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National park: Zion, UT

Zion: 4 Days of Canyon Classics, from Angels Landing to the Narrows

Fact-checked against official sources · Updated

Two iconic hikes, a quiet corner, and a base you can walk out of

A triangular sandstone mountain overlooks green and yellow foliage under a cloudy blue sky.
Photo: NPS Photo / Shane Carte
Length
4 days
Difficulty
Strenuous
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Budget
$$

Four days in Zion Canyon built around its two headline hikes, Angels Landing and the Narrows, with sunset walks, a shuttle-friendly Springdale base and a final quiet morning at Kolob Canyons.

  • Angels Landing chain ridge (permit required) with a no-permit Scout Lookout alternative
  • Wading the Virgin River in the Narrows, bottom-up
  • Kayenta Trail to Upper Emerald Pool
  • Late-afternoon Canyon Overlook and dusk on the Pa'rus Trail
  • A quiet morning at Kolob Canyons

Why visit Zion

Zion Canyon is a place that rewards a plan. Cliffs of cream, pink and red sandstone rise half a mile straight up from a narrow valley, and one river, the Virgin, carved all of it. In four days you can meet the canyon three ways: from above on a famously exposed ridge, from within as you wade through a slot canyon, and from the quiet edges where far fewer people go.

The logistics work in your favor if you lean into them. For most of the year private cars are not allowed on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive; a free shuttle carries you to nine stops, and it's the easiest way to reach the Grotto, Zion Lodge and the Narrows trailhead. That's why this itinerary bases you in Springdale, at the park's south gate, where you can walk to the visitor center and leave the car parked. Parking lots often fill early in the day, so the plan front-loads the big hikes into the earliest hours and leaves the middle of the day for shade and lunch.

Day 1 eases you in with the visitor center, a late-afternoon walk to the Canyon Overlook viewpoint on the east side, and a paved sunset stroll along the Pa'rus Trail. Day 2 is Angels Landing, the chained ridge that requires a permit from recreation.gov; if the lottery doesn't smile on you, you can still hike to Scout Lookout, which needs no permit, and spend the afternoon on the Kayenta Trail and Emerald Pools. Day 3 is the Narrows: a mile on the paved Riverside Walk, then miles of river hiking in a canyon whose walls press in close. Day 4 trades crowds for quiet at Kolob Canyons, the park's northwestern district, on your way back to the interstate.

Timing matters. Fall (roughly September through November) and spring (March through May) are the sweet spots: the Narrows is most stable in fall, and cooler days make the big climbs pleasant. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and spring snowmelt and late-summer monsoons can close the Narrows.

Trail closures do change: the tips section has a dated snapshot of current conditions, and this plan is built around it. Check the park conditions page before you leave home.

Bring reservations, a headlamp, good shoes, and a flexible attitude toward the river. The rest, the light on the cliffs at the end of the day, takes care of itself.

Zion 4-day itinerary, day by day

Day 1 · 5 stops

Arrive, orient, and catch the light

Ease into Zion. Check in at Cable Mountain Lodge in Springdale, visit the park's visitor center for the latest closures, drive east through the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway to Canyon Overlook for warm late light, and finish with a paved dusk walk on the Pa'rus Trail before a relaxed dinner at the brew pub.

Stay

Check in at Cable Mountain Lodge (your Springdale base)

Cable Mountain Lodge sits at the edge of Springdale near the park entrance, which lets you leave the car parked for much of the trip and use the Springdale shuttle line. The lodge's site lists studios, suites and multi-room residences, plus a pool, a heated spa and a riverside picnic area with grills. This is the recommended base for all four nights; other options are listed at the end of the trip.

