East Zion Lodge
Vacation House
East Zion Cabins
Budget Lodging
Group Lodging
East Zion Golf
East Zion RV Park
Vacation Packages
Zion Bus Tours
Business Retreat
St. George Rental

Southwest Parks
Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon
Grand Canyon
Grand Staircase
Cedar Breaks
Dixie National Forest
Red Canyon
Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Slot Canyons
Paria Canyon
Toroweap

Resource Exchange
& Favorite SW Sites

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

Orderville Canyon is a favorite semi-technical hike. The trailhead is located on the east side of Zion National park or Orderville Canyon can be explored from Zion Canyon via the Zion narrows.

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.

Zion National Park Slot Canyons

Hiking in Zion National Park is spectacular, but if you are one of the many who are itching to explore deeper into Zion and discover the world of canyoneering there is much to learn before taking the plunge.

Its a good idea to get your feet wet in the semi-technical slot canyons in and around Zion National Park before taking the splash into the technical slot canyons. Backcountry permits and limited use of the canyons will make travel plans more difficult. Permits are required for many of the semi-technical slot canyon's located in Zion National Park.

The Zion Narrows is a 16 mile long hike downstream through the Virgin River with towering sandstone walls on each side. Another option is to begin at the Temple of Sinawava and hike a few miles upstream and then back down to the Riverside Walk Trail in Zion Canyon.
Zion Narrows Trail

Orderville Canyon is one of the most fun slot canyons in Zion National park. This is a 12.5 mile hike through a wet slot canyon. A 60' rope is needed and climbing and canyoneering skills are very helpful. The end of the hike will join with the Zion Narrows. To get a glimpse of Orderville Canyon without doing the semi-technical sections of the trail, hike a couple of miles into the Zion Narrows (from the Riverside Walk Trail) and enter Orderville Canyon from this point. The trail is easy until the first waterfall. Turn around at this point and go back to the trailhead.
Orderville Canyon Trail

Although the Middle Echo Canyon slot section is semi-technical the other sections of this slot canyon are technical. This trail is found halfway up the Observation Point Trail and along the East Rim Trail. The entrance is near the point where the East Rim and Observation Point Trail meet. There is a short section of Echo Canyon that the trails pass right through. Instead of continuing on either trail, go into the slot. Boulder hopping, wading through stagnant water and (when water levels are high) swimming through ice cold water is required.
Echo Canyon Trail

This is the most extraordinary hike anywhere! Do not attempt this hike if you do not have excellent map reading skills. This trek begins at the pullout just south of the Checkerboard Mesa viewpoint and traverses miles of slickrock, Fat Man's Misery slot canyon and drops into the magnificent east fork of the Virgin River. There are several ways to enter and exit this trail. Plan on 10 hours to several days depending on the route chosen.
Parunuweap Canyon

Next to the Zion Narrows the Subway is the most well known slot canyon is Zion National Park. This hike involves mandatory cold water swims and climbing down at least two sections where a 50 ft. rope is needed. Gear will need to be sealed in a dry bag. Be very careful this year, there is more water in the canyons than there has been for a long time!
Subway Trail Description

Slot Canyons on the East side of Zion Park

Caution: Always check weather and canyon conditions to make sure there is no danger of flood in the area. Remember a storm far off can result in a flash flood. The park service writes the flood warnings on a board inside the Zion Canyon Visitor Center daily. Be sure to check the board before going into any slot canyon. 200 year marks the end of a six year drought.

Before attempting semi-technical canyons get detailed information from the Zion Backcountry desk and current canyon conditions.

Rappelling skills are required to navigate through many slot canyons. Remember slot canyons can change dramatically in a short time.

Web Southwest Parks

Zion National Park

Zion National Park - UTAH!

The thing that makes the flowers open and the snowflakes fall must contain a wisdom and a final secret as intricate and beautiful as the blooming camellia or the clouds gathering above, so white and pure in the blackness. --Anne Rice Photo: Pine Creek Waterfall © Photography by Tanya

Disclaimer & Privacy Policy
All rights reserved © Copyright Zions Works
Do not use photos or maps without permission © Photography by Tanya