Zion National Park - tips by travel authority Howard Hillman

Zion National Park

travel wonder in America

Why

Zion National Park

is special

Zion National Park in Utah has a dramatic landscape of towering cliffs and nature-sculpted canyons. They draw nearly 3 million visitors per year.

The two most talked
about attractions

Zion Canyon - Most Zion National Park tourists come only to see this 16-kilometer (10-mile) long gorge. Unfortunately, it can be jammed with visitors. To help alleviate that problem, private vehicles are now prohibited in Zion Canyon during the busy season. Free shuttle-bus service is provided. You can, however, drive your car in most other areas.

Narrows Trail - This is a conversation piece. Most of this 25-kilometer (15-mile) footpath is not on dry land. Hiking entails wading through a river squeezed between cliffs soaring as high as 600 meters (2,000 feet). At one point, the passageway is just 6 meters (20 feet) wide. During the thunderstorm season (early-July through mid-September), flash foods lurk.

Zion National Park
tips & insights

Zion National Park was given its first name by an early Mormon settler. He felt that the land was a place of refuge and sanctuary, so he chose a Hebrew word that describes such a setting.

Trails are many and widely touted by trekking aficionados. They range in skill level from inexperienced to experienced hiker. The Narrows Trail belongs in the latter category, as does the climb to Angels Falls peak.

Be aware that temperatures on the main valley floor can exceed 38慢 (100慚) in July and August.

The ideal visit time is from May to mid-June, before temperatures and tourist counts surge. The colorful and invigorating fall foliage period (mid-October) is also ideal.

There are limited lodge and campground accommodations in the park. The best known inn is Zion Lodge. If everything is fully booked, you can seek availability in a nearby town such as Springdale.

American cuisine