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The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Zion National Park, Utah!

Stay in Mount Carmel Junction, the heart of the parks, and visit the treasures of the Southwest.

Zion Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles

In these pages you will find insiders information on Zion National Park lodging, adventures and hikes. This detailed guide includes road maps, park maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna, campgrounds, things for kids to do and even information on Zion's hidden treasures.

Making summer memories in the Utah National Parks and National Monuments.

Utah!

Zion National Park Map

Directions to Zion National Park
From Salt Lake City: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver. Exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to Zion's east entrance.
From Arizona: Travel 89A through Fredonia, Arizona and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to the east park entrance.
From Las Vegas: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and travel through Hurricane. Make a right on U-9 at the second traffic light in LaVerkin. Continue on U-9 to the south entrance of the park. U-9 through Zion National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.

Oversized Vehicle Information
Zion Canyon Shuttle Information

Backpacking in Zion National Park's vertical world is ideal trail country. Unlike Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon, the first part of the trail is usually up and the return hike is downhill.

Southwest Backpacking Pictures

Zion Park Backpack photos

East Rim Route
East Rim photos
Echo Canyon photos

Parunuweap (Barracks)
Checkerboard Mesa through Fat Man's Misery to the East Fork of the Virgin River
Parunuweap photos

North Rim Backpack photos

Rim to Rim photos
North Kaibab photos
Lava Falls photos
Toroweap photos

Backpacking in the Southwest

Backpacking opportunities abound in Southern Utah. Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, North Rim Grand Canyon and the vast Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument dish up an abundance of backcountry trails.

Zion National park Backpacking

One of the most spectacular backpacks anywhere, the two day trail through the Zion Narrows is stupefying. Also high on the list of incredible backpacking trips is the East Rim Trail. At the top of the East Rim, spurs to Deertrap Mountain and Cable Mountain spice up the trip with impressive view points. Zion's West Rim Trail includes the magnificent Angels Landing. Few trails anywhere can compare with the thrill of walking along a narrow fin of sandstone, eye level with some of the worlds tallest monoliths.

Backpacking in the Kolob Terrace is a trip to the wild side of Zion. Favorites include Kolob Arch, a trail to the longest freestanding arch in the world and the trek through the Right Fork of North Creek to photogenic Double Falls. Zion's main backpacking trails are considered to be in the very top, if not the best trails in the entire state. Chinle, Scoggins and Coalpits Trails, on the far southern section of Zion, are good winter backpacks.

North Rim Grand Canyon Backpacking

The Ken Patrick Trail is a 10 mile hike that does not go below the rim. This trail runs through the forest along the rim from Point Imperial and can be combined with the Uncle Jim Trail. The North Kaibab Trail is a 14.2 mile, one way, strenuous hike. This is the only maintained North Rim trail leading to the Colorado River. Camping at Cottonwood Campground, then visiting Ribbon Falls the next day, is an enjoyable backpack. The Rim-to-Rim Trail, down the North Kaibab Trail to the river and up Bright Angel Trail to the South Rim is a popular destination backpack. Some of the more remote backpacks include Thunder River and South Canyon.

The drive to Tuweep and camping at the rim is remote and divine. Lava Falls is usually a one day adventure, but camping at the river is allowed with a permit.

The 23 mile (round trip), Under the Rim Trail, in Bryce Canyon is a moderately strenuous and remote backpack. The backpack begins at Bryce Point and goes through the forested areas, below the rim, to Rainbow Point.

Rattlesnake Creek Trail (Ashdown Gorge Wilderness Area) is a 10 mile, 6 hour day hike, but with so much to see and explore the hike is often stretched out to a 2 or 3 day backpack. The hike is one way.

GSENM Backpacking

The Grand Staircase is not lacking in backpacking adventures. Bull Valley Gorge is a long hike through a deep gorge. Combine this slot canyon with Sheep Creek and Willis Creek and its a magnificent two day adventure.The trailhead is found along the Skutumpah Road.

Backpacking in Southern Utah

Web Southwest Parks

Zion National Park

Zion National Park - UTAH!

If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen -- Henry Thoreau Photo: Pine Creek Waterfall © Photography by Tanya

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