01 · The canyon · Utah, USA
A canyon you are not allowed to drive through, and a river you hike in rather than beside.
First momentUp to 600 metres (2,000 ft) deep and in places only six metres (20 ft) wide: this is how the Virgin River cut its canyon into the Navajo Sandstone.
about 232 square miles
of elevation difference, from 1,117 to 2,659 m
and more, plus 291 bird species
a national park, protected since 1909
Today in the park
Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway closed from Canyon Junction to East Entrance ↗
All 7 alerts and road conditions on nps.gov ↗
Fetched automatically: 03 Oct 2026 14:06 UTC.
Original National Park Service alerts. The date is the last update of the alert, not a validity period. Closures can change within hours.
Crowds through the year
About 4.9 times as many people visit in May as in January.
Tap a month for the number
Visits per month, median of 2023–2025. In 2025 the park recorded 4.98 million visits.
Unlike in the years of the ticket system, you now need neither a reservation nor a ticket for Zion: not to enter, not for the shuttle and not for the Narrows from the bottom. The park says so explicitly on its shuttle page. The only exception is Angels Landing.
Zion is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year. What changes are the opening hours of the facilities and the shuttle timetable.
Unlike some other parks, Zion still accepts cash at the entrance stations, although the park prefers cards.
As in all the big US national parks, every person aged 16 or over who does not live in the United States pays $100 on top of the standard entrance fee, unless they enter with the non-resident America the Beautiful Pass. For a car with two adults, $35 becomes $235.
A private vehicle with up to 15 seats and everyone in it costs $35 for seven days, a motorcycle $30, one person on foot or by bike $20. Children under 16 pay nothing.
Zion Guide Hub · GetYourGuide
Three hours into the evening: from the visitor centre, the Watchman Trail is a moderate hike to a viewpoint above Zion Canyon, where the Watchman turns red in the last light. Small group with a guide; you hike as the heat of the day eases.
Departure At the flagpole behind the Zion Canyon Visitor Center in the park; the page's short description gives Springdale as the starting point. Start times are shown when you check availability.
The list of inclusions only names the guided sunset hike; it mentions no other services and no park admission. Meeting point and trail are inside the park: every person needs a park pass, and people without US residence aged 16 or over pay an additional $100 unless they hold an annual pass; the park authority also charges the surcharge on commercial tours. Bring comfortable shoes and clothing suited to the weather. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
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Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
02 · A main road without cars
For most of the year the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private cars. The free shuttle runs every five to ten minutes and takes about 45 minutes to the Temple of Sinawava.
„The park's main road is closed to private vehicles for most of the year. The shuttle there costs nothing, and needs neither a ticket nor a reservation.“
Zion National Park · morning light at Canyon Junction
Nine stops
The park's main road, and the only one you are not allowed to drive yourself.
Dazu passt Springdale: Guided eBike Tour in Zion National ParkTimetable and rules
From 17 May to 12 September the first shuttle leaves the visitor centre at 7:00 and the last at 19:00; the last return shuttle leaves the Temple of Sinawava at 20:15. From 13 September to 24 October service ends an hour earlier, from 25 October to 28 November two hours earlier.
From 29 November to 25 December the shuttle does not run; it then runs again briefly from 26 December to 2 January. In the weeks without a shuttle you may drive the Scenic Drive yourself, usually from December to February.
Going down the canyon, the shuttle stops at every station. Going up, you cannot board at Big Bend, Canyon Junction or the Human History Museum. Everyone has to get off at the Temple of Sinawava and at the visitor centre.
From the visitor centre to the Temple of Sinawava takes about 45 minutes, so the round trip is about an hour and a half without getting off once. If you plan several hikes, allow for this.
The park warns explicitly: if you miss the last shuttle or find it full, you may have to walk nine miles (about fourteen kilometres) back to the visitor centre.
Film by the park authority
Just over three minutes from the park authority itself, on the question most Zion visits depend on: how the shuttle works in the canyon and in Springdale. In English.
Source: National Park Service · Zion · View channel ↗
Outta Here eBikes · GetYourGuide
Three hours on an e-bike with a local guide through the floor of Zion Canyon, with several stops, including the Court of the Patriarchs and the Temple of Sinawava. The motor takes as much of the work off you as you like; along the way the guide covers the plants, animals, history and geology of the canyon.
