Zion National Park Reviews

Visited Zion for Sept 4th , long weekend. Reached Saturday evening , stay was at Riverside. Riverside has few dining options and they take 30 mins wait(for table) , post that the wait time for order. Due to rains the weather forecast showed the narrows as closed, but by Sunday weather was clear and the narrows opened. Narrows was a great and different experience for the whole family. As per previous reviews had taken neoprene socks and water shoes from Amazon , took walking stick for $10 from visitor center(even that can be purchased from Amazon). Walking stick is a must. We did not go too deep in the narrows , 1 mile walking alongside the river , post that the water starts , you can go as far you want. We just went half a mile .Then back the same distance. Should plan the visit for at-least 2 days to enjoy the park completely. Plan to reach early to visitor center , to save time for waiting in Q for shuttle.

We rented ebikes and got into Zion early before the crowds. Around 8:30. Zoomed in (good to avoid too much hiking on foot) and then parked and did the shorter hikes. If I did it again, I would meander longer and soak our feet in the clear cool water, over lunch. It is terrific they don’t let private cars drive through, so it is safe roads for biking. Best way to see it, got to cover a lot of terrain with a cool breeze.

To visit the park we dedicated from lunchtime to afternoon and I must say it was enough. The most beautiful thing is actually the car journey both on arrival and continuing to Bryce Canyon. Our journey started from Las Vegas and the Zion was our first stop, and as such it stunned us (although then seeing the Bryce... well what about it far exceeds it!!!). We stayed in Springdale and getting to the park is really easy, in fact every 10 minutes there is a shuttle that takes you. We made the card to be able to access all the National Parks without having to pay for access every time, very convenient and convenient.

To do!

Zion National Park is one of my favorites NP. I have been the Park a couple of times. It is good but can be improved. We walked Emerald Pool Trails and Riverside Walk. Should Park can add Miles Stones at roadside and recover the closed stops, you will be excellent.

Really beautiful but expect crowds and heat. We did Overlook Canyon Trail and that was amazing, highly recommend it. The 2nd day, we had to drive around the parking lot for a long time to find parking.

Awesomely beautiful walls of stone in Zion National Park. My second visit here. I would definitely return to hike some different trails. The hiking is wonderful in this beautiful place. I recommend the Canyon Overlook, Riverwalk Trail, West Rim Trail, Emerald Pools trail. Take the free Zion shuttle to the scenic drive for many of the hikes. I think it would be fun to stay in the Lodge in the future. One of our beautiful National Parks!

Much to crowded. No parking space in the park. No space outside the park. (Cost: 40 dollars!) We investigated while standing on a 20 minute parking spot: line for the shuttlebus more dan 1 hour. Lot of buses standing at the visitor center not being used. Buses clearly not airconditioned and crammed with people. We decided not to go. Conclusion: Parking and shuttlesysteem very poorly organized. No incentive for improvement as locals thrive on parking costs.
Maybe it’s less worse if you go very early, better skip it at all.

All we heard from family and friends about Zion was favorable. This was going to be our last of the top 5 of the parks to visit. With great anticipation we entered. My first impression was this is an amazing place. As we continue into the park it becomes clear, it reminded me of Disney World. Very crowded. The bus system that you must take to enter into the park is jammed packed with people. If you’re lucky to get a seat you have a limited view of the breathtaking views. Our driver coming back from the “end of the road “ said we were at the visitor center when in fact we were 5stops from the center. We got off and found out we now had to wait for another bus to get us back. Our hike at the Narrows was a highlight. Lots of travelers but most were respectful. We loved the other 4 main National Parks much more.

You need to be on one of the first shuttles in order to avoid the crowds and the heat - like 7-8 AM. We went to Stop 9, walked to the narrows, then hopped on bus to Stop 6 - Grotto - hiked up to Angel’s Landing squiggles, then back to Emerald Pools, ending up at Zion Lodge. Then, bus to Stop 3 - Canyon Junction - and hike back to Visitor Center on Pa’rus Trail. There are stretches in the valley where your only choice is to walk on the road - not attractive at all. These stretches are between Stop 9 and Stop 6 and between Stop 5 and Stop 3. Take the shuttle. We put in around 10 miles doing this route, reverse if hot. The Narrows get very crowded. Spectacular.

First time for me visiting any park in Utah. My husband had been there before. Zion's geology is absolutely breathtaking. Make sure to soak it all in!

It's so wonderful to be able to explore this amazing park at your own pace. There's a hike suited for any level of experience from paved and flat to treacherous and demanding. The handy one-page guide is so well laid out that you can easily decide which hikes you want to experience. Combine it with watching YouTube videos posted by previous hikers, and you can't go wrong.

We did Watchman and the 3 Emerald Pools in two days. Both hikes were so rewarding. In spite of the warnings about the time we were there being the busiest season, we experienced quite a few times where we were the only ones on our part of the trails.

We were able to avoid long waits for the shuttle by staying close to the park (at the Best Western) and simply walking to the park entrance.

A bucket list item that was finally achieved. Zion NationalPark is one of many beautiful places in our country . Touring the park leaves you with many impressions and pictures that is hard to imagine. It's a shame pictures that are taken really can't convey the true beauty of the area.

Unreal in its beauty. The town is cute and set up for tourist. The best part is Koboe Canyons and when you drive through the park on Hwy 9 through the tunnels.

On both of our visits, my wife and I have walked the scenic-drive route from the far end (station 9) until we got tired and needed a ride back to the visitor's center. It's an intimate experience with the canyon, a electric bicycle
There is little parking available inside the park, so you best bet is to suck it up and be prepared to pay $20 in Springdale. Springdale operates a "free" shuttle to take you into the park. I put free in quotes because they nail you for $20 to park. Geez, they better offer a free shuttle.
But based on observation, an electric bicycle looks like an attractive option because you can cover the entire canyon vice just a portion of it. I don't know the cost to rent, but it's something you should seriously consider.

Arrival at 9:30, no more parking spaces, so, we turn, we turn until the moment when a space becomes available by miracle. Then an hour's line to catch a drunk shuttle. And then, with a little girl of 7 years we make the choice to hike on esmerold pool, and there, apart from having the Impression of being on the Elysian fields, all to arrive at a mini waterfall. In short, U-turn, shuttle back, parking tunnel... moreover by consulting the government website, we learned that the quality of the river was in red alert contaminated by a bacteria....only happiness.
When a flow management as in yosemite with prior Reservation.

This was a great day trip from Las Vegas and place to stop on our way to Bryce Canyon. (I would skip the human history museum which is very small and still half about the Mormons.)

This is one of the most majestic parks I have visited. The drive from the AZ border to UT is amazing and i am in awe of all the rock structures on the way. The park is gorgeous, well maintained and organized. There is an entrance fee of $35/vehicle but if you have a senior pass, it free and a yearly pass cost to visit any national park is just $10. We went on a Sunday and there was a good crowd but ample parking. There was a shuttle taking us to the very top and we could hop off and back in at any time. Each sector was gorgeous and defenitely worth hiking. We were also allowed to drive up the mountain and thru the tunnel and turn back and retrace our steps. It's gorgeous and you should visit this park more than one single time to enjoy it's beauty. A must see.

Beautiful national park! Great hiking options and so much nature to take in. Prepare to go early and wait in line to get in or go later in the day when the crowds thin out.

We drove in from Bryce Canyon and started through the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. It’s a beautiful road but you need to be patient as there could be long lines to get through the entrance station (it was just 5 minutes when we arrived but when we left, looked like at least an hour wait). Also, there was a backup going into the tunnel as it turns into a one-way road for larger vehicles.

It’s important to note that during the main travel season, you can’t drive on the scenic drive (where most of the main attractions are) unless you are staying at the Zion Lodge. So, in most cases, you end up taking a shuttle bus and while they do run often, they can be full. The visitor center parking lot is huge but still fills up quickly as many people will park there and then take the shuttle. In fact, on the day we left, we were there at 11 AM and a person saw us walking out of the visitor center and asked if were leaving, and then asked if it was ok to follow us and stand in our spot as people were just circling the lot. In many cases they will just close the lot and then you have to park in Springdale and then take a shuttle to the main shuttle.

As for the park itself, judging from the parking lot, it’s not that popular but it’s worth spending an hour at the Zion Human History Museum. It has a nice movie that talks about the park, and it’s on the shuttle route so you can park there to avoid the craziness at the Visitor Center.

While Angels Landing and The Narrows get most of the attention (we didn’t do it as we didn’t have a permit for Angels and Narrows was closed), there are a few simple trails I would really recommend like Weeping Rock, Court of the Patriarch’s (this really isn’t a trail as you can do it 5 minutes), and Riverside Walk. We also did Emerald Pools and unfortunately the main trail to it was closed, but there is a harder alternative route at Angels Landing we took.

Overall while the park is very popular and you have to be patient, it’s definitely worth going to and should spend at least two days.

Zion National Park is absolutely legendary, and hiking The Narrows is hands down the best part. You’re literally walking upstream through the Virgin River with massive, 1,000 foot canyon walls closing in on you. It’s like being in a natural cathedral! Wading through the water and navigating the slippery river rocks is a total blast. It’s a unique, bucket list adventure that totally lives up to the hype. You’ll love it!

Zion National Park in Utah is a jaw-dropping natural wonderland that feels like it's straight out of a dream. The towering red rock formations, the dramatic slot canyons, and the Virgin River winding through the canyon floor make it a hiker's paradise. The Angel's Landing trail, with its thrilling chains section, offers one of the most exhilarating hikes you can find. But, and here's the thing, it's no secret how amazing Zion is, so it tends to get super crowded. During peak season, finding parking can be a headache, and some of the popular trails can feel more like a conga line of hikers. However, if you're willing to explore the less-visited parts of the park or visit during the off-season, you can still discover moments of solitude and soak in the park's breathtaking beauty.

We entered Zion on the Mt Carmel parkway and I’m so glad we did!! The views were spectacular and we made tons of pictures. But when we got to the visitor’s center, we learned the only way we could view the rest of Zion was by shuttle bus. We were not allowed to drive on our own. We had been to Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon and never had this problem. The shuttle bus was not like a large tour bus with large picture windows and double seats. Rather it had divided windows on one side and solid on the other, but either way you could only see a slice of the mountain. The seats were along the sides or else you had to stand. None of these options afforded you a way to make pictures. So the only pictures we were able to make were at each stop. This is definitely a hiker’s paradise not one for those of us who view from the car or pullouts. Had i known this, I would have allotted more time for Bryce and only one day for Zion.

We took the shuttle bus to the last stop and then cleared the field from behind. We hiked a lot, but also a lot of people on the way through the shuttle bus. We only had one day here and therefore a hike for hours was not possible for us. However, we could get a good impression untrue enthusiastic. The next two days we drove the car and were able to gain completely different impressions. So from us a recommendation

Amazing canyon views. We did a couple easy hikes. Had breakfast in the Lodge: very good and reasonably priced. Crowds were insane when we were leaving. We arrived at 6:30 am. Visitor center not open yet. Because we arrived early we found parking at the visitor center. Ranger Claire gave an informative program on trees. It was at the museum. A half day there was enough for us. If you plan on longer hikes it would require much more time.

We arrived by the north entrance and the superb Mount Carmen road with its incredible and impressive tunnel much nicer than the springdale road. The first problem c is to find a place to park a real galley and you end up with private parking from 30 to 40 $. It should do as other Parks limit the entrances by spreading the visits over all day with entrance slots. Otherwise after you must take a shuttle that will take you to the 9 points of interest inside the canyon. Off season you can do it directly by car , it is very beautiful but not the one that will leave me the best memory .

Such a cool place for a da trip. I went through one of the logest tunnels in the country. Made a video of our travels for our YouTube channel Coolest Life.

This is gorgeous. Worth the drive from Vegas . Little over 2 hour drive. Beautiful drive as well to the park. Felt like heaven. Love Love it.

They don't write it on their website or on the notice board at the park entrance but the standard park fee is valid for 7 days - it's $35 for a couple and 20 for an individual.
The parking charge in Springdale is extortionate - it's 15-40 dollars to park for the day. If you just want to park for up to 2 hours then it's only a few dollars. If you are up super early you might be able to park for free at the visitor centre but spaces fill up very early.

A number of trails are closed at the moment - the water level in the narrows is too high. The east rim trail, weeping rock trail are closed due to rockfall. You can only get to observation point via the east messa trail.

wonderful national park with many different rock formations, very nice road for cars to admire spectacular and breathtaking views

Amazing national park! Definitely go if you’re in Utah. From the car park there’s free shuttles that take you up to the trails. In the town of Springdale near Zion there’s a shop you can rent the waders and shoes for going into the narrows. We hiked the emerald pools trai, it definitely lived up to the name! Gorgeous views

What a fabulous National Park with a variety of hikes available, as well as accommodation if you have time to stay.
Excellent scenery.

Zion is an incredible park. The Mt carmel scenic drive is really awesome. The shuttle system works well. Parking in the park is almost impossible unless you get there before 7am. Emerald Pools hike is a lot of stairs...a lot but the views of the valley on the way are incredible. The narrows hike is difficult but fun and very scenic.

Really beautiful national and natural park
The possibility of seeing the canyon from below and from above is quite interesting.
However, be careful not to be surprised there is a specific parking and the possibility of not paying if you only want to see the canyon from above after 16:30

Favorite hike: Watchman Trail! Beautiful vegetation, sighting of mule deer & big horn sheep...and of course AMAZING views!! Not as crowded as many others. We only did moderate & easy.

Great shuttle system once you figure out where to park if first lot is filled. (South campground.)

Really enjoyed a reasonably priced meal (salad for me/ burger for hubby) at the Zion Lodge... grab & go with seating available.

Zion is one of the top tier parks in the system and you will know why as soon as you get there. The place is beautiful. The main canyon and the Mt Carmel Hwy are both amazing.

We went in March, during the week and it was still very people-y. I doubt it's ever not busy, except in the dead of winter. Luckily, the bus system works well. You will be standing in line at the main visitor center at Springdale if you start there or need to transfer on a bus back into the park. You cannot just stay on the bus once you pull in. Everyone gets off and then it pulls up to the line of people heading into the park. We stood in line for at least half an hour, maybe longer. On a Friday afternoon. In March. It's just a busy place.

We did the Riverwalk, the Court of the Patriarchs, the Human History Museum, and the area around the lodge. There were a few closures. The footbridge over the river, across from the lodge, is being repaired/replaced. The Weeping Rock Trail is closed from a rockfall a while back. Big Bend Viewpoint has bus stop construction, so that was closed too.

Mt. Carmel Hwy was open with all its glory.

Zion is a must do for any NPS enthusiast. There will definitely be people, so have patience and enjoy the views.

Spectacular drive through very impressive mountains. Cost per vehicle was US$35, which was well worth it. It's approximately a 5 hour drive between Page & LV, so we planned to stop at the Zion Visitor Center, and board the Free Shuttle (90 minutes return trip). We were tight for time, but felt we could do it. Unfortunately, there was no parking available at the Visitor Center, and no street parking for quite a distance. We did see some parking available at US$60 but was still a long walk to the Shuttle, and a bit on the expensive side. We decided to give it a miss - my recommendation is to get to Zion early, or better still, stay a couple of nights and really enjoy the place.

You're in a canyon, with trees, cacti, animals, a river. There are friendly wild animals everywhere, like turkey and deer. The scenery is very unique compared to every park in the US.

There are a couple of exotic hikes. The kinds where you can die! But that spiciness is
what makes it interesting.

There's a bus that loops around the park, so you can really squeeze in more activities.

You can drive here from Las Vegas.

Such a fantastic place to visit. We came in from the Kanab area on Hwy 9 and found out when we were leaving at the other entrance that we came in farthest away from the visitor's center. Our entrance was a much more laid back entrance into the park and we got to see a herd of big horned sheep on the road. We were told at the Visitor's Center that the parking lot in that area fills up by 8 am. The whole way through the park was great view after great view. We have a National Park pass and it has more than paid for itself. There are so many activities to pick from and the shuttle service helps if you don't want to worry about parking problems.

One of the best National parks we have ever visited. The vibe of this park is amazing. The scenery is amazing, with beautiful mountains and river streams. What a beautiful place to visit. We visited Zion for a day but would recommend staying here for atleast a night and explore this park for couple of days.
Few things to note, even during a early season the parking was challenging, we were able to find paid parking and then walk to the bus shuttle place. Also watch for long lines for shuttle bus.
We did the Emerald pool trail and the Narrows, for which you have to get some rentals to walk along the river stream. Great experience.

Zion is majestic and welcoming at the same time. The red walls that surround you, the paths that take you between rivers and canyons... every corner is a living experience. The walk in The Narrows with your feet in the water was one of the most exciting things of the whole trip.

Zion is both majestic and welcoming. The red cliffs surrounding you, the trails winding through rivers and canyons... every corner is a living experience. Walking The Narrows with your feet in the river was one of the most thrilling things of the entire trip.

It was amazing. We drove on the road to Mount Caramel. We only had a short time to visit. It would have been great to have a few days to hike and explore.

Zion should be the poster child for the National Park reservation system. It is badly needed here.
We arrived at the East entrance at about 0930 and entered very quickly, with only about 4 cars in line.
The drive down the Zion-Mount Carmel Road was very leisurely with stops to admire the scenery.
That was until we reached the east portal of the tunnel. We were stopped for 20 minutes waiting for the one-way traffic to clear.
After it cleared, we then proceeded to the visitor center.
Upon arrival we were greeted with full parking lots.
NOT ONE SPACE WAS OPEN.
I dropped my wife off and joined the conga line driving in circles in the parking lot waiting and hoping that a spot would open. I drove around the lot for 30 minutes while she was shopping in the Visitor Center. A spot never opened in that entire time.
We were planning on taking the shuttle up Scenic Drive. That too was a bust. The line for the shuttle buses to the Scenic Drive was about 300 people long.
Finally, we said the hell with that, and left via the south entrance.
Entrance here was insane, there were 2 lanes of cars forming into a single line 1/2 mile long stretching back into Springdale waiting to enter the park.
You can park and pay in Springdale and hop on a shuttle to the visitor center then wait for the scenic drive shuttle.
Unless you really want to see Zion, I would recommend passing on this park.

Absolutely Breathtaking! This is the home of the Narrows. My husband and I have always wanted to go to Zion National Park and it did not disappoint. We went in Feb and the temperatures were great! 40-50 F during the day. Perfect! Bring a jacket if that is chilly for you. Trams start running in March so we had the luxury of self driving through the park. Keep in mind there are limited oarking spaces at the stops and you must follow the guidelines of parking if you want to enjoy your day there and ever want to return.
Tons of trails to enjoy! You even have access to walk down to the River. If you decide to do the Narrow trail, hire a guide.
Amazingly Lovely!

