Complete 2026 Guide to Zion National Park: Best Trails, Views & Things to Do

Zion National Park, located in the southern region of Utah, not far from Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, is a natural landscape national park with a variety of canyons and streams as geological features. The park can be roughly divided into East Zion in the east, Zion Canyon in the south, and Kolob Canyons in the west.

The entire park is dotted with colorful cliffs and hiking trails shaped by natural elements like wind, rain, and rivers, making it a paradise for hiking and adventure enthusiasts. Some high-demand activities require advance planning. Angels Landing requires a permit through a lottery system, while most other hikes do not require a separate hiking reservation.

If you’re planning a visit to Zion National Park, it’s important to plan what attractions shouldn’t be missed when scheduling your visit. How do you get there and how do you stay and eat?

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Points of Interest of Zion National Park

Zion National Park is characterized by a variety of canyon mountains and rivers as its main geological features, including Kolob Canyon and Zion Canyon.

Hiking is the main activity in the canyon, and there are many trails of varying difficulty throughout the eastern, southern, and western portions of Zion National Park, such as the challenging Angels Landing and The Narrows, and the easier Emerald Pools Trail, where you can experience tough and dangerous climbs, or walk alongside beautiful trees. You can experience tough and dangerous climbs, walk in the current, or walk alongside beautiful trees.

Also, you can explore Zion National Park by bike or horseback.

In addition to sightseeing, canyoning, and gorge wall climbing are also the purpose of the trip for many travelers.

By the way, if you stay at night in Zion National Park, you can be in the right position to enjoy breathtaking sunsets and night sky stars.

The Best Time to visit Zion National Park

The best time to visit Zion National Park is usually from April to May and from September to October, when the weather is relatively favorable and the peak summer traffic is avoided, allowing you to focus more on enjoying the sights on your journey.

Summer is the peak season for tourists as it coincides with most people’s vacations, but during this time, climbing between the canyons can be faced with fierce sunlight overhead. When hiking on the valley floor, you may encounter flash floods and turbulence due to heavy summer rains in the area, so the whole journey will be more uncertain and dangerous.

During the winter months, the wading areas and the High Weald Gorge Wall Trail in the park can be slippery due to snow and ice, so some activities are closed and less accessible.

Direct Flights to Zion National Park

The main airports around Zion National Park are:

• St. George Regional Airport (SGU)
• Cedar City Regional Airport (CDC)
• Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
• Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

St. George Regional Airport (SGU)

It takes about 1 hour to drive from SGU to Zion National Park.

Below are the cities, airports’ flight times, and airlines that offer direct flights to SGU.

Cedar City Regional Airport (CDC)

It takes about 1 hour to drive from CDC to Zion National Park.

Direct flights to CDC are available from Salt Lake City International Airport on flights offered by Delta Airlines with an approximate sailing time of 1 hour 06 minutes.

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

It takes about 3 hours to drive from LAS to Zion National Park.

There are 139 metropolitan airports across the U.S. that offer direct flights to LAS, and the airlines that offer direct flights are Allegiant, Southwest, Frontier, Spirit, Delta, Breeze, American, JetSuiteX, Sun Country, Alaska, United, JetBlue, etc. You can check your nearest airport and flights that offer direct flights to LAS.

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

It takes about 4 hours to drive from SLC to Zion National Park.

There are 85 city airports across the U.S. that offer direct flights to SLC with airlines such as Delta Southwest American Alaska United JetBlue Frontier Spirit KLM. You can check your nearest airport and flights that offer direct flights to SLC.

You can find all direct flights on the official website of SLC Airport.

Transportation in Zion National Park?

A. Entrance to Zion National Park

Zion National Park is located east of Interstate 15 and has 3 entrances:

• The Northwest Entrance is located on Interstate 15;
• The South Entrance is located on Route 9 at the town of Springdale exit;
• The East Entrance is also on Route 9, connecting to the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway / SR-9.

The South Entrance is the busiest entrance and the parking lot provided tends to fill up around 9 a.m. You can choose to drive south to the town of Springdale to park and then take the free shuttle bus into the park.

B. Public transportation in parks

Zion National Park operates two main public bus routes:

• Zion Canyon Shuttle
• Springdale Shuttle

Zion Canyon and Springdale shuttles do not require tickets or reservations, and you can check the Park Information Guide for the latest shuttle schedules and road information.