Type
Hotel
Location
Outside the park
Booking
Book / details
Cable Mountain Lodge
147 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767
Season: Typically open year-round
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Cable Mountain Lodge (new tab) 435-772-3366
Sources (2)
Visitor center2:00 PM · 45 min

Zion Canyon Visitor Center: orient yourself

Start with a walk through the visitor center to check the day's conditions, pick up a map, and confirm the Narrows and shuttle status. Hours are shorter outside summer (see place hours), so don't leave this for late in the day. The Zion Canyon shuttle leaves from here (stop 1); the lot is large but fills early, so on later days walk in from Springdale rather than hunting for a space.

Photo: NPS Photo
Time
30-60 minutes
Best time
Day 1, then only for updates
Zion Canyon Visitor Center
1 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767
Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM from Sept 13, 2026 through May 24, 2027; longer hours (8:00 AM - 7:00 PM) in the May-September season. Confirm on the park website.
Season: Open every day of the year
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Zion Canyon Visitor Center (new tab) 435-772-3256
Sources (2)
Must do
Hike4:00 PM · 1 h 30 min

Canyon Overlook Trail in late-afternoon light

Drive east through the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (oversized vehicles should check the limits first) to the small lot just past the tunnel. The trail is short but not trivial: sandstone steps and a handrail lead above a dark slot, then it opens onto slickrock with a fenced edge looking over Pine Creek Canyon toward the Towers of the Virgin. Parking is extremely limited and you must turn right when entering or leaving the lot, so be ready to try more than once - a good reason to come mid-afternoon rather than at midday.

Photo: NPS/Daren Reehl
Distance
1 mi
Elevation gain
154 ft
Route
Out and back
Difficulty
Moderate
Dogs allowed
No
Trailhead
East of the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel; parking extremely limited
Canyon Overlook Trailhead
Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway (SR-9), just east of the tunnel, Springdale, UT 84767
Hours: Open 24 hours (no gate)
Season: Year-round; road can close for snow/rockfall
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Canyon Overlook Trailhead (new tab)
Sources (2)
Hike6:00 PM · 1 h 15 min

Pa'rus Trail at dusk

Pa'rus is Paiute for bubbling water, and this paved path along the Virgin River is the gentlest introduction to the canyon. It links the visitor center to Canyon Junction and is one of the best places to watch The Watchman glow as the light drops. It is also the one trail in the canyon open to leashed dogs and bikes. Stay after sunset if you can: it is a good spot for stargazing, and Zion is an International Dark Sky Park.

Photo: NPS
Distance
1.6 mi
Elevation gain
152 ft
Route
Point to point
Difficulty
Easy
Dogs allowed
Yes
Trailhead
Zion Canyon Visitor Center (shuttle stop 1) or Canyon Junction (stop 3)
Pa'rus Trailhead (Zion Canyon Visitor Center end)
1 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767
Hours: Open 24 hours
Season: Year-round
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Pa'rus Trailhead (Zion Canyon Visitor Center end) (new tab)
Sources (2)
Eat

Dinner at Zion Canyon Brew Pub

A short walk from the park entrance, the brew pub serves scratch-made pub food and its own craft beer, and it's open daily for lunch and dinner. It is an easy, unfussy first-night dinner, and the patio is a nice place to compare notes on which hike to prioritize.

Meal
Dinner
Cuisine
American pub fare, craft beer
Price
$$
Zion Canyon Brew Pub
95 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767
Hours: Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Zion Canyon Brew Pub (new tab) 435-522-1360
Sources (2)
Day 2 · 5 stops

Angels Landing and the Emerald Pools

The big early climb. Catch the first shuttle to The Grotto for Angels Landing (or Scout Lookout if you have no permit), lunch at Zion Lodge, an afternoon along the Kayenta Trail to Upper Emerald Pool, and a saloon dinner in town.

Logistics7:00 AM · 30 min

Early shuttle to The Grotto (stop 6)

Angels Landing is the day's big one, so be at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center for the first Zion Canyon Line bus at 7:00 AM (the listed time from May 17 through Nov 28; check the park website for earlier spring dates). Walk in from Springdale; the Springdale Line's first bus is not until 8:00 AM. The shuttle is free and needs no reservation, but it follows a seasonal schedule (2026: Mar 7-Nov 28) with earlier last buses in fall: last bus from the visitor center is 7:00 PM through Sep 12, 6:00 PM Sep 13-Oct 24, and 5:00 PM Oct 25-Nov 28 (last out of Temple of Sinawava 8:15 / 7:15 / 6:15 PM). Check the link before you go.

