All About Zion National Park in Utah
Zion’s unique array of slot canyons, hiking trails, deep canyons, and natural arches make it a perfect place to spend a few days.
What to do at Zion National Park
The Best Trails and Hikes at Zion
There are over 100 miles of trails available in Zion National Park. A few, including Angels Landing, the full length of The Narrows, and The Subway require permits and plenty of planning.
Lower Emerald Pool
Riverside Walk
Zion Canyon
- The Narrows
- Angels Landing
- Grotto Trail
- Weeping Rock Trail
- Riverside Walk
- Lower Emerald Pool Trail
- Upper Emerald Pool Trail
- Canyon Overlook Trail
- Pa’rus Trail (the only trail that allows pets)
East Rim Wilderness
- East Rim Trail
- Canyon Overlook Trail
- Stave Spring Trail
- Cable Mountain Trail
Southwest Desert Wilderness
- Chinle Trail
- Coalpits Wash Trail
Kolob Canyon
- Taylor Creek Trail
- Timber Creek Overlook Trail
- La Verkin Creek Trail
Things to do at Zion National Park
- Take a biking or horseback riding tour through the park
- Camp in one of the front country campgrounds or go backpacking
- Get a permit to try canyoneering or climbing
- Hike one of the many trails that Zion is famous for
- Go on a river trip on the Virgin River
- Watch the sunrise, sunset, or do some stargazing
- Attend a ranger program
- Visit the Zion Human History Museum
- Drive Kolob Terrace Road
What to see at Zion National Park
Zion Visitor Centers
Zion Canyon Visitor Center
The Zion Canyon Visitors Center is located near the South Entrance to Zion National Park. It is the best place to start your trip because you can speak to park rangers, pick up a park map and brochure, get a Junior Ranger book, add a stamp to your Passport Book, view the outdoor exhibits, acquire any permits needed for your trip, and catch the Zion Canyon Shuttle route.
The Zion Canyon building is “like a tree”. It was built and designed to be as natural as possible, using many energy-saving features such as cooling towers, natural light, and outdoor exhibits.
Passport Book Stamp Location
Kolob Canyons Visitor Center
The Kolob Canyons Visitor Center is located at the West Entrance of Zion National Park in the Kolob Canyons area. Kolob Canyon and Zion Canyon are only connected by the West Rim Trail. To drive between the two, visitors have to leave one area and drive around to the entrance for the other area.
Passport Book Stamp Location
National Park Passport Book Stamp Locations
- Human History Museum
- Kolob Canyons Visitor Center
- Zion Canyon Visitor Center
Zion National Park Basics
1 Zion Park Blvd,
Springdale, Utah, 84767
$35 per vehicle
Valid for 7 days
Mountain Time Zone
1919
Location, Phone Number, and Address
What are the Entrance Fees for Zion?
As with most of the national parks, Zion National Park charges an entrance fee, and the standard vehicle fee is good for 7 days of entry from the date of purchase. Zion National Park does not require a vehicle reservation, though, so you don’t have to get one of those in advance.
- Standard Pass for a standard passenger vehicle: $35 per vehicle
- Standard Pass for a motorcycle: $30 per vehicle
- Standard Pass for a snowmobile: $20
- Standard Pass for a pedestrian walking or biking into the park: $20 per person
- Zion Annual Pass: $70
Otherwise, if you have any interagency pass such as the America the Beautiful Pass, that can be used to gain entrance into the park.
Current as of July 2024
What Time Zone is Zion National Park in?
Zion National Park is in the Mountain Time Zone in the United States.
When is the Best Time to Visit?
Though Zion is open year-round, the best time of year to visit is typically in the spring months of March and April or the late fall months of October, November, and December. Temperatures can rise into the mid-90s during the summer months in Southern Utah, and dip into freezing during the winter months.
The summer months tend to be busy because many families travel while school is out, and Zion is one of the most visited parks in the United States. Be careful, though, and keep an eye on weather conditions because monsoon season means the water levels can be high and flash floods are common on the canyon floor.
When did Zion become a National Park?
Zion National Park was established on November 19, 1919, by President Wilson as Utah’s first national park. In 1909, President Taft named the area Mukuntuweap National Monument to protect the canyon area. When the National Park Service was newly created, in 1918 a proposal was drafted to enlarge the monument and change the name to Zion National Monument. Originally, the Kolob section was a separate national monument but was incorporated into Zion National Park in 1956.
How Big is Zion National Park?
Zion has an area of 146,597 acres or about 229 square miles of land, of which about 85% is considered a Wilderness Area protected by Congress.
Park Website
Always check the official park site for the most up-to-date information, hours, prices, and conditions.
Travel Tips for Zion National Park
Driving Through Zion National Park
Taking a drive through Zion is only available during the off-season winter months. There is no reservation needed or parking tags for Zion National Park.
