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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

After a trip to the Southwest, the one place that visitor after visitor raves about is Zion National Park. Many tourists change their plans and spend the majority of their vacation in this Utah National Park. After arriving in the park and viewing Zion's majestic monoliths and lush green flora it is tempting to stay longer. After sampling the outstanding trails and driving through Zion National Park's spectacular landscape, it's hard to resist staying and playing more than one day. It takes time to explore this magnificent Utah National Park and appreciate all it has to offer.

Zion National Park Vacation

Tour: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7

Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Cedar Breaks, Red Canyon, Cedar Mountain and the Grand Staircase are just a short distance from each other. This is the beauty of Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. Let us help you plan your vacation so you can experience the best that the Southwest has to offer.

Day One - Early Morning

Navigating Zion National Park

After breakfast begin the astounding drive along Scenic Byway 9, (Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy) through Zion National Park. The park can be entered from either the south or the east, and either entrance will allow travel along the Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy. This main road through the park goes to all the classic view points and trails. The Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy is open year-round, 24 hours a day.
Oversized Vehicles

Zion Canyon is accessible year-round either by private vehicle or the Zion Canyon Shuttle. Drive to Canyon Junction, the area where the Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy and the Zion Canyon road meet. (the only junction in the park). Get on the shuttle, even if not planning to hike, so you can get out at each shuttle stop and look around at the views.

Zion Canyon Shuttle Schedule

From about November 1st to late March private cars are allowed into Zion Canyon. The rest of the year it is required to take the free shuttle. Each shuttle can carry two bicycles and is fully accessible. Pets are not permitted. Bring lots of water, lunch and snacks to eat while on the trails. A lightweight backpack and water bottles with straps or a camelbak are ideal while out on the trails. Remember you will not be near your vehicle.

Weeping Rock

This .5 mile/.8 km round trip hike is moderately steep (98'/29.9 m accent). Weeping Rock is well traveled due to its popularity, short length and beauty. At the top of the trail be prepared for slippery moss and water dripping down, where the trail crosses over to the large alcove at the top of the trailhead. Continuous water "weeps" out of this spring-seep alcove, keeping the hanging gardens supplied with water. The view from the alcove into the canyon is pretty as it frames some of the most magnificent monoliths in Zion. Look for Angels Landing on the right, then to the left of it Lady Mountain and on the far left the Great White Throne. The entire hike is exceptionally enjoyable. Allow 30 minutes for this trail.

Riverside Walk Hike (Gateway to the Narrows)

The Riverside Walk Trailhead is located at the farthest end of Zion Canyon. It seems that Zion National Park ends here, at the Temple of Sinawava, but in fact the adventure is just beginning. This 2 mile/3.22 km trail, often called Gateway to the Narrows, is the entrance to what is without a doubt the most famous hike in Utah, the Zion Narrows. The Zion Narrows is a slot canyon extraordinaire! The Riverside Walk Trail is a graded dirt path with little change (57'/17.37m) in elevation. The ease and beauty of this hike is the reason for its popularity. The trail follows the North Fork of the Virgin River along a riparian environment. There are some fun microenvironments to explore including small desert swamps and hanging gardens. Allow 1.5 hours for this walk.

Emerald Pools Hike

The Emerald Pools Trail leads to a trio of beautiful and unique pools. The lower Emerald Pool is an easy hike that is wheelchair accessible, but the trail becomes a moderate hike if continued past the lower pool. The trail to the Middle Emerald Pool is just a quick jaunt from the lower section and but the hike to the Upper Emerald Pool is fairly strenuous. There are three ways to enter this hike, so unlike most of Zion's classic trails there is no need to back-track the way you came. Get off the shuttle at the Zion Lodge shuttle stop and take the path to the lower Emerald Pool. This trail is an easy stroll with a paved path, and the scenery along the lower trail is exceptional and should not be missed. Follow the signs at the lower pool to find the other two pools. To return, choose either the Middle Emerald Pool Trail that ends at the Zion Lodge area or the Kayenta Trail that ends at the Grotto picnic area. Either of these trails has nice scenery, but the Kayenta Trail offers the best return views of the Virgin River.

Lower Pool - Easy Walk, paved path: .6 miles one way. Accessible with help. Water drips down from above at the refreshing stop along the hike.

Middle Pool - Moderate hike, dirt path: 1 mile one way. Smooth rock is underfoot at the pool, where spring-fed water falls over the cliffs edge, forming the lower Emerald Pool.

Upper Pool - Moderately strenuous, rock and dirt path: 1.5 miles one way. The upper pool ends at a sheer cliff and sandy beach.

View Points at the Zion Canyon Shuttle Stops

Three Patriarchs - A short uphill walk to a view point of the Three Patriarchs and Mount Moroni. Isaac, in the center of the Patriarchs, is a favorite big wall climb and a nesting place for the Peregrine Falcon. Also seen from the view point is the Streaked Wall and the Sentinel (south), the Spearhead and Angels Landing (north) and Mountain of the Sun and Twin Brothers are seen to the east. There is a 2.6 mile easy (4.18 km) trail here along the west bank of the Virgin River, but it is rarely taken except by horseback riders.

The shuttle will stop at Big Bend and unload. This is a great place to get off the shuttle and take some pictures. If you are in your own car, the Big Bend stop is about mid-way on the Zion Canyon road. Often during the year climbers can be seen making their way up the giant monolith from this stop. Angels Landing is a spectacular big wall climb as well as an impressive hiking trail.

Day One - Mid-Afternoon
Get off the Zion Canyon Shuttle and return to your vehicle or drive out of Zion Canyon if you are in your own car. Head east towards the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel.

Canyon Overlook Trail
East of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel
on the east side of the tunnel is the Canyon Overlook Trail. This is a must-do hike if you have the time. Plan for an easy 1 mile/1.61 m roundtrip, (163' ascent) ending in a great view of lower Zion Canyon and Pine Creek Canyon. Allow one hour for this hike. There are several East Zion Park Trails in this area, but they are beyond the Zion classics.

Getting Ready for Day Two

Stop in Mount Carmel Junction, on the east side of Zion National Park, and take a break for dinner and stay the night. From Mount Carmel Junction it is 60 miles to Bryce Canyon, which will be the location for our next day adventure.

If you want more to do while in Zion National Park

Best Bets for the For the Adventurous Traveler: Strenuous Hiking Trails

Best of the Best Trails
Backpack the spectacular two day hike through the Zion Narrows or explore the incredible East Rim Trail and the West Rim Trail to the impressive Angels Landing Trail. These trails are considered to be the very best in Zion National Park, if not the best hikes in the entire state.

Our "Canyon Country" Vacation is a Grand Slam!

Note: Itineraries will be presented here for the rushed windshield vacationer, but these same plans can be spread out and enjoyed to their fullest by spending more time at each location.

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Zion National Park - UTAH!

Nothing is impossible. With the right attitude, you can do anything you want. It's all about choosing to be positive instead of being negative about things. Like I can look at "not working" as being "no one's hiring me and no one will give me a job." Or I can look at "not working" as being "a fantastic vacation. --Minnie Driver Photo: Pine Creek Waterfall © Photography by Tanya

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