Zion National Park
Outdoor Activities and Lodging

Zion National Park offers many outdoor activities including hiking, horseback rides and camping. Our CD-ROM multimedia travel guide describes in detail the following popular hikes, as well as several others, with series of photographs zooming to full screen size. That way you can decide for yourself if the sights are worth the effort. We use our own walking times in minutes (') - steady, but with time taken to 'smell the flowers.'
See also Grand Canyon National Park!

The Best Hikes

		Angels’ Landing Trail Strenuous 4 - 5 miles hike with 1488ft ascent starts from the Grotto picnic area. First 10' are fairly flat, but then you reach an almost vertical wall (left.) Unless			(3)Scout Lookout (left.) If the past 2 miles/50' were 'refreshing' enough, well, the views are great from here too. Before you press on, look at the stone spine ahead (left.) That's the
		(2) you start early, next 20' mean zigzagging in full sun until you find a brief respite in Refrigerator Canyon (left.) Walter's Wiggles, a short set of even steeper switchbacks, leads to..			(4) last, steepest 0.5 mile. In places, chains help people 8 to 60+ reach the views at Angels’ Landing (photo,) but I've also seen a group in mid-20s giving up, crawling back on all 4!

The Narrows: for several years the only way to 'do' this wet, but wonderful hike was to walk downstream from Chamberlain's Ranch. This 10-hours or overnight hike requires reservations and $5 permit. It is possible again to hike upstream for couple of hours from the end of the Riverside Walk without permit, returning the same day. Moderate, but most of time you wade in cold river. Views along the ever narrowing canyon are well worth it.

Easier Hikes

Emerald Pools Trails: the Lower EP Trail's easy, paved 1.2 mile loop leads to and under a weather-dependant waterfall(s) dropping into an appropriately colored pool (photo.) Middle EP Trail adds a moderate 150ft ascent to the top ledge of the waterfall and then returns via a 1 mile long higher route. Upper EP Trail is a 0.3 mile (200ft up) sandy hike to another pool. When the falls are at their best after a rain, the Middle EP Trail can get slippery.

Hidden Canyon Trail

Canyon Overlook Trail

Hiking in Zion NP is rewarding. The best time is generally either Spring or Fall, when the weather is mild and the danger of thunderstorms and flash floods is relatively low:

	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Temperature, °F max	55	75	100	80
Temperature, °F min	30	40	65	50
Snowfall, inches/month	20	0-14	-	0-5
Thunderstorms/month	-	5	15	3

Each of the 3 types of hikes has different considerations:

2. Hiking the Zion Narrows means wading in the river most of the time. During the frequent, potentially deadly flash floods the river fills up the bottom of its steep canyon. As the water is always cold, the best time for this hike is either June or September, when the danger of flash floods is relatively low (see table above.) Hiking the whole 16 miles downstream requires a backcountry permit ($5.) A good, free day-hike is wading upstream to the confluence with Orderville Canyon, some 2 hours upstream from the Temple of Sinewava shuttle stop.
Note: check with the park rangers for flood danger first, then try to get a walking stick under the stairs at the end of the Riverside Walk, and return it there.

3. Backcountry hikes to other spectacular slot canyons including the Subway, overnight trips or those requiring technical gear (ropes etc. - several slot canyons!) require permits usually limited in numbers. The Kolob Arch Trail in the western section, leading in 7 miles to one of the 2 longest arches, is much more fun if done as a 2-day trek.

Lodging Options

Within the Zion Canyon:
Zion Lodge (screen capture of its index listing from our guide:)

Watchman Campgound (reservations)
South Campground
Backcountry camping - permit required

Springdale, 3-4 stars:
Desert Pearl Inn
BW Zion Park Inn, Bumbleberry Inn, Cliffrose Lodge & Gardens, Novel House, Zion Canyon B&B

Springdale, budget:
El Rio Lodge, Pioneer Lodge, Zion Canyon Campground and Motel

Our Multimedia Travel Guide

Find more about our travel guide
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