Photo: NPS/Abi Farish
Time
About 30 min from the visitor center to stop 6
The Grotto (Zion Canyon Shuttle stop 6)
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park (shuttle stop 6), Springdale, UT 84767
Season: Shuttle season 2026: Mar 7 - Nov 28; no service Nov 29 - Dec 25; limited service Dec 26 - Jan 2. 2027 dates not yet published.
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for The Grotto (Zion Canyon Shuttle stop 6) (new tab)
Sources (2)
Must do
Hike8:00 AM · 5 h

Angels Landing (permit required) - or turn around at Scout Lookout

This is the hike Zion is famous for: the steep switchbacks of Walter's Wiggles, a cool break in Refrigerator Canyon, and then the chained ridge with drop-offs of up to 1,000 feet on both sides. Since April 2022 everyone continuing past Scout Lookout needs a permit from recreation.gov, and the permit lists the start time you must be at the Grotto. If you don't win a lottery spot, don't skip the hike: the West Rim Trail to Scout Lookout still delivers big canyon views and needs no permit. The permit page puts Scout Lookout at about 2.25 miles and roughly 1,000 feet of climbing, and the full Angels Landing hike at 5.4 miles round trip with 1,488 feet of gain, usually around 4 hours.

Permits come from a seasonal lottery (applications cost $6 for up to six people; awarded permits are $3 per person) or a day-before lottery, entered between 12:01 AM and 3 PM MT the day prior. See the tips section for lottery windows.

Photo: NPS
Distance
5.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,488 ft
Route
Out and back
Difficulty
Strenuous
Permit required
Yes
Dogs allowed
No
Trailhead
The Grotto, shuttle stop 6
Fee usd
3
Reservation needed
Yes
West Rim Trailhead (Angels Landing route)
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park (across from The Grotto, stop 6), Springdale, UT 84767
Hours: Permit start time printed on permit
Season: Year-round with permit; check for icy/wet conditions
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for West Rim Trailhead (Angels Landing route) (new tab)
Sources (3)
Eat

Lunch at Zion Lodge's Red Rock Grill

Zion Lodge is the only place inside the park to buy food. The Red Rock Grill serves American and Southwestern dishes and is open year-round. Castle Dome Cafe (coffee and quick meals) and the Beer Garden are seasonal, spring through fall. It's a short shuttle ride from The Grotto (stop 5), and the lawn out front is a good place to rest your legs. Confirm hours with the lodge. The lodge sits at shuttle stop 5 on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive; only a mailing address (1 Zion Park Blvd) is listed, not a street number.

Photo: NPS/Abi Farish
Meal
Lunch
Cuisine
American
Price
$$
Zion Lodge
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Springdale, UT 84767
Hours: 24-hour front desk
Season: Lodging year-round; Castle Dome Cafe and Beer Garden seasonal (spring-fall)
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Zion Lodge (new tab) 833-778-9290
Sources (3)
Must do
Hike1:00 PM · 2 h 30 min

Kayenta Trail to Upper Emerald Pool

For a softer afternoon, take the Kayenta Trail from The Grotto along the Virgin River (0.9 miles one way) and continue on the Upper Emerald Pools Trail (0.3 miles one way) to a sandy pool beneath a big alcove wall where seasonal waterfalls slip down. Long drop-offs exist along the Kayenta Trail. Do not enter the pools; they are fragile and a key water source for wildlife. Waterfalls are seasonal and can be a trickle in dry months. Return the way you came, or drop down the Lower Emerald Pool Trail (0.6 miles one way from the Zion Lodge side) to the lodge and catch the shuttle from stop 5. This item's stats cover the one-way climb to the upper pool; the descent figures are not published as a combined total.