Departure At the Outta Here eBikes rental shop in Springdale, 736 Zion Park Blvd (sign on the building); free parking at the meeting point.
Included are the e-bike, helmet, water, snacks and parking at the meeting point. Park admission is explicitly not included: the page gives $20 per person for US residents and, for non-US citizens, $100 per person or the non-resident annual pass; according to the park authority, the $100 for people aged 16 or over comes on top of the standard entrance fee: check before booking. Conflict: according to this page, you may ride alone if you are at least 12 years old and 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) tall; for the same product on Viator, the provider gives 12 years and 5 ft 1 in (about 1.55 m), and smaller children ride as passengers. There the tour lasts 3 to 4 hours. Bring ID and closed-toe shoes. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
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Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
03 · Hiking in the river
Above the Temple of Sinawava the canyon becomes so narrow that the trail continues in the river itself. From the bottom you need no permit, but you do need the right water level.
A trail in the river
Not a trail beside the river, but a trail in the river.
Dazu passt Zion National Park: Amazing Zion Narrows Hike with GearDazu passt Zion National Park: The Narrows Private TourWhen you can go
From the bottom, heading upstream from the Temple of Sinawava, you need no permit. To Big Spring it is about sixteen kilometres (ten miles) there and back, a full day. To hike the whole canyon from Chamberlain's Ranch you need a wilderness permit: 26 km (16 mi), and you have to arrange transport to the start yourself.
The park closes the Narrows as soon as the Virgin River flows at more than 150 cfs or the weather service issues a flash flood warning; after a warning ends, the canyon stays closed for at least two more hours. Above 70 cfs, walking against the current becomes hard work.
Since the uplift, the North Fork of the Virgin River has removed several thousand feet of rock, and it is still at work. Above the Temple of Sinawava it cuts into Navajo Sandstone and forms a narrow canyon. At the Temple it reaches the softer Kayenta Formation: the water washes out the shale, the sandstone above collapses and the canyon widens. Flash floods can increase the flow more than a hundredfold.
What the river demands
In narrow canyons like the Narrows, the river can double or triple within minutes. The park advises asking about the current flash flood risk at the visitor centre before every hike, and watching for muddy water and a rising current.
The park names closed-toe shoes and a walking stick as the minimum gear for the Narrows and advises against cotton: wet cotton chills you, even when it is 38 °C (100 °F) outside.
Cyanobacteria that can produce toxins grow on the bed of the Virgin River and its tributaries. The park monitors the water, including the Narrows and the Emerald Pools, and publishes the current advisory level on its website, at information points and at major trailheads. Do not touch algal mats and do not drink river water: filtering or boiling does not remove the toxins. Children and dogs are at particular risk.
Grand Circle Tours · GetYourGuide
Six hours in the canyon with a guide, plus the gear that makes the difference: water boots, neoprene socks and a stick. About 9.6 km (6 mi), hiking in the Virgin River.
Departure In front of the bookshop at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
Included are the guiding, gear rental and commentary. The provider gives a water depth of between 30 centimetres and 1.20 metres (1 to 4 ft) and warns of rounded boulders. Not suitable for non-swimmers or people with back problems. Park admission is not mentioned in the list of inclusions. For people without US residence that means $35 for the vehicle plus $100 per person aged 16 or over; the park authority also charges the surcharge to participants on commercial tours.
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Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
Explore Zion Tours · Guided hike
Six and a half hours as a private group: first the paved Riverside Walk, then wading between walls 300 metres (1,000 ft) high as far as Mystery Falls. A gear kit and the ride on the park shuttle are included.
Departure At the outfitter; outside the shuttle season, guests drive themselves to the Temple of Sinawava.
The provider states explicitly that national park entrance fees are not included in the price: for people without US residence that is $35 for the vehicle plus $100 per person aged 16 or over, unless they hold an annual pass, and the park authority charges the surcharge on commercial tours too. It names the same closure limit as the park authority (closed above 150 cfs or during a flash flood warning) and then offers a full refund, rescheduling or a different hike.
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Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
04 · Lottery only
Since 2022 you can only climb the chain section onto the rock fin with a permit from the lottery. Anyone may walk as far as Scout Lookout.
The rock fin with the chains
The rock fin with the chains: since 2022 only with a permit from the lottery.
How to get a permit
Every person needs a permit for the climb, and permits are only issued by lottery on recreation.gov. Rangers check at the Grotto, at Scout Lookout and on the trail. You may walk as far as Scout Lookout without a permit: only the chain section requires one.
