Zion National Park is Utah’s first national park and one of the most-visited national parks in the U.S. It’s the perfect addition to a Utah Mighty Five or Southwest U.S. road trip and also a great place to visit all on its own.
This blog post focuses on our visit to Zion National Park in October 2021, how we got there, where we stayed, where we ate, our 3-day Zion National Park itinerary, and more important details to help plan your epic 3-day Zion adventure.
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Where is Zion National Park Located?
Zion National Park is located in southwest Utah near the Nevada and Arizona borders. It’s near the town of Springdale, which is a popular place to stay for visitors to Zion National Park.
What’s the Best Time to Visit Zion?
The weather in Zion National Park is dependent on the season. Temperatures can reach 100°F or higher in the summer and below freezing at night in the winter, whereas spring and fall have warm days and cool nights. Winter in Zion also poses a chance for snowstorms. Current conditions for Zion National Park can be found here.
In my opinion, fall is the best time to visit Zion National Park. We visited Zion in October, and the weather was perfect! Temperatures dropped to the 40s at night and rose to the mid-70s during the day. With all the hiking we did, I can’t even imagine visiting in the heat of the summer!
We also didn’t experience any shuttle wait times or crowds during our visit and heard that this is also the case in the spring and winter. However, the park is much more crowded in the summer.
How Many Days to Spend in Zion?
There’s lots to do in Zion National Park and the surrounding area, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to visit! We would recommend at least 2 full days for your visit to Zion National Park. Zion was the first stop on our Southwest U.S. road trip, and we ended up spending 2.5 days here, giving us plenty of time to visit some of the other Utah national parks as well.
How Much Does Zion National Park Cost?
Zion National Park entry fees vary depending on vehicle type and pass duration. The National Park Service website has information on current rates, but to give you an idea, the cost at the time of our visit was $35 for private vehicles for a 7-day pass.
A Broad Recommendation: If you plan to visit any other national parks within the year, I recommend investing in the U.S. Park Pass. The pass is valid for 1 year and covers your entry to thousands of National Parks and other federally managed lands.
How to Get to Zion National Park
We flew from William P. Hobby Airport in Houston to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas and started our Southwest U.S. road trip from there. We booked an early flight and arrived in Las Vegas just after 7:00 am. Flying into Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah is also a good option, but I haven’t personally done this.
Arriving early in the morning gave us plenty of time to pick up our rental car. We went with Fox Rent A Car because of their affordable rates, but renting here does require taking a shuttle from the airport to another shuttle spot, which will then take you to the rental car pick-up.
When we arrived, we were practically the first ones there, and we were on the road by 8:30 am. The drive from Las Vegas to Zion National Park is just under 3 hours, but you also lose an hour due to the time difference.
Where to Stay in Zion National Park
We stayed at the Bumbleberry Inn in Springdale, which is very close to Zion National Park. Since check-in doesn’t start until 3:00 pm, the hotel allows you to leave your car on-site, so you can head into the park while waiting for your room—and, this is exactly what we did!
At the time of our visit, guests received a voucher for breakfast at Oscar’s Café, which is right across the street. However, Oscar’s Café doesn’t open until 7:30 am, and we wanted to get an early start each day, so we didn’t take advantage of all of our vouchers.
There are also many great Zion National Park Glamping options if you’re looking for more of a camping experience with some of the modern amenities of a hotel.
How to Use the Zion National Park Shuttle
Sourced from: https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/upload/Springdale-Shuttle-Map_7_7_17.pdf
Since parking is limited inside Zion National Park, you’ll likely need to use the Springdale shuttle service. If you’re not staying at a hotel in Springdale, there are paid parking options inside the park as well.
For some reason, I thought the shuttle service was going to be confusing, but I’m happy to report that it was super easy to use and free! Note that there’s a shuttle service in Springdale and a different one inside the park. If you’re staying in Springdale, you’ll likely be using both of these each day.
The Springdale shuttle starts at 8:00 am from the Majestic View Lodge (stop 9), and the last shuttle back to Springdale leaves from Zion Canyon Village (stop 1) at 8:00 pm. Inside the park, the first and last shuttles leave the Visitor Center at 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, respectively. The last shuttle out of the canyon from the Temple of Sinawava is at 7:15 pm and takes about 45 minutes to get back to the Visitor Center.
A Broad Recommendation: Don’t wait for the last shuttle of the day because it could be full by the time it reaches your stop. If it’s full, you may end up having to walk home! During the time of year we visited, the shuttles were never full, but this could be an issue in the summer, so use your best judgment.