Photo: NPS/Lizz Eberhardt
Distance
1.2 mi
Elevation gain
280 ft
Route
Point to point
Difficulty
Moderate
Dogs allowed
No
Trailhead
The Grotto (stop 6) to Upper Emerald Pool, one way
Kayenta Trailhead
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park (across from The Grotto, stop 6), Springdale, UT 84767
Season: Year-round; may be icy in winter
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Kayenta Trailhead (new tab)
Sources (3)
Eat6:30 PM · 1 h 30 min

Dinner at Bit & Spur Restaurant and Saloon

A Springdale institution with a western-saloon atmosphere. It opens daily at 5:00 PM (kitchen to 9:30 PM, late menu to 10:00 PM) and takes reservations online, which is worth doing in high season. It's a good place to celebrate a tough day on the trail.

Meal
Dinner
Cuisine
Southwestern / saloon
Price
$$$
Reservation needed
Yes
Bit & Spur Restaurant and Saloon
1212 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767
Hours: Daily 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM; late menu until 10:00 PM
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Bit & Spur Restaurant and Saloon (new tab) 435-772-3498
Sources (1)
Day 3 · 4 stops

Into the Narrows

Spend the day in the river. Pick up rental gear, ride to Temple of Sinawava, and hike the bottom-up Narrows as far as you feel like going, then catch the evening light at the Court of the Patriarchs.

Activity30 min

Pick up Narrows rental gear (ideally the evening before)

The park doesn't rent gear, but private outfitters in Springdale do. Zion Outfitter is right at the park entrance, open daily 7 AM to 8 PM, and lets you reserve ahead or walk in. Get closed-toe shoes, a walking stick, and, in cooler months, waders or a drysuit. Blogs suggest picking up the night before so you can catch the earliest shuttle. Pricing was not published on the page we could retrieve.

Time
Pick up the night before if possible
Zion Outfitter
7 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767
Hours: Daily 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Zion Outfitter (new tab) 435-772-5090
Sources (2)
Must do
Hike8:00 AM · 6 h

The Narrows, bottom-up

Ride to Temple of Sinawava (stop 9), walk the paved Riverside Walk for a mile, then step down the stairs and into the Virgin River. From here the river is the trail: wading, walking, sometimes swimming, between walls that squeeze in and stay shaded most of the day. There is no set destination, so go as far as you're comfortable and turn around while you still have energy; the full route to Big Spring is 9.4 miles round trip with about 334 feet of gain, and at least 60% of it is spent in the water. No permit is needed for this day hike.

Safety is the whole game. The Narrows closes when flow is too high (the Narrows and conditions pages say 150 cfs; another park page says 140) or when flash flood warnings are issued, and the water can be cold. There is also a warning about toxic cyanobacteria in Zion's streams: do not submerge your head or drink the water. Fall is the most stable season, but check the conditions page and USGS gauge that morning.

Photo: NPS
Distance
9.4 mi
Elevation gain
334 ft
Route
Out and back
Difficulty
Strenuous
Dogs allowed
No
Trailhead
Temple of Sinawava, shuttle stop 9
Riverside Walk Trailhead / Temple of Sinawava
Zion National Park, Temple of Sinawava (NPS-published location: shuttle stop 9), Springdale, UT 84767
Hours: Open 24 hours; closes for high flow or flash flood warnings
Season: Fall most stable; spring runoff and monsoon often close it
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Riverside Walk Trailhead / Temple of Sinawava (new tab)
Sources (4)
Viewpoint3:30 PM · 30 min

Court of the Patriarchs (shuttle stop 4)

Back on the shuttle, hop off at stop 4 for a very short but steep walk to a viewpoint of three sandstone peaks named the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, named in 1916. Mount Moroni and The Sentinel are also visible. Mind the last bus of the season: from the visitor center it leaves at 7:00 PM through Sep 12, 6:00 PM Sep 13-Oct 24 and 5:00 PM Oct 25-Nov 28, 2026, and missing it means a long walk out.

