Best Things To Do In Zion National Park
If Zion National Park wasn’t on your vision board to go visit soon…it definitely should be!
If you are anything like me, relaxing looks very different than most. I relax by seeing epic sights and going on incredible adventures. That is why visiting our National Parks is something we love to do. We are from the east coast but here is so much to explore out west! We loved wandering around Southwestern Utah and discovering things to do in Zion National Park.
Unbeknownst to us at the time, Zion is the 3rd most visited national park in the country, and for good reason! It is breathtaking! Our favorite trails were The Canyon Overlook Trail, West Rim Trail (to Angels Landing), and The Narrows.
Canyon Overlook Trail
This is a very short hike with absolutely breathtaking views! The evening before we were going to spend the day at Zion we drove to the park to check it out and verify shuttle times. We drove past this hike and spontaneously decided to hike it. I was not dressed for a hike and it was EXTREMELY hot outside…but we decided to try it. It is only 1 mile roundtrip. It was a super simple hike with cliffs and high drop offs. The end of the hike was a beautiful lookout through a MAGNIFICENT canyon.
West Rim Trail
This is one of the most famous trails because from it you can go to Angel’s Landing, which is the scariest hike in America. You must have a permit to even be able to hike it today (find information on that here). The West Rim Trail, however, is beautiful all on its own accord. It has lots of switchbacks that climb high into the sky with steep drop offs everywhere you look. Once at the top we arrived to Scout’s Lookout, which absolutely took my breath away. We actually saw the sun rise over one of the steep cliffs in the sky!
From the lookout you can continue up to Angel’s Landing. This is a terrifying climb with only a chain to hold onto. You walk across a land bridge that is no more than 5 feet in width to finally get to the lookout. The most recent count is 13 people have fallen from their deaths from this hike. I climbed one set of chains before I decided it was definitely not for me, but Ben did the entire thing!
The Narrows
To be honest at first I did not want to do this hike. When we were planning our trip and I came across this hike I thought….walking through cold water? That sounds super uncomfortable…no thanks. But once we got there and it even the wind is hot, I gave it a second thought.
It was SO much fun! I felt like a little kid on a playground climbing rocks and wading through water. I also felt like I had trained for this hike over the past decade by all of the rock beaches I’ve been to and all of the tide pooling I have done here in New England. The cool water was much welcomed. A little desert oasis!
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
Is the Zion Canyon Scenic drive worth it? Absolutely! I cannot tell you how incredible the view is. I was awestruck and I know you will be too! Being from New Hampshire and seeing those beautiful tall canyons, mesas, and mountains took my breath away. Thank goodness I wasn’t driving so that I could stare as long as I wanted without any incident.
Now you may be wondering, can I just drive through Zion National Park? You must know that in between March and November, you can only view this scenic drive from a shuttle bus window. However, in the other months, private vehicles are free to drive through.
Riverside Walk
If you are on your way to the Narrows, then you will have hiked this already! This is a paved path that is stroller and wheelchair friendly. You will hear the soft rumbling of the river and feel a cool reprieve from summer heat as you stroll along this sidewalk. This trail starts at the Temple of Sinawava shuttle stop and is about 2 miles round trip.
Lower Emerald Pools
The lower emerald pools will not disappoint, well except you cannot go into them. That is one downfall. It looks so inviting on blistering hot summer days, but this water is essential for the wildlife around and people are not permitted to swim in it. The Lower Emerald Pools Trail is a rugged trail through beautiful woodlands that leads you to a magical waterfall! It is partially paved, and about 1.4 miles out and back.
Where to stay near Zion National Park
There are a lot of accommodations you can choose to stay in near Zion National Park. If you like to golf, consider Sand Hallow Resort near Sand Hallow State Park. Although it is a 45 minute drive to get to Zion National Park, you get to enjoy a beautiful state park right across the street! Sand Hallow State Park is the perfect place to swim or boat on a hot day.
Camping
Of course you can enjoy primitive camping on Zion National Park! This National Park offers three different campgrounds that you can reserve. However, only one of them is inside the park.
That campground is Watchman Campground, located close to the visitor center, and this is open year round. The second campground, Lava Point Campground, is about an hour outside of the park on Kolob Terrace Road and is closed in the winter. The third and final campground, South Campground, is closed for rehabilitation.
What are the two best hikes in Zion National Park?
The two best and most popular hikes in Zion National Park are Angels Landing and The Narrows.
What Should I do First in Zion National Park?
What you should do first in Zion National Park is very heavily dependent on the weather. You do not want to enter into The Narrows if there is a possibility of flash floods. I recommend the Canyon Overlook Trail because it is not labor intensive, it is fairly easy, and the view is unbeatable!
Thank you for reading I hope this is helpful to you as you plan out things to do in Zion National Park! It certainly feels like you are entering a different world when you arrive, especially coming from the east coast. If you are curious about our east coast adventures, be sure to check out the posts below! Happy traveling!
Nearest airport Zion National Park
The nearest airport Zion National Park is The St George Regional Airport. The closest international airport to Zion National Park is The Harry Reid International airport in Las Vegas. The Harry Reid is a 2.5 hour drive to Zion National Park.
More Resources:
How To Take Good Travel Photos
Best Shoes for Zion National Park
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