Guide to Zion National Park
Zion is iconic for its steep, red cliffs and striking landscapes. It’s an amazing place to hike, sightsee and enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities. The 2 most notable hikes in Zion are The Narrows and Angels Landing. Below, is a guide on how to best enjoy each one, as well as other recommendations for the park.
The Narrows
The Narrows is a beautiful hike through the Virgin River. The whole hike is located between two, towering canyon walls offering unique views. I highly recommend renting shoes for this hike as the rocks can be slippery. Zion Outfitter, right next to the visitor center, offers shoe rentals that come with a walking stick and neoprene socks to keep your feet warm. Typically, water levels range from ankle high to waist deep. This hike has no inclines and consist of sections of dry land for stopping for breaks. I would rate this hike as moderate difficulty.
To get to this hike, take the free shuttle that starts at the Zion National Park Visitor Center. Get off at the final stop, Temple of Sinawava. You do not need to reserve a time slot for the shuttle, the shuttles come often. By starting at the Temple of Sinawava, this is known as the bottom to top route and you do not need a permit. To hike from the top to the bottom, a permit is required. However, the most popular, and best route in my opinion, is the bottom to top route with no permit required. The entire narrows hike is 17 miles, however, most people do not complete the entire hike. With this hike, you can hike up as far as you’d like, then hike back down. I personally recommend hiking up for 3-5 hours and then turning back around.
The visitor center parking lot fills up around 8:00 AM. Starting this hike before 8:00 AM will allow for fewer crowds. However, you can complete this hike at anytime during the day. When the visitor center parking fills up, there is more parking in the town of Springdale with additional shuttles to take you to the visitor center. Before you go, check water levels and current weather conditions since the hike will be closed down for water levels that are too high or for risk of flash flooding. I recommend putting a whole day aside for this hike.
Angels Landing
Angels Landing is one of the most famous, and most scary hikes in the United States. The hike is a total of 5 miles roundtrip, and only the last 0.5 miles consists of hiking a narrow, 1,488 ft. cliff, this section is known as the chains section. Regardless of if the last 0.5 miles of Angels Landing appeals to you, I would still recommend doing this hike at least up to that point.
Before the chains section, the hike is on flat, spacious, paved ground and is very safe. Due to the uphill incline of this hike, it is still tiring so bring plenty of water and take breaks as needed. On various points of the hike, you can see the stunning views pictured below and do not need to complete the chains section of the hike to see them. Before the chains section begins, there is a spacious stopping point to have lunch or to wait for others completing the hike. As for the last 0.5 miles, there’s some things you should know.
1- There are chains throughout the majority of this section of the hike. For additional support, you can bring along climbing gear to hook onto these chains.
2- The walkway is not as narrow as it may appear. At its narrowest point, this section is about the width of a side walk.
3- Children and dogs are not allowed on this section of the hike and it is not recommended for people with a severe fear of heights.
A permit is required for this hike and can be booked here. To get to this hike, take the free shuttle that starts at the Zion National Park Visitor Center. Get off at the Grotto. I recommend putting a whole day aside for this hike. For a less strenuous hike with similar views, check out the Canyon Overlook hike.
Ground View of Angel’s Landing
View before the chains section
My Recommendations
Best time of year to go: Late spring and and early fall are great times to visit Zion, since temperatures are ideal for long days of hiking and most outdoor activities. I went to Zion end of May and I thought it was a perfect time to go. If you choose to go during a colder month, you can rent a wet suit from Zion Outfitter for The Narrows.
Other Activities:
If you’re looking for more than hiking in Zion, it has a lot to offer. Zion offers river tubing, horse back riding, helicopter rides, biking, and great shops and restaurants in the town of Springdale. I recommend staying in a hotel in Springdale due to its proximity to the park and accessibility.
Restaurants:
Packing list:
Hiking shoes
Hat
Sunscreen
Shorts for the narrows
Long hiking pants for angels landing