Zion National Park

 

 

 

Zion NP is only about thirty minutes from Hurricane via Hwy. 9.  Entrance fee is $20 per car.  The Visitor Center is just inside the park boundary.  Pick up a free copy of The Zion Map & Guide.  Try dinner at the Zion Lodge - for reservations, call [435-772-3213].  As always, gas up before reaching the park - St. George or Hurricane will do.  Sights to see include The Watchman (park entrance); West Temple (located just west of the town of Springdale, before reaching the park); Great White Throne (5 miles east of the Visitor Center); Angels Landing is a must, but requires conditioning and courage to ascend; Observation Point, and below it, Weeping Rock (grotto).  When you get to the Visitor Center, let the Rangers help you select your route for the day.  There are self-guided tours and also Ranger guided tours.  There are some great hikes to take, some are scary and tough, with precipitous walls.  Weeping Rock, Emerald Pool and Riverside Walk trails are easy and short.  Canyon Overlook and Taylor Creek trails are moderate.  Angels Landing is very tough and quite scary. 

Entrance Fee (subject to change)

Vehicle
$20 - 7 Days

Pedestrian/Bike
$10 - 7 Days
Per Person, not to exceed $20.00 per family

Zion Park Pass
$40 - Annual

 

Special Use Permits (subject to change)

Backcountry Permit
$10 - One or two persons
$?? - More than two persons * check with NPS Web site, linked at bottom of this page.
Tunnel Escort
$10 - 7 Days
Required for all vehicles and trailers 7'10" wide and/or 11'4" tall.

 

Activities

Backcountry / Backpacking                     Climbing

Hiking                                                          Canyoneering

Camping                                                      Horseback Riding

Cycling


Hiking - Zion offers many trails ranging from short, easy walks to more strenuous adventures.  Special caution must be paid to extreme summer temperatures, exposed trails, steep, dangerous trails, flash floods, loose scree sections, etc.  If you are interested in being guided on Zion backcountry hikes or backpacking treks, or if you wish to attend Zion Wilderness Survival School by HikingwithMike.com, click here. 
Wildflowers - A variety of mountain and canyon ecosystems makes Zion an excellent location for wildflower walks in the spring and summer and colorful autumns.
Photography - Zion offers the photographer many opportunities.
Birdwatching - Zion is home to 271 species of birds. A bird checklist and books on local birds can be obtained at the visitor centers.
Cycling - The Pa'rus Trail offers a paved route for bicyclists, pedestrians, and people with strollers or wheelchairs to visit lower Zion Canyon and access the Scenic Drive.  Automobiles are not permitted.
Tours - During the summer, join a Park Ranger to learn more about Zion National Park's geology, flora, fauna, human history, etc. Programs include guided walks, short talks at the visitor centers and evening programs at the campground amphitheaters and Zion Lodge. 
Swimming - Swimming is allowed in the Virgin River. Be aware of swift currents, cold water, flash floods, slippery rocks, and submerged logs and boulders. Wear shoes to protect your feet. Swimming and wading are not permitted in the Emerald Pools.  Tubing is not permitted in the Virgin River inside the park boundaries.
Boating - The Virgin River is usually too shallow for boating. It is navigable after a wet winter but only during peak run off; a period lasting approximately two weeks usually sometime in May. A permit is required for boating trips through the Narrows. Permits are US$5.00 and can be obtained at the backcountry desk at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.

write to:  Zion National Park, SR 9, Springdale, UT 84767-1099
phone:  Visitor Information - (435)772-3256
fax:  (435)772-3426

 
Camping

There are excellent camping facilities for tent camping or RV camping close to Zion National Park. You may wish to contact any of the following:

In St. George - Temple View RV

In Virgin - Zion River Resort

In Torrey - Capitol Reef RV Park

In Bryce - Ruby's Inn & Campgrounds, Bryce Pioneer Village and Red Canyon Campgrounds

Lava Point Campground - about 24 miles up Kolob Terrace Road.
Open from 06/01 to  11/01, depending on weather.
First come, first serve, with only 6 primitive sites; no water; no charge
(435)772-3256

South Campground
First come first serve; no hookups; no showers 
$14.00 per/night 
(435)772-3256

Watchman Campground
Reservations accepted.
1(800)365-CAMP
Open from 04/01 - 11/1 (approximate - dependent on weather)
Tent: $14.00 night 
Group: $3.00 per/person
Near the south entrance to the park.  Campgrounds can fill up during the summer months. Arrival before noon generally ensures a campsite. Facilities include restrooms, drinking water, picnic tables, fire grates, RV dump stations and utility sinks. No showers are available. You may self-register at the campground. 