You apply for the seasonal lottery months in advance: for hikes from June to August roughly from 1 to 20 April, with results on 25 April. There is also the day-before lottery: apply the day before between 0:01 and 15:00 Mountain Time, with results at 16:00. Applying costs $6 for up to six people, plus $3 per person if you win.
The confirmation email from recreation.gov is the permit. Carry it printed or downloaded: mobile reception at the checkpoint is unreliable.
05 · Emerald Pools and Pa'rus Trail
Not every hike in Zion needs a lottery win or wet feet. The trails to the Emerald Pools start opposite Zion Lodge, and on the canyon floor the Pa'rus Trail follows the Virgin River: the only trail in the park where dogs are allowed.
Opposite Zion Lodge
A rough paved trail opposite Zion Lodge, to a pool with waterfalls that only flow at times.
The trails start opposite Zion Lodge at stop 5: on the right the easier Lower Emerald Pool Trail, on the left the moderate Middle Emerald Pools Trail. Both continue to the Upper Emerald Pool, over stone steps and a sandy path through pinyon-juniper woodland to the foot of high walls, where waterfalls pour down in some seasons. From the Grotto you get there on the Kayenta Trail, 3.2 km (2 mi) to the Emerald Pools trails. You may not go into the water: the pool is fragile and an important water source for wildlife.
On the trails
The Pa'rus Trail is the only trail in the park where pets are allowed, on a leash no longer than six feet (about 1.80 m). They are banned on all other trails, in the wilderness, on the shuttle buses and in public buildings; along roads and in car parks, at the campgrounds and on the Zion Lodge grounds they may come along. Leaving an animal in a hot car is prohibited.
Parts of the East Rim Trail are closed after a major rockfall, and so is the trail to Hidden Canyon. The park explicitly asks you not to enter closed areas.
06 · Zion–Mount Carmel Highway
The 1930 road leads out of the canyon through the tunnel to the East Entrance. The Canyon Overlook Trail starts just past the tunnel, and shortly before the East Entrance stands the cross-hatched sandstone dome of Checkerboard Mesa.
Historic road
The historic 1930 road with the tunnel that today's RVs cannot get through.
The tunnel's size limits
Between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance there are fixed limits: single vehicles at most 10.90 m (35 ft 9 in) long, 2.39 m (7 ft 10 in) wide, 3.45 m (11 ft 4 in) high and 22,680 kg (50,000 lb) in weight. Combinations may be 15.24 m (50 ft) long in total. Measurements include mirrors, tyres and add-ons such as air conditioning or bike racks.
Vehicles over the limits may not use the road and are told to turn around at the South or East Entrance. The only exceptions are trips to the large car park at the visitor centre, to Zion Lodge with a reservation, onto the Scenic Drive outside the shuttle season and to the campgrounds.
To Bryce Canyon, the detour runs via Highway 20; it is 100 km (62 mi) longer but only takes about 42 minutes more, because traffic on the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway usually moves at under 50 km/h (31 mph). To the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, the route via Highway 59 takes only ten minutes more.
Beyond the tunnel
East of the Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel starts the Canyon Overlook Trail, moderate and 1.6 km (1 mi) there and back. It climbs over sandstone steps with railings above a dark, narrow gorge and ends at a fenced rock edge above Zion Canyon with a view of the Towers of the Virgin. Look out for bighorn sheep on the way. The car park is very small; the park advises you to expect several attempts.
The park is clear about it: anyone entering Zion, even just to drive through on the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway, needs a pass. The road is one of the usual links between Las Vegas and Bryce Canyon.
07 · Navajo Sandstone, condors, bighorn sheep
California condors circle above the cliffs, Mexican spotted owls nest in the narrow canyons, and at Canyon Overlook it is worth looking out for bighorn sheep.
Zion National Park: landscape and origins
Zion is a canyon cut by the Virgin River into Navajo Sandstone: up to 600 metres (2,000 ft) deep and in places only six metres (20 ft) wide.
The walls are made of Navajo Sandstone, the petrified dunes of a desert sand sea. Where water seeps through the porous rock and meets a denser layer, it emerges from the side of the cliff: this creates the hanging gardens Zion is known for, and places like Weeping Rock.