Also note that these shuttle times are all based on the time of year we visited, which was in late October; schedules may differ throughout the year. The National Park Service website maintains the current shuttle schedule, as well as other important shuttle information.
Every morning, we caught the Springdale shuttle, which takes you directly to the Zion Visitor Center. From here, you can use the restrooms, fill up your water bottles, and take the park shuttle to various trailheads and other spots in the park.
Zion National Park Itinerary
Day 1 in Zion National Park
- Fly to Las Vegas on an early flight
- Pick up your rental car
- Stop for a quick breakfast on your 3-hour drive to Springdale
- *One hour time difference – you lose an hour*
- Stop at the hotel to drop off your car
- Get lunch in Springdale or head into the park
- Hike the Watchman Trail
- Hike the Emerald Pools Trails
- Have dinner in Springdale
Day 2 in Zion National Park
- Have breakfast in Springdale
- Hike The Narrows
- Have a late lunch in Springdale
- Watch the sunset near Canyon Junction Bridge
Day 3 in Zion National Park
- Hike the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail for sunrise
- Have breakfast in Springdale
- Pack your car and leave it at the hotel
- Hike Angels Landing and part of the West Rim Trail towards Cabin Spring
- Drive the 2 hours from Zion to Bryce Canyon National Park
What to Do in Zion National Park
Known for its incredible canyons, Zion National Park is one of the best places in the world for canyoneering. The park also offers other activities like hiking, camping, backpacking, climbing and more.
We took advantage of many of the hiking trails Zion National Park has to offer, as well as catching a couple of sunrises and sunsets inside the park. Below is a summary of everything we did at Zion National Park.
Hikes in Zion National Park
Hiking is one of the top things to do in Zion National Park, and we did a lot of it during our visit! Here are all of the trails we did and therefore, can recommend. It’s notable that during our visit, several other trails were closed due to major rockfall, and we couldn’t explore those.
The Watchman Trail
Since we arrived around 2:00 pm on our first day at Zion National Park, we decided to start with the 3.3-mile, out-and-back Watchman Trail. The trail can be accessed from shuttle stop 1, and the trailhead is located up the canyon and across the road (on the north side of the road).
The hike is rated easy to moderate, with an elevation change of around 370 feet, and it offers great views of the Temples and Towers, lower Zion Canyon, Watchman Peak, and Springdale. Give yourself around 2 hours to complete this hike.
The Watchman Trail doesn’t actually take you to the top of Watchman Mountain, but from the viewpoint, you can get a great view of it to the south. The trail was originally meant to go all the way to The Watchman’s peak, but due to various challenges, it was never completed past the viewpoint loop.
I would also recommend doing the short loop that begins at the viewpoint, as it offers even more stunning views than the rest of the trail, in my opinion!
None of the hikes we did were particularly crowded this time of year, but during peak season, this hike is typically less crowded than some of the more popular trails. If you’re visiting during the summer, it’s best to hike the Watchman Trail in the morning, as it can get very hot. Since we visited in the fall, the afternoon was perfect for us.
Emerald Pools Trail
We were also able to fit in the Emerald Pools Trail around 4:00 pm on our first day at Zion National Park. A paved trailhead starts across the road from Zion Lodge (shuttle stop 5) and leads to the Lower Emerald Pool and waterfalls. From here, it connects to the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools trails.
Since this hike is easy and family-friendly, the trail gets crowded in the summer, but it’s still a great hike for first-timers to Zion National Park. The round-trip distance for the Lower Emerald Pools Trail is 1.2 miles with about 70 feet elevation change. This part of the trail leads to two tall waterfalls and can be completed in less than an hour.
From here, there’s a climb to a sandstone ledge that parallels the lower trail and connects to the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools Trails, as well as the Kayenta Trail.
Since the trail gets slightly more difficult here with around 150 feet in elevation change, the Middle Emerald Pools Trail is considered a moderate hike.
The Upper Emerald Pool Trail technically starts from the end of the Kayenta Trail and is 1 mile round-trip from there. If combined with the Kayenta Trail, it’s 3 miles round-trip, with around 200 feet in elevation change, and is estimated to take about an hour to complete.
Since we connected to the trail from the Middle Emerald Pools Trail, it was much shorter. The Upper Emerald Pools Trail leads you to the base of Heaps Canyon, from which a faint waterfall trickles down.
In total, the path we followed was roughly 2 miles and took around 2 hours to complete. Note that you can’t swim in any of the pools, and water flow varies depending on the time of year. It’s typically light unless you’re visiting during the spring runoff or a rainstorm, and in the summer, the falls can sometimes appear as no more than a trickle.
