Zion National Park [Guide, Maps, Itineraries & More] (2024)

FAQs

How many days are enough for Zion National Park? ›

To get the full experience, we recommend spending at least two days exploring Zion. This includes taking hikes on some of their most popular trails like Angels Landing and The Narrows. If you want to really enjoy the scenery and explore more of the park, you may want to consider staying up to five days in Zion.

Angel's Landing is the most iconic trail in Zion National Park. The trail begins at shuttle stop #6, The Grotto. Switchbacks define the trail for the first 2 miles, taking you into the chilly and shaded “Refrigerator Canyon”, and then to Walter's Wiggles—21 tight and steep switchbacks take you up to Scout's Lookout.

Top Attractions in Zion National Park

Angel's Landing is one of Zion's most spectular scenic outlooks; it can be reached only by a very demanding hike on the West Rim Trail.

What's the best month to go to Zion National Park? Summer in Zion is hard to beat. This is when you'll get the most time to explore because of long summer days and extended park hours. Because June and July are the busiest months in the park, consider visiting in September to avoid the heaviest summer traffic.

Due to Zion's close proximity to some big cites, it's a great weekend destination. It's only logical that that Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday will be busier than other days. Especially during peak travel seasons of spring and summer. To avoid crowds in Zion National Park, visit mid-week.

The drive into Zion Canyon (the main part of the park) from I-15 on the park's western side, following Utah 9 or Utah 17, and then Utah 9 to the south entrance at Springdale, is by far the more popular, with two-thirds of park visitors arriving there.

A. Anywhere in the Virgin River. Tubing is not allowed within the park, but may be done in Springdale. Swimming is not allowed in the Emerald Pools.

Both of these Parks offer great outdoor activities for all ages. For canyoneering and rappelling, Zion beats Bryce. You'll find world-class hiking in either Park, but in Zion you can find yourself hiking through streams or on sandstone ledges, like Angels Landing – one of the scariest hikes in the world!

Springdale. 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 in Zion and numerous other parks, monuments, and recreation areas of the western Colorado Plateau and the desert southwest.

Canyon Junction Bridge is one of Zion's most popular locations for photographers. Dozens of photographers in this relatively small area are common at sunset. Fortunately, you can also get excellent shots at sunrise and at night with much less company.

What is the big thing that brings visitors to Zion National Park? ›

Fantastic Rock Formations

Zion is full of sandstone cliffs, mountains, and natural arches that are nearly impossible to find anywhere else. Some of these rock formations are over 200 million years old! Zion is home to one of the largest natural arches in the world, Kolob Arch.

The 5 Best Hikes in Zion

Angels Landing (permit required beginning April 1, 2022) Emerald Pools Trail. The Narrows. Zion Canyon Overlook Trail.

Getting to the Park

More precisely, there are two shuttle systems in operation — one to get visitors to the park and a second to move people around the park. Parking is available in the park, but it's limited and lots usually fill up by between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. After that, cars are prohibited.

There are only a few main roads that travel to the most popular hikes and viewpoints. I recommend staying inside of the park if you want to be within minutes of the most popular hikes and viewpoints — you'll be able to catch the free Zion Canyon Shuttle directly from here.

Two days in Zion National Park will give you a good amount of time to see the main sights and hike a couple of trails. If you're an avid hiker you may want to add on an extra day or two so that you can explore more of the hiking trails.

Majestic Neighbors

First off, it's very possible to visit Bryce Canyon and Zion in the same trip, even the same day! The distance from Zion to Bryce Canyon is 72.4 miles (116.5 kilometers), or, a 1 hour and 20 minute drive and it's a beautiful drive! Both Parks are found in the picturesque landscape of Southern Utah.

If you only want to see the highlights and don't want to do much hiking then one day may be enough for you. However, I would suggest spending at least two days in Bryce Canyon to give yourself more time to explore. It also means you can catch a sunrise on your second day which is such a magical experience.