Although it is not well known in Japan, it is a national park that is easily accessible from Las Vegas and easy to visit. Ride the free, electric-powered shuttle bus.
It takes about 20 minutes to get to the Narrows bus stop. From there, walk for 40 minutes on the trail to reach the Narrows. From there, you will walk through the river using special equipment.
It's an experience that can't be easily found in Japan.

My wife and I are national park people and we’ve visited a couple dozen, but the scenery and beauty of Zion is unmatched. We went to Bryce Canyon the day before and even though it was impressive, it didn’t blow me away like Zion. The hike to the Emerald Pools was a bit strenuous and tricky because the park was packed so you had to exercise extreme care along the the narrow trail up and back, but the views were incredible, so I would say it’s a must do, but without young kids. It makes for tension for the parents and other guests on this particular hike, especially the further up you go. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it.

Zion NP is another amazing park, however after visiting Bryce the day before, it left a weaker impression on us.
In our opinion, Bryce is much more interesting and spectacular, as well easier to navigate. Main difference is Bryce has broad elevated views stretching miles in distance with amazing rock hoodoos formations, while in Zion you're packed within the canyon with huge cliffs above you.
Have in mind Zion is bigger and requires more time to discover it. That's primary because you cannot drive it yourself, but park your car and visit by shuttle bus.
Parking lots are huge, yet still very crowded - we waited around half an hour just to enter the gates and then around the same to find a free spot. Calculate in your visit time to reach the shuttle bus, wait in line to get on it, ride it stopping on every stop, getting out, exploring, waiting again, etc....
Best two things in Zion are the Narrows hike and driving the Zion-Mt.Carmel road.

We only drove through Zion on our way from Vegas to Bryce Canyon. It was definitely worth the drive if you were going to Bryce Canyon, better than going on the highway anyway. I didn’t think the view was spectacular in anyway. That being said, we did not do any hikes there so this review is only based on a drive thru.

I visited Zion 3 years ago, thinking it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip ... however, I couldn't get the place out of my mind, and this October (2023) it became twice-in-a-lifetime. I was able to revisit some sights & trails, and also do a few new ones. This is a truly spectacular park, though I'm not sure I would recommend it for anyone who isn't up for hiking and a little adventure. It's a busy park, but solitude CAN be found with a little effort. I highly recommend visiting in October, when the temperatures are bearable, and if you're traveling on a budget, Hurricane is a great option to the room rates in Springdale.

So unique with many conveniences for tourists…beautiful!
Had fantastic local tour guide viaToursByLocals Co..so informative

Pros: Zion is one of the most beautiful national parks. So many good trails and wonderful views and amazing rocks. The river is pretty, the campground is peaceful, there's a town nearby with restaurants. Beauty everywhere you look.
Cons: Zion is one of the most crowded national parks. Long lines to board the standing-room-only shuttlebuses. You cannot drive into the canyon unless you're staying at the lodge, so you're stuck with either a shuttlebus or a bike. Bikes are supposed to stop and yield to the incessant train of buses, but I rarely saw anyone do that. The buses are stuffy and many have the seats facing inward so you can't see the canyon. Many also don't have skylights, so, again, you can't see anything but other people. The hikes are crowded; the paved one to the Narrows is akin to walking on a Manhattan sidewalk. The paved trail along the river by the park entrance is less crowded, but it's full of bicycles and many have no clue as to etiquette. A large group of bicyclists actually forced me (a pedestrian) right off the trail. Another cyclist behind them apologized and noted how rude they were. If you're a slow hiker, you'll spend most of your time on the more strenuous trails getting out of the way of faster hikers going in both directions. Because, again, all the trails are very crowded. Traffic through the tunnel on the east entrance is one-way during the day in order to allow buses and big rigs to fit. At 4:30 pm, traffic goes back to two-way; however, there's no signage pointing out that big rigs aren't allowed during off hours, so they drive through the tunnel. Many of the rigs are the large rental RVs, driven by inexperienced drivers. This tunnel was built in 1930, and the lanes are very narrow, so woe to you if you end up facing one of these big rigs coming at you in the (very dark) tunnel. Why they don't institute an unmanned red- and green-light system during off hours is beyond my understanding.

Mind blowing views and incredible hikes, my wife and I spent a few days here and we could not get enough of this place, the views from anywhere here are spectacular, the busses are very well organized, the trails are clearly marked and mapped out. Well worth a visit!

We heard a lot about the "Big 5" and this was our opportunity to take on this adventure. Our first stop was Zion. It was more crowded than expected due to the eclipse that was happening. We understood from the web site that the mandatory shuttle system stopped running the second week of OCT however, the mandatory shuttle down the scenic road was still operating until the end of OCT. It is not a bad thing and really helps control the traffic into and out of the park. It has to be planned for though, because of the time it takes to get to and from hike starting points. The park is absolutely incredible and is not to be missed. We did the Angels Landing trail (only to Scouts Overlook) and the Canyon Overlook Trail. We also hit several pull outs and overlooks. Incredible scenery.

Absolutely breathtaking vantage points, great for a weekend away or just a day trip. Some of the walks were challenging but the drive itself made it all worthwhile

It was really beautiful! Parking was tricky at the visitors center, although signs outside the parking advertised parking full and to park in Springdale. We ended up finding parking near nature center not too far from the visitors center. We listened to a great geology ranger talk led by Ranger Kelsie. And the junior ranger program was super fun for my 9 year old!

We went in June and it was already starting to get hot. Definitely get there early! We tried to get on the shuttle shortly after lunch and there was a long line - probably took us 45 min to get on the shuttle.

Nice park for hikes and very beautiful! Must see in Utah !

My wife and I had been wanting to go out west for 30 years to hike and sightsee. We finally pulled the trigger and set up a two week journey. Zion was our first stop. We stayed at an amazing B&B near the park. We hiked quite a few trails including the narrows, angels landing and the arch trail near the tunnel. It is hard to explain the amazing beauty we saw and pictures do not do it justice. We used Zion for our hub for 4 days so that we could go to the Grand Canyon, the Slot Canyons and go ATVing near by. This was one amazing place. A must see.

Zion National Park was definitely the highlight of our USA trip. Hike to Watchman, hike up to Angels Landing, a great atmosphere at the park entrance in Springdale. We would Trips there again immediately.

im really not sure how to even start this review, because zion national park is beyond words to describe how amazing and beautiful it is any place you sit or take picture is absolutely amazing 💯 there are no bad pictures what so ever

Zion National Park is absolutely stunning—breathtaking views at every turn! We explored the park using e-bikes, and it was the perfect way to get around. Super convenient, no need to wait for shuttles, and you can stop wherever you want to soak in the scenery. Riding through the canyon with those towering red cliffs all around was unforgettable. I highly recommend it to everyone—e-bikes make the experience even better!

Do NOT go during July 4th weekend. We stood in line for 2 hours to get the shuttle into the park. Plus there was NO parking in the visitor's center as it filled up way too early. However, it's a gorgeous park. We were able to walk the Narrows a bit (always get a walking stick and water shoes as the rocks are wobbly in the river) and go up to Weeping rock. But the heat was almost unbearable. We took plenty of water but had to keep refilling.

Get some e-bikes and avoid the buses. The ride on the bikes was awesome!! Buses looked super crowded. They give you locks, you can lock them up at any trail and go hiking. It is approximately 1 hour bike ride up to Sinawava and we did the ride back to town in about 30 mins. So you can just stop where you like. Our only misfortune was the weather. We went in late Nov and it was COLD. Bring gear, as forecast said 50 but it was more like 30 and with wind on bikes was rough. We needed many more layers, gloves and hats. We drove from Vegas and the drive is easy and beautiful, about 2 hours 30 mins.

Beautiful park with very high cliffs and very beautiful red colors gray chestnut. We walked in the water for over 8km round trip and it is very impressive.

The road thru Zion (Rt. 9) is spectacular. Beautiful colored cliffs, winding turns, long tunnels. We drove west to east entrances. Pictures do not do it justice. The scenic road and lodge road require the shuttle or reservations, Rt. 9 does not. There is still a fee but it is worth it. Parking is difficult in summer seasons, but even driving thru is wonderful. A must do drive thru a must do park. Awe around every corner.

Disappointing NP visit. The surrounding town is overly commercialized, parking is expensive from 25 - 60 dollars unless you can get into the NP at the crack of dawn to get parking on the NP grounds. Must take a shuttle from town to the Park then a shuttle around the park. The hiking trails are overcrowded and more reminiscent of a Disneyland experience. Not conducive to communing with nature. The wildlife, particularly the squirrels are too used to being fed by humans despite signs asking people not to feed them subject to a fine. We spent more time on the shuttles than we did trying to do a hike. I will never return. There are lots of other NPs to see.

Out of staters: Park isn't for seniors if you are expecting to ride the shuttle to enjoy the scenic park views. Shuttle buses were packed like sardine tins. Only thing we saw was the midsection or rear of a standing passenger - & that's if you were lucky to get a seat. The park is mostly for young people who are hiking or camping. At the museum at stop #2, a video was showing portraying how nice it was to work there rather than about the park itself. Also just one bathroom was available for both men & women - drawing complaints from the visitors at #2. A park worker mentioned they were very understaffed. There was inadequate parking even for a Monday. Park had just too many visitors

Absolutely spectacular. The drive, the walk, the shops, the entire place is a must see and I would recommend staying there for more than one day

You must experience this majestic place because pictures cannot capture its vastness and beauty. We are not experienced hikers and still enjoyed every area we visited in this park and the easy to moderate trails. We loved the Ranger-guided Watchman hike. It was so interesting to have her explain plants, wildlife and other features as we hiked. We also very much enjoyed everything we learned on the “Ride with a Ranger” program. I wanted to participate in this but was afraid we wouldn’t be able to get a spot since space is limited. We signed up as soon as we arrived late afternoon and were able to get our crew of 4 registered for 2 days out. We heard so many mixed reviews on The Narrows, but we all enjoyed it. We were able to observe big-horned sheep, deer, a fox and other wildlife. The Zion-Mt Carmel highway drive was how we entered the park in the East Entrance, and I am so very glad we did. The views are breathtaking. We had downloaded a self-guided audio tour to learn as we drove through the park. Such a memorable experience.

Amazing views, great hikes, the most perfect area to relax and enjoy God's beauty! I can't believe someone has to read this review on a National Park this beautiful!!

We have been going to Zion NP since 1993. Monday, June 17th we entered from the east entrance at about 10 AM. It is about eight miles to the visitors center and there are numerous pull-out and small parking areas near the hiking trails. Every one was full with many cars parked in the road. The Mt. Carmel tunnel had some construction nearby and there was a line of cars going west that went on for over a mile. When we go to the shuttle parking area every parking spot was taken (over one hundred) and the line to get on the shuttles had hundreds of tourists lined up to get on a bus. It was nearly 90 degrees. We decided to skip the disaster as we had seen the canyon before. The park is out of control and I fear only a reservation system will alleviate the gridlock. Yosemite and Glacier NP's are doing this and Zion should strongly consider it. It is sad to travel thousands of miles and be faced with this mess.

We arrived on a gloomy day so I can only imagine the colours in the sunshine as the rock colours blew us away! The beauty of this park is just breathtaking! I could've driven back and forth all day long and will definitely be back one day! Highly recommend a visit!

This is in reference to the mount carmel tunnel through Zion. In the past you didn't have to pay to take this short cut to St George...you do now. Don't know how long it's been that way, but it wasn't last time we went through. You can't even take your car into the park anyway. It was just a senic short cut.

We spent 2 days here and I'm already planning when I can return. We did not have enough time to do everything we wanted. After checking. Into out hotel in Springdale, we hopped on the bus that took us to the park. Then hopped on one of the park shuttles and got off at The Grotto stop to take a hike to the Emerald Pools. The pools were a little disappointing due to very little water, but the hike and surroundings in general were stunning! It was a very warm day and we stayed a bit longer than expected...the shuttle back was very crowded. The Following day we drover the scenic route through the park. Which also had many stunning views. The town of Springdale was quaint and had lots of restaurants and coffee shops...be sure to go to Farmstead Bakery!

My husband and I are in our mid-fifties and do not normally hike. However, we really enjoyed the hike to Emerald pools. That is the only one we did, because it was considered a beginner/moderate hike. I’m not going to lie, there were moments that I was huffing and puffing. But we made it, and it was very pretty. My only complaints…parking at the visitor center was impossible and it’s not even peak season. And the bridge at stop 5 was closed. Because of that, our hike was extended 2 extra miles. My feet, hips and thighs are on fire tonight.

Zion National Park…beautiful, stunning, magical. It is all of the best adjectives and more. We wanted to hike The Narrows but it was closed so we hiked the Upper Emerald Pools. The hike took us about 3 hours round trip because we took the long way back(we got lost) because there was a bridge closed. The hike was more beautiful than the pool itself though. The pool was pretty dry and no waterfall which was a bummer. We had to take many stops along the way because I had to look down while walking so I wouldn’t lose my footing and fall off the cliff. It was also busy so there were many times where we had to wait for hikers to come through. It was hot…very hot but it was all worth it. Wish we could have done more. We ended up going to the lodge for an 8 dollar beer afterwards😲. The shuttle system was fantastic and there is a map that explains the hikes as far as difficulty. We parked in Springdale and we were close enough to walk to the park to grab the shuttle. We went to Bryce the day before and we drove through Zion on the way back to our rental house on the scenic Highway. It will seriously blow your mind.

It was an unexpected temperature for March coz it went up to 90’s and it’s hotter where we came from. We stayed at a PetFriendly hotel nearby the Zion Park entrance and I would say it’s not a pleasant stay coz mostly stores and restaurants around are not PetFriendly. Bumbleberry retail store sells dog outfits but won’t let your fur babies come in. WTH right? Only convenient way to stroll at parks is thru the shuttle they offer but won’t allow pets either. My poor babies have to walk stay outside while you run in a store to get some drinks. Restaurants are expensive as well as the parking fees. We were supposed to stay for 2nts but ended up leaving after 1 nt stay. We were not able to see the park coz we were disappointed. 👎

Unfortunately, it's very disappointing. Far too many people are allowed into the park so that you can't enjoy nature. Instead, you wait up to an hour in a huge line for the next shuttle bus. Zion is certainly very, very beautiful. But the number of daily visitors should be reduced in order to protect nature and give visitors the feeling that they can experience nature. At the moment it's like Disneyland. Very disappointing.

We arrived around sunrise which afforded us some spectacular views of the sun hitting the top of the peaks. The shuttle bus through the park gave us an overview and we plotted our return to specific spots on another shuttle bus. We walked a trail (easy) for a view of a waterfalls from behind and below the falls. Since we started early in the morning, we were finished before the crowds arrived. Definitely worth a return trip.

More beautiful park than Yosemite, which is much more famous and attracts more people. Even though I didn't think it would be an attraction that stood out much, it ended up being one of the highlights of my trip to Utah.

Definitely worth the visit!

an amazing experience. But he prepared for lots of crowds we came in spring break. The vistas are worth the waits. They should definitely be added to your bucket list.

Zion is a breathtaking destination. The geology, the scenery, and the sheer immensity of the canyon are sublime. Its no wonder it is so popular- which does unfortunately mean it can be very busy. Huge kudos to NPS for the battery powered shuttle fleet. By keeping all those cars out of the valley, the clean fuel, quiet buses run so frequently that people can readily get to and from wherever they want to be in the park- and there is no noise or exhaust fumes to spoil the experience of visitors in the valley. Hiking is best very early or later in the afternoon. Midday can be very busy (and likely hot in the summer). Spring is wonderful time to visit, but be prepared for snow one day and warm sunny the next and be sure to dress in layers and carry a day pack where you can keep or drop the extra layers that you will put on and take off during the day.. Unlike other National Parks, there is only one food option within the Park (the restaurants at the Zion Lodge) and no camp store (maybe one at the campground?) so you should plan to bring your lunch (there are so many beautiful places you can choose to picnic) or eat before or after your visit into the main valley of the park. Big shout out to the Rangers and Maintenance professionals who keep us safe, maintain the trails, and keep the place clean. Kudos also to the NPS for investing in the infrastructure of the park. Some areas were not accessible but the improvements they are making will keep our treasure strong for our kids and grandkids.

This is one of the most incredible parks of the NPS, absolutely Top 5. While we missed a number of things we wanted to do in the park because we had a day and a half of rain, the things we did do were simply incredible. I will also say that the rain day we had did show us the beauty of Zion's waterfalls that most visitors never get to see. Still the beautiful blue bird day we had at the top of Angel's Landing was simply amazing. There are so many great things to do here Angel's Landing, Weeping Rock, the Narrows and Riverwalk, Emerald Pools, The Watchman, the Court of the Patriarchs were all incredible. In addition we had amazing wildlife experiences with big horn sheep, chipmunks and birds by the dozens.

We stayed in the park at the Lodge which I highly recommend to provide the best and most convenient access. We also ate most of our meals there which were very good. In all this is one of the most amazing National Parks in the US and I cannot recommend it enough for you and your family

We arrived at Zion National Park in the early afternoon. Since we were on a bus tour, we had only 2.5 hours to explore the park. We immediately boarded the shuttle to take in the view on the scenic loop. I thought we would hear information about the park while we were on the shuttle, but there was nothing. We got off at some of the stops to look around. We took lots of pictures and walked on some of the easy trails. I'm not a hiker, but there was still lots to see while in the canyon.

When we got back to the Visitor's Center, there was a nice shopping area and restrooms. I hope to come back to this park in the future and spend some more time. If you hike or ride bike, I would suggest coming early. The park gets very crowded.

I would like to share our itinerary which worked well for us.
Summary
Day 1. Wed. Flight, rental car, Red Hills Desert Garden & Tuacahn Amphitheatre.
Day 2. Thu. Scenic drive thru Zion and hiking the Canyon overlook Trail. Scope out visitor center. dinner at George’s Corner
Day 3. Fri. Kayenta trail, Lower Emerald pool trail, Weeping rock trail & dinner at George’s Corner.
Day 4. Sat Relaxation Day, early dinner at The Pasta Factory & Show in Vegas at The Colosseum.
Day 5. Sun early morning flight.