Photo: NPS/Abi Farish
Time
About 30 minutes
Court of the Patriarchs
Zion National Park, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (NPS-published location: shuttle stop 4), Springdale, UT 84767
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Court of the Patriarchs (new tab)
Sources (3)
Logistics

Dinner: your pick in Springdale

After the Narrows you will want a big meal. Both the Zion Canyon Brew Pub (open daily for lunch and dinner) and Bit & Spur (opens 5:00 PM daily; reserve online) are listed in this trip. Repeat a favorite or explore other spots along Zion Park Boulevard.

Sources (1)
Day 4 · 4 stops

Kolob Canyons and a quiet goodbye

Eat breakfast in Springdale and drive an hour to Kolob Canyons, the quiet northwestern section of the park. Visit the visitor center, stroll the Timber Creek Overlook trail, picnic, and continue on I-15.

Logistics7:30 AM · 45 min

Breakfast and picnic supplies in Springdale

Eat before you leave and stock a picnic: the Kolob Canyons section has no food service per the visitor center listing (only a bookstore), and the only place inside the park to buy food is Zion Lodge in the main canyon. Water is available at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center.

Sources (1)
Scenic drive8:30 AM · 1 h

Drive to Kolob Canyons (Exit 40, I-15)

Kolob Canyons is a separate, quieter district at Exit 40 on I-15, 40 miles from Zion Canyon and 17 miles south of Cedar City; allow about an hour from Springdale. Stop at the visitor center to pay or show your pass. The five-mile scenic road climbs to the trailheads under red 2,000-foot cliffs. Kolob sits right on I-15, so it also works as the first leg of a drive home or onward.

Photo: NPS Photo
Time
About 1 hour from Springdale; 5-mile scenic road
Kolob Canyons Visitor Center
Kolob Canyons Road at I-15 Exit 40, New Harmony, UT 84757
Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; closed 12:00-1:00 PM for lunch
Season: Road can close in winter for snow/ice
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Kolob Canyons Visitor Center (new tab) 435-586-9548
Sources (5)
Hike10:00 AM · 1 h

Timber Creek Overlook

At the very end of Kolob Canyons Road, this easy ridge walk is short (0.6 mile one way) and rewards you with views across Timber Creek, Kolob Terrace and the Pine Valley Mountains. On a clear day you may spot Mount Trumbull about 100 miles away. It is the only Kolob trail that allows groups of 12 or more, and in spring and early summer it's carpeted in wildflowers. A picnic table area is nearby for lunch.

Photo: NPS/Bryanna Plog
Distance
1.2 mi
Elevation gain
117 ft
Route
Out and back
Difficulty
Easy
Dogs allowed
No
Trailhead
End of Kolob Canyons Road
Timber Creek Overlook Trailhead
Kolob Canyons Road (end of road), New Harmony, UT 84757
Hours: Open 24 hours; Kolob Canyons Road can close in winter for snow
Season: Typically open year-round; wildflowers in spring and early summer
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Timber Creek Overlook Trailhead (new tab)
Sources (1)
Logistics11:30 AM · 1 h

Picnic lunch near Timber Creek Overlook, then drive out

Eat the lunch you packed at the small picnic area a short distance from the Timber Creek Overlook trailhead (no separate coordinates are given for it), top off water at the visitor center on your way down, and head back to I-15. If you have a full day and legs to spare, swap the overlook for a longer wilderness hike (see options below).

