Zion National Park in Utah
- Zion National Park in Utah is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
- There are a charming Lodge and three campgrounds in the Park. There are also lots of places to stay in the surrounding town of Springdale.
- Much of the year, there is a user-friendly shuttle that loops around the Park’s nine trailheads. Automobile use is restricted when the shuttle is in service.
It was hard to believe we were in the desert.
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With its lush trees and flowing waters, Utah’s Zion National Park looked more like Maine‘s 2,000-miles-away Acadia than Nevada‘s two-hours-away Valley of Fire, where my travel companion and I had hiked the day before on the first stop of our road trip from Las Vegas.
But the towering walls of golden red Navajo sandstone gave it away.
Like most visitors, we were spending our day in the colorful Zion Canyon, a 2,500-foot-deep gorge in the western part of the 229-square-mile Park, which takes its name from the Mormon pioneers who settled Utah after fleeing government persecution in Illinois and Missouri during the 19th century.
Just after sun-up, we crossed the Virgin River via a footbridge as we began hiking the Emerald Pools Trails, a popular route through tall cliffs and welcoming cottonwoods.
The three pools are shallow basins of water named for the greenish tint of the algae they host. The trails to the lower and middle pools are pretty easy; the steep climbs toward the upper pool classify it as moderate. So it was a good choice for my companion and me; physically fit but hardly Ironman competitors, we often seek our weekend work-outs by hiking through scenic parks.
Zion quickly became one of our favorites. It took us most of the morning to complete the two-mile Emerald Pools loop over dusty paths and steep rock, but that was because we stopped so often to savor the scenery.
I loved the green foliage.
So did a mule deer, apparently so used to people that she just kept grazing while we strolled by.
But my favorite was the waterfall.
With its sheltering orange walls, welcoming broad trees, and refreshing cool waters, hiking Zion is like watching the most glorious elements of nature all playing together.
What to know before you go to
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is located on State Route 9 in Springdale, Utah.
Where to stay when visiting
Zion National Park
In the Park: The charming Zion Lodge has both hotel rooms and cabins; this will be my choice next time I visit. There are also three campgrounds.
In Springdale: Springdale is the gateway town to Zion, with lots of lodging options, as well as restaurants and shops.
In Hurricane: A little further is Hurricane, with several highway hotels and more limited restaurant choices.
This is where we stayed.
In St. George: St. George is the closest city, about a 50-minute drive.
Whatever you choose, make your reservations early; Zion National Park is very popular, and lodging fills up fast.
How to get to Zion National Park
By shuttle: There is a shuttle bus system that transports visitors from Springdale to the Park’s pedestrian entrance. The shuttle is free; most of the parking in town is not. The pedestrian entrance fee to the Park is $20 per person older than 15, good for one week; younger children are free.
By bicycle: The weekly entry fee is also $20/bicycle.
By motorcycle: The weekly entry fee is $30/motorcycle.
By car: The weekly fee is $35/car, up to 15-passenger capacity. There is limited parking at the entrance to Zion, and it fills up early.
How to get around Zion National Park
There is a free shuttle that loops through the Canyon for much of the year. The schedule varies, but generally the shuttle runs March-November, during the late-December holiday season, and on February weekends. (This is different from the Springdale shuttle, which you would disembark at the pedestrian entrance; then you would line up to board another shuttle into the Canyon.)
The shuttle line was already long by the time we reached the Park entrance, and we waited around 20 minutes for a bus. After this initial ride, the shuttles remained crowded, but we never had to wait more than a few minutes. There are nine stops near various trail heads. Most of them have rest rooms, water fountains, and sun shelters. Overall, the shuttle system is very efficient and intuitive to use, and there is an audio feed giving helpful information.
There are paved roads and parking lots inside the Park, but personal motor vehicles are banned from Zion Canyon Scenic Drive when the shuttle is in service, except for visitors staying at the Lodge. Bicycling is permitted. There are also several tours.