Details
Day 1. Flight, rental car, Red Hills Desert Garden & Tuacahn Amphitheatre.
Flew Sun Country to Vegas, landed 10:30AM at Harry Reid International Airport.
Must take a shuttle bus to car rental area, this could take some time 20-30 min. Surprised Vegas did not have a monorail.
Booked car rental through Costco Travel, I have found them to be consistently cheaper. (ended up being an SUV with Budget)

Drove to St. George Utah, 1hr 48min. Got into town around 3:00pm local time. There is an hour time difference between Las Vegas and St. George Utah. found a local restaurant. (Black Bear Diner) Pretty extensive menu with large portions. Food was good. We often stay away from national chains, prefer local restaurants / independent restaurants.

we decided to go for a walk in the Red Hills Desert Garden This was a nice surprise. It was free, well maintained. The garden had all sorts of plant live that you will see when hiking Zion, it was nice to learn about it. There were some comments on reviews that the garden was too small, but we spent around 1hr 30min walking around, we enjoyed it.

Checked in to our Airbnb around 5:30pm. my wife left a review on the site.

About 4 weeks before our flight I purchased tickets for the show The Hunchback of Notre Dame in the Tuacahn Amphitheatre. This was a top-quality production; this is Broadway but outside under the stars. The theatre itself is beautiful. Remember is an out-side theatre so dress accordingly. Saw many people with blankets. It was truly an experience all on its own. When traveling to that part of Utah we will look to see another show.
End of day 1.

Day 2. Planned for scenic drive to Zion and doing the Canyon overlook Trail. Scope out visitor center.
Around 8:00am went to Caffe Elevato The coffee was great! I had sausage & egg bagel; it was delicious. My wife had bagel and cream cheese, she liked it. The place is nicely decorated and had a casual vibe to it. The staff was very nice but short handed and they were doing the best they could to keep up with the orders. We did have to wait; we were not in a rush and enjoyed our breakfast. (when on vacation we go with the flow)

For the scenic drive we decided to come in via the MT Caramel Junction RT 9 thru Zion Ntl Park. Which many reviews recommend and I am glad we decided to do that. This meant that we first had to drive around Zion to Junction RT 9. It’s around a 2-hour drive. Important note. Download google maps of southern Utah as cell phone service is not reliable. Once you enter Zion Pay the entrance fee $35.00 per car, good for several days, I think 7. You will start to see amazing views. We made several stops just to take pictures and admire the beauty of the landscape, it is amazingly beautiful.

Parking for the Canyon overlook Trail is very small you may want to find parking along the road before you reach this parking area where they allow parking and walk to trail head. The trail head is just before the entrance to the long tunnel. Cannot get to the trail once you go thru the long tunnel.

If you are going to do any hike at Zion do the Canyon overlook trail. It is 1-mile round trip, takes 30-40 min if you just hike and do not stop to take in the views. Difficulty rated ad moderate. There is some ascending & descending, some places where there are long drops and path gets narrow. It is uneven, rocks and tree roots to avoid. You get a workout. Overall, it gives you a taste of the other hikes at Zion but not as long.

After our hike and sense of accomplishment we got back in the car and continued through the tunnel and the best part of the scenic trail. There again there are spots you can stop on the side of the road and enjoy the views.

We stopped at the visitor center which is just before the exit to the park. We wanted to get more information to plan our next couple of days. We found that parking could be an issue if you are not there as the park opens. We drove around the parking lot for 20-30 minutes until we found a spot. The alternative is to park in Springdale which runs frequent free shuttles to Zion, but you pay for parking. Took the Zion shuttle roundtrip to get a sense of the park.

Zion is about 1 hour to in St. George, we stopped to eat at George’s Corner We sat outside, friendly staff, service was great, food was fresh and tasty. We enjoyed winding down at George’s Corner after a long day of exploring.

Day 3. Fri. Kayenta trail, Lower Emerald pool trail, Weeping rock trail & dinner at George’s Corner.

Got a late start, after all, we are on vacation, we try to avoid rushing. Left after breakfast around 10:00AM. Had about 1-hour drive to Zion Ntl park. We knew that arriving this late we will have to park in Springdale. Initially we were going to rent e-bikes for this day but after taking the shuttle the prior day, which is pretty much the same locations e-bikes are allowed, we decided it was not worth it.

we were originally going to do the Grotto-Trail from the Zion lodge at stop #5 and do a round trip crossing over at stop #6 to Kayenta-Trail and back down Lower Emerald Pool trail back to stop #5. Due to a bridge closing at stop #5 we ended up doing a return trip at stop #6 Kayenta-Trail – Emerald Pool-trail. This was a tougher hike than we expected, especially the return trip. Lots and lots of steps. We needed to make frequent rest stops. Bring lots of water, we each had 40oz and went through ¾ by the time we finished hike. The air is dryer in Utah. Aside from being a tougher hike, the views were amazing and it made it all worth it.

After taking a much-needed rest and filling up our water bottles at a water filling station we hopped on the shuttle to stop #7 trail-head for Weeping Rock-trail. Although this trail is only 0.4 miles round trip, it is very steep. It is Slippery, watch your step. Again, it is worth it, the views at the end are amazing,

We enjoyed George’s Corner we went back. Again, we had great service, the food was delicious, sat at on the patio and relaxed and enjoyed a good meal. We were exhausted but feeling good about the hikes we did.

Day 4. Sat Relaxation Day, early dinner at The Pasta Factory & Show in Vegas
We slept in, relaxed at Airbnb. Planned to eat in St. George before heading to Las Vegas for a show.
Ate at The Pasta Factory around 3:00PM. Keep in mind Utah and Las Vegas are on different time zones.
The pasta Factory was okay, it was just pasta. Not a place I would be inclined to go to again.

Had around a 2 hour drive to Las Vegas, Went to see Adele at The Colosseum First time at this venue, it is a very nice venue not too big, any seat you get is good at this place. Adele was fantastic. Will go back. Parked at Ceasars Palace Self-Parking Garage It was very close to the entrance of the Casino and the venue. Cost $25.00.

After the show we waited around 1-hour for traffic to clear from garage. Went back to Airbnb. This is something we would change. Having an early flight we should have just stayed up the reminder of the night at the casino.

Remember to give yourself time to drop off car rental, then you hop on a shuttle to the airport.

Although it is October, the park was so busy! The only way to travel along the scenic drive is by free shuttle bus unless you’re staying inside the park itself.
The only designated parking apart from some pull outs is in the visitors centre however it’s so full, there is a notice to park in nearby Springdale.
There is private parking which charges $40 for the day. No free parking within Springdale unless you are staying in one of the hotels there.
Although we were early, we managed to check into Cliffrose Lodge & Garden & therefore parked the car and from there was able to walk a short distance to the visitor centre/shuttle bus stop.
I will also add it’s worth the time & effort as Zion offers different experiences.
There is historic tunnel which is 1.1 mile through the mountain.
It has so many hiking trails which caters for tourists.
The shuttle bus is comfortable & will take you around the park & have the opportunity to stop to view/walk the trails.

I put 3 for the majesty of the site. Stunning. Dream sets, paradise. The positive Rating ends here.
I suspect that my comments will get lost in the meanders of the other comments but in case, I can only suggest to the park managers to better train their employees.
Being disabled doesn't necessarily mean armchair. There are a multitude of invisible disabilities and we were in this situation. In summer only shuttles are possible to get to the park. Impossible to park, only a few PMR spaces are available all taken upon arrival. After 1 hour to turn miracle a place becomes available. And now the scourge begins. The buses have extremely high steps that my companion could not climb. We stand in front of the doors reserved for PMR climbs. We're asking for the ramp. Employee reflection after staring at my companion up and down "the ramp? Do you really need the ramp?" No, ma'am, we're just getting on for the pleasure of watching the ramp come down.
Once you have passed this first test, you have to fight with the horde of stupid tourists who have had time to climb and sit in the reserved places. Again when you ask for the place you have the right to the look that says "but you are not disabled you". The 2nd and 3rd buses give us the excuse of "the ramp does not work". At the end of the 4th bus we give up in front of so much stupidity and we manage as we can.
If you are not able to manage visitors with disabilities, either you do not charge them or you make sure you have real solutions. Suitable buses, or PMR cars have the right to travel in the park.
In short, a day a little ruined by very bad management and a staff not at all Committed

We spent one day and one night at Zion and have regretted it ever since. We really needed more time. We did the narrows trail and the emerald pools. We wanted to hike so much more. We should have stayed and completed angels landing. We should have explored kenobe canyon. I hope someday we get to go back because Zion was amazing. The shuttle also works great and I love that there’s less traffic in the park. Don’t limit yourself to one day at Zion.

Beautiful scenery!; But it took us 1 1/2 hours to get thru west entrance. They only one booth open. Finally after 1 1/2 hours they opened the side for people that had annual passes. Will not go again

Zion was my least favorite of the four national parks that we hiked in Utah. There were no parking spaces available in the park so we had to pay $15 to park outside of the park. There is a shuttle that brings you in to the main entry. At that point you have to take another shuttle to get to the various points within the park. In mid September each shuttle was very full and standing room only. I found the trails to be congested and many people didn't understand the concept of passing single file so we were frequently pushed to the edge of the trail. Zion is a gorgeous park but much too congested for my taste. I hated having to ride the shuttle and fight the crowds.

Zion National Park in Utah is known for its striking landscapes, towering cliffs, and winding rivers. Hiking trails like Angels Landing and The Narrows offer stunning views, while camping options allow visitors to immerse themselves in nature. It's a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

My husband and I went first to Arches, then Bryce Canyon and finally Zion. Each was unique in its own way, but my favorite was Zion. There were many "Oh Wow!" moments as we took the shuttle throughout the scenic drive.
We came into Springdale where we stayed via Rt 9 from the east. That was spectacular as well. Its impossible to describe the vast beauty and majestic peaks of this national park.
A few tips: if you stay at a hotel in Springdale, you are able to leave your car at the hotel and take the free shuttles to the visitors center in the park. There you can hop on the free shuttles that drive the scenic drive up and back with many stops along the way. You can get off at any stop and get back on another bus with no problem. Many hikers use the shuttles to reach the trail heads. The morning we wanted to take a short hike, we were not dressed for the cold wind at 8 am in the morning! Nevertheless, there are hikes of varying degrees of difficulty.
Tip #2-- if you want to enter the park and park your car in the free lots at the visitors center, get there by 7 or 7:30 in the morning as by 8 am people will be circling to find a spot or waiting for someone to leave!
Tip #3- a parking lot in Springdale may cost you $40 a day to park if you aren't staying in a local hotel.
Springdale is a beautiful town surrounded by the peaks. There are many places to stay and eat.

Zion was a great visit and is good for every age. Zion is a beautiful place to visit. There is a ton of trails to take and two parts to Zion. First the smaller and not as popular one kolob canyon. And the main part which is just called Zion.

Zion is beautiful, but... We stayed in Hurricane, about 45 minutes away from the Visitor Center / entrance, June 7-14. We were never able to get to Zion early enough to get parking at the Visitor Center. Arrived one day at 8:30, another day at 8, both weekdays in early June. We did get parking at the Nature Center, but that 0.6-mile walk is VERY HOT and NO SHADE in the afternoon when returning from the Visitor Center (the buses do not stop at the Nature Center). The park was much more crowded than we anticipated, and the buses can be very hot and jammed. I would never return unless it was spring or fall, and not Easter week.

There's a lot of snakes. The staff is friendly. There's a lot of sand. The water in the valley is clear. It's harder to catch snakes. I paid about $30 here.

We took the advice and caught the shuttle on a Saturday in August at 7:30 AM — absolutely the way to go! No lines, no need for a park pass that early, and the atmosphere was calm and peaceful. We rode to the last stop and hiked the Narrows all the way to Wall Street. It was stunning, with very few people around, and the temperatures were just right. The lighting for photos was perfect too — no crowds in the background!

By the time we were heading back, we were SO glad we had started early. The Riverside Walk had beginning area of the Narrows become so packed it was hard to move. Total zoo. If you want to truly enjoy Zion, go early — join the planners and go-getters!

We also hiked the Canyon Overlook Trail on a Friday afternoon right after a rainstorm— highly recommend it for the views. parked on side of the road.

The Visitor Center was very busy later in the day, but we still managed to get our National Park Passport stamped. The shuttle system is well-organized and runs frequently, even though it gets crowded in the afternoon. It is merely for transporting though and does not narrate.

Overall, an amazing experience made even better by starting early. Plan ahead and beat the rush — you won’t regret it!

Pictures do not do this national park justice. Angels Landing looks far more dangerous in person. The cliffs are simply stunning and huge. I'm truly surprised more people don't fall. The only downside is the people. There are SO MANY people. When the gate is closed to the scenic byway, you'll likely need to take the giant buses to get to your destination. We were fortunate to get there early. When we got back the lines looked like Disney.

I came here 7 years ago and thought I had discovered paradise. Less than a decade later, everyone else has discovered it too. My visit today consisted of two hours of searching for parking, giving up, and driving to St. George to find a hotel for less than $300 a night. Maybe go if there's a time it's not busy? Not sure that's possible.

My mom and I visited Zion National Park during a 10 day trip from Washington to Florida and it is now my favorite park I have visited so far!

We stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Virgin, UT which was the perfect place to stay near the park!

We actually drove from Bryce the day before we actually did any hikes in Zion and it was the best, because we drove through the tunnel in the evening, which had the best lighting of the canyon once you drive through the darkness.

The night before we had our Zion adventure, we pre-booked shoes, socks, a walking stick, and waterproof backpack from Zion Outfitters.

The morning of, we got to the Visitor's Center parking lot around 6:45ish in the morning, because I wanted to guarantee a spot. We then walked from the parking lot to Zion Outfitters (which is really close) and waited for them to open at 0700 to pick up our gear to hike the Narrows. Pick up was quick and easy, we had no issues and it was even better that we reserved/paid it the night before!

From there, we headed straight to the shuttle and straight to the narrows. The narrows was absolutely incredible and was the highlight of Zion, honestly my favorite park of all of the national parks we visited during this trip. Yes, its challenging due to the rocks and water, but it is 1000000% worth it. The shoes and stick from Zion Outfitters are a MUST. We wouldn't have had such a good time without them.

After this, we headed back to the entry to return the gear. PRO TIP, make sure you have your national parks pass because you will technically "exit" the park and "re-enter" to go back to your car if you return things early like we did.

From there, we had our dry gear on and hiked the emerald pools trail. Honestly, there was nothing emerald or really "pool-like" about it, but the trail gave some great views of the canyon without having to hike Angel's Landing.

We ate at Whiptail Grill and the food was great, but the margaritas were ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I had the strawberry and my mom had the coconut, and honestly they are some of the best margaritas I've ever had.

Overall, Zion was amazing and out of all of the parks we visited, I would go back here again and again!

Words could not express the beauty and strength of Zion carrying on. I arrived Zion around 3pm on my last day vacation so i couldn't spend much time here as I got a call back to work but from what i experienced was breath-taking. Many great hiking trails here. I didn't have time to do any hiking but driving around and took short walks. So many different things to see here whether if i was just driving and parking up at the viewpoint. The scenery in Zion is spectacular. Everywhere you see, you could't resist to snap a shot. Its like a magical feel with peace of mind and spirit to keep remind me of what worth to be alive. I need to take time off to do another trip again and going to enjoy my time with some hiking :)

The NPS Mission Statement declares;

"The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations". Zion NP has obscenely failed at its mission.

Long entrance station lines because of inadequate staff=hours of waiting for buses and to pay fees at entrances

1000's of visitors in concentrated areas=The Narrows. Yuck!

Toxic Cyano bacteria in the Virgin river

Kolob Canyon road closed because of unrepaired road damage

Walking bridge to busiest trail in park-Emerald Pools- closed for months

Noxious weeds everywhere

Dangerous Wildfire fuels just accumulating and accumulating each year

Springdale the town has an obscene amount of new construction=at least 6 major construction sites currently on main street

Paruus trails is no longer a "walking" trail= it is now a highway for hundreds of E bikes buzzing by at 30-40 miles an hour

South Campground is mostly closed=for over 6 months now

East rim trail/Hidden canyon/Observation point has been closed for 4 years

There were 5,000,000 annual visitors to Zion NP last year. Up to over 100,000 cars going just through the south entrance-per month!!!

Zion NP pulled in $250,000,000 in fees last year=where did it go?

Airbnb has one night stays in Springdale for $700/night-for a 2 bedroom loft
Median price of a home in Springdale=2.3 million dollars

Disgraceful!

Horrible experience, suffocating between a massive crowd of tourists ready to queue for 3 hours to get on a crowded shuttle and the stress of finding where to park the car! Even the walk along the river turns out to be anything but relaxing as it is also a cycle path synonymous with incessant honking. In short, don’t hesitate to skip this unnecessary stop!

This was my fourth visit to Zion and it was perfect. Go in the winter. The shuttles weren’t running so we had the place to ourselves that morning. It was magical without the crowds. We did three trails and didn’t run into high traffic until the afternoon.

Maybe I was too spoiled in life for going to better hikes before but I wasn’t surprised at all… I actually was more tired and exhausted because of the sun and heat than actually happy and enjoying my time. On the way up it was mostly dirty and the nice view on the side, but very little shade spots.

To be fair, at the end of the hike you get to see a nice view of the mountains but it isn’t that crazy. Wouldn’t go again, definitely.

PS: I hit my head REALLY bad in one of the rocks… so careful if you’re going.

Our group consisted of parents, teens, and some tweens. We rented an Airbnb 40 minutes away ( Orderville) and drove into the Zion National Park in the afternoon and hiked into the evening. We hiked the Narrows on the first day and on the second day, all three Emerald Falls Trails. The park was crowded and the temperatures in the 90's. But we chose cool and shaded hikes. The bus system was efficient. Overall, a wonderful experience and I would love to come back and explore this area more!

What an astounding place to visit, very busy when we went, that takes away its obvious tranquility that is clear to see. The place is a treasure trove of remarkable stops. There is a bus shuttle that is excellent and takes you to each spot. A lot of hiking spots, so busy you have to make sure some are requested in advance. It goes without saying that this place is a MUST on any journey through southern Utah.

We spent 2 days visiting the park. We hiked the narrows one day and did several shorter hikes on the second day. The weather was perfect but the water in the narrows was still quite cold. A permit is required to hike Angels Landing so be sure to plan ahead. This park never disappoints!!