The difference in elevation of about 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) brings four landscapes together in a small space: desert, riverbank, pinyon-juniper woodland and conifer forest. Add the location in the triangle between the Mojave Desert, the Great Basin and the Rocky Mountains, and species from all three regions meet here.
The area was protected in 1909 as Mukuntuweap National Monument, named after the Southern Paiute word for "straight canyon". Mormon settlers brought the present name: Zion, ancient Hebrew for refuge. It has been a national park since 1919; the Kolob Canyons in the north were added in 1956.
National Park Service: nature and science ↗
The park in numbers
How the canyon formed
Zion lies on the edge of the Colorado Plateau. Here the rock layers were lifted, tilted and eroded, creating the Grand Staircase, a stairway of coloured cliffs between Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon. The bottom layer at Bryce is the top layer at Zion, and the bottom layer at Zion is the top layer at the Grand Canyon.
Zion lies on the boundary between the Colorado Plateau and the Basin and Range Province, and there have been several eruptions here in the last million years. The oldest volcano in the park, at 1.1 million years, is the Kolob volcano near Lava Point. The youngest eruption, Crater Hill, took place about 120,000 years ago, below the West Temple on the Virgin River.
Who lives here
The park counts over 1,000 plant species, about 78 species of mammals, 291 of birds, 30 of reptiles and seven of amphibians. The reason is the difference in elevation: desert, riverbank, pinyon-juniper and conifer forest lie one above the other.
California condors, listed as endangered, circle above the cliffs. Mexican spotted owls nest in the narrow canyons: according to the park, Zion has the highest nesting density of this species in Utah.
The animals you see most often are mule deer, foxes, bats, bighorn sheep and rock squirrels. Many others are active at night: coyote, grey fox, ringtail, mountain lion, bobcat, porcupine and beaver. Rock squirrels can transmit diseases; the park advises you not to touch them, even when they come close, and to watch all wildlife only from a safe distance.
The name
The Southern Paiute called the place Mukuntuweap, "straight canyon". In 1909 President Taft protected around 16,000 acres as Mukuntuweap National Monument. In 1918 it became Zion National Monument, and in 1919 a national park.
The name was brought by Mormon settlers who came to the valley in the late 19th century. Zion is an ancient Hebrew word meaning sanctuary or refuge.
Heat and seasons
Summer temperatures regularly exceed 38 °C (100 °F), and the monsoon season in late summer raises the flash flood risk. In winter, daytime temperatures range between −1 and 16 °C (30 and 61 °F).
In March and April, snowmelt can close the Narrows for long periods; in March almost three times as many people come as in February. Summer is hot, around half a million visitors come each month, all car parks in the park are often full by 9:00, and from July to September the monsoon brings a risk of flash floods. October and November are cooler and quieter; autumn colours reach Zion Canyon in late October and early November. In winter the upper part of the Kolob Terrace Road with Lava Point and the South Campground close, and for the Narrows you will probably need a drysuit.
08 · The quiet north
About 65 km (40 mi) north, with its own exit off Interstate 15 and its own visitor centre: the finger canyons of the Kolob Canyons only became part of the park in 1956.
Separate access road
The separate northern section with its own access road, and far fewer people.
Dazu passt Zion National Park and Canaan Cliffs: 30-minute helicopter tourLess traffic
You do not reach the Kolob Canyons from Zion Canyon but from a separate exit off Interstate 15, about 65 km (40 mi) further north. There is a separate visitor centre, which closes for an hour at midday.
The northern section of the park has its own access road from Interstate 15, its own visitor centre and much less traffic. The road does, however, often close in winter.
In 1937 Roosevelt created a second Zion National Monument covering more than 36,000 acres. This area, today's Kolob Canyons, became part of the national park in 1956.
Zion Canyon Boneyard · GetYourGuide
Four hours as a private group in the less visited part of the park: pick-up at your accommodation between Hurricane and Springdale, then up onto the Kolob Terrace, which is higher and cooler than Zion Canyon and looks down on the rock domes and mesas. The guide talks about how the landscape formed, about the Indigenous peoples and the pioneers; trails and pace are adapted to the group.
Departure Pick-up at your accommodation in Hurricane, La Verkin, Toquerville, Virgin, Rockville or Springdale, by arrangement between 10:00 and 15:00; the provider recommends the afternoon. Return to Springdale. If you stay in St. George, drive yourself to one of these towns.
