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
Plan your Zion National Park Vacation with our Utah Maps and
Information
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.
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.
Zion National Park is one of the most bike friendly parks, having built an attractive bike trail that connects its campgrounds, museum and visitors center.
Zion National Park Trails with Natural Arches along the path:
Beta: Coordinates and other trail and canyoneering information
by Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member Bo
Beck and www.zionnational-park.com author Tanya Milligan.
To post trip reports, offer corrections, updates, or for more
information please visit the Zion
National Park Forum
Suggested
Gear: A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend to hike the trails in Zion National
Park. Many quality shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced
Zion hikers and canyoneers like the La Sportiva Exum Ridge. This shoe is great
for hiking, bouldering and canyoneering.
Biking Zion National Park
The Pa'rus Trail is ideal for those who want to bike, push a stroller or use a wheelchair. One of the many Zion Canyon Shuttle pick-ups is at Canyon Junction but there is a limited amount of parking on both sides of the road. This is not an ideal place to unload bikes, but the parking area just outside the South Campground has a large parking area that could be used for that purpose. Turn off the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway to the South Campground, but continue straight to the parking area instead of entering the camping area. From the parking area locate the sidewalk and walk past the amphitheater, taking the path to the left. The Pa'rus Trail is behind this path, toward the river.
Pa'rus Trail at a Glance
Photo Album: Pa'rus Trail pictures
Trail Map:Pa'rus Trail Map
Day Hike: Yes Trail Distance: 3.4 miles round trip. 1.7 miles one-way from the Watchman Campground to Canyon Junction where you can catch a shuttle ride. Average Hiking Time: 2 hours round trip. Accessible Trail: Yes, this is a great trail for wheelchairs and strollers. Bike Trail: Yes. This trail is a paved, car-free alternative for bicyclists. Zion National Park is among the most bike-friendly national parks in the USA. Pets: Unlike most areas in Zion, pets are allowed on this trail, but only if they are on a leash. Difficulty: Easy and you can get off the trail at different spots to make it a shorter hike if desired. Sun Exposure: The low elevation (4000') and full sun hitting the trail makes this a hot path to take on the mid-days of summer, but the trail is suitable for summer biking. Hikers can go down into the river to cool off. Permits: Not needed Trail Conditions: This is a well maintained, wide sidewalk. There are several bridges along the path with old planks. If you are underneath the bridge, at the river, and bikes pass over the top, be aware there will be a lot of noise. Trailhead: Canyon Junction - The spur where the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway and the Zion Canyon Road intersect. Trailend: This trail can end at the South Campground, the Watchman Campground or even the Zion Human History Museum. Trail Access: From late March to November, park at the Zion Canyon Visitors Center and ride the Zion Canyon Shuttle. The Pa'rus Trail is the first trail stop after the museum. This is a nice trail for parents to walk while kids are in the Junior Ranger Explorer program. Best Season: Year-round as long as the trail is free from snow and ice. Elevation Gain: 50' Restrooms: Handicap accessible restrooms are at the Zion Human History Museum, but the narrow dirt path (off the main trail) over to the museum is not wide enough for a wheelchair. Water availability: You can fill up water bottles at the Zion Human History Museum, South Campground or Watchman Campground. This hike is in full sun, do not go without plenty of water.
Pa'rus Trail
This is a very easy paved trail, that begins at Canyon Junction and travels past the Zion Human History Museum. (There is a narrow dirt path that spurs off the main trail heading to the museum.) The trail continues behind the South Campground where the Zion Nature Center and Junior Ranger Explorer Program is located and then heads to the Watchman Campground. The trail name, Pa'rus is from a Paiute word meaning "bubbling, tumbling water." Both Oak Creek and Pine Creek cross this relaxing hike that follows the Virgin River.
Best Trail Features For those that bring their pets and bikes on vacation, this is an ideal trail. It is the best trail in the park for wheelchairs and wonderful for a nice family walk along the water with views of the Watchman, West Temple, and the Sentinel. The West Temple is the highest point in the main section of Zion National Park reaching up to 7795'.
Zion's Bike Trails Bikes are allowed on established roads in Zion National Park but not on the trails. The one exception is the paved Pa'rus Trail. This trail runs along the Virgin River and connects with the Zion National Park Campgrounds. This is a great place for the family to get out and bike inside of the park. Although biking through Zion Canyon is safer now that the majority of cars do not travel this road, there is still danger from the wide turns of the Zion Canyon Shuttle. Bike groups are often seen riding on the main highway through Zion National Park, the Zion -Mt. Carmel Highway that runs from the south side of the park to Mount Carmel Junction.
Biking the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway Bicyclists ride from the east side of Zion National Park to the south even though bike travel is not allowed through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. The ranger on duty at the tunnel will usually ask someone with a truck if bikers can load up and ride through the tunnel.
Biking in Zion Canyon
Zion Canyon is open to bikers year-round. Most private vehicles are only allowed on the Zion Canyon road from November to March, making the Zion Canyon road more appealing to bike riders.
The trees, though not fully clothed, were in that delightful state, when further beauty is known to be at hand, and when, while much is actually given to the sight, more yet remains for the imagination.
