Zion National Park is best known for its thrilling hiking trails, like the beautiful Angels Landing,
but hiking is just one of many things to do in Zion National Park. If you’d rather leave
your hiking boots at home, there’s plenty to keep you busy. In this video, we’re going
to look at many other activities the park offers. Make sure you watch to the end of
the video to learn a few things you need to know before visiting the park. And don’t
forget to click the like button and subscribe to our channel, so you don't miss any of our
upcoming videos.
Stargazing Zion National Park is one of the best places
in the country to view the night sky. If you’ve only ever seen the night sky above the lights
of a city, you won’t believe how many more stars you see when you’re truly out in nature.
Zion installed night-friendly lighting at the buildings in the park, like Zion Lodge
and Zion Canyon Visitor Center, to help create an optimal stargazing environment. In the
summertime, you can even find ranger-led programs, astronomy lessons, and telescopes to get close-up
views of the sky.
Catch a Sunrise or Sunset You haven’t seen a true sunrise or sunset
until you take in the colorful view from Zion National Park. You need to find the right
spot to get the full effect, though. Park rangers swear by the Zion Human History Museum
as being their favorite spot to take in the evening sunset. Canyon Junction is another
good option, but it's likely to be a lot busier than the museum.
For the best sunrises, you can’t beat Canyon Overlook. You'll have to hike about half a
mile up to it, though, so leave yourself enough time to get there before the sun peeks over
the horizon. If you aren't much of an early-morning hiker, you can also catch a pretty amazing
sunrise from many local hotels that offer east-facing rooms.
Biking If seeing the park on two wheels is more your
speed, the 3.5-mile Pa’rus Trail is ideal. It’s a paved trail and the only one in the
park that allows bicycles. You’ll get amazing views of the towering monoliths throughout
the park. If you don’t want to transport your own bike to the park, you can rent one
just outside the entrance and walk it in. The bike trail starts just past the line for
the park shuttle bus and follows the Virgin River through Lower Zion Canyon. You can also
cycle along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive but be warned — you’ll face a steep climb alongside
park shuttle buses to get up to the Temple of Sinawava.
See the Park from the Air If hiking and cycling aren’t your thing,
you can also take in the views of Zion National Park from above with Zion Helicopters. You
can take a one-hour flight to see the flowing rivers, massive sandstone monoliths, and steep
red rock cliffs. Park regulations stop helicopters from flying directly over the park, but you'll
get plenty close enough to see all the amazing landmarks.
Take a Scenic Drive Yet another option for getting around the
park to see all the gorgeous views is to drive one of its two scenic routes. These are year-round
things to do in Zion National Park. The first option is the 25-mile Zion-Mount Carmel Highway.
It zig-zags east from Canyon Junction, including a mile-long stretch through Mount Carmel Tunnel.
After the tunnel, you can get out for a quick hike along the Canyon Overlook Trail if you
want to stretch your legs a bit. The second drive is the 5 mile Kolob Canyons
Road, taking you from the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center to the Kolob Canyons Viewport. You
can see everything from soaring peaks to sandstone canyons from its 1000-foot vantage point.
Fine Dining You might be away from the big city, but that
doesn't mean you can't eat well — fine dining is another great thing to do in Zion National
Park. Nearby restaurants offer many creative dishes like Bison Carpaccio and Charred Spanish
Octopus. Or try some lighter fare like the watermelon salad from Park House Cafe.
Yoga If you enjoy yoga, you'll really enjoy it
when you're surrounded by the majestic beauty of Zion National Park. And if you've never
tried it, there's no better place to start. You can begin your day with a morning yoga
class or recharge with a flow yoga class after a day of exploring the park. You can also
book private or group sessions with Zion Canyon Yoga or a combination session of hiking along
one of the park's trails followed by restorative yoga movements.