Zion Canyon Shuttle

After entering the park from the South Entrance, along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, the main road in Zion Canyon, only the Zion Canyon Shuttle is permitted to operate on weekends in February, from March through November, and during the Christmas holiday season at the end of December each year, or, if you’ve made reservations for Zion Lodge or Canyon Trail Rides, you can drive your private vehicle along this road with a reservation pass to park at the reservation site. If you have made reservations for Zion Lodge or Canyon Trail Rides, you may use your reservation pass to drive your private vehicle along this road to park at your reservation. The rest of the time, the road is open to private vehicles.

The Zion Canyon Shuttle departs from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and travels to the Temple of Sinawava, making nine stops and taking in some of the most popular attractions, including Angels Landing, Emerald Pools, and the Narrows. Ross Waterway the Narrows, among others.

Note that it is important to time your visit so that you don’t miss the last bus back to the Visitor Center, or you may have to walk up to 9 miles back to the Visitor Center in the dark.

Springdale Shuttle

With 8 stops between Zion Canyon Village and the town of Springdale, Springdale is set up to offer a wide range of accommodations, so you can choose to stay the night, take the shuttle to Zion Canyon Village in the morning, get off at the Zion Canyon Village stop, go over the footbridge, and then transfer to the Zion Canyon Shuttle for access to the different stops.

C. Self-driving roads in the park

There are three main driving roads in Zion National Park.

• One is Kolob Canyons Road, located in the west, which is about five miles long from the west entrance and offers views of red gorge walls, pouring waterfalls, and other sights, while at the same time, it’s usually the least-trafficked area of the park.
• One is the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway from the east entrance, a winding mountain road that passes through Checkerboard Mesa, and the 1.1-mile-long Carmel Tunnel. Note that the tunnel is narrow and RVers will need to pay an additional fee to get a pass through the tunnel when entering the park.
• The last main road, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, which is accessed from the south entrance, is accessible to you by car during non-shuttle operation hours, that is, weekdays in January and February and non-Christmas holiday hours in December.

Where is the best place to stay in Zion National Park?

Lodging within Zion National Park is more limited, offering one lodge and three campgrounds, while outside the park a variety of categories of lodging are offered.

A. Accommodation in the park

Zion National Park offers a lodge and three camping areas:

• Zion Lodge ⭐⭐⭐ 4.5 / 5.0 (1,300 条评价)
• Watchman Campground 4.7 / 5.0 (673 reviews)
• South Campground 4.6 / 5.0 (500 reviews)
• Lava Point Campground 4.4 / 5.0 (42 reviews)

B. Off-park accommodation

#1. Red Rock Inn Cottages ⭐⭐ 9.6 / 10.0 426 reviews

#2. Best Western Plus Zion Canyon Inn & Suites ⭐⭐⭐ 9.2 / 10.0 779 reviews

#3. Cliffrose Springdale, Curio Collection By Hilton ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9.2/ 10.0 81 reviews

#4. Holiday Inn Express Springdale – Zion National Park Area, an IHG Hotel ⭐⭐⭐ 9.1/ 10.0 1,716 reviews

#5. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Springdale Zion National Park ⭐⭐⭐ 9.0 / 10.0 655 reviews

#6. Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Virgin Zion National Park ⭐⭐⭐ 9.0 / 10.0 435 reviews

#7. Comfort Inn & Suites Zion Park Area ⭐⭐ 9.1 / 10.0 801 reviews

#8. Hurricane Wingate at Zion ⭐⭐⭐ 9.1 / 10.0 764 reviews

#9. The Dwellings ⭐⭐⭐ 9.3 / 10.0 37 reviews

What are some good restaurants in Zion National Park?

There are only two dining options in Zion National Park and both are located in the Zion Lodge, while outside the park, you can find a wide range of styles of restaurants.

