Zion National Park

Utah's most popular national park, with red cliffs squeezing a canyon; Angels Landing and The Narrows are classic hikes, and Bryce Canyon is an easy day trip.

Zion National Park is in southwestern Utah and was the state's first national park. The Virgin River has carved a canyon about 800 m deep into Navajo sandstone, and the park consistently ranks among the most visited in the US. The park falls into three areas: ① Zion Canyon, the main canyon: from March to November, the scenic drive is open only to the free shuttle, with stops at the Zion Human History Museum, the Three Patriarchs, Zion Lodge (Emerald Pools), The Grotto (Angels Landing) and, at the end, the Temple of Sinawava (Riverside Walk, The Narrows); ② the East Side: the Highway 9 switchbacks and tunnel, Canyon Overlook and Checkerboard Mesa; ③ Kolob Canyons and Kolob Terrace in the northwest, which require a separate drive. Nearby you can also visit state parks such as Snow Canyon, Sand Hollow and Coral Pink Sand Dunes, as well as Bryce Canyon, about 2 hours' drive away. The best seasons are Apr–May and Sep–Nov; in summer the canyon floor often exceeds 38°C, and afternoon thunderstorms during the Jul–Sep monsoon can trigger flash floods; winter has fewer people but some trails ice over. Getting there: about 260 km and 2.5–3 hours' drive from Las Vegas; the nearest airport is St. George (about 1 hour away). Admission is US$35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days, or you can use an America the Beautiful annual pass. We recommend 2–3 days: one day for The Narrows, one for Angels Landing or Observation Point, and another half day for the East Side or Kolob Canyons. Note: Angels Landing and The Subway require lottery permits in advance; in peak season the visitor center parking lot fills up in the morning, so stay in Springdale and take the town shuttle into the park; mobile signal in the park is poor, so bring plenty of water.

Top sights

• Zion National Park – Utah's most popular national park, with 2,000 m red-and-white sandstone canyons. The ridge trail to Angels Landing and wading through the N…
• Angels Landing Trail – Zion's most famous cliff-edge ridge hike. For the final 800 meters you hold onto chains with drop-offs on both sides, and the summit overlo…
• The Narrows – Wade upstream against the current along the Virgin River, between canyon walls up to 300 m high that narrow to just a few meters in places…
• Emerald Pools Trail – A family-friendly trail departing from Zion Lodge, passing waterfall curtains formed by dripping cliff walls and leading to the Lower, Midd…
• Canyon Overlook Trail – A short trail just outside the east tunnel portal. In a round trip of only about 1.6 km, you can stand at the cliff edge and look down over…
• Kolob Canyons – A separate section in the northwest corner of Zion National Park. An 8 km scenic drive winds between finger canyons of deep red rock, with…
• Springdale – A red-cliff town right next to Zion's south entrance, with hotels, restaurants, and outdoor gear rentals concentrated in one place. It is t…
• Riverside Walk – A flat, paved trail to the deepest part of Zion Canyon. It follows the Virgin River to the entrance of the Narrows and is suitable for all…
• Observation Point – A clifftop viewpoint about 200 m higher than Angels Landing, offering views of the whole of Zion Canyon and the ridge of Angels Landing.
• Court of the Patriarchs – A short uphill viewpoint beside the 4th shuttle stop, facing three sandstone peaks named after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• Watchman Trail – A moderate trail starting from the visitor center. From the top of the mesa, you can look down on Springdale and the Virgin River valley, w…
• Pa'rus Trail – A flat, paved path along the Virgin River. It is the only trail in Zion where bicycles and dogs are allowed, making it ideal for cycling an…
• Checkerboard Mesa – A creamy white sandstone mound near Zion's east entrance. Crisscrossing layers and vertical fractures create a checkerboard pattern, making…
• Zion–Mount Carmel Highway & Tunnel – Highway 9, completed in 1930, climbs the cliffs in switchbacks and passes through a 1.8 km tunnel. The scenery along the way is a highlight…
• The Subway – A round, tube-shaped canyon carved by the left fork of North Creek, resembling a subway tunnel. Its emerald pools and stepped waterfalls ar…
• Zion Human History Museum – A small museum at the 2nd shuttle stop that covers the Southern Paiute people, Mormon pioneers, and the park's history. It faces the Towers…
• Zion Lodge – The only lodging inside the canyon. Built in the 1920s in National Park Lodge style, it has a large front lawn and old Fremont cottonwoods…
• Great White Throne – A towering white sandstone monolith in the middle of the canyon. The gradient from white at the top to red at the base is the most classic…
• Canyon Junction Bridge – A bridge viewpoint beside the 3rd shuttle stop, where the Virgin River winds toward The Watchman. It is Zion's most classic sunset photo sp…
• Kolob Terrace & Lava Point – A mesa road climbing north from the town of Virgin, passing across lava ledges to the Lava Point viewpoint at about 2,400 m elevation and t…
• Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park – Coral-pink dunes formed from red sandstone weathered by wind. You can go sandboarding and ride all-terrain vehicles, and they are about 40…
• Grafton Ghost Town – An abandoned village founded by Mormon pioneers in 1859. Its brick and stone schoolhouse and wooden houses sit against red cliffs, and it w…
• Sand Hollow State Park – A reservoir-based state park near the town of Hurricane. Red sand dunes surround a blue lake, offering paddling, swimming, and off-roading.
• Red Canyon Arch Tunnels (SR-12) – On the western stretch of Scenic Byway 12, the road passes through two red sandstone arch tunnels surrounded by orange-red hoodoos. It is a…

Where to eat

• Oscar's Cafe – A highly popular Tex-Mex joint in Springdale, serving generous portions of breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day.
• Bit & Spur Restaurant & Saloon – An established Southwestern dinner spot in town, famous for its sweet potato tamales and hand-crafted margaritas, with…
• The Spotted Dog – An upscale American dinner spot inside Flanigan's Resort, featuring trout, wild game meatloaf, and an extensive wine li…
• Zion Pizza & Noodle Co. – A family-friendly pizzeria operating since 1991 in a converted historic church, featuring a year-round beer garden.
• Zion Canyon Brew Pub – The town's only brewpub, located right next to the park's south entrance, featuring a patio facing The Watchman—perfect…

Itineraries

• Utah's Mighty Five National Parks Crossing in – A one-way crossing from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City, covering Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands.
• US West National Parks & Coast Grand Loop – A Los Angeles loop passing through Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Yosemite, and San Francisco, returning…
• Southwest Grand Circle Self-Drive in – A loop from Las Vegas linking Utah's red-rock parks, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon South Rim.
• Valley of Fire, Zion & Bryce Loop – A 4-day loop from Las Vegas featuring the red rocks of Valley of Fire, Zion Canyon, and the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon.
• Las Vegas, Death Valley, and the Western Grand Canyon: Zion – A self-drive trip based in Las Vegas, covering Red Rock Canyon, Death Valley, the western Grand Canyon, Valley of Fire…