Zion trip planner: the shuttle, 1- to 3-day itineraries, Angels Landing and the Narrows

Zion had 4,984,525 recreation visits in 2025, and most of those visitors go to one six-mile-deep corner of the park, Zion Canyon. This guide is about getting the most out of that canyon: how the shuttle shapes your day, which hikes fit how much time you have, how to handle Angels Landing and the Narrows, and how to dodge the crowds. Everything here comes from National Park Service pages, which we checked on Oct. 26, 2026. They're listed at the end.

Which part of Zion?

• Zion Canyon, for a first visit. This is where you'll find Angels Landing, the Narrows, Emerald Pools and the Zion Lodge. During shuttle season, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (north of Canyon Junction) is open only to the shuttle, bikes and walkers.
• The east side. The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway climbs through the 1930 tunnel to slickrock country and the short Canyon Overlook Trail, just east of the tunnel. You can drive it in your own car all year. Oversize vehicles can't use it (see Driving and parking).
• Kolob Canyons, for a quieter half day. It's off I-15 at Exit 40, 40 miles north of Zion Canyon and 17 miles south of Cedar City. A five-mile scenic drive leads to viewpoints and the Timber Creek Overlook and Taylor Creek trails. Everyone has to stop at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center to show a pass or pay. The NPS puts it about 45 to 60 minutes from Zion Canyon. The road can close in winter storms.
• Kolob Terrace Road. It leads to higher trailheads and Lava Point. From fall to spring, the upper road usually closes for several months because of snow.

How the Zion Canyon shuttle works

• It's free, and you don't need a ticket or reservation. Buses come every 5 to 10 minutes and take about 45 minutes from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center (Stop 1) to the Temple of Sinawava (Stop 9). That makes a full round trip about an hour and a half.
• The main stops for hikers are the Zion Lodge (Stop 5, Emerald Pools), the Grotto (Stop 6, Angels Landing and Scout Lookout), Big Bend (Stop 8) and the Temple of Sinawava (Stop 9, Riverside Walk and the Narrows). You can't board an up-canyon bus at Canyon Junction (Stop 3) or the Human History Museum (Stop 2).
• Fall 2026 schedule, Oct. 25 to Nov. 28: the first bus leaves the visitor center at 7 a.m., the last bus up leaves at 5 p.m., and the last bus out of the canyon leaves at 6:15 p.m.
• Nov. 29 to Dec. 25: no shuttle. You can drive the scenic drive, but the NPS closes it for the day when legal parking fills, which it says happens often in December, January and February.
• Dec. 26 to Jan. 2: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. up, with the last bus out at 5:45 p.m.
• The Springdale Line (orange signs) makes nine stops in town and ends at the pedestrian and bike entrance at Zion Canyon Village. Buses come every 10 to 15 minutes, starting at 8 a.m.
• The rules: no eating or smoking, capped water bottles only, and no pets (service animals are allowed). Each bus carries three regular bikes, but no e-bikes. When buses are busy, the NPS says the wait can be longer than an hour.

Driving and parking

• Visitor center lot: more than 350 spaces. Arrive early. Year-round, the NPS says "spaces fill quickly."
• Other in-park lots: the Human History Museum has 51 spaces, and the Nature Center lots have 16 and 38 spaces (the overflow lot connects to the Pa'rus Trail). There are also pullouts along the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.
• Springdale: paid street and lot parking. Ride the Springdale Line in, or walk to the pedestrian entrance, which the NPS says can be faster than the car line. You still pay the entrance fee on foot.
• From farther away: SunTran's Zion route connects St. George, Washington, Hurricane, La Verkin, Virgin and Springdale.
• RVs and trailers: vehicles over 35 ft 9 in long, 7 ft 10 in wide or 11 ft 4 in tall (counting mirrors and racks) can't drive between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance. Neither can combos over 50 ft, or anything over 50,000 lbs. Measure before you go, and plan to route through Springdale instead. There's a large-vehicle lot across from the visitor center, with more than 20 RV spaces and 22 motorcycle spaces.
• Canyon Overlook parking is "extremely limited," according to the NPS. You can only turn right into and out of the lot just east of the tunnel.

Sample itineraries

These plans use NPS distances and time estimates. During shuttle season, add the bus rides: about 45 minutes each way between Stop 1 and Stop 9.

