How long to visit zion national park

While not as big as Springdale, the nearby towns of Bryce and Tropic provide some options for accommodations outside the park. To get a spot just outside the park, be sure to book 3 to 6 months out. Be sure to book as far out in advance as possible more than 1 year to stay in the lodge.

Here are some important tips to remember when planning your road trip from Zion to Bryce Canyon. Visiting multiple national parks in the next year?

Both Zion and Bryce Canyon can have unpredictable weather, from cold mornings to afternoon thunderstorms. To stay prepared for your trip, be sure to bring these essentials. Looking for more tips on what to pack for your trip? Check out my guides on the best hiking gear , what to pack for a road trip , and essential camping gear for all my favorite gear picks and tips to make packing for your trip a breeze!

Which one is best for you will depend on flight prices. I like to use Skyscanner to compare flight prices to multiple airports and find the best price.

Search flights on Skyscanner now. I like to use to Discover Cars find the best deals on rental cars. It allows you to search across multiple rental companies to find the lowest price. Search rental car prices with Discover Cars now. After that head to Bryce Canyon National Park! In peak season, Zion requires all visitors to take the shuttle into the park to avoid congestion. 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 start 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.

Weather in Zion varies dramatically by season, from scorching hot summers to snowy winters. Your first consideration when planning a trip to Zion should be the weather. In the summer, daytime temperatures stay over 90 degrees and are known to get up to degrees on the hottest days.

Summer is also monsoon season in Zion, with about 15 thunderstorms a month. These storms can be incredibly dangerous, causing flash floods in the canyon.

In the winter, temperatures hover around 50 degrees during the day but drop below freezing overnight. Snow falls frequently at higher elevations. Ice and snow rarely accumulate on the floor of Zion Canyon, the main pathway through the park, making Zion an easy park to navigate in the Winter.

In spring and fall, temperatures are cool in the morning and comfortable by midday. These seasons are the best time to hike in Zion National Park , avoiding the scorching heat of summer and the cold of winter. Zion National Park is the 4th most visited national park in the United States. With nearly 4. So much so that you should consider planning your trip to avoid crowds! Summer is the busiest season in Zion, with nearly half of the annual visitors coming between Memorial Day in May and Labor Day in September.

On an average Summer day, over 17, people will enter Zion National Park. Compare that staggering statistic to the visitation in the winter, when less than 3, people venture into Zion Canyon per day. For those looking for great weather and fewer crowds, Spring and Fall are the best time to explore Zion National Park. In Spring, Zion Canyon is filled with blooming wildflowers and plenty of water. As the temperatures rise, the snow that accumulated over the winter starts to melt.

The runoff ends up in the Virgin River that flows throughout the park. Water levels rise, creating waterfalls only seen in these few short months. Animals begin exploring the park again and wildflowers cover the most popular hiking trails. But the growing temperatures come with growing crowds , particularly around Spring Break. Most park services are open during the Spring, including the Zion Canyon Shuttle and campgrounds.

Comfortable day time temperatures and fewer crowds make Spring a great time to hike in Zion. You can spot waterfalls on the Emerald Pools trail or beat the summer crowds on the popular Angels Landing trail. Planning to hike Observation Point? Read this guide on exactly what to expect from my favorite hike in Zion!

On any given day, you can expect over 17, people in the park. Summer crowds mean crowded trails and crowded shuttles. But you can avoid some of the crowds by starting your day early and hitting the trail at sunrise. This trail takes you wading through the river bed, providing a cool refresh from the heat. The days are also the longest in the summer. Take advantage of this by exploring the park from sunup to sundown! Summer is also a popular time to visit other nearby national parks like Bryce Canyon National Park.

The Narrows can be conquered from bottom-up, or bottom-down for 16 miles. Most people hike via the Riverside Trail which leads bottom-up into The Narrows.

Read my guide to hiking the Narrows for beginners here. Riverside Walk — For those who wish to walk on an easy, flat, and semi-shaded trail alongside the Virgin River. This hike is 2. Angels Landing — A thrilling hike that takes you along the daring ridgeline of a monolith in Zion Canyon. This is the hike with the famous chain-section that allures adrenaline-junkies to grapple over rocks with drop-offs on either side. Allow for hours since Angels Landing is 5 miles round-trip.

Hidden Canyon — A shorter 3 miles round-trip and somewhat safer alternative hike to Angels Landing. It starts at the same location — Weeping Rock Trailhead — before taking you up switchbacks and along an adventurous path that skirts the canyon walls.

A portion of the trail is also assisted with chains. You can hike either the lower pool trail, the middle and upper Emerald Pool trails, or combine them all into one big, fun 3-mile round-trip hike. Weeping Rock Trail — Another classic hike in Zion, but this time short and sweet 0. Once you arrive in Springdale, head to your hotel or park in the town. Make sure to have your park pass ready. Depending on what time you arrive in Zion, you could opt to do a morning hike.

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!