Zion

Zion Planning Guide

 
 
A green and brown vertical route map of the bus stops of the Zion shuttle.
Zion Canyon and Springdale Shuttle System Map

Maps & Basic Information

Parking

Lots fill early year-round. When you are in Zion Canyon, you can park in Springdale and ride the free Zion Canyon Shuttle System to enter at our pedestrian entrance. You do not have to drive to enter Zion from Springdale.

No matter where you are in Zion, only use designated parking areas. Parking outside of designated spots can harm plants, animals, and history.

Seasonal Hours

Zion is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year round. Park visitor center hours change seasonally. Check hours before you visit.

When the Zion Canyon Shuttle System is operating, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is only accessible by shuttle. If you want to use a personal vehicle on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive at a time of year when the shuttle is not running, check the Zion Canyon Shuttle Schedule.

Weather & Closures

Conditions change quickly. Check the forecast before you enter the park, dress in layers, and bring plenty of water no matter when during the year you visit. Flash floods are always possible, and it is essential to know what to expect before entering canyons. Trails and roads roads are sometimes not open due to rockfall, flooding, or weather.

Junior Ranger

Zion offers a guided and self-guided Junior Ranger booklet for visitors who are four years old and older. Check facility hours and get a Junior Ranger books for free at visitor centers, the Zion Human History Museum, and the Nature Center.

Maps

Zoom in on our map and tap the points that mark entrances, shuttle stops, visitor centers, trailheads, campgrounds, and other facilities.

For more maps, including the park brochure, large print publications, and backcountry hiking, camping, climbing, and canyoneering information in our Wilderness Guide, read Zion publications.

Fees & Passes

Everyone who visits Zion needs to have a park pass. You can buy a weekly pass (the cheapest pass we are authorized to sell) at the park entrance, or you can show an annual or lifetime pass.

If fee stations are not open when you enter the park, please pay when you leave or speak to a ranger with a cash register at a campground or visitor center.

Oversize Vehicles & The Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel

Large vehicles like almost all motor homes, recreational vehicles (RVs), and travel trailers cannot travel through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel unless a ranger stops traffic so that the driver can drive over the tunnel center line. Most cars or SUVs can drive through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel at any time, but some pick-up trucks are too large to fit through the tunnel without traffic control.

Know when rangers will be present because you cannot drive a large vehicle or trailer through the tunnel (i.e. drive across Zion) unless they stop traffic for you.

 
 

Park Activities

  • Canvas tent with people having a picnic. Sandstone mountain called The Watchman in background.
    Camping

    Campgrounds fill quickly in Zion. Make a reservation before you arrive.

  • A visitor hikes up switchbacks.
    Hiking in Zion Canyon

    Most visitors who come to the park enjoy hiking trails in Zion Canyon, many of which require the shuttle to access.

  • A hiker with backpack walking on a trail.
    Backpacking

    Start planning an overnight backpacking trip, discover which trails are best for your group, and reserve permits in advance.

  • A canyoneer rappelling down a vertical wall with ropes, harnesses, and other safety equipment.
    Canyoneering

    Technical canyoneering is an adventurous sport that requires ropes, harnesses, and other equipment and skills to safely descend slot canyons

  • Enter a lottery and print your required permit before you hike Angels Landing.
    Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program

    Enter a lottery, print or download your permit, and make your plans to hike Angels Landing

  • Ranger looks through binoculars with a group of visitors behind them also using binoculars.
    Free Ranger Programs

    Learn about the landscapes, plants, animals, and history that define Zion.

 

Need to Know

Your safety is your responsibility. Be prepared for your day ahead, and whether you ride a shuttle or drive your own car in Zion Canyon, be prepared for crowds.

  • Parking fills early year-round.

  • Park only in designated parking areas. Illegally parked vehicles can harm park plants and animals and may be ticketed or towed.

  • In general, fewer people visit Zion on weekdays than weekends. Consider arriving early or after 3 p.m. to avoid the busiest times of day.

  • Monitor weather reports and always check current conditions

  • Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and watch for signs of heat stress.

  • Stay on trails and avoid walking in the road.

  • Go Before You Go. Use restrooms at trailheads and shuttle stops before venturing out on trails.

  • B.A.R.K. in the park. Pets are only allowed in campgrounds, on paved surfaces, and the Pa’rus Trail. Plan ahead if you will visit with a pet.

  • Ride your bike on the road or the Pa’Rus Trail. Bicycling is not allowed on any other trails in the park. If you are riding in the road, you must stop to let buses pass you.

Follow Leave No Trace practices everywhere in the park and be sure to pack out all your trash.

 

Take a Hike

  • A view of desert mountains.
    Kolob Canyons Trails

    Several hiking options are located in Kolob Canyons, the northwest corner of Zion National Park.

  • A hiker walks along a trail surrounded by trees and bushes.
    Kolob Terrace Hiking

    The Kolob Terrace boasts many miles of hiking trails at higher elevation than the main canyon of the park.

  • A winding canyon below a viewpoint.
    East Rim Area Trails

    This area is located east of Zion Canyon at a much higher elevation.

  • A hiker walks along a trail at sunset.
    Wilderness Day Hikes

    Explore the many trails that access the Zion Wilderness.

  • Hikers walk in water between tall, vertical masses of rock
    The Narrows

    Know the flow before you go. Water can be fast, cold, and deep.

  • Person walking in water between curved rocks that look like a tunnel
    The Subway

    Every hiker needs a permit to visit the Left Fork of North Creek (the Subway).

 

Calendar of Events

Park rangers share their knowledge with free talks throughout the year. Look at our calendar to see when and where you can join a program during your visit.

Some programs require you to sign-up at a visitor center ahead of time, so be sure to read the details before you plan to attend.

 

Jump to date

By Park

By State

By Event Type

REPEATING EVENTS
  • Show
  • Hide
Loading Events...
 

Last updated: August 30, 2024

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Zion National Park
1 Zion Park Blvd.

Springdale, UT 84767

Phone:

435-772-3256
If you have questions, please email zion_park_information@nps.gov. Listen to recorded information by calling anytime 24 hours a day. Rangers answer phone calls from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT, but a ranger may not answer if they are already speaking with someone else.

Contact Us