Zion National Park Information
(Maps at Bottom of Page)
Park Fees:
$35 park entry fee
$80 annual park pass (if you plan on visiting at least 3 national parks/year, this pass will save you money!)
Things to Note:
-
​Most hikes require getting on the shuttle, which takes you to the trailhead. It's free to ride, more info here. The lines can get up to 1.5 hours long, we recommend renting an e-bike to avoid parking & shuttle issues altogether, e-bike discount code here
-
To do the chain portion of Angel's Landing, you will need a permit, more info here.
-
Gear is highly recommended when hiking The Narrows, more info here.
March 14th, 1984
Christina's Trip Tips:
Below are full-day and half-day recommendations + our recommendations for bike & gear rentals and guided hikes in the Zion. I strongly recommend downloading and using AllTrails, it's a great tool for researching hikes.
​
For summertime guests, keep in mind that Zion will be busy and although shuttles come every 4-5 minutes, shuttle line wait times will be long (45 min-2 hrs). If you're able, we highly recommend renting an e-bike (book here directly for 10% off) which allows you to bike thru the park on a private road (the views are INSANE), bike directly to and lock up your bike at trailheads & avoid parking and shuttle line issues. Biking through the park allows you to enjoy the park on your own schedule (shuttle pick-up ends around 7:00 PM but the park never closes!) and experience the park in a truly beautiful, unique way (trust me, this is from personal experience). All recommendations are from personal experience, if you have any questions or feedback please message me and let me know!
IMPORTANT: ALWAYS check the National Park website prior to your trip to ensure all roads/hikes are open.
Conditions change all the time!
Full-Day: Angel's Landing and/or the Narrows
Breakfast at Cane Beds
Leave by 6:30AM, GPS to East Entrance (check park website to ensure there's no closures) - it's more scenic & will allow you to drive through the whole park- it's beautiful! Plus shorter lines to enter the park.
Park at Welcome Center, if full, head out of the Main Entrance and park on street ($20.00). Take your receipt of entry, you can use that to walk into and out of the park
Stop for Breakfast/
Coffee
Leave by 6 AM , GPS to Main Entrance, you will pass by 2 towns with food options:
Quick: Sweet Sage Cafe (7 min) in Colorado City
Sit Down: River Rock Roasting Co (30 min) in Colorado City
Hike #1: Angels Landing or The Narrows
Remember:
For Angel's Landing, you'll need your permit & IDs saved (your phone is fine).
For The Narrows, we HIGHLY suggest renting wading boots & hiking poles- you will get wet this hike, water varies from ankle-deep to waist-deep depending on the season.
Expect either of the above to take about 5 hours
Hike #2
(Shorter Day) Watchman Trail (1.5-2 hrs, 3 miles, moderate)
Trailhead is near the visitor center, with river access along the start of the trail. The trail ends in the west so it's perfect for a sunset hike. The river is a great spot to hang out before leaving as well.
(Longer Day) Observation Point via East Mesa Trail (3 hrs, 7 miles, moderately challenging)- It starts outside the park so you would “leave” the park but it’s easily the best view. Parking won’t be an issue here/you wouldn’t need shuttles or bikes to get there.
Half Day at Zion
Parking Lot Info
Parking at the Visitor Center is full by 8AM.
Street parking outside the Main Entrance of the park is normally full by 9AM
People leave for lunch/spots open between 1-2PM
Normally, lots of parking available after 5PM
Start Hiking!
A shorter hike that would be good to do first is Zion Canyon Overlook Trail, it’ll give you a great birdseye view of Zion.
Emerald Pools is one of the more popular hikes, that would be a good one to do next. Angel's Landing Hike to Scout's Lookout for those looking for more of a challenge (you do not need a permit to hike this portion)
Less Crowded Option
Another option is Observation Point via East Mesa Trail- it starts outside the park so you would “leave” the park but it’s easily the best aerial view of Zion. Parking won’t be an issue here/you wouldn’t need shuttles or bikes to get there.
Lunch
If you packed lunch, the river by the Visitor Center is great for a picnic under the trees.
If eating out, there are lots of options around the Main Entrance of the park
Sunset Hike
Watchman Trail (1.5-2 hrs, 3 miles, moderate)
Trailhead is near the visitor center, with river access along the start of the trail. The trail ends in the west so it's perfect for a sunset hike. The river is a great spot to hang out before leaving as well.​
Unique Experiences + Rental Options
E-Bike Rentals at Zion
Zion Peddler: Our #1 recommendation is to rent an E-Bike and bike thru Zion- trust us, you will wish you did when you're waiting in the shuttle lines.
We love Zion Peddler, book directly here for 10% off, they offer hourly and full-day rentals.
Favorite Coffee Shop at Zion
Feel Love Cafe (same parking lot as Zion Peddler): 358 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767
Don'ts
Don't wait until the last minute to pull up directions, permits, etc. Service will be bad at the park, download everything before.
​
Don't go without double-checking the park site to ensure that the roads/trails you're planning on taking are open. Any closed hikes/roads/warnings will show on the homepage of the .gov park site
​
Don't get frustrated with wait times. If you visit May-September, expect people on the trail & shuttle lines. It'll still be a magical experience, but keep in mind the need to be patient. If you want suggestions on less-visited hikes/local's favorite hikes message Christina