Carved by the Virgin River: Zion Canyon was shaped over millions of years as the Virgin River cut through layers of Navajo Sandstone, creating sheer cliffs that rise over 2,000 feet from the canyon floor.
The Narrows: One of Zion’s most iconic hikes takes place directly in the river. Conditions change daily, and flash flood risk makes monitoring weather and flow rates essential.
Angels Landing: This exposed ridge hike is one of the most famous — and dangerous — trails in the national park system. A permit is required to hike beyond Scout Lookout.
Zion Is a Climber’s Paradise: The park is internationally known for big-wall climbing routes on massive sandstone cliffs, many requiring advanced skills and permits.
A Meeting of Ecosystems: Zion sits at the intersection of the Colorado Plateau, Mojave Desert, and Great Basin, resulting in unusually high biodiversity for a desert park.
Human History: The area has long been inhabited by Indigenous peoples, including the Southern Paiute. Mormon settlers later established farms in the canyon bottom in the 1860s.
Rockfall Is Normal: Zion’s cliffs are constantly eroding. Rockfall is a natural process and one of the primary forces shaping the canyon today.
Extreme Conditions: Summer heat, monsoon storms, and narrow canyons make heat illness and flash floods the most common hazards for visitors.
147,242 acres
Most visitors stay within the main canyon, but vast backcountry areas remain remote and rugged.
$35 per vehicle (valid for 7 days)
$30 per motorcycle
$20 per person (on foot or bicycle)
The America the Beautiful Annual Pass is accepted
Cost: $80/year (resident) $250/year (non-resident)
Can be purchased:
At the entrance station - RECOMMENDED, why? When you make a purchase at a park, they retain 80% of the fees. When you purchase online, the fees are dispersed and don't impact that park directly
Online through the National Park Service - be sure to select add physical pass if you want a physical pass (this is the link for the resident pass - if you are a non-resident, please see my travel tip for changes to the Park's Pass for non-residents)
At many other national park entrances nationwide
Timed Entry: Not required for park entry.
Permits Required For:
Angels Landing (seasonal lottery system)
The Narrows (top-down route)
The Subway (top-down canyoneering + bottom-up hiking routes)
Backcountry overnight trips
Canyoneering routes
More permit information found HERE
Important Notes:
Weather anywhere in the Virgin River watershed can affect canyon conditions — even if skies are clear in Zion.
Yes — Required for Zion Canyon (Most of the Year)
Private vehicles are restricted in Zion Canyon during shuttle season
Free shuttle runs from Springdale into the canyon and stops at major trailheads
Bikes are allowed on the Scenic Drive when shuttles are operating
GO EARLY - the hour for the shuttles can be very long, even as early at 9am
Spring and fall for moderate temperatures
Early mornings to avoid crowds and heat
Winter for quieter trails and snow-dusted cliffs (some closures possible though because of ice)
