What you need to know about Zion National Park

Utah is a typically regarded as a barren state with not much action. This may be due to its low population and tourists typically stick to the coasts of America. But southern Utah is filled with beautiful geological gems and wonders, including, but not limited to, five National Parks; as well as tons of action sports. Red Bull even holds their Red Bull Rampage event (an exclusive freeride mountain bike competition) just outside of Zion National Park, in Virgin, Utah.

Zion is Utah’s first National Park, and debatably their most beautiful. Since opening in 1909, the park’s number of annual visitors per year has steadily increased to 4,295,127 in 2016. It has been gathering international attention as a new hot spot for travel in the United States, and there is a couple reasons for this: The Zion Canyon Shuttle and unique hiking trails.

Zion Canyon Shuttle

The shuttle was implemented in 1997, when the numbers of visitors increased to almost three million people, and the canyon was so congested that it created a lot of stress for visitors and staff. This shuttle is a life saver because you don’t have to worry about finding parking, or getting stuck in traffic jams, which is a recurring problem throughout most of America’s national parks.

The best part about the shuttle is that it is FREE! It has nine stops, starting at the Visitor Center and ending at The Temple of Sinawava, with busses coming approximately every ten to fifteen minutes. There is also a shuttle that goes from the Visitor Center into Springdale, just outside of the park. To see a map of the shuttle, click here.

Angel’s Landing

This hike is not for the faint-hearted! It is a 5 mile (8 km) round trip with an elevation change of 1488 ft. (453.5 m). This strenuous hike, starting at the Grotto Trailhead (Stop 6), brings you up loads of switchbacks until you emerge from a narrow crevasse, where you find yourself grappling onto thick chains to keep yourself from falling down 1000 ft (300 m) drops on either side of a narrow rocky ridge. This is where the real fun begins, because you have about another 500 ft (150 m) of elevation change before you reach the final platform: Angel’s Landing.

Take care to hold on tight and don’t look down! Many find themselves timid when they reach this stretch and get nervous and turn back. But this is strongly discouraged, for the view is well worth it, and the satisfaction of achievement tastes great while soaking in that view. On your way back down, be sure to display common trail courtesy to those trying to come up by letting them pass. And maybe some words of encouragement to help them reach their goal.

It is recommended that you get up early (maybe see a beautiful sunrise) and catch that first shuttle around 6:30 A.M. to beat the traffic and get on the trail before the sun is high in the sky. There is a lot of sun exposure on this trail and Utah tends to reach high temperatures in the summer. Don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!

The Narrows, Zion Canyon

The Narrows is, as the title suggests, the narrowest part of Zion Canyon. This “trail” is more suitable for all people, especially in comparison to Angel’s Landing. Instead of climbing on high ridges, you’re actually taken into the river that forms the canyon itself to hike upstream. On both sides you gaze up at 1000 ft walls, and on certain parts of the day, the sun lights them up with spectacular colors.

To get to The Narrows you need to get off at the last shuttle stop, the Temple of Sinawava (Stop 9), and walk about one mile along the trail into the canyon. Make sure to use the restroom and fill up your water bottle before leaving the bus stop, as there are no facilities inside The Narrows. Once you get to the end of the trail, you will have to step down onto the rocks and into the water. You are allowed to hike about four miles into the canyon without a permit, ending at a location called Big Spring. Hiking from the shuttle to Big Spring and back is 10 miles round trip. Most people, however, usually just try to make it to Orderville Canyon and back, about a five mile round trip. But honestly, you should take your time in this majestic place, and turn back whenever you feel satisfied.

Spend time people watching, relaxing, and trying to find the sweet spots where you can actually swim. The water level fluctuates throughout the year, but typically the water ranges from ankle high to waist deep. In some places, where the water is really high, be ready to hold your valuables and other belongings above your head to keep them safe and dry. To be fully prepared for this hike, you may consider bringing water shoes, a hiking stick, and maybe some waterproof sealable bags for your cell phones or cameras. If you don’t want to pack water shoes there are always businesses renting out shoes and hiking sticks in Springdale, just outside the park.

Other Activities in Zion National Park

Zion National Park is filled with more opportunity than just the two aforementioned hikes, including horseback riding, bicycling, and fishing. There are also many more trails within Zion Canyon itself, including waterfall hikes and more shaded hikes appropriate for children and leisurely hikers.

For those looking to get away from the tourism, and those who are looking for a more extendable hike or backpacking trip, there is plenty of trails outside of the canyon that require permits to travel on. Zion Canyon itself is actually relatively small in comparison to the size of the National Park itself. There are northern access point where you can backpack through more remote parts, and get away from the craziness of the canyon itself.

If you’re really adventurous, you can actually backpack down into the canyon, through The Narrows, and down to the shuttle service at the Temple of Sinawava. Something every avid hiker would want to check off their bucket list.

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Feature image credit: Airwolfhound