Zion National Park Travel Guide

  The Watchman, Zion South Entrance
by goodfish
 
  • The Watchman, Zion South Entrance
      The Watchman, Zion South Entrance
    by goodfish
  • Checkerboard Mesa
      Checkerboard Mesa
    by travelgourmet
  •   Zion National Park
    by tseman82
  •   Zion National Park
    by Basaic
  • Moon over Cliffs at Sunset
      Moon over Cliffs at Sunset
    by exploreDawg
 

Pro

agapotravel profile photo

 Incredible scenery, jaw-dropping views, lots of great hiking 


Con

KimberlyAnn profile photo

 Can be very crowded during the prime season. 


In a nutshell

goingsolo profile photo

 Plan to spend a few days here, exploring on and off the beaten path. 

 

Explore Zion National Park

Things to Do  

Zion Canyon Visitor Center

Zion Canyon Visitor Center, Zion National Park

 blueskyjohn Says:  Zion has one of the better visitor centers in the National Park system. Very informative displays and a very large book store. One down side is the number of Rangers working the back country desk. Only one that was answering questions. There were two at the information desk... 

Riverside Walk

Riverside Walk, Zion National Park

 blueskyjohn Says:  The Riverside Walk starts from the parking area of Temple of Sinawava. There is a restroom facility and it is the final stop on the shuttle. The walk is completely paved all the way to the Virgin River Narrows access. The trail is little over 1 mile long one way. It is a... 

See the beauty of each turn of the road

See the beauty of each turn of the road, Zion National Park

 travelgourmet Says:  Zion National Park has many wonders around every turn of the road. You don't have to walk the trails or hike the climbs to see the beauty of Nature that is Zion. Driving the road from the Zion-Mt. Carmel hwy down to the Visitors Center and you will look for turnouts to stop... 

Riverside Walk

Riverside Walk, Zion National Park

 goodfish Says:  Easy, paved 1 mile route along-and-above the Virgin River. Very pretty forested trail with flowers in season but can be crowded. This is also the access for day-trippers into the Narrows from the south. This is one of two paved trails in the park and is... 

Emerald Pools

Emerald Pools, Zion National Park

 goodfish Says:  The trails to the Lower, Middle and Upper Emerald pools are some of the most popular in the park and all 3 combine in a loop. These are fun hikes but the trails can be also be pretty crowded. The trail to the Lower Emerald Pool is the easiest - paved and handicapped... 

Hike the Narrows

Hike the Narrows, Zion National Park

 goodfish Says:  This is a not-to-be-missed experience hiking in the Virgin River to a slot canyon only 20-30 feet wide but up to 2000 feet deep. There are 3 ways to to this but I'll focus on just the short-hike option:Enter the river at the end of Riverside Walk (see that tip) and wade... 

Hotels  

Watchman Campground

 4 Reviews and 63 Opinions  Nice place, but get there early. It fills up relatively quickly, especially in the summer. It has... 

Restaurants  

Castle Dome Cafe: Park Food

Castle Dome Cafe: Park Food, Zion National Park

 goodfish Says:  National Park grub is often sort of expensive and nothing to write home about but that's OK - it's not why you're there, right?We had breakfast at Zion Lodge's Red Rock Grill one morning and found it so crowded, noisy and pricey that we skipped it the rest of our time there.... 

Zion Lodge's Red Rock Grill: Lodge's Reputation Precedes its Food

Zion Lodge's Red Rock Grill: Lodge's Reputation Precedes its Food, Zion National Park

 Phalaenopsis03 Says:  After a long, hot day of outdoor activities, we were looking forward to a nice lunch at the Zion Lodge. However, we were sadly disappointed to find out that the two items Hal and I were considering ordering were all out - the BLT and another kind of sandwich (don't recall... 

Transportation  

Getting around Zion

Getting around Zion, Zion National Park

 goodfish Says:  No cars are allowed on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive beyond the Visitor Center from April through Oct. and the parking lot fills quickly!You can park your car in nearby Springdale, take a free shuttle to the South entrance, and then walk the short distance to the Visitor Center -... 