One of the worst National parks we have ever visited.
We arrived early. Queued to get in the park for 35 minutes. Then went round and round the car park trying to find a space for 40 minutes. We then had to leave the park to go into the village and find somewhere to park. That cost $25.00. $35.00 to get in =$60.00
Then wait for the shuttle bus to take us back into the park.
We then had to join a line to take another shuttle bus.
They use electric shuttle buses and they hadn't charged then properly the night before and that meant we waited
1 hr 30minutes to get a bus.
They were so packed we couldn't see a thing.
We stayed on to number 9 stop and then got off to take some photos.
Then joined another long line to take us to number 8 stop.
After that we decided we had had enough and left the park.
So many people it was ridiculous
Maybe they should limit the people coming in.
The parking is crazy. Not enough by any means.
They need to expand the car park a lot
I have no idea why this park is so popular.
Total waste of money and vacation time.
It's a big canyon and nothing more.
There is little to see just canyon walls.
The parks only appeal is hiking.

The park is BEAUTIFUL but having to use their shuttle system and the mass of people makes it difficult to navigate with a family. There is not enough parking or accommodations to support the crowd.

Great views and spectacular rock formations. This is a good place to stop and visit it you are heading towards Salt Lake. A little less busy than the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon - a stop is highly recommended

We stayed at the Zion National Park Lodge - The rooms were large comfortable and clean. Staying in the park is highly preferable to staying outside the park. You will avoid the traffic, parking issues and most of the trams.

When you stay in the park you have access to the park at all hours - this is important, because the park undergoes changes with every passing hour. As the sun passes over the shadows shift, and the character and views of the park change. it is quite amazing to watch. Even with the crowds there is a peace that dwells there and a quiet place can always be found.

Amazing geography, great hikes, crowded.
We parked in town & had to pay for parking. took bus to the park, then had to pay to get into the park.
The views from the shuttles, were amazing!,
Recommend what we did: hikes to the upper & lower Emerald pools first, in the cooler morning.
In the heat of afternoon, we went to the Narrows!
If hiking into Narrows, Be prepared: cold water! Will be hiking in the river with rocks & boulders, strong currents.
For moderate-serious hikers & phenomenal views: I hiked in my hiking boots, with hiking poles, put phone around my neck, in waterproof cases. I was able to hike at a good speed!
Went in June, water was 54 degrees, air was about 90. First 5-10 min was super cold & painful. Then feet got numb, and rest of hike was awesome!
Amazing views, amazing geography! the further I went, the better it got.
I hiked in for 1 hour at a fast speed. I charged ahead, rather than waiting for the slower people without the better gear. The river has a strong current, 2 pole’s definitely helped find the depth and rocks.
I want to come back next year, with better gear & go further!

Amazing! Soo busy.. but the staff handles it well. Be prepared to wait for shuttle rides and exercise patience on switchbacks. But such a unique gorgeous place.

Outstanding visuals at Zion, but all are from the Virgin River canyon base unless you're willing to take a serious hike. Angels Landing hike requires a permit, but in summer weather the heat will be objectionable regardless of skill. I found that all of the base hikes along the river were plagued by horseflies which definitely impacted the enjoyment. Nonetheless, I highly recommend taking the Narrows hike. I also recommend early morning access (6:30 - 7:00) as parking fills quickly and summer heat ramps quickly. The shuttle service is frequent and the only way to get to the remotest points of the park. Plan to arrive early, park at thew visitor's center and ride the shuttle top the Sinavawa endpoint and work your way back the 9 shuttle stops to the visitor's center again. Note that water fill is available at most stops, but the food/beverage options are quite limited, so be prepared!

Zion is my favourite national park in the world, and I have been many times in the last 23 years. I love Angels Landing and climbed it a fifth time, and first time in my 50s last week.

I do however have a gripe, and I hope the powers that be address this.

There are no shops in the park, but there are some just across the bridge. The bridge functions as a foot entrance to the park, and you have to check in with a ranger on your way in. We already had passes to the park and had only exited the park to get some drinks for our hike. We then found ourselves in a one hour line to get back into the park standing in the baking sun, despite having passes. The issue here is that the rangers don’t separate the two lines into people who have passes, and people who want to buy passes. There are two windows, so they could easily do this. One for people with passes and one for people without. This would stream line the whole procedure, and not start the day as a horrible nightmare in advance of a three hour vertical hike in the blazing sun. I can only conclude that common sense isn’t in the requirements for ranger recruitment. With the amount or money they are taking in, how much would it cost to have a barcode line to streamline entry for those who already have passes. It really put a dampener on what was actually another amazing day in Zion.

Words cannot describe the beauty of Zion! Everywhere you turn is a jaw dropping view- towering monoliths, gorgeous colors, you are just immersed! Amazing hikes with views that make the effort so worth it, hidden waterfalls and wildlife. Had a bunch of mountain goats leap over the front of my car as I stopped to take a photo, that doesn’t happen everyday!
The Mount Carmel Tunnel is an amazing feat of construction- don’t miss! Free shuttle bus in parts of the park where cars are not allowed which keeps traffic way down and lends to a very pleasant experience. Definitely going back one day as there is so much more I want to see and experience!

Dest Ranger Brenna. Thank you for sharing your passion for thr California Condor. It was so educational, interesting and professionally presented. The felt wingspan was very impressive. And from Zion, we went to Marble Canyon and we're excited to see them IN THE WILD! They were perched on the rafters - a ranger pointed them out or we wouldn't have seen them. However- without having attended your presentation, we would not have know their story. Thank you for bringing the wild things to life.

The most amazing trail I’ve ever been on. Mountains don’t look real. They look like a green screen in the the back ground. I sent pics to my brother and he thought it was a pic of a post card. Not an easy trail but doable. Water and snacks needed. Elevation get high so in November there was snow and it was cold. Watch weather and dress accordingly.

My wife and I travelled to Zion in August 2023 following a business trip to Vegas. It was about a 3 hour drive to the park from Vegas, so we were able to schedule 2 days of activities and only 1 night in Springdale (we started out very early on the drive from Vegas). Our goal was to do Angel's Landing and the Narrows on consecutive days. The weather and permit gods cooperated and we were able to do both. They were very unique and different experiences, but both were as awesome as advertised by others. Highly recommend both of them. We were expecting 100's temperatures in August, but were pleasantly surprised with highs in the 80's on day 1 (Angel's Landing) and in the low 90's on day 2 (Narrows). Both hikes were manageable for us (late 40's and active). They were both tiring, but we were never concerned about exhaustion. Angel's Landing was scary with the heights and narrow ledges, but we both overcame our fears and were so glad we did. Here are more details if you are interested.

We both applied for the permit to hike the last 1/2 mile on Angel's Landing for Thursday (8/24). We both won the permit lottery, so we only needed one permit. The "permit" is just an email response you get from the park service if you win. Despite some hesitation from the wife, we both decided to proceed past Scout's Landing onto the epic portion of the hike. There were certainly skinny portions, but I thought the pictures and reviews from others were overstated. I was cautious, but I was not fearful for my safety during the hike. I do recommend keeping a firm grasp on the chains during those sections. Other hikers were generally friendly and accommodating to allow others to pass the skinny sections. No one seemed anxious to steamroll through the hike and force passes on the skinny spots. This initial portion of the hike through "Walter's Wiggles" was tough on your endurance, just take your time, drink water, and expect to work up a sweat. This isn't a casual afternoon hike.

For the Narrows, we kept a close eye on the weather to avoid hiking during dangerous conditions. Unfortunately, both of these hikes are gameday decisions, so there is no guarantee you are able to complete them during your visit. There is a website where they post red/yellow/green status on the Narrows hike, so be sure to check it out. You can also talk to the rangers or guides at the outfitter right outside the park. We followed directions from others to rent the neoprene water hiking boots and walking stick from the outfitter. Both made our hike much more enjoyable. You definitely need a walking stick because you are hiking over bowling balls that are invisible under water. You will fall without a strong walking stick. Trekking poles looked pretty flimsy, but others were using them too. I was worried about the boots being comfortable for a long hike, but they worked well for both of us. I think the water was higher than seen in pictures, but was still deemed safe based on the flow rate. We did the out and back hike from the end of the paved walking trail to "Floating Rock" in the "Wall Street" section of the canyon. There was one section at the beginning that had the deepest water, up to our chest/shoulders depending on your height. This happened sooner than I expected and the rest of the hike was generally no deeper than waist and even waist deep only happened a couple of times.

We ended both days with a visit to Zion Brewery which is literally right outside the park. We didn't even need to move our car from the Zion Visitor Center parking lot. You can visit both the brewery and outfitter by crossing the walking bridge adjacent to the parking lot. Just be sure to take your park pass, because it may be checked upon re-entry. The food and beer at the brewery were great and you can't beat the location.

Overall, this was a great trip and I'd highly recommend.

The drive into the park from the east and through the tunnels is a beautiful one. I strongly suggest that you do it, pay the entry fee and turn around. The sites in the park are nice, but we have seen better--think Yellowstone, Yosemite, Bryce, Arches, Sedona, Jerome, Colorado Springs, Badlands, ... The huge crowds are an inconvenience that is bad at ten o'clock and terrible at four o'clock. The waits for the shuttle at each stop (and, you do have to stop to appreciate the sights) are more than 30 minutes. You waste a lot of time standing in line!
The costs of hotels are high and it is almost impossible to get into the historic lodge unless you have far in advance reservations. The good news is that if you do have reservations, you can take your car into the restricted area to get to the hotel.
Bottom line: my title sums it up! Go to Bryce and then take route 12 to see some really great sights.

As a non hiker I was little disappointed in Zion National park. You have to take a shuttle bus inside the park so your view is limited. If your not a hiker their isn't much to see or so. Now if your a hiker you'll love it. Even at that most of the hikes appeared to be up hill. I wouldn't recommend the park to a non hiker.

Zion is so crowded nowadays, the only reason to go is to be able to say, "I've been to Zion".

Parking anywhere is horrendous. The trails are literally a lineup of people ascending and descending. The Riverwalk is polluted with humans, wandering around in hip-waders and water shoes.

Even the scenery driving in and out, while beautiful, was painful due to traffic congestion.

Once is enough. Never again.

Unique natural rock formation with amazing colours . Many trails to choose from depending on one’s ability and stamina

Even in December, Zion has no shortage of visitors. The shuttle doesn't operate, but it was nice to be drive through the park at your own pace. Some of the upper parking lots fill up early, but there is steady turnover, so don't worry. The park rangers are very organized and helpful. Don't miss the drive through the eastern end of the park with a series of switchback turns: the views are breathtaking!

Loved the tunnels and views driving into the park. They were awesome! We had to ride the shuttle down to the bottom of the park. I didn' think that portion form the road was as pretty. The gift store was nice. The shuttles were crowded but they had many stops. Zion is a pretty place and we did a few short trials but did not have ice cleats for many of the trails. Definately a great place to visit.

I left a much longer, more detailed review on the Main Canyon page, so I will keep it shorter here. The park was great. There are plenty of opportunities to hike, everything from very short and easy, to longer and requiring more specialized equipment (or even permits). You should get there as early as possible (like...before 7 am), because the park gets VERY busy, very quickly. By the time we left (about 1-30 pm), the line for the shuttle bus at the visitor center in the main canyon had literally THOUSANDS of people in it. The views are incredible. Definitely a must-see, just be prepared to walk a lot.

A crowded experience and a tourist trap where we had some not very good Thai food and packed buses where we could barely see anything outside let alone fresh air!

A very nice NP, there are diverse hiking trails, quite well signposted. A shuttle bus runs to various points - here hop-off is possible.
Don't forget water when hiking!

Amazing views, hikes for a wide variety of skill levels, fantastic infrastructure and shuttle system. We spent a day and a half around the park, hiking the Watchman Trail, the river trail near the Narrows, and the Emerald Pools.

This park was awesome. We had a great time hiking and sight seeing. We loved "The Narrows" hiking trail. E bike rental was a great time saver.

This was my second visit to Zion. It is absolutely beautiful. We took the tram ride throughout the park. It’s free and there are several hop on/hop off stops along the way. So much to see and do here!

WE picked up are car in Las Vegas and drove to Zion National Park. The clodsest town to the park is Springdale but you might find accommodation expensive. We stayed in Hurricane and drove in. There is no shuttle in Hurricane but if you stay in Springdale there is a shuttle that takes you to the entrance. The Park is large and there are many walks/hikes ranging from a liesurely walk to a difficult hike and in between. The Rangers at the Visitors Centre are so helpful. We stayed 2 days which was sufficient. There are shuttles within the park so it is easy to move around.
If you are driving from Las Vegas there is not much in between.

In April, we undertook a tour of the five National Parks across southern Utah. At the first four, we found the crowds very manageable. At Zion, in April, it was VERY crowded. I can only imagine the heat and the crowds in June/July.

Private vehicles are not allowed on the park road, so a shuttle bus must be taken. These busses begin running at 7:00 a.m. Parking at the visitor center, the staging point for the busses fills up extremely early. A shuttle runs through Springdale, dropping folks off at the visitor center, but doesn't begin running until 8:00 a.m. By this time, the madness has begun.

All of that to say, a hotel close to the park entrance solves a lot of problems for those willing to get up at 6:30 a.m. and ride the first bus into the park.

The scenery is unbelievable. Get there early before the crowds detract from the experience.

There is an "annex" to the Park, of sorts, at Kolob Canyon, about a 45 minute drive to the north on Interstate 15. This area is open to private vehicles and offers two very nice hikes without the crowds of the main area of the park.

This park is just gorgeous. We didn’t have time to hike on this visit but the slot canyons provide wonderful opportunities to do so. Even is you haven’t the time or ability to hike you should drive through just for the gorgeous scenery. You could drive it in as little as an hour if it’s the off season. In peak season traffic is quite heavy.

The natural site is very pretty. especially along the main road that runs through the park. That said, the organization leaves something to be desired: parking lots for the free shuttle that goes to the Canyon are always full, parking lots for Springdale cost 30 USD and even very little space. Several shuttle stops closed, a bridge closed, no trail marking from the shuttle terminus, at one point you have to cross the river in the water: no bridge, toilets closed.

As one of the NP fans who is trying to get to them all, Zion has been high on my bucket list for a while—I think most NP travelers want to experience Utah’s Mighty Five, but Zion has always been the one that intrigued me the most. I was not disappointed. First, the basics—yes, parking is impossible to find at Zion and in Springdale generally, but the shuttle system is so great and easy to use. The shuttle does get a little crowded at peak times, and it was hot in them, but definitely use them—it makes it much easier to get around for everyone. The Visitor Center is large and has a really nice park store and a lot of displays. The rangers were friendly and helpful, as they always are. The Zion Lodge area is really nice. We didn’t stay there, but we did have dinner there one night at the Red Rock Grill and it has a gorgeous front lawn area that is perfect for relaxing (and drying off after a hike through the Narrows). There’s also a nice shop in the lodge.

It was hot while we were in Utah, over 100 degrees every day, so we did most of our hiking in the mornings. The park is beautiful. Even for those with accessibility issues, just riding the park shuttle roundtrip would give you magnificent views of the canyons. I felt something at Zion, especially as we hiked the Narrows—something I’ve never felt in any other park. It almost felt spiritual, it was that spectacular. I will write a separate review of the Narrows and our experience with that.

We have been to all Mighty 5 - Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonland and Capital Reef.

Since there is limited parking at the park - there is a shuttle from nearby town of Springdale for $20 - very well organized.

Inside the park, a shuttle takes a loop and stops at the viewing locations and it is a great way to view. Even in early April it is busy, advise an early arrival.

Very bad experience. There are not enough parking spots inside the park. Parking outside the small town with paid $40/day.
Inside the park waiting 1.5 hours waiting the shuttle to different spots, not enough shuttle to transfer the passengers. Very bad experience.
Never come back again.

On this day we drove a route from Panguitch to Cedar Breaks, Cedar City, Colin Canyon, and then back via the Highway 9 and Mountain Carmel tunnel through Zion N.P.
A beautiful photogenic route, especially later in the afternoon due to the position of the sun. (Scenic Zion drive)
And plenty of places to stop along the way for some nice photos.

One of the most awe-inspiring National Parks I’ve ever visited, and I’ve been to at least 20. Experience was marred by the most obnoxiously rude Park Rangers I’ve ever encountered! In every other park the Rangers have been helpful, seemingly glad for our visit, and eager to share information about the park. Not here. Wasn’t even that busy, but the 4 or 5 Rangers we came in contact with were universally unhelpful, seemingly bothered by our visit, and literally snapped at us when we asked questions. It was like they had a communal breakfast where someone forced them to eat cereal with spoiled milk. Wtf? Really put a damper on the day. Not sure why it’s different there, but the staff needs a serious attitude adjustment or maybe they’d rather be assigned to the park in Alaska above the Arctic circle where hardly anyone visits so they can sulk in isolation.

Awesome national park. Hiking and pictures opportunities are abundant. The Narrows hike and Emerald Pools hike are great.

One word: Amazing! We walked to Scout's Landing then decided to proceed to the West Rim Trail. This is the most strenuous trail I have ever hiked but it was worth the views! We enjoyed our time in the park. The bus system worked very efficiently. The drive out of the East side of the park was unbelievable! We loved it!

The first thing I thought is that old Yogi Berra quote, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded." We visited in May of 2023 & weren't able to do much because we simply didn't understand the size of the crowds & the time it would take to navigate the canyon with such a high volume of people. So we planned this visit, a longer visit in September of this year, thinking the crowds would be thinner after school started back, in what we expected to be the "shoulder season." We were wrong.

So, to the point:
I give this place 4 stars because it IS a National Park & the protected area within the park boundary is stunningly beautiful. I did not give 5 stars because of the overcrowding & all the associated ills that go with that. I understand the necessity of a shuttle system in the main canyon (the Virgin River canyon, aka Zion Canyon). The narrowness of the canyon & the amount of private vehicles that would otherwise be on the canyon road . . . Well, let's just say it would be impossible to get all those people into that narrow canyon without a shuttle. But the shuttle system is just horrible. The line to board the shuttles at the visitor center is long. The busses are crowded, & at 2 of the shuttle stops, we were unable to board because the shuttle filled up before our turn to board. Most of our shuttle rides were standing-room only. And the parking! The Visitor Center parking lot, just inside the south gate, also serves as parking for the canyon shuttle. There are maybe 1/10 enough spots for the number of vehicles circling the lot. Good news, almost the entire town of Springdale, Utah is an overflow parking lot for the park. Bad news, parking in Springdale is not free. So, 90% (maybe more) of park visitors park in the commercial lots in Springdale & take the free shuttle to the pedestrian gate of the park. In theory, a great solution to the parking problem. In practice, yet another set of overcrowded shuttles & an extra expense above & beyond the cost to enter the park. Deplorable. But, to be fair, I don't know a better solution.