A. Restaurants in parks

There are only two restaurants offered in Zion National Park, both of which are located in the Zion Lodge:

#1. Red Rock Grill 3.8 / 5.0 208 reviews Map

#2. Castle Dome 3.5 / 5.0 66 reviews Map

B. Restaurants outside parks

#1. Zion Hawaiian 5.0 / 5.0 1 review Map

#2. Springdale Candy Company 4.7 / 5.0 278 reviews Map

#3. Perks! Coffee, Espresso, & Smoothies in Zion 4.7 / 5.0 149 reviews Map

#4. The Park House 4.7 / 5.0 455 reviews Map

#5. King’s Landing Bistro 4.6 / 5.0 641 reviews Map

#6. Spotted Dog 4.5 / 5.0 1,136 reviews Map

#7. Bit & Spur Restaurant & Saloon 4.5 / 5.0 1,748 reviews Map

#8. Camp Outpost Co. Zion 4.5 / 5.0 249 reviews Map

#9. Zion Park Gift & Sweet Treats. 4.5 / 5.0 283 reviews Map

#10. Whiptail Grill 4.4 / 5.0 1,511 reviews Map

#11. Zion Pizza & Noodle Co 4.4 / 5.0 2.005 reviews Map

#12. Anthera 4.2 / 5.0 58 reviews Map

#13. Zion Canyon Brew Pub 4.1 / 5.0 1,695 reviews Map

What to bring to visit Zion National Park?

• Hiking shoes: There will be a lot of hiking in Zion National Park, so it is important to have comfortable, non-abrasive hiking shoes;
• Water shoes: If you are going to be hiking in the waterways, it is essential to bring water shoes;
• Walking stick: A walking stick can help you reduce the strain of a hiking tour while reducing the risk of injury;
• Sunscreen: you will face intense sunlight while hiking up the canyon, so you need to bring sunscreen;
• Water bottle: Hiking in the park can use up a lot of water in your body, but water refill points are not available at every attraction, so bring a water bottle of the right capacity to keep you hydrated at all times;
• Flashlight or headlamp: If you are planning to spend a full day or overnight in the park, it is safer to bring a headlamp with you on a night hike;
• Toilet paper and sealable bags: There are plenty of hiking trails in the park, but restrooms are limited, so if you are in dire need of a restroom in a scenic area but there are no sanitary facilities, you will have to settle for the ziplock bag you have with you and bring it to the nearest restroom to discard it, and the rangers will fine visitors who leave their fecal matter in a scenic area.
• Maps: whether electronic or paper, you need to carry them with you when visiting Zion National Park to determine where you are and how to get to where you want to go.

Itinerary and Attractions

To visit Zion National Park, you can usually arrange a 2 to 3-day trip, and arrange one trip by staying at the Zion Lodge in the park as an example.

Day 1

Enter the park through the South Entrance, park at the lodge with your pass, and take the shuttle bus to Temple of Sinawava Station #9 to experience wading The Narrows, as well as touring Temple of Sinawava and surrounding attractions.

Return to Zion Lodge for lunch and then take a break for a walk on the Emerald Pools Trailhead.

Take the shuttle to Museum Down Canyon Station #2 in the late afternoon and hike the Pa’rus Trail to enjoy the sunset.

Return to Zion Lodge for your evening stay.

Day 2

In the morning head to Angels Landing for a climb, followed by a hike at Weeping Rock. Then take a scenic drive along the Zion-Carmel Highway toward the east entrance. Alternatively, you can visit a horseback riding site and end your Zion National Park tour with a horseback riding experience.

You need to be careful when traveling and check the park’s information page, as the park can close parts of the park due to a variety of natural weather conditions, such as the closure of the Narrows Waterway due to too high a level of water, etc., so you can make an alternate travel plan for what may happen at any time. For example, if the Narrows Waterway is closed, there are options such as continuing from the Temple of Sinawava for a hiking tour.

Angels Landing

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 / 5.0 (675 reviews)

Google Maps

Angel’s Descent is the most difficult and popular attraction in Zion National Park.

You can take the shuttle bus and get off at Grotto stop #6, fill up your water bottle with drinking water, and head to the climbing entrance.

To climb Angel’s Landing, you must first sign up for the lottery, and only those who win the lottery will receive a pass. Sign-ups are held daily from 12:01 pm to 3:00 pm, with the lottery results being pushed out at 4:00 pm. There is a $6 non-refundable fee to sign up for the lottery and an additional $3 per person after the lottery, which will be refunded if the trip is canceled 2 days before the trip.

The total length of the Angel’s Descent Climbing Trail is about 5.4 miles, with elevations up to 1,488 feet, and it will take most visitors four hours to complete the hike round trip, and some may take longer.

