Entrance Fees:
7 Day Pass: $25.00 per private vehicle or per family
America the Beautiful: $80.00 Valid for 1 year
America the Beautiful – Age 62 & over: $10.00 Valid for life
Click here for a current Park Guide and Map
MAIN CANYON:
This is the main and most popular section of the park. The visitor center and Springdale, Ut are surrounded by this part of the park.
Popular trail-heads for Weeping Rock, Emerald Pools, Angels Landing, The Narrows, etc. are all found on the eight-mile senic drive
that is accessible by shuttle April through October, and by private vehicle the rest of the year.
WILDLIFE AND BIOLOGY:
Skunks, ring-tailed cats, kangaroo rats, deer and big-horned sheep are just some 75 species of mammals visible with the park.
Peregrine falcons, eagles, wild turkeys, owls and quail are found in the canyons along with 265 other types of birds. You'll
also find a large variety of reptiles on land, along with 8 different fish in the waters of Zion. The great variations of
elevations, and formations create very diverse environments and with nearly 800 native species of plants, Zion has the
greatest botanical diversity in all of Utah.
PARK INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS:
Each day park rangers present a series of special talks, guided walks, and evening programs at the Visistor's Center and the
South Campground Amphitheater, which is located directly across the river from the Cliffrose riverside beach. Copies of
schedules are posted at visitor centers and on bulletin boards throughout the parkand all programs are free.
PARK JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM:
For children age 6-12, this program is held twice each day at the Zion Nature Center. Each session lasts two-and-a-half
hours with a $2 per child registration fee. The morning program begins at 9 a.m.; the afternoon at 1:30 p.m. The programs are fun
explorations of the secrets of Zion's plants and animals, its geology (why are the rocks red?) and its human history.
DAY AND OVERNIGHT HIKES:
Zion Canyon features some of the most dramatic and challenging hikes and scenery in the world. Among the classic trails
of Zion are Angels Landing (West Rim), East Rim, Weeping Rock, Pa'rus, Watchman, Emerald Pools, Hidden Canyon, Observation Point,
and the grand-daddy of them all, The Narrows. Rangers urge prospective hikers to be mentally and physically prepared and have the
right equipment; but most of all, hikers need to have current trail information and know what their personal limitations are.
Permits are required for The Narrows and other back country hikes. Call (435) 772-0170 for information on back country hikes.
ZION NARROWS:
Perhaps the most famous and one of the most challenging areas of the park is an area referred to as the "Narrows".
The Virgin River gathers its waters from several northerly tributaries all of which continue to carve deep gorges in the
sandstone. Intrepid hikers may follow the river's path, but plan on walking through water most of the day. The full length
of the main "Narrows" canyon is a 12.5 mile trek.
STORMS, FLASH FLOODS, TEMPERATURES:
The above three categories may each be a deterrent to your ability to experience Zion's back-country areas. Stay away
from narrow or slot canyons on bad weather days to avoid the dangers of high water levels and even flash floods. Water
temperatures are generally fine during the summer months but shadowed canyons are less likely to keep you warm as you
spend significant amounts of time in the water. Special preparations are required to enter the narrows in the colder
months of the year. Check with the National Park to obtain details.
BIKING:
One of the most popular ways to experience Zion Canyon is by bicycle. The Pa'rus trail is a 3.5 mile
paved trail that allows bikes. It's a beautifully scenic ride up the canyon along the Virgin River.
HORSEBACK RIDING:
Trail rides in Zion Canyon are a perennial favorite. One-hour and half-day rides can be arranged through Canyon Trail Rides.
TRANSPORTATION:
To reduce traffic and to improve the park experience, a new bus transportation system started operation on May 26, 2000.
It l runs during the busy season, March through October, and peak periods. One loop includes stops in Zion Canyon, and a
second includes stops in the town of Springdale. Parking is available throughout Springdale and inside the south park entrance.
Riding the shuttle on both loops is included in the park entrance fee. All visitors use the shuttle buses
to access Zion Canyon. You also have the option of biking or hiking along the canyon's scenic drive.
The Pa'rus Trail connects Zion Canyon to the new visitor center and both campgrounds.
The east side of the park will remain accessible by private vehicle. Currently motorcoaches, R.V.'s , cars and trucks may pass through
the park on highway 9 but will be unable to drive up the main canyon to major points of interest during the shuttle season of April - October
Zion Shuttle Operation Schedule
The shuttle operates daily beginning at 6:30 a.m. every 30 minutes, increasing to every 15 minutes and then, during the busy part of
the day, every 6 to 8 minutes. Toward evening shuttle times will scale back to 15 minutes, then to 30 minutes. The last bus will leave
the Zion Canyon Visitor Center at 9:30 p.m. The schedule is subject to change. A complete round trip will take a minimum of 90 minutes.
ONLY THE SCENIC DRIVE IS CLOSED TO PRIVATE VEHICLES - ALL OTHER ROADS IN THE PARK REMAIN OPEN TO PRIVATE VEHICLES.
ZION TUNNEL
A fee is charged for large vehicles equal to or exceeding 7'10" in width or 11'4" in height for a ranger escort through the Zion Tunnel.
Located on SR 9 between the main canyon and the East entrance of the park, the tunnel, completed in 1830, is 1.1 miles in length and part
of a nearly impossible engineering task. As you pass through the tunnel several windows give views through the side canyon wall into the
main canyon.
KOLOB SECTION
Two separate roads enter the northwest section of the park. One road from I-15 between St. George and Cedar City takes you into the Kolob
Fingers area. A short drive of 5.5 miles to an area which looks like a persons hand with multi-thousand foot canyons between each finger.
The second road goes North from the town of Virgin and enters the Kolob Terrace and allows visitors access to the Lava Point and to various
back-country canyons. The upper section of this road is closed in the winter due to snow depths.
WEATHER:
The park is open all year and each season is distinctively beautiful. Spring brings waterfalls cascading into the Virgin River - the force
that carved Zion Canyon. Summer is the favorite season with deep redcliffs rising above the lush green canyon. In autumn, brilliant red and
gold foliage accents the colors in the stone cliffs. And winter offers moderate temperatures with crisp mornings and warm afternoons. A
skiff of snow may appear on the silhouettes of the peaks on the west entrance while the east entrance of the park will experience heavy
winter snowfall on rare occasions. Daytime summer temperatures range from 70- to-105 degrees F, while night temperatures are usually
between 45-and-75 degrees F.
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