Time
1 hour
Sources (1)

Where to stay in Springdale

Stay

Zion Lodge (the only in-park lodging)

Built around a lawn beneath red cliffs at shuttle stop 5, Zion Lodge is the only lodging inside the park. It has 76 hotel rooms, 6 suites and 40 historic cabins. You can walk to the Emerald Pools trailheads, and you skip the morning shuttle from town. Red Rock Grill is open year-round; Castle Dome Cafe and the Beer Garden are seasonal (spring through fall). The lodge sits at shuttle stop 5; neither the lodge's site nor the park publishes a street number for it (the listed mailing address is 1 Zion Park Blvd). Rates are on the lodge's booking page and it sells out early.

Stay

Zion Lodge (the only in-park lodging)

Built around a lawn beneath red cliffs at shuttle stop 5, Zion Lodge is the only lodging inside the park. It has 76 hotel rooms, 6 suites and 40 historic cabins. You can walk to the Emerald Pools trailheads, and you skip the morning shuttle from town. Red Rock Grill is open year-round; Castle Dome Cafe and the Beer Garden are seasonal (spring through fall). The lodge sits at shuttle stop 5; neither the lodge's site nor the park publishes a street number for it (the listed mailing address is 1 Zion Park Blvd). Rates are on the lodge's booking page and it sells out early.

Photo: NPS/Abi Farish
Type
Lodge
Location
Inside the park
Booking
Book / details
Zion Lodge
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Springdale, UT 84767
Hours: 24-hour front desk
Season: Lodging year-round; Castle Dome Cafe and Beer Garden seasonal (spring-fall)
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Zion Lodge (new tab) 833-778-9290
Sources (3)
Stay

Desert Pearl Inn

A riverside inn on Springdale's main road with king and double-queen rooms and a River's Edge Suite, private balconies or terraces, a pool and hot tub, e-bike rentals, and the CAMP ZION restaurant on site. Reclaimed railroad-trestle wood is used in construction. A good alternative if Cable Mountain is full.

Stay

Desert Pearl Inn

A riverside inn on Springdale's main road with king and double-queen rooms and a River's Edge Suite, private balconies or terraces, a pool and hot tub, e-bike rentals, and the CAMP ZION restaurant on site. Reclaimed railroad-trestle wood is used in construction. A good alternative if Cable Mountain is full.

Type
Hotel
Location
Outside the park
Desert Pearl Inn
707 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Desert Pearl Inn (new tab) 435-772-8888
Sources (1)
Stay

Watchman Campground (in park, budget)

The most convenient camping in Zion, just inside the south entrance near the visitor center. All sites require reservations through recreation.gov, bookable up to six months ahead, and it fills nearly every night in peak season. Non-electric sites are $35 and electric sites $45 per night as of the listing. Fire rings are the only place fires are allowed, and fire restrictions may apply.

Stay

Watchman Campground (in park, budget)

The most convenient camping in Zion, just inside the south entrance near the visitor center. All sites require reservations through recreation.gov, bookable up to six months ahead, and it fills nearly every night in peak season. Non-electric sites are $35 and electric sites $45 per night as of the listing. Fire rings are the only place fires are allowed, and fire restrictions may apply.

Photo: NPS Photo / Abi Farish
Type
Campground
Location
Inside the park
Price per night
$35 to $45 (as of 2026-09-28)
Booking
Book / details
Watchman Campground
SR-9, Springdale, UT 84767
Season: Typically open year-round; D, E, F loops may close seasonally
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Watchman Campground (new tab) 435-772-3256
Sources (1)

Where to eat in Springdale

Eat

Zion Canyon Brew Pub (lunch)

See Day 1: open daily for lunch and dinner, a easy option around the park entrance.

Eat

Zion Canyon Brew Pub (lunch)

See Day 1: open daily for lunch and dinner, a easy option around the park entrance.

Meal
Lunch
Cuisine
American pub fare
Price
$$
Zion Canyon Brew Pub
95 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767
Hours: Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Zion Canyon Brew Pub (new tab) 435-522-1360
Sources (1)

More options near Zion

Hike

Alternative for Day 4: La Verkin Creek Trail to Kolob Arch

For a full wilderness day in Kolob, this 14-mile round-trip leads from Lee Pass past Timber Creek and La Verkin Creek to a viewpoint of Kolob Arch, listed as 287 feet wide, one of the world's largest natural arches. Expect solitude, sandy uneven terrain and water crossings. It is listed at 7-9 hours and rated strenuous; carry plenty of water, since there is none at the trailhead. Wilderness group size limits apply.