Group Campsites
Available by reservation to organized groups of 9-40 people for US $3.00 per person; (800)365-2267, or visit http://reservations.nps.gov. Facilities usually include restrooms, drinking water, picnic tables, fire grates, RV dump stations, and utility sinks. No showers or hookups are available.

 

Operating Hours

During summer months, the visitor centers are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Spring, fall and winter hours are shortened. Some visitor centers are closed on some federal holidays. Call our 24 hour number for current updates at (435)772-3256.

 

Getting There

PLANE - The closest airport is in St. George, UT, 46 miles from the park.

CAR - The Visitor Center at the Kolob Canyons entrance is accessible from I-15, exit 40. I-15 passes west of the Park and connects with UT-9 and 17 to the Park. US-89 passes east and connects with UT-9 to the Park. The Zion Canyon Visitor Center is a short distance from the Park's South Entrance adjacent to Springdale.

 

Weather & Climate

Be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions. Temperatures vary with changes in elevation and seasons. Day/night temperatures may differ by over 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spring weather is very unpredictable. Stormy, wet days are common, but warm, sunny weather may occur too.
Rain peaks in March and September. Spring wildflowers bloom from April through June, peaking in May.
Summer days are hot (95-100 degrees F.), but overnight lows are usually comfortable (65-70 degrees F.)  Afternoon thunderstorms are common from mid-July through mid-September.
Storms may produce waterfalls as well as flash floods.
Fall days are usually clear and mild; nights are often cool. Autumn color displays begin in September in the high country, and in Zion Canyon in early November.

Winters in Zion Canyon are fairly mild. Winter storms bring rain or light snow to Zion Canyon, but heavier snow to the higher elevations. Clear days may become quite warm, reaching 60 degrees F.; nights are often in the 20s and 30s. Winter storms can last several days and cause roads to be icy, especially on the east side of Zion.  Zion roads are plowed, except the Kolob Terrace Road, which is closed in winter. Be prepared for winter driving conditions from November through March.

Accessibility

Both visitor centers and Zion Lodge are fully accessible to those with special needs. Several campsites in the South Campground are reserved for people with disabilities and three trails are accessible. Many interpretive walks are accessible. The 1-mile (1.6 km) Riverside Walk, which begins at the north end of Zion Canyon Drive, is paved and accessible with assistance. The 2-mile accessible Pa'rus Trail was opened in 1995.  From April through October, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is accessible by shuttle bus only. The rest of the park remains open to private vehicles.

Pets

Pets must be under physical control on a leash no longer than six feet at all times. Pets are not allowed on the shuttle buses, trails, in the backcountry, or in public buildings. Pets may be walked on the Pa’rus Trail, but be courteous to walkers and bicycle riders. Never leave your pet in a closed vehicle. Temperatures can soar above 120°F (49°C) in minutes.  Boarding kennels are available in Rockville, Kanab, St. George and Cedar City.

Katie, Bentley and me on Pa'rus Trail (2/03).  The Pa'rus Trail is located immediately inside the park's south entrance.  The paved-improved trail allows dogs, bikes, wheelchairs and walkers.

 

A view looking north down the Pa'rus Trail - about 3 miles roundtrip.  

 

KOLOB CANYONS - ZION - 

 

This 5.4 mile roundtrip hike is rated easy/moderate.  Only the heat of the summer or creek's water level will make it more difficult.  The trail is fairly flat, with no real climbs, and the total elevation gain going in is about 560 feet.  The trail takes one to Double Arch Alcove, two blind arches in one rock face.  A blind arch is one that is not open or separated, but instead is still part of the rock face.  The trail crosses the middle fork of Taylor Creek many times, and at times actually runs along or in the creek bed.  One will encounter two cabins (Larson and Fife), circa 1930, now in decay.  The trailhead is about 2 miles from the Visitor Center, on the left (east) side of the Kolob Canyons Road.  This is an ideal hike for beginners.  Take plenty of drinking water, and/or a water filter.  Kolob Canyons is located at the extreme northwest corner of Zion, and is accessible only from Hwy 15 north of St. George at Exit 40.  It is about 30 minutes north of St. George, UT.

Creek in foreground and jutting peak near destination.  The route is lush and green.

Rattlesnakes, flashfloods and rock falls are hazards to be aware of.  Mountain Lions also frequent the area, though usually avoid human contact.  I saw two Mule Deer along the trail.  Take it slow and drink in all the beauty.  Look up at the cliffs and rock formations.  Observe the wildlife.  I encountered only two hikers just before exiting - I had near total serenity and solitude.  WOW!

The higher of the two arches in the Double Arch Alcove.

Kolob Terrace Road - Trailheads & Trails

 

 

 

 

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