Guide to Zion National Park

Dave and I took a road trip through the American Southwest desert in October 2017, visiting six national parks and one national monument. The word Zion means a place of peace & refuge, a sanctuary; and I cannot think of a more perfect description for this park. It is one of those national parks that, despite its popularity, still feels wild and untouched. In fact, over 84% of its land is considered pristine wilderness. We put together this guide to share some of our favorite hikes, and where we ate/slept inside the park.




WEEPING ROCK | An easy 0.5-mile roundtrip walk that leads to a hanging garden, created by dripping water from a slot canyon up above. Find a dry spot to stand and admire the incredible view down the canyon.

HIDDEN CANYON TRAIL | A challenging 2.5-mile roundtrip hike to the mouth of a small canyon. The trail transitions from lengthy switchbacks to a narrow, steep cliff with only a few chains to hold on to. But every angle offers outrageous views of Zion Canyon.

THE NARROWS | This was the highlight of our trip. The trail is the Virgin River, where you wade upstream inside the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. Its walls are over 1,000 feet tall, with a span at times of just 20 feet. And the water levels range from a few inches to well over waist high. It was an unforgettable experience. Dave and I loved getting such a unique perspective of Zion’s incredible landscape. We hiked to the canyon’s famous Wall Street section roughly three miles in, which is appropriately named after the sheer 1,500-foot cliffs enclosing the river. In fact, the walls were so tall that they almost completely blocked out the sunlight. We turned around shortly after when the water was too deep to cross, but the trail continues another couple miles ending at Big Springs.
Pro tips:
1. Check the weather and water levels. This canyon is susceptible to flash flooding.
2. Get there early. We arrived first thing in the morning and had the canyon nearly all to ourselves.
3. Rent waterproof gear and a hiking pole in Springdale. It’s not the most fashionable thing to wear, but it kept us dry and warm in the chilly 40-degree water.

HWY 9 | Our jaws dropped the second we reached the national park. Its eastern entrance began with a one-mile tunnel lit only by a few picture windows teasing us with a glimpse of what was to come. Upon exiting, a series of tight switchbacks gradually descended to the canyon floor. Each hairpin turn offered breathtaking views of the enormous sandstone cliffs that soared high above us.

EMERALD POOLS | A 2.5-mile loop that passes by three different seasonal pools at the base of a large cliff. Because we were there in the fall, the water levels were pretty low. But the views down the canyon were unbelievable.

EVENINGS AT ZION LODGE | We absolutely loved sitting in the rocking chairs outside the lodge every evening. As the day slowed down, deer returned to the big lawn for dinner. The sun cast a warm glow inside the canyon. Climbers’ headlights flickered on the rocky wall across the street. And because we were lucky enough to book a cabin, the park felt like it was our own private backyard once the last shuttle bus departed. It was a calm and tranquil side of Zion that not everyone gets to experience. 






The only place to eat inside the park is at Zion Lodge. There are more restaurants in the nearby town of Springdale.

RED ROCK GRILL | Because we stayed at the lodge, we had most of our meals here. And we may or may not have splurged on the brownie bliss each night. If you’re looking for a quick bite, there is also a small café next door.

OSCAR’S CAFÉ | Located in the town of Springdale. It was so good we actually ate here twice. The first was an incredibly hearty breakfast with great coffee. And the second was for lunch with nachos that were out of this world.

ZION LODGE
We had planned our entire vacation around the lodge’s availability, and it was well worth it. To protect vegetation and restore tranquility to Zion Canyon, a shuttle system was established to take visitors from Springdale to designated stops throughout the national park. The only other vehicles allowed in were those belonging to the guests staying at Zion Lodge. We felt pretty special being one of the only cars on the road, getting a more personal experience of the canyon. And because the shuttle buses stop running around 7pm, every evening felt as if the park was our own private backyard; it was a calm and tranquil side that not everyone gets to experience. And on top of that, we absolutely loved our cabin. It was small but cozy, with our own fireplace and an amazing view just outside our front door. 

More lodging options are available in the town of Springdale, along with three campgrounds inside the park.