The Narrows

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 / 5.0 (417 reviews)

Google Maps

The Narrows Waterway is another highly popular attraction in the park, the waterway is in the narrowest section of Zion Canyon and is only 20 to 30 feet wide at its narrowest point, depending on the level of the water, the difficulty of your hike will vary.

It is recommended to wear water shoes for the trip, and in spring and fall, it is best to wear waterproof pants, as the water temperature can be very low, to avoid hypothermia symptoms caused by prolonged immersion in the water; waterproof pants can be brought by yourself or rented at the Visitor Center’s supply store.

To get to Narrows Waterway, you can take the shuttle bus to Temple of Sinawava Station #9.

South of the Narrows Waterway, you can also head to the Riverside Walk, where you can take a waterfront hike with views of the bluffs on either side, and it’s one of the best places in the park to spot birds.

Weeping Rock

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 / 5.0 (37 reviews)

Google Maps

If you’ve completed the Angel’s Descent hike, you can head a little south of the same spot to Weeping Rock, an easy hike along a trail where you can see water dripping off the rocks on both sides, looking like the rocks are crying, depending on the season and the amount of water, the rocks will “weep” differently. Different seasons, different amount of water, and the degree of stone “crying” will also be different.

Emerald Pools Trailhead

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6 / 5.0 (256 reviews)

Google Maps

At the shuttle’s Zion Lodge stop #5, you’ll find the pretty Emerald Pools, along which there is the Lower Emerald Pools Trail, which is about 1.2 miles long, and the Upper Emerald Pools Trail, which is about 1 mile long, and are easier hiking trails along which you can enjoy views of the pools and views of the vegetation along the shoreline, which is especially beautiful in the springtime when it’s in full bloom.

If you’ll be staying at Zion Lodge for the night, you won’t want to miss this beautiful poolside trail.

Pa’rus Trail

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7 / 5.0 (133 reviews)

Google Maps

Located near the Museum Down Canyon stop on Shuttle 2, the Parus Trail is one of the best places in the park to watch the sunset, so if you’ll be staying at a hotel outside of the park in the evening, schedule the Parus Trail for the end of your day trip and take a stroll there to enjoy the spectacular view of the sunset before catching the shuttle out of the park.

Also, the Parus Trail is one of the trails in the park that allows biking, so you can get on your bike and enjoy the views on both sides of the trail.

Pine Creek Canyon Overlook

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 / 5.0 (737 reviews)

Google Maps

The Pine Creek Canyon View Terrace is located on the east side of Zion Canyon, so you can drive there, get out of the car, and follow a gentle trail to the View Terrace, from which you have a stunning view of both Pine Creek Canyon and Zion Canyon at their beginning.

Checkerboard Mesa

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6 / 5.0 (86 reviews)

Google Maps

This is one of the most popular attractions in the eastern portion of Zion National Park, and you can view the tessellated pattern of the hillside from a distance from your car as you drive, or you can park and enter the site and follow the mountain trails for an up-close and personal view of nature’s masterpiece.

East Rim Wilderness Trail

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 / 5.0 (30 reviews)

Google Maps

If you want to avoid the dense crowds among Zion Canyon while still experiencing a hiking experience similar to the one there, you can choose to drive in from the park’s East Entrance and enter the unsynchronized trails there for a hiking experience.

Restrooms in the East Rim area are located at the Canyon Overlook Trailhead and East Rim Trailhead entrances to the Canyon Overlook Trail and the East Rim Trailhead, which then provides access to: the East Mesa Trail, the Stave Spring Trail, the Deertrap Mountain Trail, Deertrap Mountain Trail, and Cable Mountain Trail.

Kolob Canyons

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7 / 5.0 (131 reviews)

Google Maps

Located in the northwest region of Zion National Park, Kolob Canyons is a canyon of orange-red Navarro sandstone that you can drive through for a quick tour of the roads between the canyons or park and access the many nearby trails to enjoy the unique canyon views as you hike. Before you leave, fill up on drinking water at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center, where there are well-appointed restrooms, or you can use the pit toilets at the Taylor Creek Trailhead, South Fork parking lot, and Kolob Canyons Viewpoint before starting your hiking tour.

The best thing about visiting this area is that you can avoid the crowds and enjoy a quieter journey, with great trails such as the Timber Creek Overlook Trail, Taylor Creek Trail and La Verkin Creek Trail.

