It takes about minutes to hike. Hanging gardens decorate the alcove. This is always a favorite with visitors and is cool in the summer. The trail begins at the Weeping Rock parking area in Zion Canyon. Follow the paved trail along the Virgin River upstream to the base of Zion Narrows.
The trail winds through hanging gardens of wildflowers in spring and summer. The trail is easy with minor drop-offs. Add a little extra adventure and incredible scenery by walking up the Virgin River Narrows a mile or two.
Bring an extra pair of shoes and a walking stick. The trail is the river and you are walking on slippery rocks as you go up the Narrows.
Stop at the local market to get water and snacks for the day. Pack a lunch and at least two liters of water. A small backpack is nice to carry items since you will be getting on and off the shuttle and taking short hikes. Take the Zion shuttle to The Grotto stop. Angels Landing is an amazing hike for people looking for adventure. The Springdale Shuttle connects Springdale to the Zion Visitors Center and the Zion Shuttle so it is just as easy to stay adjacent to Zion and there are more food options in the town.
Click here for the best Springdale hotel prices. Zion is an excellent year-round destination with most of the trails remaining accessible throughout the winter months:. Zion itinerary tip : the more moderate weather conditions make Spring and Fall the most desirable time to visit the park. We last visited Zion in Winter and loved the low crowds and peacefulness of the park.
For first time visitors we recommend spending at least 2 full days exploring Zion National Park. This allows the time to attempt a nice variety of hikes, enjoy the scenic drive through the park and have some downtime just savoring the spectacular and dramatic surroundings. Zion itinerary tip: if you are planning on doing a selection of the longer Zion hikes or want to include rock climbing or canyoneering in your Zion itinerary then it is easy to spend even a full week in Zion.
These itineraries assume full days in Zion National Park — make sure to allow for travel days to and from the park when you are planning your own Zion itinerary. Bryce Canyon allows visitors to drive throughout the park all year. The shuttle runs throughout the peak season, from spring to fall. The shuttle stops at all major trailheads and runs every 10 to 15 minutes. Because the park requires all visitors to take the shuttle, it can get crowded.
On a summer afternoon, you can expect to wait an hour to catch the shuttle at the visitor center. Try to get one of the first few shuttles into the park between 6 and 7 am.
The town of Springdale also runs a shuttle with 9 stops along the main road through the town if you prefer not to park at the visitor center. It starts in the town of Bryce and runs throughout the park, stopping at the visitor center and campgrounds.
Instead of taking the shuttle around Bryce Canyon, I recommend driving your own vehicle. Just be aware that parking can be limited, so start your day early to beat the crowds! Both Zion and Bryce Canyon are open all year long.
In fact, many visitors prefer to visit in the winter for a chance to explore without crowds. But while winter can provide an opportunity to see snow-covered hoodoos, I recommend visiting these parks in the warmer months. From April to October, the weather is warm, perfect for hiking. But crowds flock to these parks in the summer. You can start the loop from either Las Vegas or Salt Lake City, depending on where you can find the cheaper flight.
I recommend flying in the previous day and driving to Zion National Park the night before to fully take advantage of your time in Zion! For your first day in Zion National Park , start early. I mean really early — the first shuttles usually starting running before 7 am!
To avoid lines for taking the shuttle into the park, plan to take one of the first shuttles of the day. This trail is one of the most popular in the park, especially amongst thrill-seekers. Angels Landing is not for the faint of heart or those with a fear of heights.
The hike to the summit of Angels Landing includes steep switchbacks and climbing along a narrow ridge. After climbing nearly 1, feet of elevation in 2. A great alternative to Angels Landing is Observation Point. After a strenuous hike to Angels Landing, the 1. Take the shuttle from The Grotto to Zion Lodge, only one stop away. You can stop at Zion Lodge for a quick bite to eat or pack a picnic lunch. The trail to Lower Emerald Pool starts across the street from Zion Lodge and follows a paved trail to one of the only waterfalls in Zion.
This relaxing hike is the perfect recovery after hiking Angels Landing and is great for families! The last shuttle out of the park is around 7 pm in spring and fall. To enjoy the sunset and take your time, I recommend taking the shuttle all the way back to the visitor center and picking up your car. You can drive your car to Canyon Junction the last spot in the park before the shuttle is mandatory. Plan to arrive about 45 minutes to 1 hour before sunset to make sure you can find a parking spot.
Head-ups, this is a popular spot amongst photographers, so plan to scope out your perfect vantage point early. Before heading out to hike The Narrows, check out of your hotel and pack up the car to head to Bryce. The Narrows starts at the Temple of Sinawava , the end of the line for the Zion shuttle. Start your day early again to enjoy The Narrows at a leisurely pace. While the official hike is 9 miles, most visitors choose to simply wade as far as they want upstream before turning back.
I recommend hiking at least a mile or two to get the full experience. A walking stick is essential for your trek up The Narrows. It will stabilize you in the water and make the hike easier.
If you arrive later in the day, check the weather and see if a short hike is better. Save your long hike for the next morning on Day 2. For your first day in Zion, consider hiking the Watchman Trail for sunset, visiting the town of Springdale, or taking a sunset jeep tour. On our first day, we drove the length of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway stopping at viewpoints and overlooks along the way , settled into our glamping tent , and went on a fun sunset jeep tour.
We ate dinner at the on-site restaurant at Zion Ponderosa which saved us a lot of time from having to go back into Springdale. For day 2, I recommend waking up early to hike The Narrows.
Try to buy a shuttle ticket for AM or AM, at the latest. In general, hiking in The Narrows is cooler because you are in the water. But on the way back later in the day, the temps can soar quickly.
Many people will keep going and make it an all-day adventure, but we had to get back in time for our horse riding activity in the afternoon. The shuttle ride there and back to stop 9 at Temple of Sinawava takes minutes each way. Plus, you need to factor in the time it takes to walk the Riverside Trail which is 2. That, combined with how much you hike in The Narrows, will take at least hours , if not more.
Angels Landing and Observation Point were on our Zion bucket list, but portions of these trails are currently closed due to the pandemic. I overheard a lady in the shuttle say they hiked Angels Landing up to the part where the chain-section begins that part is closed and that it was still really beautiful. Applications open January , We came back and ate lunch at Cafe Soleil , which serves organic and fresh sandwiches, soups, smoothies, pizzas, and salads in a cute, artsy atmosphere.
Note: They are currently doing take-out and outdoor seating because of the pandemic. Canyoneering, horse riding, jeeping, hiking in a slot canyon … There are plenty of activities that could fit into your afternoon!
We went horse riding because the canyoneering group was full. So make sure to book in advance if you want to go canyoneering! But we still had a great time and then cooled off in the pool at our hotel.
With 3 days in Zion or more, you could easily do one big hike each morning and schedule a fun adventure activity for each afternoon or early evening. Observation Point, The Narrows, and Angels Landing are all good choices and will give you a fantastic experience in Zion. We missed out on some of the best hikes because of the closures but still ended up having too many options to pack into a 2-day itinerary anyway. It adds on 1 more hour of drive time. Shuttle tickets: Log into Recreation.
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