What to wear at Zion National Park
Comfortable clothing. This too will depend on the time of year, and of day, you visit, as well as on your own style. Annual temperatures in Zion range from low 20s to high 80s. When we arrived before sun-up on a Saturday in May, it was cold, but we decided to leave behind our hoodies and windbreakers. As we waited for the shuttle in line with dozens of serious hikers swaddled in warm layers, we worried that we’d made a big mistake. We hadn’t. Once the sun rose, so did the heat. To us it was worth enduring 25 chilly minutes not to have to carry extra layers of clothing. Late in the morning, we encountered one young couple turning back because they’d over-dressed and were facing heat exhaustion. My recommendation is a base of comfortable clothing suitable for the day’s expected high, and extra layers as dictated by your own plans and preferences. There are gift shops at the Visitors’ Center and the Lodge where you can buy (overpriced) clothing in a pinch.
Comfortable sturdy shoes with a good tread. I was fine in my Skechers for the Emerald Pools, but wear real hiking boots if you’re planning on the more strenuous trails.
A hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen. Once the sun comes up, it is strong.
What to bring to Zion National Park
Sunscreen to re-apply.
A change of socks.
A compact camera. You’ll see people doing it, but I really don’t recommend bringing a DSLR and tripod, especially if you’re going at a popular time. My small snappy would be manageable, but I took the pictures in this post with my iPhone.
Where to eat at Zion National Park
There are lots of beautiful places to picnic throughout the canyon, but we ate lunch at the Red Rock Grill in the Lodge. It was reasonably priced for a tourist place, and the service was pleasant. We both opted for the taco bar available that day, making a few trips to fill up on ground beef and chicken and vegetables, going easy on the tortillas and chips. We sat out on the large porch to savor the scenery along with our lunch.
For current conditions at Zion National Park:
The @ZionNPS twitter feed tweets frequently about logistical issues that could affect your visit, including trail closures, weather threats, and parking availability.
A word on crowds at Zion National Park:
Millions of people visit Zion National Park annually. It’s easily the most crowded national park I’ve seen, including Grand Canyon. Early in the morning, it was mostly older, experienced hikers in line with us for the shuttle. By mid-morning, there were lots of young families on the Emerald Pools Trails. There are also a fair amount of visitors from cultures that don’t share the American preference for personal space. But except for one tall 60-something with hiking poles who nearly knocked me over on the descent from the Upper Emerald Pool, most people were pleasant and polite. It’s no wonder that so many people travel to Zion National Park. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.
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We live in Utah and love visiting Zion’s National Park. Especially when we are down in St. George in the off season. I love your descriptions of Zions and the flow of the post!
Thank you, it’s nice to meet a fellow Zion lover!
That looks absolutely gorgeous!!!
Thank you, it really is amazing!
Wow! This is so beautiful! We just had a friend visit there for the first time and they were blown away. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Thank you, I’m glad your friends enjoyed it too!
Zion is so beautiful! I loved visiting in December when the crowds were low!
Oh, I bet it’s wonderful in December!
Great read! I’m itching to start doing family trips with our kiddos in the next couple of years. I’ll be sure to add this to our list. Is it family-friendly for the hiking portion? I assume they have different hiking options depending on your skill? Thanks!
Yes, there are lots of trails and different levels, and I saw many young families.
Wow this is beautiful! I haven’t gotten to explore any of our national parks, but it looks like this would be an amazing place to start. Thanks for all the great tips also!
Thank you, I hope you get to visit Zion soon!
Wow! Simply stunning! I have to put Utah on my bucket list to visit. I’ve driven through a few times on my way to other places. I think that perhaps it’s time to actually stop and take in some of the sites. Thank you for sharing
Thank you, Utah is beautiful and definitely worth savoring!
Wow! Absolutely stunning. The waterfall is beautiful. All of Utah’s national parks look amazing. It is good to know that there is at least one within reasonable distance of Las Vegas.
Thanks, Anon, I think you’d really like Utah!