36 Epic Hours in Zion National Park
This past September, Sam and I got our first taste of van-life! After flying into Las Vegas, we picked up our rented campervan and embarked on a road trip through the American Southwest. With only 10 days, we had a long list of places we wanted to visit and what a journey it was. Our first stop was Zion National Park in Utah. We allocated about a day and half of our 10-day road trip to exploring Zion. We arrived at the park around 8pm on Day 1 and departed by 8am on Day 3. It was a busy 36-hours, but it made for an epic visit.
Read on to learn how to spend 36 Epic Hours in Zion National Park!
Zion National Park (NP) was the first national park in the state of Utah, designated as such in 1919. Of Zion’s 229-square miles, the most well-known area is the 15-mile long Zion Canyon, which boasts 2,600 feet tall canyon walls. Located at the southeastern corner of Utah, Zion NP is easily accessible from Las Vegas (3 hours) and Salt Lake CIty (4.5 hours) and can be visited in combination with the other parks of Utah Mighty Five or the nearby Grand Canyon.
Day 1: Arrive to Zion National Park
Arrive to Zion National Park, stop in town for dinner or supplies, and get settled in at your campground or hotel. The town of Springdale located just south of the South Entrance Station has everything you might need for an enjoyable trip; hotels, restaurants, and stores.
Day 2: Full Day Exploring in Zion
Zion NP is best known for two famous hiking trails - Angels Landing and The Narrows. With only one full day in Zion, we were determined to hike both. We split up our day with hiking Angels Landing in the morning, stopping for a quick lunch break, and then continuing on to The Narrows in the afternoon. With sore feet and hungry bellies, we made it back to our campsite around 5pm, which gave us enough of our evening to grab showers at Zion Outfitters and cook a delicious dinner.
We were fortunate to land 7am shuttle bus tickets and were in the canyon no later than 7:30am. I strongly recommend getting an early start and catching one of the first shuttle buses from the visitor center. Not only will you be able to optimize your day in Zion, but there are far fewer hikers earlier in the day.
↠ Morning: Conquer Angels Landing
Start the day off strong with hiking Angels Landing, the most popular trail in Zion NP. Despite being only 5.4 miles roundtrip, this hike is rated as strenuous. There’s 1,488 feet of elevation gain and the last half-mile to the summit follows a steep, narrow ridge with sharp drop offs. Chains provide assistance with rock scrambles and steep inclines. If you dare to reach the summit, the views of Zion Canyon below are breathtaking and you earn major bragging rights! For those who aren’t as adventurous, the 4-mile round trip hike to Scout’s Lookout still provides stunning views and a more moderate hike.
Due to its popularity, the trail can get very crowded, making the last half-mile push to the summit packed with other hikers and difficult to maneuver. The earlier in the day you start this hike, the better. We made it to the trailhead around 7:45am and to the summit by 9:30am. Although our hike up to the summit wasn’t too crowded, we noticed a significant increase in the number of hikers on our way back down. If we could do it over again, we would have started the hike even earlier.
This insane hike had been on my bucket list for a long time and I felt so accomplished being able to conquer it during our time in Zion. We started planning this trip prior to COVID hitting and for a while we weren’t sure if we’d even be able to go. Being that we were still able to make this trip happen and the chains’ section reopened just a few days prior to our arrival, it made hiking this epic trail even more special.
How to get there: Take the Zion Canyon shuttle bus to Stop #6 (The Grotto). Directly across from the bus stop is a footbridge which leads to the trailhead. Follow the West Rim Trail for 2.0 miles, passing through Walter’s Wiggles (21 steep switchbacks), to Scout’s Lookout. From here, complete the last half-mile trek along the ridge to the summit of Angels Landing.
Tip 1: Stop #6 (The Grotto) has a nice picnic area complete with potable water and restrooms.
Tip 2: Vault toilets are also located at Scout’s lookout.