The Park's Shuttle Bus

The Park's Shuttle Bus, Zion National Park

 RedBaggy Says:  There are two great shuttle bus services that are free. One shuttle bus drives up and down the main road from the park gates to the far end of Springdale. The second shuttle bus drives up and down the Zion Gorge between the park gates and the end of the gorge. Both shuttle... 

Shopping  

Asia to Zion Everything from A to Z: Looking for Something Unique?

Asia to Zion Everything from A to Z: Looking for Something Unique?, Zion National Park

 KimberlyAnn Says:  Asia to Zion is a unique shop that carries everything from imported items such as Asian Buddhas, to Zion National Park souvenirs. Open seven days a week this is a good place to purchase a gift for someone back home, or something special for yourself. I purchased a wonderful... 

Worthington Gallery: An Art Gallery with Various Types of Art

Worthington Gallery: An Art Gallery with Various Types of Art, Zion National Park

 KimberlyAnn Says:  The Worthington Gallery features a variety of artists, including wind sculptures, metal sculptures, paintings, pottery, and other items. If you visit their online store, you can view a number of the artists who are displayed in the shop, and see some of their work. As is all... 

Warnings and Dangers  

Loud Campers!

Loud Campers!, Zion National Park

 blueskyjohn Says:  Rarely to I encounter issues to the extent on my last visit. Usually a walk over to a loud group in the campground continuing after the 10pm quiet time with a polite request and reminder of the quiet hours does the trick. This last trip I was camping in the group camp ground... 

Please think..... WATER!

Please think..... WATER!, Zion National Park

 blueskyjohn Says:  This warning is for any long steep hike, exposed to the sun all day. Bring water! I have attached some photos of people attempting Angel's Landing with little more than a 12 ounce bottle of water! One thing to keep in mind, the day I took these photo's it was 80 degrees... 

East Entrance Tunnel

East Entrance Tunnel, Zion National Park

 goodfish Says:  While the East entrance road is gorgeous, delays may be experienced due to a tunnel (built in 1920's) too narrow for more than one large vehicle at a time. RVs or vehicles larger than 7"10" wide and/or 11" 4" high must pay an addtional $15 entry fee (good for a return trip)... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Snow Canyon State Park

Snow Canyon State Park, Zion National Park

 KimberlyAnn Says:  Snow Canyon State Park is located northwest of St. George, Utah, and about 53 miles from Zion. This park features interesting, and beautiful red Navajo sandstone formations, some which are capped by an overlay of black lava rock. Hiking along the trails within the park may... 

Bryce National Park

Bryce National Park, Zion National Park

 KimberlyAnn Says:  A little over 80 miles north east of Zion is Bryce Canyon National Park. Here you will see some awe-inspiring landscapes. Hoodoos, pillar of rocks that have been formed by erosion rise skyward in fantastic shapes. Many of these are a beautiful red color and cover the... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Angel's Landing

Angel's Landing, Zion National Park

 blueskyjohn Says:  Angel's Landing is one of the highlight hikes in the park and a must do. The Angel's Landing trail is accessed from the West Rim trail. To access the West Rim trail, park at the "Grotto." If there is no parking available (Nov. - Mar), you will have to park at the Zion Canyon... 

Riverside Walk Trail

Riverside Walk Trail, Zion National Park

 Basaic Says:  The Riverside Walk Trail is an easy 2.2 mile paved trail that follows the Virgin River from the Temple of Sinawava to the Narrows. This is a very nice trail with some great views. You can continue at the end of the trail into the narrows if you have a permit and are... 

Favorites  

Springdale, call this home while visiting Zion.

Springdale, call this home while visiting Zion., Zion National Park

 KimberlyAnn Says:  Springdale is a tiny little town with about 300 residents, which sits, in a spectacular, scenic setting. Because of its location at the entrance of Zion National Park, the town is supported by tourism. Springdale has a number of accommodations and shops for tourists, and a... 

Comments

Map of Zion National Park