Birding Zion National Park is home to more than 290
species of birds throughout the year. It’s the perfect place for birders, experienced
and novice alike. The variety of habitats offered by the park attract many different
types of birds. Some birds are seasonal, like the White-Throated
Sparrow and the American Coot that spend winter in the park, while others can be seen throughout
the year, like the California Condor and Canyon Wren. Zion National Park works with several
conservation organizations to protect the park’s bird populations. It’s designated
as an Important Bird Area by the Bird Life International program, at both the state and
global levels.
Camping Zion National Park has three campgrounds available
to visitors. Watchman Campground, located in Zion Canyon, is open year-round. South
Campground is closed over the winter, and the Lava Point Campground also closes for
the winter. The park allows camping in designated campsites but not in pullouts or parking lots,
so make sure you're in the right place before setting up camp.
The campgrounds get busy, especially during the warmer months from March to November.
They're full almost every night, so we recommend making reservations to be sure you get a spot.
The campsites are drive-up and can hold no more than two vehicles. One RV or trailer
is allowed in each site. Keep in mind that cargo or boat trailers are considered vehicles
so they’ll count toward the limit. Of course, a list of the best things to do
in Zion National Park wouldn’t be complete without some of its best hikes.
The Narrows The Narrows is one of the best hikes in the
entire national park system, not just in Zion National Park. You’ll hike through a narrow
canyon of towering red rock canyon walls worn smooth by the Virgin River over millions of
years. The total hike is 16 miles, but even the first few will garner some impressive
views. Make sure you’ve got a good pair of water
shoes or rent a pair in nearby Springdale. It’s also a good idea to use a hiking pole
for added safety. The water is 3 to 4 feet deep in places but the majority of the hike
is no more than ankle-deep. Occasionally, toxic algae blooms can happen
in the Virgin River. They can be harmful, so check the National Park Service website
for any advisories before setting out.
Canyon Overlook Canyon Overlook is one of the easiest overlooks
to get to in Zion National Park. Fortunately, it's also one of the most spectacular. It's
on the Zion-Mount Carmel side of the park, and the trail up to the overlook is a popular
one. The trail is roughly one mile, round-trip, with not too much elevation gain, so it's
manageable for hikers of all skill levels. Lava Point
Lava Point is one of the best places to catch a sunset in Zion National Park. It’s located
in the Kolob Terrace section of the park and despite its grandeur, it's one of the lesser-visited
destinations. You don't even need to hike to the overlook since it's located right next
to the Lava Point Campground.
Kolob Canyon Kolob Canyon is another stunning part of the
park that doesn't get as much attention as some of the better-known spots. It’s located
near Cedar City and features towering red rock formations.
The canyon isn’t that big and offers several day hikes with various lengths. The road into
Kolob Canyon also offers many pullouts where you can catch amazing panoramic views. If
you visit later in the year, from October on, you might even see the canyon blanketed
in white snow from one of the season’s flash snowstorms.
Pine Creek Gorge Slot Canyon If canyoneering is your thing, check out Pine
Creek Gorge Slot Canyon. It’s one of the most popular technical canyoneering locations
in the park. But if you’re not interested in rappelling down the cliffs, you can also
get there on foot. Drive toward the east entrance and look for a spot to access another part
of the gorge. The creek bed is quite long and lets you hike into the base of the canyon.
Things to Know Before Visiting If these great things to do in Zion National
Park caught your interest, there are a few things you need to know before visiting. The
entrance fee is $30 per vehicle when we’re publishing this video. Or if you think you’ll
visit other national parks sometime in the next year, consider America the Beautiful
Pass. For a little over twice the cost, you can get into all National Parks, Forests,
and Monuments for the next 12 months. There are plenty of gas stations in Springdale,
just outside the main canyon, so you don’t have to go far to refuel. And remember that
cell service is pretty spotty in the park so don’t expect to make calls or use your
data connection while in the park.
Which of these things to do in Zion National Park is at the top of your list? Let us know
in the comments below!