Coordinates: Zion National Park
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National Park: Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah
Iconic Feature
Slot canyons – some of the most popular hikes in the park are through slot canyons ranging from three feet to hundreds of feet wide. Much of the landscape was carved over generations by water erosion from rivers. Tight sandstone passages provide gorgeous hikes and canyoneering, but can be deadly during flash flood season, so use caution and check weather reports before adventuring deep into a slot canyon.
The Park
Established in 1919, Zion is Utah’s first national park. It covers an area of 230 square miles over three southwest counties near the town of Springdale. The centerpiece of the park is Zion Canyon, which attracts the majority of tourists and has the most accessible trails and two primary campgrounds. Kolob Canyons is outside of the main Canyon area, and includes more remote locales and the majority of the park’s natural arches.
Main Attractions
Inside Zion Canyon: One of the most famous attractions is the Narrows, an area where the Canyon squeezes down as narrow walls tower a thousand feet overhead. The bottom of the Narrows offers a paved path leading up to the entrance, after which point you’re hiking through the Virgin River. In some places, the water is ankle deep, and others up to swimming depth. Most visitors explore the Narrows for a few hours, hiking in and out from the bottom. Permits are available to hike from top to bottom via Chamberlain’s Ranch, or rappel into the Narrows from other canyons.
No trip to Zion would be complete without hiking to Observation Point, a moderate 8-mile hike that provides a stunning view-from-the-top of Zion Canyon. Starting from Weeping Rock Traihead (a worth-while quick hike), the trail is mostly paved and well-traveled by tourists, but few places in the park offer such a stunning view, both along the trail and from the Point.
Visitors lacking a fear of heights shouldn’t miss ascending Angels Landing. Switchbacks lead up to a rocky fin climb to an isolated perch nearly 1,500 feet above the canyon floor. While no special equipment is needed to navigate this well-kept trail, chains bolted into the stone path over the last half-mile offer handholds for balance. From the top, you’re rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of Zion Canyon. Looking down is optional.
Backcountry Exploration & Off the Beaten Trail: Canyoneering is a big draw to Zion Nation Park, most commonly requiring permits and rappelling gear. One of the most beautiful is The Subway, a 9.5-mile trek through a uniquely-shaped canyon with several short rappels and unmatched views. Beginning on sun exposed, hot slickrock guided by an occasional cairn, the fun begins after dropping into the canyon. Shaded by tall canyon walls, you’ll navigate tight spaces, splash through cascading waterfalls fed by numerous springs and wade in pools carved into sandstone beds. The final stretch is back in the sun, but keep an eye out for dinosaur footprints imprinted in grey mud (now stone).
Climbers and boulderers can explore permit free day climbs. With ample 2,000-foot sandstone walls, there’s plenty to keep you busy. Apart from a handful of top-roping routes, most are lead rope and only recommended for experienced climbers. Ambitious multi-pitchers can bivvy on the wall by reserving overnight climbing passes online.
Backpacking in the backcountry also requires permits with reservations made three months in advance online or via a same-day walk-up permit, as the park leaves 1/3 of backcountry sites off the website for ad-hoc visitors. The backcountry covers over 125,000 acres of wilderness and 90 miles of trails from ponderosa pine forests to cliff-side East and West Rim Trails along with meandering trails in Kolob Canyon featuring colorful rock walls leading to attractions like Kolob Arch.
Lodging and Dining
In addition to backcountry camping, the park has three campgrounds: Watchman and South Campgrounds located in Zion Canyon, and Lava Point Campground in the Kolob Canyons area. South Campground is first-come, first-served and fills quickly, while Watchman allows for online reservations starting in November for the upcoming season. Other camping is available outside of the park, including BLM land and Zion Canyon Campground in nearby Springdale.
For some luxury (and a shower) after exploring the park, Zion Lodge has cabins, hotel rooms and suites open year round, including a winter bed-and-breakfast package with buffet breakfast at the Red Rock Grill. Outside of the park in the city of Virgin, the Zion River Resort also has camper rooms and suites, RV and tent sites.
For dining in the park, head to Red Rock Grill for steak, salmon and vegetarian entrees in a rustic atmosphere. Or choose a less formal dining experience at Castle Dome Café, with burgers, hot dogs and fries, and grab a local microbrew from the Beer Garden Cart. Other delicious eateries can be found in Springdale, including The Flying Monkey, with wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches and salads for carnivores and vegetarians alike plus beer on tap from several local breweries.
Activities Outside the Park
Cycling through the park is popular, but many trails are dense with pedestrians, so getting out of the park is your best bet as several options are found within an hour of the gates. Gooseberry Mesa offers slickrock singletrack and trail options for all experience levels. Cruise on the JEM Trail for desert singletrack, an easy technical ride for cyclists who want to go hard and fast. High-altitude riders looking for packed dirt and mountain sceneries can head to Navajo Lake Trail with eleven miles of cruising at 9,100 feet. Red Canyon (closer to Bryce Canyon but only an hour from Zion) is a MTB mecca with singletrack climbs over red dirt and under iconic hoodoos. For more on MTB trails near Zion, check out UtahMountainBiking.com.
Fishing is also more abundant and accessible outside of the park, with many spots nearby. Be certain to pick up a Utah fishing license first. Kolob Reservoir is only a few miles outside of the park and is a popular spot for anglers’ targeting bows (rainbows) and cutties (cutthroat trout). Navajo Lake is a great spot for brookies (brook trout), bows and splake after shredding some MTB trails. Duck Creek Village, located an hour away in the Dixie National Forest area, claims some of the best fishing in the region.
Best Season
The Park is open every day of the year, as are campgrounds inside the park. Late spring to early fall are the busiest in Zion Canyon, and snow doesn’t often reach the canyon floor so scenic drives and winter hiking are also popular options in the Canyon. Winter months are popular for cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the backcountry and Kolob Canyons area as well.
During the peak visiting months from March through October, private vehicles are not allowed into Zion Canyon, but a shuttle service regularly runs during daytime hours through the park. Plus, a free shuttle service from Springdale, making several stops in the city.
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