Zion National Park is OpenThe park is 24 hours a day 7 days a week year round. When the Zion Canyon Shuttle System is operating, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is only accessible by shuttle.
From the deep canyons to the high plateaus of Zion roams a large, stealthy predator: the mountain lion, or cougar. Mountain lions can be six to nine feet long from nose to tip of tail, weighing 80-180 pounds.
Pets can harass or harm wildlife by making noise or scaring wildlife away. The only trail that allows pets is the Pa'rus Trail, which begins at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. Pets are not permitted - on any other trails, wilderness areas, on shuttle buses, or in public buildings in Zion.
Scientists have discovered cyanobacteria in Zion at the bottom of the Virgin River and its tributaries. Benthic cyanobacteria are the sort of cyanobacteria found adhering to river bottoms. On rocks, plants, along the banks of rivers, and on the river's edge, benthic cyanobacteria flourishes.
Visitor Parking InformationVisitors to Springdale should park in one of the paid public parking locations distributed throughout Town. Paid public parking in Springdale is available in the following locations: Zone A - Zion National Park entrance to Shuttle Stop #4. Zone B – Sundance Road to Anasazi Way.
With only One Day in Zion, Make Sure to Book Your Accommodation Early so You can Stay Close to the Park. If you'll be spending 1 day in Zion, it is important to stay as close to the park as possible, so that you minimize your travel time, and can spend most of the day enjoying everything there is to see in Zion.
Switchback is home to Zion Canyon's only liquor store. Our liquor selection includes a wide variety of wine, spirits, and full-strength beer. With hundreds of options at your fingertips, it is easy to find your favorite varietal of wine, well, call, premium and top-shelf liquor and of course, world renown beers.
When they run, both shuttles are free to ride. The Zion Canyon Line, or park shuttle, runs from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center to destinations including the Zion Lodge and trailheads for hikes to Angels Landing, Emerald Pools, West Rim Trail, and the Narrows.
Zion Hikes From the Visitor CenterWhile the Watchman Trail has you winding through the canyons to the final panoramic viewpoint of lower Zion Canyon and the town of Springdale. Since these trails are not along the Scenic Drive, you don't need to take the Zion shuttle to hike the Pa'rus Trail or Watchman Trail.
The hike is somewhat like the famous Narrows, only more intense. You climb down waterfalls and scramble over boulders. Serious rappelling is not necessary but ropes come in handy to help get people over cliffs and to lower packs. Most canyoneers do this canyon from top down - it is very difficult to do it bottom up.
How long is the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive? Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is approximately 7 miles long. The up-canyon shuttle routes takes about 45 minutes to reach the last stop, Temple of Sinawava. The entire round-trip ride takes about an hour and a half.
The entire hike is 16 miles long. From the top-down, the hike begins at Chamberlain's Ranch and the Narrows ends 15 miles later at the top end of the Riverside Walk. One more mile of walking on the Riverside Walk gets you to the finish line of the hike, the Temple of Sinawava.
The distance from Las Vegas to Zion National Park is roughly 160 miles (257 kilometers). The drive typically takes between 2.5 to 3 hours. Bryce Canyon National Park is quite a bit further — 260 mi (418 km) from Las Vegas. You'd cover that distance in roughly 4 hours.