The list of inclusions only names water and snacks; the page does not mention park admission. According to the park authority, everyone entering the park needs a park pass, and people without US residence aged 16 or over pay an additional $100, also on commercial tours: check before booking whether the provider covers this. For the same product on Viator, the provider gives pick-up times between 10:00 and 16:00 instead of 10:00 to 15:00, and as a second stop the ghost town of Grafton, which lies outside the park and may be dropped on longer hikes on the Kolob Terrace. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
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Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
Zion Helicopters LLC · Scenic flight · 30 minutes
About 55 miles (89 km) by helicopter from the helipad near Virgin: north between Smith Mesa and the park, around Red Butte with views of West Zion and the Kolob Canyons, then over the Canaan Mountain Wilderness south of Springdale. The pilot talks about the geology and history. The pages describe differently how close the flight comes to the park: GetYourGuide speaks of an adventure over Zion National Park, while the provider writes on Viator that the park does not allow low scenic flights directly over it, so the flight looks into the park from its edge.
Departure Zion Helicopters helipad near Virgin, according to Viator 3050 East UT-9, about ten minutes from Springdale; arrive 30 minutes before your flight time.
Included are the flight, waiver and safety briefing, water and the helipad fee; tips are not. Take-off and landing are outside the park; the page does not mention park admission. Minimum of five guests, otherwise an alternative date or a refund; private flights have no minimum. All guests are weighed at check-in; if you weigh more than 112 kg (247 lb) you buy a second seat, and above 170 kg (375 lb) you cannot fly. Seats are assigned by weight and balance. Not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Bring ID and a camera. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 27 Sep 2026
Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
09 · Springdale, the lodge and campgrounds
Zion Lodge is the only lodging in the park. Springdale lies right outside the South Entrance and has its own free shuttle to the pedestrian entrance.
Where to stay
It stands at stop 5 in the middle of the canyon. Guests with a reservation may drive their own car to the designated parking and receive a pass or code for this when booking.
The park makes it clear: vehicle access only goes as far as the lodge. To the other trailheads (Court of the Patriarchs, the Grotto, Weeping Rock, Temple of Sinawava) even lodge guests go on foot or by shuttle.
The town outside the South Entrance has its own free shuttle with nine stops, running to the park's pedestrian entrance. If you stay there, you do not need a car in the park.
Watchman and South Campground are just inside the South Entrance. Large vehicles that are not allowed through the tunnel can also get there.
Driving yourself
Open to private vehicles all year are the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway, the Kolob Terrace Road and the Kolob Canyons Road. During the shuttle season only the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed: which happens to be the road into the main canyon.
National Park Express · GetYourGuide
A shared one-way shuttle, no rental car needed: it leaves from the Treasure Island hotel on the Las Vegas Strip and ends at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center at the park's South Entrance, where the free park shuttle also starts. According to the provider, the route to Zion runs via St. George and Bryce Canyon, with a stop there of about an hour and a half; in the summer season the journey takes about 8.75 hours. The return from the visitor centre to Las Vegas can be booked as a separate route.
Departure Treasure Island (TI) hotel, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd S, tour bus pick-up area on Mystère Dreams Ave; arrival at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, 1 Zion Park Blvd, in the park. The departure time is shown when you check availability.
According to the list of inclusions, the one-way ride in the shared shuttle is included, tips are not; the list does not mention park admission. The description explains that people without US residence on commercial tours either show the non-resident annual pass or pay $100 per person, which the provider collects as holder of a commercial use authorisation; according to the park authority, the surcharge applies from age 16 on top of the standard entrance fee. For the same product on Viator, "Admission fees" is listed as included and "Entrance fees" as not included, with a note that park fees for international guests are collected on site. Neither page says whether a second entrance fee plus surcharge is due for the stop at Bryce Canyon: clarify both before you book. Conflict on duration: GetYourGuide gives 2.5 to 8.5 hours depending on the route, Viator 8.75 hours for Las Vegas to Zion in the summer season (from the second Sunday in March). One piece of luggage per guest, no alcohol in the vehicle, bring ID. Minimum number of participants, otherwise an alternative date, a different experience or a refund; the provider advises not to plan anything else firmly on the day of arrival. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
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Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
10 · Before you set off
Zion is open around the clock, all year. What changes are the shuttle timetable and the water level: before every hike, ask at the visitor centre about the flash flood risk.