↠ Afternoon: Wade Through The Narrows
After enjoying a lunch break, hike in the Virgin River through one of the most picturesque slot canyons in the USA for an incredibly unique hike. Starting at The Temple of Sinawava (Shuttle Stop #9) follow the 1-mile paved Riverside Walk until it dead ends at a stairway leading into the river. From here, walk upriver as far as you like, and turnaround when you’re ready.
We ended up hiking about 3.0 miles in before turning around, making it a 6-mile hike. Although we did not walk the length of the Narrows in its entirety (a total of 16 miles), we felt like we got a good sense of its magic and beauty. Plus, after hiking strenuous Angels Landing in the morning, our slow-paced walk through the cool water of The Narrows in the afternoon was very refreshing.
As you will be wading through the river, come prepared to get wet! The bottom of the river is very rocky and can be slippery, so I found it incredibly helpful to use a hiking pole for stability. The depth and velocity of the water depends on a variety of factors, such as recent rainfall and snowmelt. During our trip in September, the deepest water I encountered came to my hips. Be sure to check out the current river conditions on the NPS website before going! Instead of wearing my own hiking boots (which would have probably taken a few days to dry out), I rented canyoneering boots and neoprene socks from Zion Outfitters. Although these aren’t necessary, I was glad we opted to rent them.
Tip 1: If you plan to rent any gear (such as canyoneering boots, neoprene socks, or dry pants) from an outfitter, pick them up the night before! Most places, like Zion Outfitters, allow equipment pick up the night beforehand without an additional charge.
Tip 2: Stop #9 (Temple of Sinawava) has potable water and restrooms.
Day 3: Awaken at Canyon Overlook Trail
For some of the best views in Zion, use your second morning to go for a sunrise hike at Canyon Overlook. Seeing the first sun rays of the day illuminate the canyon is pure magic. The views are truly second to none. Fortunately, this hike follows the principle of minimal effort, maximum reward. The trail is mostly flat and clocks in around 1.2 miles roundtrip, making it an option for young families or those new to hiking. There are some long drop-offs, but are mostly fenced.
I’m really glad we woke up early to do this hike (despite every ounce of my body wanting to continue sleeping for another hour or two). It was a great way to cap-off our time in Zion and the views from the outlook left a lasting impression of the beauty that Zion holds. Also, keep an eye out for Desert Bighorn Sheep! We were fortunate to spot a few on a rocky ledge across the canyon.
How to get there: Personal transportation is required. If you’re staying in Springdale or one of the campgrounds, take Route 9 through the tunnel to the trailhead; it’s located right off the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (Route 9). Two small parking lots are located near the trailhead, just east of the tunnel. Parking is very limited and can be tricky, so be mentally prepared.
Tip: Vault toilets are located in the parking lot across from the trailhead.
Other Useful Information
↠ Where to stay
Within the park:
There are two developed campgrounds within Zion Canyon; Watchman Campground and South Campground. Both are reservable up to six months in advance on recreation.gov.
The Zion Lodge is the only in-park lodging option. The lodge has a variety of different accommodations including historic cabins, hotel rooms, and suites.
Town of Springdale:
Springdale offers numerous accommodation options, ranging from branded hotels to smaller lodges and B&Bs. There are also a few campgrounds and RV parks in the area.
↠ Transportation
Zion National Park provides two shuttle services; Zion Canyon Shuttle and Springdale Shuttle.
Important--New for 2020!!! The Zion Canyon Shuttle now requires advance ticket purchase to ride the park shuttle bus. These shuttles run from the visitor center up the Scenic Drive to destinations like the Zion Lodge and trailheads. Up to date information can be found on the NPS website.
The Springdale Shuttle Service continues to be free and it stops at 9 locations in town and picks up and drops off visitors at the park's entrance.
From Zion NP, we continued on our way to Bryce Canyon NP as part of our 10-day campervan trip through the American Southwest. Despite our limited time in Zion, we really made the most of it. The accomplishment of hiking both Angels Landing and The Narrows in one day feels like a really big win to me. I hope this guide on Zion NP in 36 hours helps inspire you to get outdoors and visit!