Hike8 h

Alternative for Day 4: La Verkin Creek Trail to Kolob Arch

For a full wilderness day in Kolob, this 14-mile round-trip leads from Lee Pass past Timber Creek and La Verkin Creek to a viewpoint of Kolob Arch, listed as 287 feet wide, one of the world's largest natural arches. Expect solitude, sandy uneven terrain and water crossings. It is listed at 7-9 hours and rated strenuous; carry plenty of water, since there is none at the trailhead. Wilderness group size limits apply.

Photo: NPS/Rendall Seely
Distance
14 mi
Elevation gain
1,037 ft
Route
Out and back
Difficulty
Strenuous
Dogs allowed
No
Trailhead
Lee Pass Trailhead
Lee Pass Trailhead
Kolob Canyons Road (Lee Pass Trailhead), New Harmony, UT 84757
Hours: Open 24 hours; road may close in winter
Season: Year-round
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Lee Pass Trailhead (new tab)
Sources (1)

Map of the places on this Zion itinerary

  1. Cable Mountain Lodge (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  2. Zion Canyon Visitor Center (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  3. Canyon Overlook Trailhead (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  4. Pa'rus Trailhead (Zion Canyon Visitor Center end) (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  5. Zion Canyon Brew Pub (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  6. The Grotto (Zion Canyon Shuttle stop 6) (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 2
  7. West Rim Trailhead (Angels Landing route) (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 2
  8. Zion Lodge (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 2
  9. Kayenta Trailhead (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 2
  10. Bit & Spur Restaurant and Saloon (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 2
  11. Zion Outfitter (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 3
  12. Riverside Walk Trailhead / Temple of Sinawava (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 3
  13. Court of the Patriarchs (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 3
  14. Kolob Canyons Visitor Center (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 4
  15. Timber Creek Overlook Trailhead (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 4
  16. Zion Lodge (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option
  17. Desert Pearl Inn (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option
  18. Watchman Campground (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option
  19. Lee Pass Trailhead (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option
  20. Zion Canyon Brew Pub (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option

Zion travel tips

Permits and reservations

  • Angels Landing needs a permit from recreation.gov (seasonal lottery plus a day-before lottery). Application: $6 per group of up to six; permit: $3 per person. The 2026 windows: Mar 1-May 31 hikes (lottery Feb 13-25); Jun 1-Aug 31 (Apr 1-20); Sep 1-Nov 30 (Jul 1-20); Dec 1-Feb 28, 2027 (Oct 1-20, permits issued Oct 25). Expect a similar pattern in later years but confirm on the park website. Day-before lottery: apply 12:01 AM-3 PM MT the day before. Hikers turning around at Scout Lookout need no permit.
  • The Narrows bottom-up needs no permit; the top-down route and Orderville Canyon beyond Big Spring do.
  • Campgrounds (Watchman, South, Lava Point) are booked through recreation.gov.