Around the park
The park describes its accessible facilities in detail, from the shuttle to individual trails. If you rely on them, that is where you will find reliable information, not in travel blogs.
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Climate through the year
Best months by the climate data: April and May and October. Average daytime highs of 19 to 25 °C, lows of 4 to 9 °C, 13 to 28 mm of precipitation a month. The hottest month is July, with average highs of 34 °C.
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Precipitation mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.3 | −2.6 | 29 |
| February | 10.9 | −1.8 | 34 |
| March | 15.7 | 1.1 | 26 |
| April | 19.4 | 4.1 | 20 |
| May | 25.1 | 9.1 | 13 |
| June | 32.2 | 15.3 | 5 |
| July | 34.2 | 19.7 | 34 |
| August | 32.8 | 18.4 | 34 |
| September | 29.1 | 14.0 | 24 |
| October | 21.9 | 7.0 | 28 |
| November | 14.8 | 1.2 | 20 |
| December | 8.4 | −2.8 | 30 |
| Year | 297 |
Modelled values, not a weather station: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) for a grid cell of about 55 × 55 km around the map point Zion Lodge (37.25° N, 112.96° W), with an average cell elevation of about 1,530 m. Averages for 2001–2020. Higher ground and valleys can differ markedly.
Source: NASA POWER, climatology 2001–2020 ↗ · retrieved 3 Oct 2026
The historic 1930 tunnel is too small for many of today's vehicles.
The park's largest car park is at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center: over 350 spaces, right by shuttle stop 1. As at the other car parks in Zion Canyon, parking is free once the entrance fee is paid; spaces are first come, first served. RVs and motorcycles have their own lot opposite. When everything is full, park in Springdale and take the shuttle.
In the town outside the South Entrance, on-street parking costs $15, $20 or $25 for the whole day depending on the zone, with a cheaper half-day rate from 13:00. Fees apply daily from 6:00 to 17:00. RVs may only park in Zone C, for $30. Up to three days in a row are allowed, but sleeping in the vehicle is not.
Zion Canyon Boneyard · offer
Four hours as a private group in the less visited part of the park: pick-up at your accommodation between Hurricane and Springdale, then up onto the Kolob Terrace, which is higher and cooler than Zion Canyon and looks down on the rock domes and mesas. The guide talks about how the landscape formed, about the Indigenous peoples and the pioneers; trails and pace are adapted to the group.
Departure Pick-up at your accommodation in Hurricane, La Verkin, Toquerville, Virgin, Rockville or Springdale, by arrangement between 10:00 and 15:00; the provider recommends the afternoon. Return to Springdale. If you stay in St. George, drive yourself to one of these towns.
The list of inclusions only names water and snacks; the page does not mention park admission. According to the park authority, everyone entering the park needs a park pass, and people without US residence aged 16 or over pay an additional $100, also on commercial tours: check before booking whether the provider covers this. For the same product on Viator, the provider gives pick-up times between 10:00 and 16:00 instead of 10:00 to 15:00, and as a second stop the ghost town of Grafton, which lies outside the park and may be dropped on longer hikes on the Kolob Terrace. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 27 Sep 2026
National Park Express · offer
A shared one-way shuttle, no rental car needed: it leaves from the Treasure Island hotel on the Las Vegas Strip and ends at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center at the park's South Entrance, where the free park shuttle also starts. According to the provider, the route to Zion runs via St. George and Bryce Canyon, with a stop there of about an hour and a half; in the summer season the journey takes about 8.75 hours. The return from the visitor centre to Las Vegas can be booked as a separate route.
Departure Treasure Island (TI) hotel, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd S, tour bus pick-up area on Mystère Dreams Ave; arrival at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, 1 Zion Park Blvd, in the park. The departure time is shown when you check availability.
According to the list of inclusions, the one-way ride in the shared shuttle is included, tips are not; the list does not mention park admission. The description explains that people without US residence on commercial tours either show the non-resident annual pass or pay $100 per person, which the provider collects as holder of a commercial use authorisation; according to the park authority, the surcharge applies from age 16 on top of the standard entrance fee. For the same product on Viator, "Admission fees" is listed as included and "Entrance fees" as not included, with a note that park fees for international guests are collected on site. Neither page says whether a second entrance fee plus surcharge is due for the stop at Bryce Canyon: clarify both before you book. Conflict on duration: GetYourGuide gives 2.5 to 8.5 hours depending on the route, Viator 8.75 hours for Las Vegas to Zion in the summer season (from the second Sunday in March). One piece of luggage per guest, no alcohol in the vehicle, bring ID. Minimum number of participants, otherwise an alternative date, a different experience or a refund; the provider advises not to plan anything else firmly on the day of arrival. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 27 Sep 2026
Ad · we may earn a commission if you book through this partner link. Offer details checked 27 Sep 2026. See official ticket information.