In the peak season, typically early March through the end of October, private vehicles are not allowed on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. During shuttle season, the shuttles are free to ride and are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. During the summer months, the parking lots will fill quickly, so make sure to get to the park early.
Where are the National Park Entrances?
Zion National Park has three main entrances, the South Entrance, the East Entrance, and the Kolob Canyons Entrance.
The South Entrance is easily the most popular and includes access to the visitor center and the first shuttle stop. This is the entrance that most visitors use, so the parking in the area fills up quickly. You can access the South Entrance by driving through Springdale, Utah.
The East Entrance is also known as the Tunnel Entrance. This entrance is not as popular as the South Entrance, but can still have a lot of traffic, especially later in the morning. You get to the East Entrance from the small town of Mt. Carmel near Kanab, Utah. Driving through this entrance will also bring you to the famous Zion tunnel that’s a mile long.
Kolob Canyons Entrance, also known as the Highway Entrance, takes you to a different section of the park called Kolob Canyons. This area does not connect with the main Zion Canyon. Kolob Canyon is much less traveled so you won’t encounter as many crowds in this area. The entrance is off Interstate 15 between Cedar City and St. George.
What is the Nearest City to Zion?
The gateway town of Springdale is the most popular way to get to Zion National Park. There is a shuttle bus system that runs through Springdale, stopping at many hotels and parking areas in the town. Outside of Springdale, the closest towns are Rockville, Virgin, Le Verkin, Toquerville, and Hurricane.
What is the Nearest Airport to Zion?
There are two close regional airports and two international airports used to get to Zion National Park. The nearest regional airport is St. George Regional Airport (SGU), 49 miles away from the park with flights from Salt Lake City and Denver. About 60 miles away is Cedar City Regional Airport (CDC) which has flights only from Salt Lake City.
The closest major airport is Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, Nevada, about 170 miles away from Zion National Park. Salt Lake City International Airpot (SLC) in Salt Lake City, Utah, is about 300 miles from the park. Although these airports are further, the flights are usually cheaper and it’s often easier to get a rental car from one of these airports.
Lodging Near Zion National Park
Where to Stay
For those who don’t want to camp, the only hotel-type accommodations within Zion National Park are found at Zion Lodge. This is just three miles north of the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and offers motel rooms, cabins, and suites. The lodge is located at shuttle stop number five on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and is open year-round.
Outside of the park, look for hotel options in:
- Hurricane
- St. Geroge
- Springdale
- La Verkin
- Toquerville
- Rockville,
- Glendale
- Pintura
Campgrounds in the Area
There are three campgrounds in Zion National Park. The campgrounds fill up quickly, so advanced reservations are recommended to guarantee a camping spot. The Watchman Campground and South Campground are both located near the South Entrance along the scenic drive. Both of these campgrounds are in the desert area of the park with few trees and very little shade. In the summer, temperatures can reach 95 degrees or higher, so plan accordingly. South Campground is just north of Watchman Campground in between the shuttle system stops number one and two.
Itineraries including Zion National Park
What are the Closest National Parks to Zion National Park?
Grand Canyon
230 miles • 4 hour drive
Facts about Big Bend National Park
The Plants and Animals of Zion
Zion National Park is home to over 900 species of plants. One of the most popular places to see these plants is at Weeping Rock where the groundwater seeps through helping ferns, mosses, and flowering plants to grow. In the desert area of the park, you can commonly see rabbitbrush, sagebrush, and prickly pear cactus. Middle elevations have forests of pinyon pine, juniper, mazanita shrubs, scrub oak, and yucca. At higher elevations, you can see Rocky Mountain Douglas fir trees, White fir trees, ponderosa pines, and aspen trees. Near the riverbanks, you’ll find plants such as boxelder, willow trees, maple trees, and Fremont cottonwood.
There are an estimated 79 species of mammals, 32 species of amphibians/reptiles, 8 species of fish, and 289 species of birds in Zion. One bird, the California Condor, is the largest flying bird in North America and is on the endangered species list. Some common animal sightings include mule deer, rock squirrels, desert cottontails, cougars, bobcats, coyotes, gray foxes, golden eagles, the peregrine falcon, bighorn sheep, beavers, dippers, canyon wrens, and water striders.
What is the Highest Point? What is the Lowest Point?
The highest point in the park is the peak at Horse Ranch Mountain at 8,726 feet above sea level. Coalpits Wash is the lowest point at 3,666 feet above sea level.
Zion Fun Facts
- One of the longest freestanding arches is the Kolob Arch, spanning 287 feet. The only longer arch is Landscape Arch in Arches NP.
- The Olympic Torch traveled through Zion for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
- Zion is an ancient Hebrew word meaning sanctuary or refuge.
- Over 4 million people visit Zion National Park every year.