Half day

• Ride to the Temple of Sinawava. Walk the Riverside Walk (about a mile each way, mostly paved, roughly an hour round trip) to the end of the pavement, where the Narrows begin. Then turn around, or wade in for a few minutes if you're dressed for it.
• On the way back, get off at the Zion Lodge for the Lower Emerald Pool Trail. NPS says that's a mile round trip with 80 feet of climbing.

One day

• Morning: the Narrows, from the bottom up. No permit is needed as far as Big Spring. Turn around whenever you like. The NPS estimates 1 to 8 hours.
• Midday: the Grotto to the Lodge on the Grotto Trail, then Lower and Middle Emerald Pools. Upper Emerald Pool is a moderate three-mile round trip from the Lodge.
• Late afternoon: the Pa'rus Trail from the visitor center, for views of the Watchman. It's paved and is the only trail open to bikes and leashed pets.

Two or three days

• Day 2, the big climb: Angels Landing with a permit (5.4 miles round trip and 1,488 feet of gain; the NPS says most hikers take about 4 hours). Without a permit, go to Scout Lookout instead (3 to 4 hours). Start early from the Grotto.
• Day 3, the other Zion: drive the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway east for Canyon Overlook (1 to 2 hours). Or drive about an hour to Kolob Canyons for the scenic drive and the Timber Creek Overlook (30 to 60 minutes) or Taylor Creek (3 to 4 hours).

Angels Landing permits, step by step

You need a permit for the chains section, from Scout Lookout to the summit, on any day of the year. All permits come through Recreation.gov lotteries.

• Seasonal lottery (apply months ahead): rank up to seven days or time windows. For hikes March to May, apply Jan. 1 to 20. For June to August, apply April 1 to 20. For September to November, apply July 1 to 20. For December to February, apply Oct. 1 to 20. Results come out on the 25th of the month you apply.
• Day-before lottery: apply from 12:01 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mountain Time the day before you want to hike. Results come after 4 p.m. When you apply within the window doesn't change your odds.
• Cost: $6 to apply, covering up to six people. It isn't refundable. If you win, there's a $3 per-person permit fee. Seasonal permits can be cancelled for a refund until two days before your hike. Day-before permits can't be changed.
• On the day: download or print the confirmation email, because the NPS says cell service at the checkpoint is unreliable. Rangers may check it, with ID, at the Grotto, at Scout Lookout or on the trail. If it's wet or icy, or storms are building, don't go up the chains. The NPS says most accidents there happen in wet conditions. If anyone is afraid of heights, the NPS suggests splitting up at Scout Lookout.

Hiking the Narrows safely

• The NPS closes the Narrows when the river runs above 150 cubic feet per second, and when the National Weather Service issues a flash flood warning. It stays closed for at least two hours after the warning ends. You can check the flow on the USGS gauge.
• Below 70 cfs, crossings are knee-deep, with pools up to waist-deep. At 70 to 150 cfs, crossings are often thigh-deep and pools can be chest-deep.
• At least 60% of the hike is in the water. Wear closed-toe shoes and carry a walking stick. The NPS says sandals, Crocs and bare feet "often result in twisted ankles or crushed toes." The park doesn't rent gear. In cold months, the NPS says many visitors bring drysuits or waders.
• There are no restrooms past the trailhead. Use the ones at the Temple of Sinawava, and carry a waste bag.
• You can go about a quarter mile up Orderville Canyon, about two miles up the gorge. Hiking the whole 16 miles from the top, starting at Chamberlain's Ranch, needs a wilderness permit and your own shuttle.

When to go (and dodge the crowds)

• Spring (March and April): the shuttle returns, and the NPS says March brings almost three times as many visitors as February. In years with heavy snowmelt, the Narrows can close for weeks.
• Summer (May to September): daytime highs regularly over 100°F, with about half a million visitors a month. Monsoon storms run July through September, which raises the flash-flood risk.
• Fall (October and November): cooler, with fall color reaching the canyon in late October and early November. The NPS says the shuttle keeps running with fewer, shorter hours, the Human History Museum closes after Thanksgiving, and visits drop in November.
• Winter (December to February): highs are usually 50 to 60°F, and nights drop well below freezing. Shaded trails can be icy, so the NPS recommends traction devices. You'll likely need a drysuit for the Narrows.
• Busiest times: weekends are busier than weekdays. The biggest holiday weekends are Easter week, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Pioneer Day (July 24) and Labor Day. December and January are quieter, except around the holidays.