All amounts in US dollars, retrieved from the National Park Service on 21 September 2026.
The pass does not have to be displayed in the vehicle, but you must be able to show it if you leave the park and come back in later. If you drive in, park in Springdale and return to the pedestrian entrance on foot or by shuttle, you need to have it with you.
The Zion annual pass costs $70 and is valid for twelve months, only for this park and only for US citizens and US residents. If you are visiting several federal parks, the America the Beautiful Pass is the better choice: for non-residents it costs $250 and also replaces the $100 surcharge.
The surcharge explicitly also applies to people without US residence who enter as part of a commercial tour group. Operators are expected to know the number of their non-resident guests before entry and declare it at the entrance station; since June 2026 they can prepay the entrance fee and surcharge with a Commercial Site Pass on Recreation.gov. Whether an operator does this is rarely in its list of inclusions, so ask before you book.
The non-resident America the Beautiful Pass removes the surcharge not only in your own vehicle: in a commercial tour group it covers the pass holder and three more people aged 16 or over. The same applies to the entrance fee, which is charged per person on commercial tours. As proof of US residence the park accepts a US passport, a state driving licence or ID card, and the Green Card; anyone aged 15 or under pays neither the entrance fee nor the surcharge.
Zion Guide Hub · offer
Three hours into the evening: from the visitor centre, the Watchman Trail is a moderate hike to a viewpoint above Zion Canyon, where the Watchman turns red in the last light. Small group with a guide; you hike as the heat of the day eases.
Departure At the flagpole behind the Zion Canyon Visitor Center in the park; the page's short description gives Springdale as the starting point. Start times are shown when you check availability.
The list of inclusions only names the guided sunset hike; it mentions no other services and no park admission. Meeting point and trail are inside the park: every person needs a park pass, and people without US residence aged 16 or over pay an additional $100 unless they hold an annual pass; the park authority also charges the surcharge on commercial tours. Bring comfortable shoes and clothing suited to the weather. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
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Outta Here eBikes · offer
Three hours on an e-bike with a local guide through the floor of Zion Canyon, with several stops, including the Court of the Patriarchs and the Temple of Sinawava. The motor takes as much of the work off you as you like; along the way the guide covers the plants, animals, history and geology of the canyon.
Departure At the Outta Here eBikes rental shop in Springdale, 736 Zion Park Blvd (sign on the building); free parking at the meeting point.
Included are the e-bike, helmet, water, snacks and parking at the meeting point. Park admission is explicitly not included: the page gives $20 per person for US residents and, for non-US citizens, $100 per person or the non-resident annual pass; according to the park authority, the $100 for people aged 16 or over comes on top of the standard entrance fee: check before booking. Conflict: according to this page, you may ride alone if you are at least 12 years old and 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) tall; for the same product on Viator, the provider gives 12 years and 5 ft 1 in (about 1.55 m), and smaller children ride as passengers. There the tour lasts 3 to 4 hours. Bring ID and closed-toe shoes. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
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National Park Express · offer
A shared one-way shuttle, no rental car needed: it leaves from the Treasure Island hotel on the Las Vegas Strip and ends at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center at the park's South Entrance, where the free park shuttle also starts. According to the provider, the route to Zion runs via St. George and Bryce Canyon, with a stop there of about an hour and a half; in the summer season the journey takes about 8.75 hours. The return from the visitor centre to Las Vegas can be booked as a separate route.
Departure Treasure Island (TI) hotel, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd S, tour bus pick-up area on Mystère Dreams Ave; arrival at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, 1 Zion Park Blvd, in the park. The departure time is shown when you check availability.