This park is one of the most beautiful places on the planet, so go if you must, but make sure you plan twice as much time as you think you need. Getting anywhere in the park takes much longer than you think it will, & even those with sunny dispositions will find their patience running a bit thin. Soften the edges with a tasty adult beverage & take in the view at Zion Canyon Lodge (shuttle stop 5). Expect to be late getting back to your timed parking in town, & be prepared for the long walk back to the Visitor Center if you miss the last shuttle of the day.

The Human History Museum (shuttle stop 2) is accessible by car, but parking there is also problematic. Highway 9 (which forks off the main canyon road at a place called Canyon Junction) is a lovely drive from the south to the east of the park, & includes the very-cool Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel. The Kolob Canyon area, in the northwest section of the park, has a scenic drive & a few lovely trails. And the Kolob Terrace, a 25-mile drive starting in Virgin, Utah goes into a completely UNcrowded area of the park. But the main draw is Zion Canyon, & the crowds there make it a chore, not a pleasure, to visit.

Wow,, I was amazed by the ignorance of two horrific gate attendants!!!!! I was pleasant, kind, patient and asked about any options for just a short 30 min. We were late getting there we got lost, but spent our last day in z Utah trying to get to Zion.. we thought we had a park pass to get in, but it turns out it was only for certain parks, we asked about the option for fourth graders for free admittance to national parks, and they were not helpful and then we asked is there anyway we can just go in for just a little bit and take a picture and then come out and this older lady in on the manager who may be with her grandson they seem related I said do you know what you can do you can go right up there too that you turn right there and turn yourself around and the way she said that and the way she laughed in my kids face in a mean way I’m very rude. Wang made both of my girls tear up. They couldn’t believe that this was an adult someone who supposed to be working at a national park acting this way for our last day in Utah. This put a really bad taste in her mouth, how someone could act like that and the manager was no better either. We probably will never want to attempt to go to Zion even though I used to live there, I could not believe any human would act like that shame on you all. Also, I tried to contact the national park and no one ever did return my call.

We enjoyed the trails and scenery. Upon arriving we took the bus. The bus shuttle service is included in the entrance fee. Their shuttle service is very efficient and they have a constant flow of buses arriving and departing. It was crowded when we visited and our wait time was 45 minutes so try to come early to beat the crowd. While on the bus, we can start seeing some of the spectacular rock formations. The park has breathtaking views and the nice trails. The Narrows is a must do trail, walking between the canyon walls was breath-taking. The trail to the Emerald Pool was nice but is somewhat challenging and strenuous. Definitely enjoyed the stunning views.

Huge disappointment for this park. Catastrophic management. 1 hour of stopper to get home ($30 fee). Once in the park, it's impossible to park. Forced to get out and pay another $30 for parking outside. There you are waiting for a packed shuttle to take you to the visitor center. You rent a pair of water shoes for $40. Then another hour waiting to take another shuttle. 40 minutes packed in a bus until the walk feet in the water. There you discover a real human tide. You still decide to do the hike (after all it has been more than 3 hours that you wait for this moment). Once the walk is over, 1 hour queue again to take the bus. 40 minutes by bus after, you wait again 45 minutes for the shuttle that takes you back to your parking lot. In the end you spent more than 6 hours between waiting times and bus trips, for 2 hours of walking among thousands of other people. And it cost you the small sum of $100. That's expensive. Frankly there are so many other parks much better than this one. To get a good ten, I rank Zion last.

Great place for views driving by or by tour but honestly, photos might depend on the whether and time of day since the shadows really play a role in it.

It was just OK. The drive in was almost more exciting than the park. The shuttles run pretty quickly, but getting out can be a bit of a hassle as the shuttles fill quick. Lots of hike options but there were LOTS of people.

WOW! The views are unbeatable. The shuttle is very convenient, although even off season and running every 5 min, they couldn’t keep up! I’m sure I wouldn’t like the crowds in summer. We have so many beautiful memories now.

We did Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon in one weekend! Took some of the shorter hikes on each of 2 days. At Zion, the free buses are very convenient to get to the various trail heads and scenic views. We also used the local shuttle which is free to go from our hotel in Springdale to the entrance of Zion. It's helpful to know the schedule of the Springdale shuttle. We stayed too late listening to some nice live music at the bar at the Zion entrance and missed the last bus (7pm) to go back to our hotel. For some reason, Springdale bans outdoor bands after 7pm - we couldn't comprehend that one - so don't plan on late nights partying, just plan to get up early to hike! Bryce Canyon was very different but also spectacular and worth the drive!

Natural History Park with adventure program in the different areas.
Wheelchair friendly to reach some point and family activities.

This area is incredibly beautiful and looks like something out of a true fairy tale. Although we experienced quite a queue, both at check-in, at a tunnel and finally to get on the shuttle, it was all worth the wait. It really is a top top destination that we can highly recommend.

There are several good hiking trails for all levels, and you can also rent bikes to explore the area on two wheels. The shuttle service is really good and makes it easy to get around, especially for families with children. Take the shuttle up to Zion Lodge, which is stop 4, and enjoy lunch in the park – it's a lovely experience.

We flew into salt lake and drove to Brian head thinking we would go skiing. No snow and beautiful weather we decided to drive to Zion. We hiked and had the best day looking at the picturesque scenery. We also did Bryce Canyon and it too was spectacular

Fall color, beautiful views, breathtaking scenery and unexpected vistas! Words and photos don't do this park justice. Highly recommend adding this park to your bucket list.
Husband and I are 63, in reasonably good shape, and we hiked the canyon overlook trail. One of the more difficult 1 mile hikes we've done but well worth it!

As a non- hiker, I was unsure if I would appreciate all Zion has to offer. We rode the shuttle to the last stop and walked the riverside walk the entire length. It was so tranquil and beautiful, I didn’t realize how easy it was. (Go early, less crowded and much cooler). I’ve been to all the major NPs and Zion is top of the list! We also were able to see 3 condors that were being tracked by a volunteer that she zeroed in on a spotting scope. Soon, they started soaring above the canyon at the Big Bend stop. So special!! Beautiful foliage and lots wildlife. Thoroughly enjoyed this park without any of the major “things to do” hikes.

We rented e-bikes from Zion Outfitter, but there are many places to get a bike. We found that this was an ideal way to tour the canyon and avoid the crowds. We got out into the park early and rode to the top of the canyon, then hiked the Narrows. Trail heads have good bike parking. We spent the day working our way down the canyon stopping for a hike or having lunch. I definitely recommend renting a bike and exploring at your own pace.

A beautiful National park. My recommendation would be to visit in off season if possible. The park gets very busy and has limited parking. There is a surrounding town you can park in but they charge a prime price for parking. You can not drive the whole park. They have a shuttle available for areas where parking is not permitted.

Always amazing views and hiking experiences.
Only suggestion would be to provide more parking at the bus terminal to be able to access the bus.

This park is one of the most beautiful and amazing places I have ever seen. The formation and colors in the rock was breathtaking. It was crowded but not horribly.

Arrived and didn’t have to wait for a tram so we felt lucky but it went downhill from there. We hated the tram for a few reasons. It was not air conditioned and the heat was miserable, the ability to see out of the half opened/closed windows was not good, we were expecting narration by the driver and not canned speeches, a young child got her hand shut in the door as she was exiting the tram and screamed horribly (the driver never announced when the doors were being closed, certainly a safety hazard) and the driver never checked to see if the child was okay, when we got on the tram there wasn’t an announcement that everyone had to depart at stops 1 & 9 so at stop 9 several people stayed in their seats and the driver loudly said “everyone needs to depart, can’t you read”. RUDE! So we got off and went to the line and ultimately ended up on the same tram we had just gotten off of 5 minutes before. What kind of sense does that even make??? It was a horrible experience. You need to take lessons from how they do a tour at the Grand Canyon.

Zion is beautiful but our experience yesterday ruined it for us.

We went to Zion, Arches, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Bryce all in a month long trip. The kids loved them all. My favorite was Zion. Majestic settings, turn by turn as you drive along. Sunset and sunrise were both awesome with the sun appearing to move along the rocks, while changing colors, constantly. It was our 3rd trip to Zion we liked it so much

I haven’t been here in over 20 years and so glad I came back!! I forgot how beautiful it was. I walked the Watchman trail with my grandchildren and then we did The Narrows. Or they did. I entered the mouth of the Narrows and realized even with the walking stick, the round slippery rocks were an accident waiting to happen for me with balance problem at my age. So I posed for a picture and let the young people head upstream. Meanwhile, I took my time enjoying that beautiful mile long walk back to the tram. For people who go on this hike, Zion Outfitters will rent boots, sticks and thermal booties for $32 and a dry bag for $12. Well worth it. But if you don’t want to walk in the water it is still worth the hike back on the paved path because it is so beautiful. You can’t drive to it, you take the tram from the visitors center.

Of all the National Parks we've been to, this was my least favorite. I thinks it's probably good if you are a big hiker, but we're in our mid 70's and have to be careful with our hikes. In other parks you can at least enjoy the scenery while driving through. The shuttle system makes this impossible. The shuttles are packed and there is no way to see the beauty of the park while driving through. Stops are few and far between. I wish they had some pay shuttles that you could ride on to see the actual canyon. We enjoyed the drive to the east entrance through the tunnel but that was it.

We have visited a large number of America's national parks and it has always been a very great experience. Zion National Park is the exception. Not because the national park is not magnificent, because it is, but because the management of the national park manages to ruin the whole experience. Unlike the other national parks, private vehicles are not allowed. You have to park the car and take a shuttle, but there is only parking space for around 10 % of the cars that visit the park per day. Other guests are advised to private parking grounds in Springdale where parking costs 30-40 $. There are shuttles from Springdale to the visitor center, but they are all full and don't stop. We waited more than an hour before giving up and having to take the stretch on foot. Then we had to wait almost 1½ hours in extreme heat to take the shuttle into the park. Again a long wait and overcrowded buses to get between the stops and back to the entrance. On top of the transport problems, we found out that some trails were closed and others required special permission which had to be ordered in advance.
All in all, a day that could have been spent much better, and cheaper, elsewhere.

We turned around because it was so crowded. People were parked miles away and it was a big mess. Even though they were over capacity they would still let you pay to get in only to turn you around And make you leave the park and find parking in town.

Zion is the most beautiful of all the national parks to me! There is just so much to see and it changes every hour, depending on the light. There are just so many layers of details.

While I'm not fond of the crowder scenic drive/shuttle bus area, the rest of the park is outstanding.

Do not miss this one!

Zion national park was by far my worst experience at any national park. It’s an overcrowded nightmare. Natural beauty marred by an uncontrolled tide of people. Before they implement some sort of limit on the number of visitors at a time, this place can’t be a pleasant experience.

Beautiful park, with different scenery and lovely views. Experiencing the park in the fall/rainy season was really nice - variety of colours, waterfalls were flowing, mist/fog drifting between the mountains/canyons.
It is a small park, and the crowds pile up (even in the less busy time of year).
(sorry no pictures due to TripAdvisor limitations on file formats)

Beautiful park, you’ll need several hours to enjoy the scope of it, unfortunately on a tour we had less than 2 hours to explore.

What an absolutely amazing trip. This hike up the Narrows is not to be missed. Highly recommend to rent the water hiking boots, waders and walking stick ($60) We hiked it in November during the week, so we didnt have to fight the weekend crowds. Weather was beautiful! You can either park in town and ride the shuttle to the vistor center or $35 to enter the Park, then park at the vistor center and ride the shuttle to last stop #9. It will be a 1 mile hike on the concrete trail. At the end will be a stair case down to the river, where you will then wade up the river. Happy hiking!!

We did a road trip to see family in North Dakota and then went through national parks on the way home to Arizona. It has been since I was an early teenager the last time I was here. We showed up on a 111 degree day that was miserable hot. Problem is, this is really a park for campers and hikers as many of the really interesting areas are not roadside stops (unlike Grand Canyon with many roadside stop and see areas). My wife and I agreed we should come back in fall with the kids so we can go take these hikes and see things much better/closer. The place is gorgeous in its rugged beauty, but I think it seems more impressive to people from other areas as opposed to growing up in the Arizona/Utah canyonlands area.

Zion is where nature decides to paint in wide brush strokes if Bryce is nature's pottery wheel.
Prepare to be stunned by the colors, scale and majesty of nature.
For non-hikers, you can drive around the National Park and get some stunning views.
Strongly recommend either the sunrise or sunset at the park.

Amazing natural beauty. You have to get in there and hike it. But drinks lots of water. Go early to hike.
Gorgeous.

Zion National Park is a real deal. As you move through the park, the canyon becomes narrower. Take the shuttle bus to the last stop and walk the Riverside Track for some views. I used the shuttle bus to reach many attraction spot. It's a wonderful place for hiking.

The shuttle bus driver is funny, he tell all the passenger to look up and we witness rock climbing group climbing through some cliff.

We spent a few days here and did the emerald pools hike, scout lookout, canyon overlook and riverwalk trail. Our favorite was either scout lookout or canyon overlook, both had breathtaking views! Our walk from our hotel to the entrance was also beautiful with mountains surrounding us. The shuttles were busy but manageable. Hope to visit again!

Awesome place, had a lot of fun, scenery in surreal, need to hike early, gets very crowded mid afternoon ! Narrows is my first choice !

My wife and I did a tour of southern Utah parks this summer- it would be preferable to visit in the spring or fall. It was very hot in the afternoons. We took the shuttle from near our hotel in Springdale, as cars are not allowed to drive around Zion. There were several stops at the most important locations. Beautiful natural rock/ canyon formations.

What an amazing scenic drive. Loved getting out of the car at designated areas and taking pics and watching the wildlife. Did the hike at the end of the tunnel. What an amazing view, a must do!

One of the first things that struck me about Zion National Park was its incredible diversity. The park is home to a remarkable array of ecosystems, ranging from towering cliffs and majestic canyons to lush forests and meandering rivers. Each turn along the trails revealed a new and breathtaking sight, leaving me in constant wonder.

This two day trip from Vegas to Utah Zion National park was well worth it even in winter.

The rock formations and different colours in this area are truely amazing.

We downloaded a self guided app for the area and found this most helpful and full of historical and geological information as we went this we would highly recommend especially learning about the first people in the area.

It also gives you stop off places to park and explore along with a suggested itinerary.

It was magical in winter and we can only imagine how great it would be during other seasons.

A must do if you are in Southern Utah.

“Zion National Park is such a stunner! Seriously, if you haven’t been, add it to your list. The park is super well-organized, and there are even picnic tables for a perfect lunch stop. Just a heads up—dogs are allowed, but not on all the trails, so plan accordingly. Cars can only go so far, but no worries—the shuttle service is awesome and makes getting around easy!

Zion’s all about those epic red cliffs and cool forest trails along the Virgin River. You'll find waterfalls and a pretty hanging garden if you hike up to the Emerald Pools. The hikes? Gorgeous, but not the easiest, so trust me, bring a walking stick and some solid hiking shoes—you’ll thank me later!

Oh, and FYI: entrance fees are $30 per car or $20 if you’re walking or biking, and the pass covers a whole week. Totally worth it! Overall, it’s a fab way to spend your day outdoors. We had a blast exploring. Carry your water, and enjoy every bit of Zion’s magic!”

We went after visiting Bryce Canyon and Captial Reef. We were disappointed with how over crowded this park is. It is way over rated compared to the parks we visited. The most annoying part was the road closure that was happening due to the construction. Unfortunately after the long hot day, we got stuck on the way out of the park waiting and waiting for the road to open up. Ultimately ended up turning around and going through Springdale and adding an hour to our trip home. Feel our day was kind of wasted.

After entering the park was treated to some excellent and wonderful views, unfortunately because of the volume of traffic we were unable to go on any of the trails, we could have parked in Springdale but at $40 a time, if you could find a park, we decided to drive through it a d were treated to some wonderful views

Amazing Zion, the views are stunning! We were worried about the crowds but they were not bad. The south entrance was busy however once you hike away from the trailheads the crowds are manageable. We also did some extensive hiking in the Kolob Canyon, the Kolob Terrace and the east section of the park where we only saw a few other groups of hikers. All of these areas are hidden gems away from the crowds. Best time to visit imo is late October/early November. Dress in layers the mornings will be cool but by mid day a few layers can come off.

Beautiful views! Very busy during the peak season (May-September). We went end of September. It is a well maintained park, that is family and pet friendly. It is also accessible for many.

Parking is awful, awful and it took us over an hour to find parking, so plan ahead or go very early. Lots of incredible hiking trails and paved paths for those who need other options. They have a “No private vehicles- shuttle only” rule during peak summers. Shuttle service is great, however as you must take a shuttle bus to visit much of the park during peak season, unless you are hiking.

Plan ahead and make sure you check the weather as during peak season, it can be very hot. The visitor center has a nice store with great items. The narrows, angels landing and hanging gardens are beautiful trails to see. The Angels Landing requires a lottery ticket and if you are afraid of heights, do NOT go.

Lots of restaurants along the way and very close by. Definitely and highly recommend.

Zion is a gorgeous park with stunning views everywhere. The only trail that allows dogs is Par’us which was a nice paved pathway. We stayed in Watchman Campground so we did not have to worry about parking. We took the shuttle to trail heads. It was just amazing. We were there for 5 days and still missed stuff to see and do. We will be back!

This park is one of the most visited in the USA, it is truly beautiful. The road runs along the bottom of the canyon. You stop and take the bus that takes you to the stops.
The excursion to Esmeralda was very nice, approximately one hour to go and one hour to return. At a good pace. You reach a waterfall that begins in a lake and ends in a lake.
Along the way it is Precious always looking up to see the canyon. Without forgetting to look at the ground. The path is ascending and rocky at times.
Highly recommended

With RV and family: forget it! They do not let you Park within the Park. Parking outside costs up to 60US per day. And most important: with all the waiting (like in roller coaster parks) from parking to attraktion it will take you 4 hours before you even have experienced nature. You are not welcome and accepted as a tourist with family and RV. You will waste Lots of time and money and will return frustrated at the end.

I was not impressed with Zion National Park. If you are a hiker this is the place for you. You have to hike to all things that are beautiful to see. We are not a hiking family. What did see was pretty.

Would highly recommend it for an extended day trip or multiple days. Lots of different walks to do.

Get to the park early and beat the heat. Be sure to sign up for ranger talks at the visitor center. There is a 8am Watchman Trail Hike and 10:30AM Ranger bus tour. Be at the Ranger bus tour 15 minutes outside of Wilderness desk or they leave without you!

We were planning on doing the Narrow, it had just opened the same week. When we heard the water was up to your neck (5 feet high) about 1000 feet in and 52 degrees F, we decided not to attempt. Renting a wetsuit would have been $80/person.