Heat, flash floods and other hazards

• Carry at least one gallon of water per person per day, and drink it. You can refill at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, the campgrounds, the Human History Museum, the Zion Lodge, the Grotto and the Temple of Sinawava.
• Toxic cyanobacteria grow on the bottom of the Virgin River and its tributaries in the park. The NPS says don't drink stream water, even filtered, and don't put your head under water.
• Flash floods can raise water within "minutes or even seconds." Check the NWS flash-flood potential before any canyon hike. Warning signs include building clouds, thunder, water turning muddy, floating debris and a growing roar upstream. If you see them, get to high ground and leave your gear.
• Watch your footing on cliff-edge trails, where loose sand on rock is slick. Never throw rocks, because there may be hikers below you.
• Closed long term: a rockfall on the East Rim Trail has closed Hidden Canyon. Observation Point can only be reached from the east, not from Zion Canyon.

Camping, food and supplies

• The park has three campgrounds, and all of them need reservations on Recreation.gov. From mid-March through late November, they're "full almost every night."
• Watchman, open all year, books up to six months ahead.
• South (seasonal) books up to 14 days ahead.
• Lava Point, on the Kolob Terrace, an hour from the canyon (seasonal), also books up to 14 days ahead.
• The Zion Lodge is the only lodging in the park and the only place inside it to buy food. The Red Rock Grill is open year-round, while the Castle Dome Café and the Beer Garden open from spring to fall. Pack a lunch for long hikes.
• Every overnight trip, Narrows through-hike, Subway trip and technical canyon needs a wilderness permit. You pick it up in person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center wilderness desk.

Accessibility

• The visitor centers, shuttles, restrooms, picnic areas and the Zion Lodge are accessible, and all shuttle buses are wheelchair accessible. The ramp's limit is 1,000 lbs, for chairs up to 48 in long and 32 in wide.
• No Zion trail is ADA-accessible by law. The NPS names the Pa'rus Trail, the Lower Emerald Pool Trail and the Riverside Walk as wheelchair-friendly at your own discretion, possibly with help.
• You can borrow an all-terrain wheelchair at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
• If you can't ride the shuttle for medical reasons, ask at the visitor center or museum info desk for a permit to drive the scenic drive.

Pets

• Leashed pets (6 ft or shorter) can go on roads, in parking areas, campgrounds and picnic areas, and on the Zion Lodge grounds.
• The Pa'rus Trail is the only trail open to them. Pets aren't allowed on other trails, on the shuttle or in buildings.
• Keep dogs out of the water, because of cyanobacteria. Don't leave them in a hot car.
• There are kennels in Hurricane, St. George, Kanab, Cedar City and Rockville.

Ranger programs and kids

• The free Junior Ranger booklet is for ages 4 and up. You can get it at any visitor center or download it.
• In summer, the air-conditioned Zion Nature Center is staffed from noon to 5 p.m. It's a 10- to 20-minute walk from the visitor center.
• Most ranger programs run in summer. Check the park's calendar or the NPS App. "Ride with a Ranger" needs advance registration at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
• Zion is an International Dark Sky Park, so on a clear night it's worth staying after dark.

Gateway towns

• Springdale borders the South Entrance, and has paid parking, the free Springdale Line shuttle and the walk-in and bike entrance.
• Hurricane, La Verkin, Virgin and St. George are along SunTran's Zion route.
• Cedar City is 17 miles from Kolob Canyons.
• Kanab and East Zion are on the east side.

What to pack

• A gallon of water per person, food, a flashlight and layers. The NPS says temperatures can swing 30°F in a day in fall.
• Closed-toe shoes with grip, a walking stick, and a drysuit in cold months for the Narrows.
• Traction devices for icy shaded trails in winter.
• A printed or downloaded Angels Landing permit, and a waste bag for the Narrows.

Common mistakes

• Waiting for the last shuttle out of the canyon.
• Driving to the scenic drive in shuttle season. It's buses, bikes and walkers only, even before the buses start and after they stop.
• Hiking past Scout Lookout without a permit.
• Wearing sandals in the Narrows, or going in with a storm in the forecast.
• Bringing a dog and expecting to hike with it. Only Pa'rus allows pets.
• Taking an RV over the size limits east through the tunnel.
• Planning on Hidden Canyon, or on reaching Observation Point from the canyon floor.

We're an independent site, not the National Park Service. Conditions change fast, so confirm on nps.gov before you go.