Why This Park Is Special?

Zion National Park is defined by towering sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and the Virgin River cutting straight through the heart of the park. It’s one of the most vertically dramatic landscapes in the Southwest — and one of the most heavily visited.

Must-Know Facts

• 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.

Park Size

• 147,242 acres
  Most visitors stay within the main canyon, but vast backcountry areas remain remote and rugged.

Cost of Entry

• $35 per vehicle (valid for 7 days)

• $30 per motorcycle

• $20 per person (on foot or bicycle)

National Parks Pass

• 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

Reservations, Permits & Timed Entry

• 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.

Shuttle System

• 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

Best Time to Visit

• 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)