Shuttle system works like this. Going up to Stop 9 (Temple of Sinawawa), it doesn't stop at all the stops. Going downward it stops at all the stops. Museum stop has daily 2PM ranger talks. Near the visitor center by the statue has daily 3pm ranger talk too.

Ranger Dan was awesome. Hope to hear him talk when we visit Harper's Ferry!

This park really needs to find a solution to handling the crowds. Visitor center parking lot was full, trailhead parking lots were full, shuttle bus lines had an hour wait. We wound up driving the Zion Mt. Carmel road sand headed for the less crowded Kolub Canyons area of the park.

We visited the park in July of 2023.

Good:
Park staff was great, friendly & helpful.

Unique National Park with one of a kind hikes (the narrows we’re amazing).

Beautiful scenery

Bad:

Parking is atrocious. Parking inside of the park fills up first thing in the morning. If you miss your opportunity to park you will either have to circle the lot and wait for a spot or park outside of the park and walk in. Parking starts at $30 a day.

Limited access to the park. There is a section where you can drive through the park. It’s not very long and can be done in an hour or two. There are stops along the way to view things or take small hikes (if you can find parking). If you want to see the rest of the park (which is where the beautiful hikes are) you are forced to take a shuttle.

The shuttle. In order to see the most beautiful areas of the park you have to take a shuttle. The shuttle is over crowded and takes around 40 minutes to get to the hiking area. You are also dependent on the shuttle to get back. It’s a huge headache.

We ended up spending more time outside of the park exploring around Utah than we did in the park.

Narrows was closed so we did angels landing, which is a good strenuous hike and very beautiful. We only had one day at the park so we also did overlook trail, which is stunning and amazing hike. Highly recommend doin these 2 hikes as a minimum. April was great as there were small crowds

Spent the day hiking which proved to be everything we expected and more! Beautiful scenery and an experience we wont soon forget. Make sure you get to the area early as it gets super busy with tourists and the wait for shuttles can take a while and be filled causing people to wait for the next one. Definitely worth the price of admission!

There 2 full days—did the Narrows—water/fast moving & at times above my waist! Absolutely gorgeous! The next day hiking to high points & places where there were stories high water falls to walk under. I traveled solo but met up with Wilderness Trekking—super group—my first time with them—I opted to stay under a roof!

This is one fabulous National Park! Go go go go!!!! Cannot wait to go back!
Well laid out, well mapped, well labeled and good descriptions regarding the trails, etc.
Fantastic park!

We love this park. Personally, I prefer visiting in the winter, but springtime is great, too. The views are amazing. People watchers will never be disappointed here. It can get crowded, so slow down and soak in the beauty.

Zion is close to St George which is easy to access from LAS or the local airport. Plan ahead and be flexible. Buy a parks pass online or you'll wait in long lines. Research the busiest days and times to visit and start EARLY in the morning for best results.

Finally, you will be much happier if you stay overnight in Springdale near the park entrance. It can be a little more expensive, but you can eat breakfast and beat the crowds by starting earlier than most visitors. When it gets overly crowded, the lines for shuttles can take away to fun.

Superb park with incredible cliffs in color and verticality!
Everything will have been said about Zion! To discover it you must at least take the (electric!) Free shuttle which takes you (every 10 minutes) halfway through the canyon and do not hesitate to get off at the many stops to admire the views, see one of the many trails with varying difficulties (the hardest and known: Angel's angina, can now only be done with a license victim of so. Success!)
Find out more about the different possibilities at the visitor center to avoid wasting time
The car parks quickly fill up and you will then have to park a few kilometers downstream in Springsdale: there are also free shuttles every 10 minutes but paid parking is quite expensive: 15dol per day)
A must-see park that must be prepared in advance

We started visiting the parks starting from this! We arrived very late so we didn't even try to park inside in the free parking lot but parked next to the Visitor Center in Springdale; whether you stay there an hour or all day you pay $30, a legalized theft!
We toured with the shuttle that with the America the beautiful pass is included.
We did some routes and there was one where you can get into the river and you can rent shoes.
After the Zion we went to Bryce and walked the road inside the park where there are breathtaking views and in our opinion it would have been very nice to do the opposite, coming from Bryce, where coming out of a tunnel, you find the beautiful view of the Canyon.
If you have a few days, it is definitely not a park that I would give priority to and I would skip it quietly!

Our family of four had never been to Zion or Bryce and really didn’t know what to expect.

We love Yosemite and never thought anything could rival the beauty and sheer awesomeness of the valley… but Zion and Bryce impressed the hell out of all of us!

We hiked Angels Landing (lucky enough to get a permit through the lottery) and it was difficult, a little scary and amazing. Then we walked the Narrows which was perfect.

We staying in glamping tents about 20 minutes outside the park entrance, which was a great experience. Heated pool and jacuzzi and snores by the fire pits at night. Really roughed it!

We will be going back.

It is a place to spend the day with very beautiful landscapes, perfect for taking thousands of photographs.
You walk inside the canyon, next to the river.

Zion consists of a large area with several canyons. The drive from the east to the visitors center and the Canyon overlook trail (also on the east side of the park) are particularly beautiful. Parking can be a challenge.
In April, several walks (including The Narrows, Weeping Rock) were not possible due to high water levels, a condemned bridge and falling boulders. We walked the Riverside Walk as a family. This route is easily accessible and therefore quite busy.

Such a beautiful place! We have visited it quite a few times but this time was not so much fun.
Absolutely no place to park the car so we parked outside the park. After walking back to the shuttle area we boarded a bus that is packed with people and trying to view the park beauty is close to impossible. Why the park service purchased this type of vehicle is mind boggling. We will need to eliminate traveling to this park until better transportation is provided.

After visiting Drumheller, Banff, Jasper and Yellowstone we went to Zion Canyon. Never can any photo demonstrate the depth and beauty of the landscape around us. We stayed with our trailer at Zion Canyon Campground. We visited Zion Park with the shuttle service which has our great astonishment was a service very in demand. We were also able to make the tunnel of Mount Carmel.

Several hikes are offered and it is super interesting. I recommend this national park greatly.

It was our 2d time in Zion. First time was 23 years ago, really great experience. This time it was soooo crowded it was awful. We drove through it on a Tuesday 3rd week of September, so off season. When we wanted to stop to take a picture, the parking areas (quite small very often) were all full. To go to the visitor centre was a challenge as all parking areas around were full. Even driving through the park was an ordeal. I would urge them to start what Arches started this spring and allow only a certain number of visitors every hour of the day. It would greatly improve the experience.

wildlife, find yourself. Walking and getting to know a little bit of this National Park prepares you to raise your senses.

We stopped at 9th and the museum, you can't miss the video!

I had no idea what to expect, there were 9 of us, including a 3 year old and an infant. What a wonderful variety of trails. We stayed in Springdale, just outside the park and with clear maps, we were able to see which trails were stroller/kid friendly. Stunning scenery, trails didn't get too crowded. Great experience!

Amazing views that no picture can translate it! You must visit this beautiful and very organized park!

Zion, you can drive through it and end up on the other side of UTAH. The walls of rock are AMAZING to see, their height is truly breathtaking. Certain months you can drive through by yourself in your vehicle but most months you'll be on a FREE shuttle that you can get off and on at any point. Zion does have a restaurant and shops inside park. You can do a lot here if you are able to get on and off the buses, if not go during a month you can drive through. The mile long tunnel is just bewildering to think back to when and how it was built through the mountains. There are PLENTY of HIKES but also PLENTY to do with minimal walking and there is paved walkways. Another DONT MISS OUT. We were able to get to see a RAM or LONG HORN GOAT run by... ENJOY this park all year round, just be careful during snowy months. Storms roll in quickly there.

Zion is stunning. The hikes are amazing. Great experience.

Here’s a few practical tips:

-- Get there very early... The first day we arrived at 8:30am (were driving from over an hour away) and that was too late. We waited in line in our car to pay $35 to enter their parking area, only to waste 30 minutes driving around before a ranger finally told us we had to leave the park and park in the town for another $40 then re-enter on foot. They seem to have no problem accepting $35 fees even when they know the parking is completely full (and at 8:30am no one is going to be leaving their spots). We could have saved almost an hour if we had just parked in the town to begin with. Ended up having to wait in another line to get in on foot again even though we already had paid to enter.

-- Another reason to get there early… Second day we arrived at 7:30 and not only were we able to park in the official parking this time, but they weren’t even collecting a fee so anyone could have gotten in free. Spoke to someone operating the rental equipment place who said the rangers don’t typical show up until 8am so if you get there before then you get a freebee. Early bird gets the worm. If you don’t get there by 8:15, don’t even bother trying to park in the park – they are just taking your money.

-- The second best hike requires a permit that you have to complete for in a random lottery the day before.

-- The best hike is called “the narrows” and is a hike along the river bed of the Virgin River. There is no trail and much of the time you are wading through the river itself. When we went in late June, the rangers had just opened it a couple days before and in some places you were wading through the 60 degree water up to your chest. They rent special shoes, socks and poles to help you fight the current and feel the depth and for rocks at the park entrance, which I recommend. No permit required. You have to take their shuttle approximately 40 minutes in each direction to get to the start of the riverwalk trail and hike another mile each way to get to the entrance to the river.

A must-see for national park enthusiasts! The rock formations are spectacular, and the driving trail gives you the opportunity to see as much as possible if you don’t have a ton of time. This park was on my Mom’s bucket list and I’m so glad we made the effort during a recent trip to Las Vegas. We only had a few hours to spend, but it’s possible to get bang for the buck here. Stops along the way to walk smaller trails and watch mule deer and all kinds of birds added to the stunning backdrop. Stop at Wood Ash Rye on your way out if you leave hungry like we did!

Definitely worth to visit, we did probably half of the The Narrows and it was amazing experience, we stayed at the Zion Lodge, but if you decided to stay downtown they have bus services often, but crowded.

The park fills up early. First people there and I mean sunrise get to park in the park for free. After that you can park along the road in but you have to pay a fee at kiosks along the road. We spent over $15 to park along the road. Then you can catch the shuttle for free along the road. It takes you just into the park where you have to change to the park shuttle, also free. The next day we were able to get to the park before sunrise and park inside for free. Our second visit we climbed a trail to see the green emerald ponds. Beautiful hike . I wish we could have driven around the park but you can’t. There lots of shops and hotels along the road in Springdale. We used the free shuttle to visit quite a few.

After the days before, Bryce Canyon and Arches National Park had sent us into pure euphoria, our expectations for Zion National Park were perhaps too high. Instead of individual spectacular bright red rock formations, there are immensely large, but not unusually shaped rock faces. Sure, Zion National Park will have its fans, but we lacked the magic of the other two national parks mentioned.

Amazingly beautiful place and a must for those who love to photograph in natural environments. We are here in January and it is certainly cold but, you do not have to crowd with others to get the best pictures.

Very beautiful but very crowded. Some of the hiking trails were washed out so the ones that were open had numerous people on them. Some of the folks were not up to the challenge and it showed. Others had poor hiking etiquette. We drove around the parking lot for about 15 minutes looking for a spot. You must ride the shuttle bus in the park. Long lines to get on the buses and they were packed! Still a great national park!

It was a very nice walk, the park is equipped with good information for tourists, spectacular landscapes and what I liked most is that you only have to drive to the first station, and from there you take their buses that give you the tour around everything. the park, you can get off at the station you want to walk, take photos and then take the other bus and continue to the next station, a park full of wildlife and very friendly Guards

It was really beautiful you can ride the bus free of charge and experience the sites. Drivers are super nice and helpful. You can rent e-bikes and see everything more clearly, didn’t get chance to do that but next. ☺️ And special treat dis get to see deers.

Zion National Park, which is a 2.5 hour drive from Las Vegas, is a marvel. The landscapes are magnificent. Lots of hiking trails. An excursion not to be missed.

Beautiful national park. Easy to walk from parking spaces in Springdale. Shuttle super easy to use. Walks well described on the national park app. and handout map / info. sheet. We drove through the tunnel, also a big highlight!

One of the most beautiful NPs of the Mighty Five in Utah! Unfortunately, the park is extremely busy. We were there very early in the morning and were shocked by the long line in front of the shuttles (only shuttles can get into the park). But we got on the shuttle pretty quickly.
The hikes are beautiful and there is water and toilets at almost every shuttle stop.
My highlight was the The Narrows hike. Most visitors borrowed special shoes and poles for this. If you are fit and have good balance, you can also manage the walk with normal shoes that you can go into the water with.
We left the park around 1 p.m. and were shocked to see that the line in front of the shuttles had gotten much longer. So it is worth getting up very early.

Zion National Park was absolutely breathtaking. The views are unlike anywhere else — those red cliffs and winding canyons are truly something you have to see in person. The hiking was challenging at times but incredibly rewarding, and every trail felt like a new adventure. The park is well organized, the shuttles make getting around easy, and everyone we met was friendly and respectful of the space. Can’t wait to come back and explore more.

Wow, what a beautiful park.
Currently I am on a national parks quest and I have to say that this park was beautiful. This was our first stop of the mighty five. I can say that it was crowded and hot. But our country is in a heat wave currently.
We did the Canyon overlook trail and it was very pretty. There is a big climb of steps, then it levels off some and then a bit more of a climb to the overlook. The canyon lay before you in all it's splendor.
The drive through the mile long tunnel was pretty cool.
The scenic drive is not accessible unless you take the shuttle during the summer months unless you are staying at the lodge. So be prepared. But the other roads were very pretty.

Don't take the shuttle unless you plan to get out and do some outdoor viewing and/or hiking. The windows aren't big enough to let you look up at the mountains. We were awed by the natural beauty as we drive from St. George to Zion, but disappointed as we took the shuttle into the park itself. Also, don't go on a hot day if your plan is to stay cool, because when you get to the top, they force you out - you can't just stay in and go back down - and you have to wait in a long line for the bus to get back down to the visitors' center.

The worst organization following a road trip of 10 parks, run to Yellowstone or Bryce where arches, canyon land... but this one go to Eurodisneys is better... no parking spaces in the entire park and surrounding areas after 9 a.m.! While hotels are developing??? Endless queues, bicycles and pedestrians coexist as best they can, CAD badly 😣! Should be considered an amusement park!

Had a great time, we went on the river trail and we rented water boots and a walking stick. The view was beautiful. The bus drive was long because there was so many stops.

Place of dreams. Every place has a changing landscape. We only did the panoramic route, it’s really beautiful. Hiking paradise

I am a national park junkie, but this time I want to take a moment to recognize someone at the gate, his name is Tom H. He was so kind, he helped us by educating us about yearly passes and upgrade which it’s been a game changing for myself as I go to at least 4-6 NP a year, he said are you going to any other national parks after this one? We mentioned we came from the Grand Canyon he asked for our receipt to offer a yearly update and it totally made our Vacation worth it. He made my experience a lot smoother and can now visit even more frequently next year. Thank you TOM. GOD BLESS.

As pat of our 23 day cross country trip we decided to visit Zion National Park. The park is so overcrowded it is difficult to see. We arrived at about 1030am on 7 May (a Weekday) and as we were driving into the park, we saw 1000's of cars parked on the side of the road before the entrance and people walking into the park. As we arrived at the visitor center, we drove around attempting to find a parking spot along with at least another 100 other cars waiting for spots. Knowing that we were not going to find parking we decided to drive through the park and view the scenery which was beautiful and drove to Panguich for lunch at the Cowboy Smokehouse Cafe.

We entered Zion through the back entrance, having driven from Bryce Canyon. It is a 13 mile road from the back entrance to the main entrance at Springdale. It was a beautiful scenic drive. The different types of rock formations, driving thru the mile long tunnel & the mini tunnels, the many stops for photo ops made it the perfect scenic drive thru a NP. Of course, all the other tourists are happy to take your picture when asked & you gladly take theirs, as everyone is just happy to be there.

We made it to the visitor's center to speak with the rangers about the best & fastest way to see the most popular sites. We got on the shuttle and went to The Narrows stop. It was about a 1.5 mile walk on paved trail alongside the river. The paved trail ends at the start of "The Narrows" trail. As it says in all the guides, this is where you walk into the water and start hiking into the canyon. Unfortunately, a storm was rolling in and the rain started getting heavier. The rangers on the trail & other experienced Zion hikers had strongly advised going back due to flash food risks. Since my wife was not prepared to go in the river anyway, we headed back to the shuttle back to the visitor's center. Since the rain seemed like it would not let up, we left thru the main gate to Hurricane, UT to find some fast food eats & a place to crash for the next 2 nights.
The next day it was raining on & off, so we jumped on the shuttle to hike the Emerald Pools trail, which is 3 miles round trip. Make sure you bring plenty of water before you start. A snack won't hurt either. The trail is all uphill to the 3rd (& last) pool. It is not so steep to the first pool. However, to get to the last pool you are climbing up steep stairways in the trail. Just when you start thinking when are we gonna reach that dang last pool, you are there. The view is nice but not at all breath taking because the trail already took your breath away. The view of the canyon from the trail is actually amazing. The hike back is all downhill, making it much easier but still steep. You need to watch your step because if you trip and stumble forward off the trail, it is a loooong way down to your unplanned death. We took plenty of pix, as the photo ops are aplenty. When we got to the bottom, we chilled out at Zion Lodge, which has majestic views and is right in the heart of the park (which would make a great starting point if spending a few days in the park).

We shuttled back to the vc, where we bought our souvenirs and walked to the Zion Canyon Village, just outside the vc in Springdale. There are shops, restaurants, and a resort (with great views). We checked out a view spots and left after we had our fill.

In conclusion, ZNP is a definite bucket list destination for all outdoors fans. This NP is huge and has something for everyone of all levels of fitness. One could easily spend a week here. There are so many places in the park to explore. Some hikes require a permit (like Angels Landing & the Subway). We were not prepared to venture out into those remote spots. The rain limited our choices but we still managed to get our hikes in. Zion Outfitters will rent you all kinds of gear for your adventures, so you don't have to bring your own stuff. There are bike rentals AND E-bike rentals. Next time I come, I will rent an E-bike. It is the fastest way around to all the stops in the main park area because the shuttles get crowded & you could end up waiting on line for a while for space on ride back to your vehicle. There are camping spots for the RV crowd. I highly recommend Zion NP. You will not be disappointed. Stop thinking about it, book your trip now. Just don't do it when it's too hot or cold.

If you venture about 40 minutes outside of the park, you will reach the town of Hurricane, UT , which has a big variety of dining options, hotel choices, super markets, etc. It's not a small mountain town but a growing city with many of the conveniences and beautiful view everywhere.

