Zion
Towering sandstone walls, river hikes and a famous chain-assisted summit.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- $35 per car
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- 147,000 acres
Zion Weather Now
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Zion was Utah's first national park, and its main canyon is unlike anywhere else in the Southwest. Instead of looking down into a canyon from the rim, you stand on the floor and look up: Navajo Sandstone cliffs rise 2,000 feet on both sides, glowing red and cream in the afternoon light. The Virgin River, small most of the year, carved all of it.
The park's two most famous hikes sit at opposite extremes. The Narrows has you wading upstream through a slot canyon only 20 to 30 feet wide in places. Angels Landing climbs a knife-edge fin with chains bolted into the rock and sheer drops on either side. Between them are gentle trails to hanging gardens, emerald pools and quiet overlooks in the less-visited Kolob Canyons.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- April to May and September to November. Summer is hot, with flash-flood season from July to September. Winter is quiet and sometimes snowy.
- How long to stay
- 2 to 3 days.
- Getting there
- St. George (SGU) is about an hour away. Las Vegas (LAS) is about 2.5 to 3 hours and Salt Lake City about 4.5 hours.
- Wildlife
- Mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, wild turkeys, California condors and very bold rock squirrels.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Zion
- Canyoneering shoesGrip and protection for wading The Narrows.
- Neoprene socksKeep feet warm in cold river water.
- Dry bagProtects your phone and snacks in the river.
- Hydration packDesert heat builds fast by midday.
- Sun hatShade is scarce on the switchbacks.
A first day, start to finish
- Catch the first shuttle up the canyon
- Angels Landing with a permit, or Scout Lookout without one
- Riverside Walk into the lower Narrows
- Lunch at Zion Lodge
- Canyon Overlook Trail for late-afternoon light
Don't miss
- The NarrowsHike up the Virgin River between 1,000-foot walls; check flash-flood risk first.
- Angels LandingExposed chain section to the summit; permit required.
- Emerald PoolsFamily-friendly trails to small waterfalls and pools.
- Canyon Overlook TrailShort hike with a big view, just east of the tunnel.
- Kolob CanyonsQuieter section off I-15 with a 5-mile scenic drive.
Know before you go
Do
- Keep your entrance pass; you need it to re-enter on foot from Springdale.
- Check the flash-flood forecast before entering any slot canyon.
- Ride the shuttle early; lines grow by mid-morning.
Don't
- Enter The Narrows when flash-flood risk is high.
- Climb on or carve into rock walls.
- Drive an oversized vehicle through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel without paying the tunnel escort fee.
Open 24 hours, all year. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is shuttle-only for most of the year, roughly March through November.
Summer heat in the canyon regularly passes 100°F. Start hikes at sunrise.Trekker's tip