its still more than $50 a night.
The Cowboy Bunkhouse ($69/night) is located in Kanab a half hour drive to the park.
Camping
Zion National Park has 3 campgrounds.
South Campground and Watchman Campground are both located near the south entrance and reservations are recommended as spaces fill up fast. They are also in the desert area of the park and can get quite hot, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.
Campsites are maximum 2 tents and 6 people. Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 8 am with check out time at 11 am. Pets are also allowed but must be kept on a leash.
The Lava Point Campground is about an hour drive from Zion Canyon and is first come first serve.
What to eat
Again, Springdale is the closest town to the main entrance to Zion National Park and there are a few places to grab a bite to eat after a day in the park or to pick up some sandwiches and snacks for your day.
Depending what type of food you are looking for you will find some of the best food in Springdale, such as Zion Canyon Brewpub and Spotted Dog Cafe.
Top Hikes
Now for the best part, the hiking. That’s why you’re going right? The hiking here is like nowhere else in the world.
Easy to Moderate Hikes
Pa’rus Trail
This 3.5-mile trail (round-trip) is the only accessible trail in the park. Trailheads are located at South Campground and Canyon Junction and the shuttle stops for access include Zion Canyon Visitor Center and Canyon Junction.
This trail is paved and runs along the Virgin River for the majority of the trail and is a great option for a nice morning or evening hike and one of the best spots for wildlife viewing.
Emerald Pools Trail
This pretty trail has multiple levels to it, with the upper, middle and lower pools. It’s an easy hike to each location and worth checking out. It will take 0.6-miles one-way to get to the Lower Emerald Pool, 1-mile to the Middle Emerald Pool and 1.4-miles to the Upper Emerald Pool.
You can access the trail from the footbridge from Zion Lodge. You can see black tailed deer along this trail as well as the spring-fed pools and small waterfalls. A popular trail for families.
Difficult Hikes
West Rim Trail to Angels Landing
It wouldn’t be an ultimate guide to Zion National Park without discussing Angels Landing and then of course the Narrows. To get to Angels Landing follow the West Rim Trail up. It’s a strenuous climb just to get to the last ½-mile up to Angels Landing so keep that in mind. It’s still one of the best day hikes in the park, though now you need a permit to do the last 1/2-mile to Angel’s Landing.
This trail is 5.4-miles round trip with 1,488-ft elevation change. You can access the trailhead from Grotto Picnic Area. This trail has some of the best views of Zion Canyon, even if you don’t brave that last section up to Angel’s Landing.
The Narrows
This is the ultimate backcountry trail and one of the most popular hikes in the entire park and what many think of when you say Zion National Park.
Though the elevation change is minimal, the trail is mostly through water from knee height to chest height in some spots. This is what makes this a strenuous and challenging trail.
It’s also 16-miles one way, so prepare for some backcountry camping. You can go with a group tour or alone but if you are going alone, I recommend only going if you are well versed in backcountry hiking.
Hidden Canyon Trail
This 3-mile round trip trail is another strenuous hike starting at the Weeping Rock parking area. There’s a narrow canyon with limited sunlight, depending on the time of the day.
Footing can be tricky and there are chains to hold on to in spots, so take your time.
Others
For a longer trip, make sure to check out some of Zion’s backcountry hikes, such as The Subway hike, which requires a permit but is one of the tougher, off-trail routes and completely worth the trip.
Concluding Thoughts
Zion National Park is a must do when in Utah and is one of the most popular national parks in the state. For one of the best observation points, make sure to also check out the Court of the Patriarchs. Its one of the best places to take in the incredible colors of the scenery around you.
If you are planning to visit all 5 National Parks in Utah make sure you have the logistics of hiking the mighty 5 figured out.
