WELCOME TO ZION NATIONAL PARK!
In the heart of desert slot canyon territory in southwestern Utah is the most awe-inspiring place on the planet: Zion National Park. Although Zion is relatively small compared to other national parks, it offers an abundance of hiking opportunities across a variety of diverse terrains. Choose from one of the items below to get started!
INTRODUCTION TO ZION NATIONAL PARK
If you are new to Zion National Park, please start with this introduction to get oriented. Topics include getting to Zion National Park (flying and driving), entrance fees, finding parking at the Visitor Center and Springdale, navigating the Zion shuttle bus system, and dealing with crowds at this very popular national park. Also covered are dining and lodging ideas and conditions during different seasons.
THE BEST HIKES IN ZION NATIONAL PARK
Zion National Park has a wide range of hiking opportunities from short family-friendly strolls to longer strenuous day hikes in diverse terrain from arid desert sections to breathtakingly majestic viewpoints to lush forests and claustrophobic slot canyons. If you are a first-time visitor and want to see the best of Zion in a few days, try to squeeze in several of the short-and-easy hikes as well as a few of the more strenuous ones.
HIKES IN ZION CANYON (Organized by Shuttle Stop)
If you are planning to spend the day visiting the popular Zion Canyon either by riding the Zion Canyon Line of the free shuttle bus system or by riding a bike or e-bike up the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, there are many great hiking trails to be found at just about every stop from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center to the end of the line at the Temple of Sinawava. There is more to see than just Angels Landing and the Zion Narrows.
ZION PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
Zion National Park is a paradise for landscape photographers, with glowing orange, red, and pink textured sandstone formations interplaying with the lush vegetation provided by weeping walls and the emerald waters of the Virgin River. This article discusses some tips and ideas for good spots to catch sunrise and sunset, photogenic landmarks and hikes, and how to deal with wet environments like the Zion Narrows.
CANYONEERING IN ZION NATIONAL PARK
Canyoneering is an activity that involves hiking as well as rappelling, downclimbing, route finding, rope work, and swimming in cold water to allow you to see much more remote and secluded scenery than you could by simply hiking. Zion National Park is considered a mecca for canyoneering with several world-famous canyons like the Zion Narrows and the Subway, as well as countless obscure and remote canyons.
MANY MORE HIKING IDEAS!
Hidden in this website are write-ups for over 90 hikes in Zion National Park and the greater Zion area. View more hiking ideas organized by sections of the park: Zion Canyon, More Zion Canyon, Upper East Canyon, Zion Narrows, the Kolob Terrace, Kolob Canyons Section, the Desert Lowlands, and the Greater Zion Area. IMPORTANT: It is up to you to determine if a route is appropriate for your ability and experience.
This site is written and maintained by Joe Braun, an avid hiker and photographer who has been exploring and photographing Zion National Park for over 30 years. None of this site is written by AI; I am a real human being who enjoys writing and sharing my first-hand hiking experiences and photographs with other people who enjoy the outdoors. About this Site...