According to the list of inclusions, the one-way ride in the shared shuttle is included, tips are not; the list does not mention park admission. The description explains that people without US residence on commercial tours either show the non-resident annual pass or pay $100 per person, which the provider collects as holder of a commercial use authorisation; according to the park authority, the surcharge applies from age 16 on top of the standard entrance fee. For the same product on Viator, "Admission fees" is listed as included and "Entrance fees" as not included, with a note that park fees for international guests are collected on site. Neither page says whether a second entrance fee plus surcharge is due for the stop at Bryce Canyon: clarify both before you book. Conflict on duration: GetYourGuide gives 2.5 to 8.5 hours depending on the route, Viator 8.75 hours for Las Vegas to Zion in the summer season (from the second Sunday in March). One piece of luggage per guest, no alcohol in the vehicle, bring ID. Minimum number of participants, otherwise an alternative date, a different experience or a refund; the provider advises not to plan anything else firmly on the day of arrival. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
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Two dangers that are regularly underestimated here.
Grand Circle Tours · offer
Six hours in the canyon with a guide, plus the gear that makes the difference: water boots, neoprene socks and a stick. About 9.6 km (6 mi), hiking in the Virgin River.
Departure In front of the bookshop at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
Included are the guiding, gear rental and commentary. The provider gives a water depth of between 30 centimetres and 1.20 metres (1 to 4 ft) and warns of rounded boulders. Not suitable for non-swimmers or people with back problems. Park admission is not mentioned in the list of inclusions. For people without US residence that means $35 for the vehicle plus $100 per person aged 16 or over; the park authority also charges the surcharge to participants on commercial tours.
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Explore Zion Tours · Guided hike
Six and a half hours as a private group: first the paved Riverside Walk, then wading between walls 300 metres (1,000 ft) high as far as Mystery Falls. A gear kit and the ride on the park shuttle are included.
Departure At the outfitter; outside the shuttle season, guests drive themselves to the Temple of Sinawava.
The provider states explicitly that national park entrance fees are not included in the price: for people without US residence that is $35 for the vehicle plus $100 per person aged 16 or over, unless they hold an annual pass, and the park authority charges the surcharge on commercial tours too. It names the same closure limit as the park authority (closed above 150 cfs or during a flash flood warning) and then offers a full refund, rescheduling or a different hike.
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A private vehicle with everyone in it costs $35 for seven days. On top of that, every person aged 16 or over without US residence pays a $100 surcharge. Two adults in a car therefore pay $235. With the non-resident America the Beautiful Pass for $250 the surcharge does not apply, and the pass is valid in all federal parks.
No. The shuttle is free, and you need neither a ticket nor a reservation for the ride or for entering the park. The ticket system of 2020 and 2021 no longer exists.
Only outside the shuttle season, usually from December to February. During the season the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles, even before the first and after the last shuttle. The exception is Zion Lodge guests with a reservation.
Only through the lottery on recreation.gov. There is a seasonal lottery months in advance and a day-before lottery: apply the day before between 0:01 and 15:00 Mountain Time, with results at 16:00. Applying costs $6 for up to six people, plus $3 per person if you win.
Only if it is within the limits: 10.90 m (35 ft 9 in) long, 2.39 m (7 ft 10 in) wide, 3.45 m (11 ft 4 in) high, 22,680 kg (50,000 lb), measured including mirrors and add-ons. Many RVs rented in the USA are larger. If yours is too big, you will be told to turn around at the entrance and must drive around the park.
As soon as the Virgin River flows at more than 150 cubic feet per second or the weather service issues a flash flood warning. After a warning ends, the canyon stays closed for at least two more hours. The US Geological Survey publishes the current flow rate.
Yes. Visitors without US residence can buy the non-resident America the Beautiful Pass for $250. It covers the entrance fee in all federal parks and replaces the $100 surcharge.
Every detail on this page links to the park authority's own page.
Researched 21 Sep 2026. Not a live status. Dates apply only to the year stated. A successful automatic fetch is not an editorial confirmation; outdated automatic values are hidden and replaced by the source link.
Current information from the park ↗
Location sources: The National Park Service does not publish coordinates for these places. Each point was looked up individually in OpenStreetMap; the evidence is linked at each point. Markers do not imply that access is permitted. Base map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Coastlines of the chapter map: Natural Earth.
A park whose most important rule is the ban on driving the main road.
The park lies in Washington, Iron and Kane counties in south-western Utah. From the highest point on Horse Ranch Mountain (2,659 m / 8,724 ft) to the lowest at Coal Pits Wash (1,117 m / 3,665 ft) there are about 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) of elevation: the reason for the unusual mix of desert, riverbank and conifer forest in a small area.
End of the field book · Park authority ↗
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