Fees, shuttle and parking

  • Entrance: $35 per private vehicle, $30 motorcycle, $20 per person on foot or bike (age 16+); valid 7 days (as of 2026-09-28). Non-US residents age 16+ pay an additional $100 per person nonresident fee unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Keep your receipt for the Kolob Canyons entrance station.
  • The Zion Canyon and Springdale shuttles are free and need no reservation. Season: Mar 7-Nov 28, 2026; 2027 dates not yet published. Zion Canyon Line, per the 2026 schedule (as of 2026-09-28): first bus leaves the visitor center at 7:00 AM from May 17 through Nov 28. Last bus leaving the visitor center / last bus leaving Temple of Sinawava: May 17-Sep 12, 7:00 PM / 8:15 PM; Sep 13-Oct 24, 6:00 PM / 7:15 PM; Oct 25-Nov 28, 5:00 PM / 6:15 PM. No service Nov 29-Dec 25; limited service Dec 26-Jan 2 (8:00 AM-4:30 PM from the visitor center). The Mar 7-May 16 hours are not on the current page, so check the park website. Springdale Line first bus 8:00 AM from Hotel De Novo, last bus 8:00 PM (to Sep 12), 7:00 PM (Sep 13-Oct 24), 6:00 PM (Oct 25-Nov 28). Missing the last bus means a long walk out. When the shuttle is not running, drive yourself to the trailheads.
  • Parking in the canyon often fills early in the day (lots often fill early; the visitor center lot commonly fills by about 9 AM per crowd guidance), so walk in from Springdale.

Safety

  • The Narrows closes when the river flows too high (the Narrows and conditions pages say 150 cfs; another park page says 140) and during flash flood warnings. Check the USGS gauge and park conditions that morning.
  • Toxic cyanobacteria advisory: do not submerge your head in, or drink, instream water.

Season

  • Best: March-May and September-November. Summer often exceeds 100 F; spring runoff and monsoon can close the Narrows; winter can be icy on the Emerald Pools trails and the Kolob road can close for snow.
  • Kolob Canyons is at I-15 Exit 40, 40 miles from Zion Canyon.

Current conditions (as of 2026-09-28, from park sources; re-check before your trip)

  • Watchman Trail closed pending repairs (park alert).
  • Hidden Canyon closed; East Rim Trail partially closed; Observation Point not accessible from Zion Canyon (park conditions page).
  • Fire restrictions in effect: campfires only in designated rings at Watchman, South and Lava Point campgrounds.
  • Large-vehicle restrictions on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (park alert).
  • Zion Canyon Visitor Center is on fall/winter/spring hours (8 AM-5 PM) starting Sept 13, 2026.

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Zion trip FAQ

How many days does this Zion itinerary take?

4 days to cover Zion National Park. Day 1: Arrive, orient, and catch the light; Day 2: Angels Landing and the Emerald Pools; Day 3: Into the Narrows; Day 4: Kolob Canyons and a quiet goodbye.

When is the best time for Zion?

The best months are March to May and September to November. Summer often exceeds 100 F; spring runoff and monsoon can close the Narrows; winter can be icy on the Emerald Pools trails and the Kolob road can close for snow.

What are the highlights of this Zion itinerary?

Angels Landing chain ridge (permit required) with a no-permit Scout Lookout alternative; Wading the Virgin River in the Narrows, bottom-up; Kayenta Trail to Upper Emerald Pool; Late-afternoon Canyon Overlook and dusk on the Pa'rus Trail; A quiet morning at Kolob Canyons.

Where should you stay for Zion?

This itinerary suggests Zion Lodge, Desert Pearl Inn and Watchman Campground. Check current rates and availability before you book.

Where should you eat on this Zion trip?

Places this itinerary uses or suggests include Zion Canyon Brew Pub, Zion Lodge and Bit & Spur Restaurant and Saloon. Opening hours change, so confirm before you go.

Do you need a permit or reservation for Zion?

Angels Landing needs a permit from recreation.gov (seasonal lottery plus a day-before lottery). Application: $6 per group of up to six; permit: $3 per person. The 2026 windows: Mar 1-May 31 hikes (lottery Feb 13-25); Jun 1-Aug 31 (Apr 1-20); Sep 1-Nov 30 (Jul 1-20); Dec 1-Feb 28, 2027 (Oct 1-20, permits issued Oct 25).

Sources

Good to know: distances and drive times are typical figures without live traffic, and where routes are shown the route data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors. Toll amounts are estimates and change often, so check them in the DriftKin planner or with the toll authority before you plan around them. Opening hours, fees, prices, permits and closures also change, so confirm with the park or business before you go.