Left Fork Trailhead

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7 / 5.0 (98 reviews)

Google Maps

Left Fork is located in the southwestern area of Zion National Park and is a challenging hiking spot, you can choose to reach it by a 9-mile wading hike from the bottom up, or from the top down with a rappel, etc., either way, you’ll be in for a bit of a challenge on the trail, but you’ll be blown away by the magical views when you arrive at Left Fork!

You will need to make an appointment for the lottery and qualify for the lottery to get a communications pass to go.

Wildcat Canyon Trail

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 / 5.0 (50 reviews)

Google Maps

This is a scenic area in the central northwestern part of Zion National Park, which also has several hiking trails, with the Wildcat Canyon Trail being the most popular, and others including the Hop Valley Trail, Connector Trail, Northgate Peaks Trail, and the West Rim Trail via Lava Point. Rim Trail via Lava Point), etc., which will have different elevations, trail lengths, and more. It is also home to Lava Point Campground, one of the top three campgrounds in the park.

You will need to fill your water bottle with drinking water before entering the trail, and scenic pit toilets are located at Hop Valley Trailhead, Wildcat Canyon Trailhead, and Lava Point Campground.

Bicycle Riding

You can travel by bike on all of the park’s carriageway roads and parousia trails, but will need to adhere to local riding requirements, such as having to ride on the right-hand side of the road, and if you are riding with multiple friends, you will need to adjust your riding group to ride in a single-file line, so as to avoid encroaching on the road and interfering with others traveling with you.

horseback riding

Exploring Zion National Park on horseback is also a great experience, and you can book different trips to enjoy horseback riding experiences of different durations and difficulty.

Bird Watching

Zion National Park is home to more than 291 species of birds, including a wide variety of raptors and small birds such as large California condors, canyon wrens, white-throated sparrows, American egrets, and black-cheeked hummingbirds, etc. The park has also partnered with a number of animal protection organizations to provide a more hospitable environment for the park’s birds, such as the park’s closure of climbing trails to protect raptors during their breeding season, among other things. The park is a great place for bird watching experts and novices alike.

Watching sunsets and stargazing at night

You can enjoy beautiful sunset views from the Palouse Trail trail, but after sunset, when you return, you need to be more aware of the local wildlife such as rattlesnakes and mountain lions.

If you stay at night in the South Campground and the Watchman Campground, you’ll have the same great sunset views and, at night, the chance to see the brilliant starry sky, making it a great stargazing spot in the park.

Canyoneering

In addition to hiking on the trails, you can also visit different areas for adventure activities. In Zion Park, all adventure areas require a Canyon Adventure Permit to enter, so you must make a reservation in advance and participate in the lottery, and only after you win the lottery and obtain the permit can you enter the target area to start your adventure activities.

Respecting the safety guidelines provided by the park for safer canyoneering prior to departure.

Climbing

Zion Park is popular with climbing adventure enthusiasts because of the large number of towering boulders, but the texture of the rocks here is a desert sandstone texture that becomes brittle when exposed to water, so climbers should not climb immediately after rain. Also, because Zion Park is inhabited by a large number of birds that nest and breed on the rock walls, check the Closed Climbing Access Information page provided by Zion Park for roads that are closed to climbing before traveling.

Takeaways

• July through September is the park’s monsoon season, during which thunderstorms can occur frequently, so you should check the day’s weather before traveling, and if the probability of thunderstorm weather is high, you may choose to travel on a different day, or play near buildings during the period when thunderstorms are likely to occur, to get into a building in time to take shelter;
• Heavy rains can lead to flash floods, which can cause sudden rises in the water levels of rivers and streams in the parks, so if you are visiting the parks after a rainy day, you can try to avoid these areas;
• When climbing the Hillside Trail, please keep an eye on your footing and take care of children traveling with you;
• There is a big difference between day and night temperatures in the parks; daytime temperatures can be very high while nights can be cold, so if you stay late in the parks or choose to camp, you need to be prepared with cold-weather clothing, as well as apply sunscreen promptly during the day;
• Fill your water bottles promptly at locations that provide drinking water and keep your body hydrated at all times during the tour;
• Rockfalls can occur everywhere in the park, so keep an eye on the cliffs on either side or choose to play in areas away from the base of the cliffs;

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