Introduction to Zion Hiking:
Zion National Park is fairly small compared to other national parks, but it does have a wide range of hiking opportunities for hikers of all abilities, from short family-friendly strolls to longer and more physically demanding hikes. If this is your first visit to Zion, you will likely want to spend a day or more in the popular Zion Canyon, riding the free Zion Canyon Shuttle up the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive to the various trailheads and hikes.
While most tourists come to Zion National Park obsessed with hiking the insanely popular Angels Landing and Zion Narrows, do not be disappointed if these options are not available to you; there are many other stunningly beautiful hiking opportunities in the park if you're willing to pick something different! See a list of hikes in Zion Canyon organized by shuttle stop.
Specific hikes are discussed on the following Best Hikes in Zion National Park page and many more obscure options can be found on the Many More Hiking Ideas page.
Permits, Reservations, and Fees:
No fees or wilderness permits are required for most day hikes along any of Zion's trails, but permits are required for:
- Angels Landing Trail. (Permits were introduced in 2022 due to dangerous crowding along the insanely popular trail.)
- Any top-down hike through the Zion Narrows. (Most people want to do the friendly Zion Narrows Day Hike "bottom-up" from the Temple of Sinawava--this version of the hike does NOT require a permit.)
- Any canyoneering route (a canyon hike that requires the use of technical descending gear or ropes)
- Any hike through the Left Fork of North Creek (the Subway). (Even if you do the "bottom-up" non-canyoneering Subway hike, you still need a permit.)
- Any overnight adventure (multi-day hike, backpacking, or climbing bivouac).
Due to the epic popularity of several routes that require permits (most notably Angels Landing and the Subway), an advance lottery is put in place, so you can try to win a permit for a specific day several months in advance of your intended trip.
More information can be found on the NPS's Zion Wilderness Permits page. Permit fees tend to be $10 per person for a canyoneering route and $20 per person for an overnight route, not including various recreation.org fees and an extra reservation/lottery fee.
Hiking Conditions:
During peak tourist season in the summer months, Zion Canyon is hot and dry with temperatures often exceeding 100°F. Be prepared with plenty of water and protection from the sun (hat, sunblock, etc.) to prevent heat exhaustion and dehydration, especially on clear sunny days. On really hot days, consider hiking only during the cooler morning and evening hours.
Spring and autumn have milder temperatures (highs in the 70s and 80s, lows in the 40s and 50s) and during winter, highs are often in the 50s with temps dipping just below freezing at night. (Temperatures in the higher elevations of Zion can be 10 to 20 degrees cooler.) Although southwest Utah is mostly arid, storm systems can result in significant precipitation and sudden temperature drops. Dress in layers so you can adapt to the significant temperature changes that can occur during the day.
Most of Zion Canyon's historical trails were blasted out of the sandstone walls to make a route that climbs up to the rim, so be prepared to hike on trails of hard cement and pavement, some with a steep uphill incline. These trails tend to be hard on the feet and knees, but most of the constructed trails also go over natural slabs of sandstone and through sections of soft sand and dirt. If you plan on hiking the Zion Narrows or other slot canyons, be prepared to get your feet wet and hike in a streambed littered with large rocks.
Equipment for Leisurely Hikes:
- Footwear: Light hiking shoes like trail runners are perfect for the terrain in Zion. Models that do not have GORE-TEX are good for hiking the Narrows, so they can breathe and drain water. (A simple shoe like the La Sportiva Bushido III Trail-Running Shoe works great.) Hiking sandals like the Keen Newport H2 are great for leisurely shorter strolls, but avoid any sandals that don't have any toe protection. (In canyon country, big heavy hiking boots that inhibit ankle movement might not be the best choice, even when backpacking.) Wool or synthetic socks protect from blisters better than cotton socks, and neoprene socks are good for hiking in the river.
- Drinking Water: In the summer desert heat, you could potentially need to drink a gallon of water or more a day, so plan appropriately for your hike(s). While many people get away with taking only a small bottled water with them on long hikes, it isn't recommended. Bringing water in Nalgene bottles or hydration reservoirs in a compatible backpack are both good solutions. The Osprey Stratos 24 is a great little hydration-compatible backpack for day hikes and it still has quite a bit of room for supplies.
- Sun protection: To protect from sunburn, sunscreen and a wide-rimmed hat is recommended. (A baseball cap will not protect the back of your neck.)
- Food/Snacks: For longer hikes, bring any food that helps keep you going, from energy bars to fruits and sandwiches.
- Navigation Aids: If you are sticking to the short and popular hikes in Zion Canyon, you don't necessarily need a map, but the National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map is a wonderful little pamphlet that gives a detailed overview of the entire park and shows all of the roads and official trails. If you buy only one Zion book, buy this! A smartphone with a GPS and map app that can be used offline can also be very useful.
More Equipment for Strenuous or Remote Hikes:
- Hiking Poles: While hiking poles aren't always necessary, they come in handy on long hikes, especially when you're carrying a heavy overnight pack on uneven terrain. Hiking poles are also useful for stream hiking like the Zion Narrows or the lower section of the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway). (The Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles are a good model.)
- Headlamp: It's a good idea to bring a headlamp on day hikes as well as backpacking trips, just in case you get caught out after dark. Two excellent lightweight models are the Petzl Actik Core (dual LEDs with settings up to 300 lumens) and the Black Diamond Cosmo 350 (dual buttons to turn on/off without having to cycle through different modes and IPX8 waterproof rating).
- Navigation Aids: Beyond the National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map, for wilderness exploration, navigation aids are essential. If you use a GPS and map app on your smartphone, make sure you have your maps downloaded and they work offline as in many areas of the park, you will not get any cell reception.
- Emergency Kit: When exploring the isolated wilderness, emergency supplies could be a life-saver. Items could include: Band-Aids, whistle, a lighter, emergency poncho, small mirror, webbing or cord, utility knife, a warm hat, cell phone*, portable power bank charger, etc.
- For a more complete list of useful outdoor items, please see Hiking and Backpacking Gear.
Hiking Ethics in Zion:
When hiking along Zion's popular "frontcountry" trails like the Emerald Pools Trail, Riverside Walk, Angels Landing, etc., please obey all posted "do not hike here" signs and use designated restrooms. Due to the vast amount of visitors, it is quite easy for human activity to have a devastating effect on Zion's fragile desert and riparian areas. In contrast, exploring the less-visited backcountry gives much more opportunity for random off-trail exploration, but you must still be conscious of treading as lightly as possible. Stick to solid sandstone or the watercourse of a drainage as much as possible and try to avoid trampling vegetation and cryptobiotic soil. And of course, please practice the "leave no trace" ethic wherever you hike! See more tips to minimize your impact...
Guiding Services, Equipment Rental, etc:
While commercial canyon guiding is not permitted within Zion National Park beyond short hikes up the Narrows, several outfitters in the town of Springdale, including the Zion Adventures, Zion Guru, and Zion Guide Hub offer services including hiking equipment rental, bike/e-bike rental packages, canyoneering day trips and training in interesting canyons just outside the national park boundary, and shuttle service to various remote trailheads.
Cell Phone Warning:
Do not rely on cell-phone coverage when hiking in Zion National Park. While you can get reception in the town of Springdale, the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, and at the Zion Lodge, you are unlikely to get service on most of Zion's trails, in any canyons, or most locations deep in the wilderness. You can get reception from many highpoints in Zion, including Angels Landing, Observation Point, several peaks in the Upper East Canyon, the Left Fork Trailhead, and the Hop Valley Trailhead. If you are in the wilderness and need to make an emergency call, try to get to a highpoint (if possible) and you might just be able to get through.