I am already planning my next trip back to Utah to better explore some of my favorite parks & towns. However, I will have time to squeeze in some excursions like extreme jeep tour, mountain bike tours, or helicopter tour.

On this trip we have been to several parks (The Mighty Five) with varied nature experiences. Zion was the most lush this April when we were here. We lived in Springdale and it was easy to take the bus up to the park and then change to the bus in the park. You were not allowed to drive yourself, which was perhaps a shame because you are limited to stop where you want. We went three different walks around the scenic green park.

Zion was part of a family Spring Break for us in March, 2024. We stayed at the park lodge (reviewed elsewhere), and spent the days hiking. The best thing about Zion is that it is stunningly beautiful wherever you look-- you can get great views without even trying and the sky at night is so star-filled that it looks like fireworks (when clear, obviously).

For our mixed-age bunch, (2nd-8th grade plus parents) Zion had a lot to offer in terms of hiking. We did the Emerald Pools hike from the lodge at dusk, and it worked very well, with (again) amazing views, well maintained trail, and not too strenuous difficulty. We were unsuccessful with our attempt at the lottery to Angel's Landing, but took the hike to Scout's Lookout instead. I HIGHLY recommend this hike. Best views that we had, and though the trail is steep in places, it is also very well-maintained and we were able to coax our 2nd-grader up. After reaching Scout's Landing, we continued up the Rim Trail, which was a great idea. There were way fewer people (the trail to Scout's Landing is popular and also continues to Angel's Landing), and we quickly reached viewpoints above Scout's Landing and could look down on Angel's Landing and the Canyon beyond. (The AL trail looked steep, narrow, and crowded.) We also did the Riverside Walk because we didn't want to take our smaller people up The Narrows (my wife and I did this hike years ago-- it's great, just not for the small), and that was rewarding and well-enjoyed by all. Also, on our way out of the park, we drove to the East Entrance, and there are a lot of short, very different, highly rewarding hikes off of the viewpoint turnouts that we really enjoyed. After the tunnel, these were also much less crowded than other parts of the park, but still strikingly beautiful (even though they were outside the canyon proper). Even just walking up the main road through the Zion Canyon is sublime-- intricate, stately rock formations that change with every change of perspective and change in the sky. Just watch out for cyclists (or rent a bike and become one of them).

Even though it was still the shoulder season, Zion was very busy. They have a shuttle system to move throughout the canyon, which is good, but the lines can get *crazy* long and it doesn't go as late as I remember it going when we were there 17 years ago. Also, not all of the stops are 2-way stops and some of them are closed for repair, so make sure that you know what is going on with the shuttle before you make plans. The park shuttles connect to the shuttle system in the adjoining town of Springdale, which offers many helpful services. The Zion rangers and lodge staff were helpful and pleasant, and the gift store and beer garden at the lodge are very good. The visitor's center is useful (also has decent, if typical, gift shop and bookstore), but parking there can be really, really bad. Lots of orbiters looking for spots on a March weekend, so get there early, or take the shuttle from the town (if you're staying there). They don't seem to enforce the rule that only oversized vehicles can park in the oversized lot, as it was full of minivans, but it was still overfull, so that didn't help us any.

Sharing Zion with other people provides most of the downside, just because of their sheer numbers. You should still go; it is amazing and totally worth it. I would suggest doing some homework and finding times with fewer people. The shuttles definitely keep parking tragedies like those at the visitor's center from happening elsewhere in the park, but they do mean long lines, especially at popular stops. If you're starting from the Visitor's Center, start as early as you can.

There are beautiful routes described, but not everything is right.
For example, walking routes suitable for children and the elderly, which you think are doable for the average hiker, but that was very disappointing.
Distances on dirt roads are also wrong.

We recently visited here as part of a two-week-long road trip from our home in southeastern PA out to see Utah’s national parks. This was a very enjoyable national park to visit and in an extremely scenic area of our country. In spite of its popularity, we found it easy to visit here; the NPS has it so well organized—from their excellent website to the narrated shuttles to the trailhead markers.

We took the free town shuttle from our hotel in Springdale (Hampton Inn kindly allowed us to leave our car at the hotel during our visit); the shuttle was convenient and easy, as was the one within the national park. We are not hikers, but we were able to see lots of great scenery without too much walking by getting off the Zion Canyon shuttle at virtually every stop and looking around that area before reboarding and continuing to the next stop (we took the shuttle to the very back and worked our way down to the Visitor Center). We walked the Riverside Walk and the Emerald Pool trails partway and enjoyed the exhibits and film at the Zion Human History Museum. When we needed a rest, we lounged on the porch of the Zion Lodge, where there are numerous rocking chairs. (The Lodge also has large clean restrooms, a nice gift shop, and more lounge seating inside.) We had lunch at the Castle Dome Café; our food was tasty (but overpriced), and shaded outdoor seating was plentiful. The day we visited, there were no flush toilets at the Temple of Sinawava as advertised—only porta-potties. The Visitor Center here is typical for a popular, busy national park, with sufficient rangers to help visitors, a nice gift/book store, and restrooms. After returning to our car at the hotel (via the Springdale town shuttle), we drove back to the park entrance to take the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway to our next hotel in Bryce. That was an amazing scenic drive and also a must-see.

All in all, we had a wonderful day exploring Zion National Park! We visited on a Tuesday in early May and found the weather perfect and the crowds manageable. Do your homework to learn how to visit here and you won’t be disappointed and unprepared.

This place is a hikers paradise. There are two options of getting around the park self driving to allow you to see the views where you can pull off the side of the road briefly to take a few photos and the second is a bus which takes an inner loop where you can get dropped off at specific trails. Make sure you stay hydrated.

The park is gorgeous and well worth visiting. The surroundings are awe-inspiring and the beauty really can't be captured in a photo. No doubt it was crowded which is unavoidable during the summer. We went early and still had to wait to enter the park and the attendant told us there might not be any spaces left for our car but we got lucky. The best time to go would be first thing in the morning when it's not as hot. We started with the Riverside Walk to The Narrows and it was quite cool as it's entirely shaded but the other hikes are fully exposed so bring a hat!

My husband and I spent 5 days hiking in Zion. It was one of the most amazing trips I have ever had. We went in October when it was supposed to be less crowded. The place was still hopping, so I'd hate to see it in the busy season. We both agree that October was a perfect time to visit because the air was crisp and it was cool in the morning but not too hot in the mid day. It really is a cool area - from the amazing scenery to the friendly people. I have seriously been recommending this to everyone I talk to!

I highly recommend exploring Zion National Park with a private guide. From helping us choose hikes that matched our fitness levels to offering tailored itineraries, Sarah was with us every step of the way. She was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and had a great sense of humor. What I appreciated most was her ability to make last-minute adjustments to our plans based on our preferences, ensuring we got the most out of our experience. Over two days, we hiked through some of the park’s most iconic spots. We started with the challenging Angels Landing, followed by the scenic Emerald Pools hike the next day. It was an absolute joy spending time with her and immersing ourselves in the awe-inspiring beauty of Zion.

The views are great. Be prepared for crowds. Be in the park by 8 am to try for Visitors Center parking. The shuttles can take awhile to move around through the park. It’s easy to see what the goal is, to eliminate personal cars and protect the park, but the shuttle system is slow. With a few of the trails closed, one trail intended for families was redirected to another much more difficult and scary trail. It was so crowded, people were carrying crying toddlers and the trail was full of people in flip flops on rocky narrow places designated as ‘don’t fall off the cliff”.. So be sure to read updates and check the trail descriptions.

Absolutely stunning national park that is a must see. We arrived from the east entrance travelling in from Page. The drive into the park was sensational. Rock formations rising up and beyond as you drive around a twisted road at a slow pace to take it all in. There are plenty of turn in spots to enjoy the view. We stayed 2 nights at the beautiful town of Springdale which I would highly recommend. Accommodation and restaurants aplenty. We hired bikes from Zion Ebikes and road the scenic drive into the park. Shuttle buses had stopped and there was not much traffic on the road. We timed our visit perfectly. We rode to Riverwalk Trail parked the bikes and walked in. Beautiful walk. We then rode back to the Kayenta Trail and walked this also seeing the Emerald Pools which were just off the trail. Beautiful walk. We then enjoyed a hot chocolate at the Zion Lodge before riding back to Springdale. A wonderful day and a great way to see the park if you like combining riding and hiking.

This park was the first created in UTAH, it covers an area of nearly 600km2
Zion National Park is a nature reserve in southwestern Utah, famous for the steep red cliffs of Zion Canyon. It’s a pure wonder you can take walks there or you can also park in the parking lot of the Visitor Center and then take the green shuttle that serves 9 stops spread out at different places on Scenic Drive.

We skirted Zion National Park coming from Bryce Canyon to visit Springdale and finally head to Las Vegas. The panoramic road is kept in perfect condition and the journey by car allows you to admire landscapes and rock formations of unique beauty. In some places the road is winding and in the final part, before Springdale, there is an alternating one-way tunnel that offers extraordinary views.

Zion is Majestic. We had concerns about going in August due to heat and crowds. As many will tell you - get up and out early. We did and found great weather and temps even on days where it eventually was over 100 degrees later in the day, as it is much cooler in the morning. Had had grandma and grandpa with us and we had a very full and inspiring 3 days here getting up early - heading back to the hotel pool for the middle of the day - and then either going back into the park later in the evening or doing something else around town.

One hiking note - Zion Overlook Trail is not really an “easy” trail… I read some reviews / saw some YouTube videos that essentially stated after the initially set of steps it wasn’t a big deal. It was much more challenging than expected which narrow trail, steep un-railed drop offs, slippery sandy rocks and more inclines than expected. It was worth it to go and most should be able to do it - but just be aware it’s not so simple.

The only parking lot is that of the visitor center which is largely undersized for the July crowds and therefore you have to resort to the paid parking lots just before the entrance to the park...at $30 per day.
As for the park itself, despite 2 or 3 photogenic spots, it is very far from the Grand Canyon, Antelope, Monument Valley, Arches, Bryce, Death Valley or Yosemite. Brief, non-essential step in a road trip.

Zion National Park is absolutely stunning. You do need to catch a bus to do a lot of the walks as it gets extremely busy. We drove through it and stopped at a few viewing points and took some amazing photos. It really is a stunning place to visit x

A park with so many different highlights and beautiful scenery. We visited in July and it was hot and it was busy. The shuttles are nice but there was a wait in the afternoons to get around. We were up early and hiked the Narrows before noon. There was no problem or wait for that early shuttle, but coming back to hike the Emerald Pools after finishing The Narrows we had to wait for shuttles, then after hiking the pools the wait for a shuttle was again longer. The hikes are so scenic and fun… The Narrows, the Emerald Pools. The visitor centers, gift shops, cafes are all convenient. And having Springdale right there is very convenient too. We camped at watchman and being able to walk to the shuttle, the visitor center and gift shop, and to Springdale was very convenient.

Zion National Park is gorgeous! I've never seen anything like it. We drove through the park, hiked the narrows, and rented a UTV right outside the park to go exploring for the day. It was a great trip!

We enjoyed our trip to Zion. Were were able to find parking near the welcome center and took the shuttle throughout the park. The last stop was were we had to deal with a crowd, and it took awhile to get the ride back. Overall, we enjoyed seeing the park.

Zion is beautiful, but the crowds are not. Even in March, we had to park in Springdale. We waked the 10 minutes into the park from shuttle bus stop #2 because the busses were always full and didn't stop. Inside the park, you do not see much while on the shuttle busses because you are packed in like sardines. We wish we had rented bicycles or E bikes. It looks like a more enjoyable way to see this park. The river walk was nice. On our second day we drove out the east side of the park. That was beautiful! Driving through the tunnel is an experience in itself, but the traffic can get very backed up by mid day. We went through around 9:30 am and did not have to wait. We hiked the overlook trail (parking is very limited) and enjoyed our day.

This magnificent park offers a lot of hikes and walks of all levels, with the certainty of seeing extraordinary landscapes and often animals. A paradise for walkers, hikers, photographers and nature lovers. On the other hand, it is necessary to organize your stay on site well in advance, in order to allow sufficient time for unforgettable walks. Blog, guides, videos, the NPS site, alltraits... it's really worth taking the time to prepare your stay well. While considering and not neglecting the need to be properly equipped (hiking shoes, iso bags for water, stick if you are doing the extraordinary Narrows hike, leave very early and plan to rest in the afternoon, because there are crowds…) not to be missed!!!

In the state of Utah a valley between imposing rocks and a gorge carved by the Colorado River, is reached by a fairly winding road with enchanting scenery that frames the park and rocks with very beautiful rifts.

Love this place. Amazing views everywhere. Visited with my daughter. It was snowing 1 morning, but later we went for a hike into the Narrows. 🥰

Your experience will likely depend on what time of year you visit. I would recommend spring or fall. We went mid-June and it was simply too hot and too crowded to enjoy. The sun absolutely cooks you at the high elevation. We spent more time waiting in lines for shuttles, and riding the slow-moving shuttles than we did enjoying the park. Lots of people had children with them, which was pretty annoying to deal with as someone who doesn’t have kids. I know that sounds mean and I certainly don’t blame people for bringing their kids. Just something to keep in mind for others. I’d strongly suggest taking earbuds or headphones so you can listen to music on the lengthy shuttle waits/rides, as it’ll help drown out the conversation from other shuttle riders (trust me, it gets really annoying really quick. Most trails were so packed we did very little hiking. Lots of people showed zero trail etiquette, which was frustrating. We planned to hike to scout’s landing but we weren’t sure it would be safe with the crowds.
The mountains are beautiful, but most of the different formations looked redundant to my untrained eye, so I didn’t see the value in trying to hike around all of them. We mainly went to hike the narrows, but the current was so fast it just wasn’t doable for my wife, and we had to turn around after only going in about 200 yards. This was extremely frustrating after spending about $80 ($40 per person) just to rent a pair of cheap neoprene shoes and a walking stick. The shuttle ride from the entrance to the narrows (the very last stop) was absolutely brutal. It takes about 45 minutes each way, and our shuttle was absolutely crammed with people standing in the aisles with their asses or backpacks in your face, sometimes reeking of body odor. That was after waiting in line about 20 minutes for the shuttle. When you finally get to the narrows you’ll have to walk for about 30 minutes to get to the entry point. I honestly did not really get the appeal of the narrows, either. It’s just walking in a creek. I guess maybe if you don’t spend much time outdoors maybe you’ll enjoy it more than I did. It just didn’t live up to the hype for me, and again, it was too crowded to enjoy anyway.
Overall Zion is a beautiful place, and I’m thankful we got to see this part of God’s creation but it’s a tiny park, in the sense that all the attractions are accessed from one road, which everyone uses. This led to a ton of congestion.

The drive in from the east entrance of the park is amazing. If this was all you did, it would be worth the trip, but it was just the appetizer. We stayed in Springdale on the west side of the park entrance, but a 5 minute free shuttle ride into the park. The first night we just did Weeping Rock which was an easy hike, but very cool. We rented hiking gear that night for the Narrows which we did the next morning. The hiking gear including neo-prene socks, boots, and poles are a must for the Narrows - and reasonably priced. The Narrows can be as long or as short as you want to make it. You will get wet and would be wise to rent a water-proof bag. The scenery along the Narrows is breathtaking and you need to remember to look around as you navigate the rocks and the Virgin River. We would have liked to hike Angels Landing but didn't have enough time. You could easily spend a week in the park. We loved the Grand Canyon, but Zion is more intimate. Would like to visit in the fall next time.

A real nice surprise. The different colors of rocks under the sun, the animals you can come across, it was a beautiful experience. Whether you want to spend time there, or just drive through it (East entrance via Mount Carmel Junction and South exit is a good route), you will be delighted.

Wonderful park. The park gives you the opportunity to see a canyon from its base, next to the river, which is impossible to do in other canyons. The shuttle system is unique yet efficient.

We were on a road trip and really only passing through. We drove in from Bryce Canyon that morning and expected, since it was after Labor Day, that it wouldn't be too crowded. We were wrong!
We entered through the Mt. Carmel/East Entrance. The further into the park we go, the busier it got. In fairness, it was Saturday, but it had not been nearly as crowded when we were in Bryce the day before.

We attempted to go into the visitor's center. There was no parking. I mean like folks were circling around like vultures looking for anyone to leave. It was way too busy for us to try to enjoy so we just kept on going. Be careful of when you plan to visit.

On a girls trip to the Mighty Five, Zion was our first stop. As I read online, getting to the park early is crucial. We were at the visitor center by 5:30 AM and had a great parking spot the entire time we were there. Believe it or not, the lot was NOT empty at that time. After parking we waited for dawn and then started our hikes and rode the shuttle to the other spots in the canyon that we wanted to see. My favorite hike was the river walk hike that takes you to the start of the narrows (we had children with us and people with mobility issues so no narrows for us this trip!) and it was so pretty.

It is just as crowded as you think it will be, by about 7:00 AM the line to get on the shuttle is already snaking out of the station. The line did move quick tho! While I loved the park, the amount of people can take away from the experience just Iike Yellowstone. But! If you go in with that in mind you’ll be prepared.

A sad case of obscenely inadequate NPS management. 5,000,000 tourists annually. Five Million! Thru a town of 800 residents. Ugly crowds. Too many. Two hours+ to get into entrance of Park. Airbnb's in Springdale for $60,000 per month (look it up). Lower and middle class taxpayers can't afford to visit this mess.

Bridges (Emerald Pools TH) unusable for over a year. Major trailheads (Weeping Rock) closed for over a year. Half of the campsites at South Campground closed to the public for over a year. Hazard trees everywhere. Noxious weeds cover most of the ground in the river bottom. E-bikes by the hundreds speeding by at 30+ mph on Puruus trail.

Major construction sites on Main Street in Springdale. Up to a dozen in a three mile length of Main Street. For example-they tore down a perfectly usable hotel (Montclair Suites) to build a brand new one. Construction sounds all day--- seven days a week.

We will never return here.

A disgrace.

The NPS should be ashamed.

Zion is a well-run national park with different things for everyone. You can stay anywhere from a single day to a week here. The hikes are varied but are all spectacular.

A beautiful place with a lot of nice views and a lot of hikes to do. I specifically liked hiking in The Narrows, and then all the rocks that look like rock plates put on top of each other resembling waves.
Prepare for the fact that this national park is extremely busy. Since I and my boyfriend had accommodation quite far away, we arrived to the park around lunch time and had a problem to find a free parking place. Even the spots that were supposed to be occupied for couple of minutes were just taken for hours. We literally circled at the parking lot for about 1 h, searching for an empty parking place. This is a lot about luck - you just hope that some car leaves and there will be some free parking spot right in front of you, before some other car jumps in between you and that free parking spot. I believe that the entrance to the park might have been managed somehow better so the number of car or tourists for certain period of time are somehow regulated, as e.g. in Arches National Park.

