Zion is open year-round, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The standard entrance pass is $20 per vehicle and can be purchased at any entrance station.

We recommend entering the park at the southern Springdale entrance and stopping by the  Zion Canyon Visitor Center . The visitor center is a great place to grab a map and catch the park shuttle, which runs every 15 minutes starting at 6:00 a.m.

During the summer months, Zion visitors are required to take the free shuttle (no reservations required) to the most popular hikes and scenic drives. We recommend catching the first shuttle of the day so you can see the sunrise and hit the trails before they’re crowded.

Since you’ll be without a car, we recommend packing lunch, snacks, and plenty of water. That way, you can ride the shuttle from end to end and stop for picnics along the way. We also recommend a dry bag and water shoes/sandals for the hike through Zion's Narrows, where the water can reach as deep as waist deep, depending on the season.

Few things compare to watching the sunrise illuminate the cliffs and canyons of Zion. The 45-minute scenic shuttle ride covers 7.7 miles and winds past beautiful sites like Court of the Patriarchs and Weeping Rock. We recommend riding the shuttle to the last stop, Temple of Sinawava (stop nine), where you can hike on the Riverwalk Trail.

As the name indicates, the Riverwalk Trail follows the beautiful Virgin River that winds through a slot canyon, a narrow gorge carved in sedimentary rock. The Riverwalk Trail is an easy two-mile out-and-back hike along a paved road. The terrain is mostly flat, with a couple of slight inclines and descents. At the end of the trail, you’ll reach the famous Narrows.

Zion's iconic Narrows hike is one of the park's most thrilling and unique experiences. Canyon walls as high as 1,000 feet encompass you as you wade through the water-carved corridor. This challenging hike can be an overnight backpacking trip, full-day hike, or short half-day hike, depending on where you start. For a day trip to Zion, we recommend starting at the bottom of the Narrows, just after the Riverwalk Trail.

This hike will take approximately an hour as you wade upstream to Mystery Falls. This short hike is great for beginners and allows you to experience the Narrows without spending a half day hiking in and out of the canyon.

We highly recommend waterproof footwear and a hiking stick for this bottom-up hike. Even a short walk in the water is slippery and slow-going (but worth it!). We love this site for tips on hiking the Narrows and info about where to rent gear if you don’t own it.

This moderate one-mile out-and-back hike is a beautiful way to close out the day. The steep ascent up sandstone steps rewards you with a breathtaking view of Zion Canyon transformed into a canvas of red, orange, and gold.

Unfortunately, the shuttle doesn’t stop at Canyon Overlook, so visitors must drive a private vehicle to the trailhead. To catch the sunset from the overlook, you’ll need to take the shuttle from the Narrows back to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, where you started your day. Then, you’ll need to drive to the trailhead. The extra effort to get to Canyon Overlook is worth it for one of the best views in the park.