Zion Trail & Visitor Guide
Zion · United States · About 147,000 acres (229 square miles) in southwestern Utah, spanning Washington, Kane, and Iron counties.
Why Visit Zion
Zion Canyon's sheer sandstone walls rise 2,000 feet above the Virgin River, creating one of the most dramatic slot canyons in the American Southwest. The park's 229 square miles range from desert lowlands at 3,700 feet to forested plateaus at 8,726 feet. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive follows the river through the heart of the canyon, accessible by shuttle.
Free Zion Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Zion audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Angels Landing, The Narrows, Canyon Overlook Trail, plus quieter spots like Observation Point and Kolob Canyons. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
explore by interest
Signature Trails
- Angels Landing5.4 miles round trip · Strenuous; permit required via lottery
Final half-mile uses fixed chains along a narrow fin with drop-offs of over 1,000 feet to the canyon floor and views over Zion Canyon.
- The Narrows (bottom-up from Temple of Sinawava)Up to 9.4 miles round trip to Big Spring · Strenuous; wading and walking in the Virgin River
Hike through a slot canyon with walls up to 1,000 feet tall and as narrow as 20-30 feet; no permit needed for the bottom-up day hike.
- Observation Point via East Mesa TrailAbout 6.6 miles round trip · Moderate
Reaches a rim viewpoint at roughly 6,500 feet looking down on Angels Landing and the canyon; the main Weeping Rock route has been closed by rockfall since 2019.
- Emerald Pools (Lower, Middle, Upper)1.2 to 3 miles round trip · Easy to moderate
Seasonal waterfalls and pools; the Lower Pools trail passes under a dripping overhang.
- Riverside Walk2.2 miles round trip · Easy, paved
Follows the Virgin River to the start of The Narrows; hanging gardens on the canyon walls.
Must-See in Zion
- •Angels Landing — a strenuous 5.4-mile trail with chain-assisted sections along a narrow ridge with 1,500-foot drops
- •The Narrows — wading through the Virgin River between 1,000-foot canyon walls
- •Canyon Overlook Trail — a short 1-mile round trip to a viewpoint over lower Zion Canyon
- •Emerald Pools Trail — a moderate loop passing waterfalls and hanging gardens on sandstone walls
Best Viewpoints
- •Canyon Junction Bridge (shuttle stop 3) for the Watchman framed by the Virgin River
- •Angels Landing summit
- •Observation Point rim
- •Canyon Overlook at the east end of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel
- •Court of the Patriarchs viewpoint (shuttle stop 4)
Quieter Corners of Zion
- •Observation Point — an 8-mile round trip to the highest viewpoint in Zion Canyon at 6,521 feet
- •Kolob Canyons — the park's less-visited northwestern section with red finger canyons and the 287-foot Kolob Arch
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
$35 per private vehicle, valid for 7 days. Motorcycle $30, individual on foot or bike $20. An Angels Landing hike permit is separate and requires a lottery ($6 application fee plus $3 per person if awarded).
Getting There
The main entrance is at Springdale, Utah, on State Route 9. It is about 46 miles (1 hour) from St. George, Utah; roughly 160 miles (2.5-3 hours) from Las Vegas, Nevada via I-15; and about 310 miles (4.5 hours) from Salt Lake City. The nearest commercial airports are St. George (SGU) and Las Vegas (LAS). From roughly March through late November, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles and accessible only by the free park shuttle.
Where to Stay
Inside the park: Zion Lodge (the only in-park lodging; reserve months ahead) and three campgrounds — Watchman (reservation) and South (reservation) near the south entrance, plus the primitive Lava Point Campground at higher elevation. The gateway town of Springdale, immediately outside the south entrance, has hotels, motels, and restaurants connected to the park by a free town shuttle. Additional lodging is in Hurricane and St. George.
Best Time
April-May and September-October offer milder temperatures and fewer crowds than midsummer. The Narrows is often closed in spring due to high, cold runoff. Summer brings monsoon thunderstorms (July-September) and the highest flash flood risk.
Safety
Flash flooding is the top hazard, especially in The Narrows and any slot canyon. Check the daily flash flood potential rating at the visitor center before entering the river; flooding can occur from storms many miles away even under clear local skies. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100 F (38 C); carry at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for long hikes. Cold-water immersion in The Narrows requires a drysuit or layered gear in spring and late fall.
Scenic Drives
- •Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (SR 9) through the 1.1-mile Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel (large vehicles need a paid traffic-control permit)
- •Kolob Canyons Road, a 5-mile drive off I-15 exit 40 in the park's northwest section
- •Kolob Terrace Road, climbing from Virgin to high country near Lava Point
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