It’s Central Park with mountains surrounding it. An urban park plopped down in a canyon. Yawn. It’s more “tourist attraction” than National park.

Over sanitized and over tamed. Yes if you are coming from Vegas maybe it’s OK. You haven’t seen real nature in a long time and this is nature light. Plenty of paving and queues to stand in. Buses and cars and e-bikes galore. Crowds. Lines. Very Disney-esque.

The most scenic part is only accessible by the shuttle or bike/e-bike or walking miles in. Shuttles stop running at 4pm for entry. And you have to catch that lady bus out by 7pm. So forget that sunset shot.

Over crowded even in off season. It’s insane. It’s the closest to Vegas so it gets the traffic like the touristy restaurant.

But compared to the other national parks and places like Monument Valley it’s sort of just a city park with some trails. Go to Bryce Canyon, White Sands, Everglades, Monument Valley, Yellowstone instead just for starters.

The average Zion visitor is dressed like they are visiting an urban park or a day at Disney, not a natural area. If that’s what you want, great. You ride the bus in, transfer and ride the bus to the “stops.”

Leave your photo gear at home and just take smart phone snaps. Didn’t see a single serious photographer. All the mountains look the same and just like the surrounding areas, so take one or two shots from the pull outs as cars whiz by.

Such an awesome park! It is bigger than Bryce and rock formations are incredible. Taking the shuttle bus works out great and trails are marked according to the stops. Get there early for parking in the park. Or park on the street, that costs $25. If you are hiking the narrows renting the equipment works well and if you have issues with balance use 2 sticks. The water was cold so we were happy with the waders.

We were so excited to go to Zion a second time and take my sister along. Unfortunately, the best scenic route has been closed off to private vehicles, now only the shuttle buses and private tourism autos are allowed. There was so many people it was ridiculous, had to wait in a long line for the restroom, parking was a joke as there was hardly any spaces empty. The handicap parking was far away from the restrooms and the gift shop. The gift shop had so many tourists in it you could barely get in, needless to say we didn't go in. We will not be visiting Zion again!

A very beautiful park with a good transportation and walking paths. Bring walking sticks. Nice lodge and restaurant. Some areas are more difficult for seniors with mobility issues.

Do Not go in late April! There were lines for everything to show your National Park Pass, to park your car, to go to the restroom, to get on the bus, to get to your stop… this all took two+ hours.

Then to go to the Emerald pools the hike was unbearable… so many people, we felt like we were at Disney World. People on your heels, at one point I had to keep pulling over so someone would not walk up my heels.

I hate to complain because we so enjoyed Red Rock and Valley of Fire that last few days…

If you do go get up early! Or go in November or March to avoid the crowds.

Huge park filled with mountains, each bigger than the other. Greenery and a water source beautify the landscape.

Several trails of different levels are available. A mandatory shuttle to walk around the park during busier months which is included in the entrance fee of $35 USD per vehicle.

A lodge with catering in the middle of the park. The food is good and reasonably priced.

What an exquisite place! Never enough time to explore and get lost in Zion and her natural beauty, cannot wait to visit again.... and again!

Magnificent park
Plan the day to do it carefully if you want to do the hikes

I regret a certain lack of professionalism when I see access still blocked in certain places
We are prevented from entering by car to force us to use the shuttles, but there is no room to park the cars and take the shuttles… the other parks that we had the opportunity to visit were better organized on this point.

However, this in no way spoils the magnificent landscapes that you will see all along the route or even the entire ones that are offered

What a beautiful park. We enjoyed a couple hikes. Exceeded my expectations. The park was very busy as it was a holiday weekend. Still worth the trip.

Another amazing U.S. Park. This is a very popular park. We took an orientation tour before deciding what walks to do. It’s great that there are hop on buses inside the park that stop frequently. I understand this is a popular park for rock climbers. I enjoyed walking. There are different length walks for everyone.

The shuttle system seemed like a good idea. We boarded not far from our hotel in Springdale. But it was crowded and became increasingly so as we entered the park. The seats all face inward so you really don’t get a view of the sites without craning your neck and there’s no narration to know where you are. The return trip was even more unpleasant with huge numbers of people crowding the buses to get back to town. We decided to make a very late afternoon drive into the park — after most people had gone and the admission was free — and it was glorious. The late afternoon light on the rocks is amazing.

This is a beautiful National Park. It is a smaller national park and is the 2nd busiest after Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Zion has about 5 million visitors a year. Because of how busy it is, it is not one of my top favorite national parks but I can see why this would be someone's favorite national park. Come here in late October or November to try to get away from the crowds. It is a great park and well-worth visiting. I am glad I came and I would come again in a less busy time. Kolob Canyon is beautiful and far less busy.

An absolutely amazing national park! Thabk goodness for the shuttle because without it, there'd be no place to park your car after the Visitor's Center, even in early March. Beautiful trails!

Waterfall hikes, wildlife sightings, riverside picnic, it was a soulful journey with my friends. It was fun! #hiking #waterfalls #travelwithfriends

We came in through the East gate and the drive to get down to the visitor center was just beautiful, very hard to drive this windy road and check out the scenery.
We went on a Sat. May 11, and by the time we arrived to the visitor center all parking was taken, (Not a large parking lot) so we drove around and after 30 min. I parked in the 15 min parking slot so we could use the restroom.
That was all we were able to visit.
NOT A PET FRIENDLY PARK.
Parking lot was also for employees, not a wise idea.
This was May, hate to see how bad this park is in July.
Only can visit trails by bus (no pets).
I would love to see more of this park, hopefully one day.

Wow! Amazing views and beautiful hikes! The shuttle system is about the only way to travel- and it’s not efficient.- it wasn’t even busy season! They recently transitioned to electric buses. The park doesn’t have enough shuttles running- mid week! And per the drivers they don’t have enough charging stations and therefore, not enough buses running for the # of guests! You have to wait at least an hour to get a shuttle and again, that’s the only way to get to the hikes (unless you’re staying at the lodge.). But besides the shuttles- it’s majestic! Just be patient!

I stopped first at the Kolob Canyon Visitor Center, but they close for lunch, so be aware of that. Drove up the road to get to the Timber Creek Overlook Trail. This was a nice little trail to hike if you don't have a lot of time. Great views. I stayed at a B&B outside of the main entrance and took the shuttle into the park to see the main Visitor Center. From there, you had to ride the park shuttle to get to any of the stops. Took the shuttle the entire way to the end where the Riverside Walk is. Nice trail to walk along the river. This is a beautiful park and I hope to come back to see more when I have more time.

Zion National Park has been extra crowded, since 2019. The biggest downside is the lack of parking on busy days in the spring, summer and fall season. My family had to drive around for 15 minutes to find an open parking space in the bus shuttle area. If Zion continues to allow unrestricted access, with no reservations or limits, it will only get worse in the future. If Zion doesn't enforce limits, it simply needs to add more parking and wipe out the Watchman Campground, now under renovation, on the parking lot's north side and make that area new parking. This is vital, because as it is now, visitors regularly park -- bumper-to-bumper- on both sides on the main highway south of of the main shuttle parking lot. (That practice is very unsafe.) In addition, the increasing popularity of visitors riding bicycles in the park has also created another hazard and Zion needs a dedicated bike lane.

There's a nice visitor center with plenty of parking and there are walking trails off of the vistor center parking lot. If you have a national park passport book you can stamp it in the gift shop but it's hidden in the middle of the shop. There are amazing views as you drive through the park with some pull offs if you want to take pictures.

Great ! Lovely place ! But very expensive in shops and cafes !!!!! Captive market !! All national parks are extortionate!!!!

Horrible organization of this park. We arrived around 9am and parked at the Museum, so we thought we would attack the steps quickly w( riverside walk and then the narrows).
Bus arrives quickly. But we have to go down to the visitor center and there, THE SURPRISE: a huge queue.... It took us over an hour to get on the bus. Also namely, it was a Saturday, maybe that played into the balance.
Well once our day finally started, this park is as nice as the others, walk the narrows done with sneakers and without sticks, it is no problem if we are a little careful, we Point of Sale more than 1h30 to the outward and took only 30 minutes to return (we had identified the places to pass, you have to go where there is less power, and were bcp more reassured than to the outward. Of course we also did a few dips at times because we were in swimwear.

I didn’t realize it was a weekend/possible holiday and coming in at 11 o’clock in the morning is ridiculous. A little bit too crowded too many cars and today is one of the hottest days ever so far. That we have been on vacation. I’ve been here before just stopping through this time

Loved this park. We stayed at the Cable Mountain lodge which was less that 100 yards from the walk-in bridge to Zion National Park. We would get up each day and board one of the Zion shuttles where we rode to one of many stops. Our favorite walk was to the west rim trail which climbed out of the beautiful valley. We spent a rain storm under the weeping rock. The shuttle makes it easy to pick a hiking spot, return, go back to the hotel or to go to another hiking spot. Many of the hikes/walks were very easy and for all ages.

What a fantastic state park . The visitors centre gets very busy. The shuttle service is very timely and efficient. Lots of places to rent bikes and waders for that walk down the narrows. This is one of the busiest state parks even in March. Lots of washrooms and places to get drinking water. The drive into this park is amazing . Bring your walking sticks and go for some great hikes

They started a lottery system to suck money out of people. We tried to plan out trip a couple months in advance but we had to wait until the day before to know if they would let us do the hike. We tried multiple times but never got it. Each time they make you pay a fee to enter the lottery which is nonrefundable. Terrible system. We should be able to plan in advance and not pay them money for not going on the hike.

Zion National Park is a short drive if you fly into Las Vegas. This part of the country is different from all the other parts of America. You want to hike the Narrows. It is the last stop when taking the shuttle bus. It is really popular and parking can be hard to find after 7:00 am during the summer months. It is well worth the visit.

This was my second trip to ZNP. My adult children and I hiked The Narrows for my 60th birthday. This park is absolutely amazing. You have to love the outdoors and love hiking. It is well managed, clean, and the park rangers as well as the employees are super friendly. My advice before you go is to do your research. In high tourist season, be at the park entrance at 7:30 am. Be there! If you do not like to hike….don’t go. It’s that simple. I do recommend the Overlook trail and if you can handle hiking in summer, go for the Narrows hike. Neither are for the faint of heart and both are strenuous in their own way. I have been here in early spring with temps in the 30’s to 70’s range and this summer with average temps of 107. Will I be back??? Oh yes I will! Hopefully one day I can experience ZNP in the fall. Be patient, arrive early and make sure you purchase A National Parks Pass in advance.

One of the best parks in the area, with possible activities on bike, on foot or even with a dog, from bucolic walks along the Virgin River to trekking trails in sublime landscapes, to educational resources suitable for the youngest.

We went here the weekend of July 4th. Yes it was hot and busy. Upon approaching the entrance we saw lots of cars parked along the road so we assumed it was full and paid the $20 to park. Then we learned it wasn’t and had to pay an additional $35 for our family to enter. Check the parking in the park and save. The shuttle service is great to get around. We went to hike to the Emerald Pools but could only got there and turn around. It is a little difficult for a beginner with not the right shoes but very enjoyable. Would love to go back when not as crowded.

Our family spent about a day and a half at Zion. We traveled through the park from the East Entrance in the early afternoon, which allowed us to go through the tunnel and much of the park as we entered. There are lots of pull overs to allow travelers to take in the views, and what views there are!

We stopped at the visitors center, near the South Entrance of the park so we could get guidance from the rangers about what hikes to do the following day and pick up the Jr. Ranger book for the kiddos. After we explained our physical activity level (we are not regular hikers), the rangers recommended we do the Watchman trail (early in the morning), the Riverside Walk, and Kayenta Trail to see the Emerald Pools. We were discouraged from trying the Narrows, in part due to the size of our youngest child and the fact that she had skinned her knees earlier in the day. (It is not advisable to go into the water with wounds due to potential infection.)

The following day, we arrived at the park around 7:30am and did not have to pay a fee or show our pass to enter. This was told to us by merchants in Springdale as well. If you get there early enough, they haven't opened the ranger stations yet and you can just drive in for free. At this time, the line for the shuttle bus had wrapped all the way around its shade enclosure. (This was likely a 20 minute wait.) We walked past and started the Watchman, a hike with a fair amount of climbing. In late June, in the shade, with the wind coming down off the mountain, it was almost chilly. We made it about 1/3 of the way on the trail and decided to turn around so we could save our energy for the Kayenta Trail because we really wanted to see the Emerald Pools.

We did a Jr. Ranger talk (a requirement for a Jr. Ranger badge) and then waited in line for the shuttle bus to take us to the Riverside Walk. By 10am when we got in line for the shuttle bus, it went all the way into the parking lot. It took approximately 45 minutes to wait for the shuttle bus at this time.

We took the bus to the last stop for the River Walk. It is a flat walk along the Virgin River (hence the name) and partly shaded. This is accessible to almost everyone, regardless of ability level. We didn't make it far however, as our party was now hungry for lunch and declared mutiny until they were fed. We sat in the shade near the river, where some people were wading and swimming and had a snack. It was lovely, even though the temperatures were climbing.

After taking the shuttle back to the Zion Lodge, we had lunch at the cafe (where there is typical fast-food type fare; burgers, pizza, etc.) Our party sated with food, we started the Kayenta Trail. It is not a particularly steep trail, but it does go up and down a great deal. In the heat of the afternoon (mid to upper 90's F), it was challenging for us, even with bottled water and our stops for shade. (There are shady spots every 20-30 feet of so, many of which have rocks or tree roots to sit on.)

After a long hike (1.5 hours due to our stops for rest and water) we made it to the Upper Emerald Pool. It is small, but my youngest enjoyed the tadpoles and my oldest enjoyed sitting in the shade. The adults then went to a spot on the trail to the Middle Pool where we could see it, but decided to save our energy to get back to the shuttle bus instead of going all the way to the pool. It was lovely, with a narrow waterfall flowing into it.

Technically, the Kayenta Trail is a loop, but the bridge over the Virgin River is not functional on one side, so we had to back track to get back to the shuttles. Had we been able to do the loop, we would have seen all 3 Emerald Pools. On the bus, a lady told me that she just walked across the river because it's not deep there. I wish I had had that information before we turned around. However, this was not suggested by a ranger, so I suspect crossing the river there is discouraged.

On our way out, we stopped at the Human History Museum. We watched the movie in order to get a little air conditioning and rest while we learned about humans in the park. If we had more energy we would have spent more time here, as it's a nice little museum. We probably should have visited the prior day when we hadn't been so tired from hiking.

All in all Zion is amazing and there is something for every athletic level and age here. I highly recommend it! It was my favorite National Park out of the Utah Big 5.

We were super excited to come to Zion, but we greatly underestimated the crowds of people. I realize it is spring break time, but this was worse than DisneyWorld. Everything we read mentioned how convenient the shuttles are. However, we spent at least 5 hours standing in shuttle lines and only went to 2 stops. The scenery was beautiful when you could stop long enough to look without getting run over by other people. I can't overstate how crowded it was. Maybe we will try to come back in the fall sometime when school is in.

Such beauty every place your eyes can see!! And every place your legs can carry you, with lots of hiking trails of varying challenges.Make this a bucket list priority.

Zion is absolutely spectacular. Emerald pools trail is great, the bridge was out at the lodge, but we were told by our shuttle driver that many cross the river .., thus was a great tip. We were finished for the day so our wet shoes /socks were fine. Angel’s landing was incredible. Please just listen to the park rangers…. Take enough water- the heat is no joke.

Zion was such a magical experience pre-Covid. Now…. Terrible experience post-Covid! Now with all the changes and accessibility (paved trails, rentals for everything), it’s a nightmare. Expect Disneyland lines at the shuttles and nipping at someone’s heels on the trails and vice versa, stollers, too many little kids who hate hiking but are being dragged by parents. Angels Landing lottery sucks. We didn’t get accepted to any day we submitted for and they still take your money anyway. Government scam. Pass on Zion if you want real hiking and peace of the great outdoors.

Amazing formations you can't see anywhere else. The canyon is driven from the rim down, along a very steep switch back road. Leave LOTS of extra time to get where you are going! The tunnel will be a long wait if they are letting a big bus through! Most of the sites are at the bottom. Parking can be tricky, park where you can and use the shuttle, you can get to some of the attractions by this method only. DO NOT forget water, a hat, and appropriate shoes!

This is one of the most beautiful national parks that I've been to so far. The park itself is so nice, and the roads are great. Also, the stops next to the roads are quite small, but perfectly placed as well. The rangers are very friendly in this park, and everything is very logical, except for the parking next to the visitors-center, we drove around lots of times to find a spot... More parking spots would

We arrived in Zion NP via a truly beautiful route from Page for a 2-day stay. Rented e-bikes from Zion Guru and took the car-free road to Temple of Sinawava, a beautiful experience, virtually no traffic (only the occasional shuttle bus) and enjoying the beautiful view along the way. Zion was quite busy when we were there (high season) and you could tell by the long waiting times at restaurants, not annoying but good to know. Definitely worth staying here for a day or two!

This was one of our favorite national parks to visit. Driving through Zion NP is like being among a valley of giants. We drove through at different times of day, so catch the different patters the light created. There are places to stop, but not big parking areas, so it can be tricky to stop and get photos. If you are doing one of the hikes, there are shuttles that will take you up and drop you off. It is absolutely breathtaking and a wonderful place to spend a couple days exploring.

We were amazed at the beauty of the park and the different opportunities for hiking. Really appreciated the shuttle service. Glad we got to the park early as parking became scarce by mid-morning.

Get there at open and ride the shuttle to 9 and work your way back towards visitor center. Starts to get really crowded and hard to get shuttles if you don’t go early. The way we did it was enjoyable and we never waited very long. We arrived at open. When we got back to visitor center around 1, the line was insane. Prlly took several hours to get shuttle. The upper emerald pool was my favorite and is a must. Beautiful canyons. We spent 5 hours but definitely could have done more. Be prepared to hike to see most stuff. Bring water and a lunch. Plenty of bathrooms and water filling stations.

Absolutely beautiful! Taking the shuttle was great as we got to see the whole park.
If you have a large vehicle i.e GMC/RAM then you are probably able to park in the large vehicle spaces as we did.
If you are planning on visiting all parks it works out cheaper to buy the Annual pass than pay individually for each park.