Riverside Walk
The Riverside Walk is a beautiful, paved trail that follows the Virgin River along the bottom of a narrow canyon. The trail is 2.2 miles round-trip and provides access to the bottom-up Narrows route.
Give yourself about an hour and a half to hike this trail if you’re not planning on doing The Narrows. If paired with The Narrows, you’ll want to allot much more time; see The Narrows section below.
The Narrows
We chose to hike the Narrows on our second day at Zion National Park. The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon—its name makes sense, right?—and one of my favorite hikes at Zion National Park. Its walls are more than 1,000 feet tall, and the Virgin River flows through at just 20- to 30-feet-wide in some spots.
The Narrows is a popular hike and gets very crowded at times. To get to the trailhead, take the shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava (shuttle stop 9). The trail starts adjacent to the shuttle stop and the restrooms and is accessed via the Riverside Walk.
The total round-trip distance is up to 9.4 miles (up to an 8 hour hike) along the bottom-up Narrows route. This route doesn’t require a permit, and you can hike in as far as you’d like, then hike back the same way.
A little more than half of the hike is spent wading through water, so you’ll want to rent gear for this hike. The type of gear you’ll need varies by season, and there are several places to rent from:
We chose Zion Outfitter, which is located right in Zion Canyon Village, and rented our gear the night before. Anticipating some cold temperatures for the next morning, we each went with the “Dry Pants Package”. When we asked about adding on a waterproof backpack, the guy at the counter told us that wasn’t really necessary, which we appreciated!
Note: water temperatures and levels fluctuate depending on the season and weather, and the current can become difficult to walk against at times. If water flow gets too high or there’s a Flash Flood Warning, the Narrows will close.
A Broad Recommendation: At the time of our visit, there was an ongoing Cyanobacteria Warning, so avoid submerging your head, splashing around, or swimming in the water. And, you definitely shouldn’t drink the water here or from any other streams in the park.
This hike was so much fun and unlike anything we’d ever experienced before! I would highly recommend hiking the Narrows if you feel comfortable enough to do so.
Pa’rus Trail
Later that afternoon, we hiked the Pa’rus Trail, a paved path that follows the Virgin River from the southern entrance of the park to Canyon Junction. The trailhead starts up canyon from the Visitor Center (shuttle stop 1) and across the bridge adjacent to the South Campground.
The Pa’rus Trail is a beautiful, flat, and easy 3.5-mile, round-trip hike that provides amazing views of The Watchman, a sandstone mountain summit whose name reflects its role of guarding the south entrance to the park. It’s the only trail in the park that allows both bicycles and pets.
Our main goal was to hike this trail to the Canyon Junction Bridge, where we wanted to stop and watch the sunset. Unfortunately, Canyon Junction Bridge is now closed for walking and photography. Luckily, we were still able to snap a few, quick pics along the trail near the bridge.
If you plan on taking lots of photos, give yourself about 2 hours for this hike. And, if you plan on going at sunset like we did, bring a flashlight for the walk back. We didn’t need one until we were nearly back to the Visitor Center and just ended up using our phone flashlights, but it’s always a good idea to pack one just in case!
Zion Canyon Overlook Trail
On our third and final day in Zion National Park, we hiked the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail just before sunrise. That meant starting our hike in the dark—yet another good time to have a flashlight!
The Zion Canyon Overlook Trail is one of the few official trails in the upper East Canyon and provides incredible views of Pine Creek Canyon, lower Zion Canyon, and the Route 9 switchbacks below. In fact, it’s one of the best photography spots in the entire park.
The trail is 1 mile round-trip and is considered a moderate route. If this is your first trip to Zion National Park, the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail is a must-do!
To reach the trailhead, drive east on Route 9 through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. The trailhead is just beyond the tunnel, near the East entrance, across the road from the parking lot.
Parking is very limited and fills up quickly, especially in summer months. Since we visited in the fall and arrived so early, we didn’t have any issues finding parking. There are several small overflow parking areas further east, but you’ll have to walk along the road back to the trailhead if you use one of those.
From the parking lot, you’ll hike up some stairs before going through a large natural cave. Then, along the rocky trail, you’ll experience more than 160 feet in elevation change and see some steep drop-offs (they’re mostly fenced in with railings).
That being said, there are some exposed spots that could be dangerous, so make sure to pay close attention while hiking here, especially in the winter months when there could be snow or ice on the ground. The reward for getting through all of these obstacles is totally worth it though!
Angels Landing via West Rim Trail
Since we hiked the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail for sunrise, we wanted to go back to the hotel to park our car, then grab some breakfast before heading back out on another hike.
