I didn’t do all the traditional hikes in Zion National Park due to the popularity and the crowds- it just kind of took away from the fun. I also couldn’t get a permit to do Angels Landing. I did do hikes around the area and took a day trip to a slot canyon, did some sandboarding, and visited Bryce Canyon. I will share with you what I did and what to expect, along with any other suggestions.
Zion National Park– Need to know: You NEED to know you can’t drive into the main part of the park – the part with Angels Landing and the Narrows (aka Zion Canyon Scenic Drive). You have use the shuttle bus system, which is actually pretty easy. You CAN drive into the canyon when the shuttles aren’t running- late fall to early spring. You would have to look at their website for exact dates. You DON’T need a reservation or ticket to ride the shuttle bus. You just need to pay for entrance to the park. My advice – get there early.
There is also a shuttle in the town of Springdale. Parking around the park is kind of crazy, so if you are staying in Springdale or can find a spot to park somewhere, it is pretty easy to hop on a shuttle and ride it to the park entrance. Here is the shuttle schedule from the official website.
My advice would be to ride the shuttle and hit the spots you are interested in. I only had a few days so I only did the Kayenta Trail and Riverside Walk in the park where you can’t drive.
There are also a few hikes past the visitor center/park entrance that you CAN drive. I feel they are worth it, even if they are short, simple hikes. Here is a map of the area showing the shuttle area and the area you can drive. One thing worth noting is you may have to wait for oversized vehicles to go through the tunnel on Hwy 9 in the afternoon.
Lodging/Meals
Flanigan’s Resort and Spa – nice motel, pool and hot tub, walking distance to Park Entrance. Restaurant on grounds.
Holiday Inn Express – nice motel, pool and hot tub. NOT walking distance to park, but could take shuttle. Restaurant across street. Awesome view from the hot tub!
Canyon Coffee – great place to grab a cup in the morning or when you’re done exploring the park, sit outside and enjoy the view.
MeMe’s Café – nice cafe and really good coffee!
Dulivia Ristorante Italiano – nice, fancy Italian re$taurant. Had the lasagna and glass of wine.
Hangry Goat – simple and fast. Grab a quick bite and get going.
Here was my itinerary, if you care to follow. I opted to do a few hikes not in the park to get away from the crowds, but I still wanted to see the Scenic Canyon Drive.
Day 1 – Zion National Park
* Kayenta Trail – 3.2 Miles (upper and lower emerald pools)
* Zion Narrows Riverside Walk – 1.9 Miles (leads to where The Narrows begins)
Day 2 – Not along Zion Canyon – drove own vehicle
* Observation Point via East Mesa Trail – 4.8 Miles and totally worth it.
* Zion Canyon Overlook Trail – 0.90 Miles
Day 3 – Not along Zion Canyon – drove own vehicle
* White Dome via Water Canyon Trail – 6.2 Miles – I only did half but worth it
* Lower Pine Creek Waterfall Trail – 0.70 Mile (easy but kind of fun!)
Day 4 – Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon and Bryce Canyon National Park
* UTV Tour to Peek-A-Slot Canyon
* Bryce Canyon National Park
Day 5 – St. George
*Grit + Grind Coffee – if you have some time to kill before your plane leaves, I’d go check this place out!
*Snow Canyon State Park – great scenery and great drive.
*Red Reef Trail – 2.2 Miles – Moderate, really cool hike.