So, we started hiking Angels Landing just before noon on our last day at Zion National Park. Visiting in October lent itself to more relaxed mornings, since the crowds weren’t as bad. Had we visited in the summer, we would’ve been on the first shuttle out of Springdale to start this hike.
The trailhead for the West Rim Trail begins across the road from The Grotto (shuttle stop 6) and will lead you to the trail for Angels Landing. Total hiking distance is 5.4 miles round-trip with nearly 1,500 feet in elevation change. You’ll want to plan for at least 4 hours for this hike, leaving time to take lots of breaks for water, snacks, and photos.
The trail includes walking along steep cliffs and holding onto chains for safety; it can be both physically and mentally demanding. Young children or anyone who’s afraid of heights should avoid this hike. Note that a permit is now required to hike Angels Landing.
A Broad Recommendation: Make sure to pack lots of water and snacks in your Venture Pal Backpack, especially if you’ll be hiking during the heat of the day. For all of these hikes, but especially this one, it’s essential to wear appropriate hiking attire and a good pair of hiking boots. I like my Merrell Women’s Moab 2 Mid Waterproof hiking boots if you don’t already have a pair!
Early morning and late afternoon will give you the best light for photography, but you’ll want to make sure you’re off the mountain well before dark due to the dangerous footing.
After completing Angels Landing, we made our way back to Scout Lookout and continued on the West Rim Trail toward Cabin Spring. This section of Zion is incredible and not nearly as crowded, and we walked for about a mile before turning back. Although we didn’t hike all the way to Cabin Spring, which is said to boast the best viewpoint, we still really enjoyed this part of the hike.
Of all the hikes we did in Zion National Park, these hikes were probably my favorite. If you’re looking for an exhilarating adventure, Angels Landing and the West Rim Trail are the hikes for you!
Zion Sunrise & Sunset Spots
Another thing you won’t want to miss during your visit to Zion National Park is catching a sunrise or sunset—or a few!—inside the park. Here are some of the spots that we checked out and one that was recommended to us, but we weren’t able to do during our visit.
Route 9 Switchbacks
We heard that photographing the Towers of the Virgin from behind the Human History Museum is spectacular as soon as the light hits the peaks. So one morning, we drove to the museum just before sunrise, only to discover that it was temporarily closed!
After missing the opportunity to watch the sunrise from behind the Human History Museum, we spontaneously started driving east along Route 9 and up through the switchbacks to the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. From here, we ended up catching the sunrise over the Upper East Canyon, which was still quite beautiful.
Zion Canyon Overlook Trail
As previously mentioned, the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail has an amazing view of Pine Creek Canyon, lower Zion Canyon, and the Route 9 switchbacks and is one of the best photography spots in the entire park. Refer back to the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail section for more information on catching a sunrise here.
Canyon Junction Bridge
What was once a very popular spot for sunset lovers and photographers alike, the Canyon Junction Bridge is no longer accessible to pedestrians. However, the views along the Pa’rus Trail (which leads to Canyon Junction Bridge) are still pretty epic. We recommend catching a sunset along this trail at least once during your visit to Zion National Park.
Where to Eat at Zion National Park
When we got to Springdale, we bought some bread and lunch meat to make sandwiches for lunch (and even dinner some nights), so we didn’t eat out a ton. Here’s a list of the restaurants we did try during our visit to Zion National Park:
- Oscar’s Café
- Meme’s Café
- Zion Pizza & Noodle Co. (get the fire sticks and thank us later!)
And, here are some other spots that we heard were good but didn’t have time to try:
- The Parkhouse Café
- Café Soleil
- King’s Landing Bistro
- The Spotted Dog Café
- Whiptail Café
- Deep Creek Coffee Company
Getting from Zion to Bryce Canyon
The next stop on our Southwest U.S. road trip was Bryce Canyon National Park. On your way out of Zion National Park, you’ll follow the steep switchbacks up to the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, a historic landmark completed in 1930, then onto the scenic Zion-Mount Carmel Highway.
Along the way, there are several pull-offs, one of them being Checkerboard Mesa, whose sandstone has an unusual crack pattern that resembles a grid similar to a checkerboard.
Follow the road out to US-89 N, then to UT-12 E. The drive is just under 2 hours, and you’ll gain more than 4,000 feet in elevation along the way, as Bryce Canyon has the highest elevation of all of Utah’s national parks.
A Broad Recommendation: Due to the lack of cell service in this area, be sure to download Google offline maps and to pack extra water, snacks and warm clothes in case of an emergency.
Have you visited Zion National Park yet, and if not, have I convinced you to go?
XOXO Sara at Travel A-Broads
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