ZION does not disappoint !!!
Taken from Temple of Sinawava which is in the end of the shuttle bus route.
Prepare to be a tourist as there are a lot of people but it’s all worth it! It’s all in quite small area, one road up the canyon that you can only access by shuttle bus that stops on every starting point for the hikes. It’s super easy and comfy way to do it all. Decide which hikes you want to do and hop on and off the bus.
The Accordion
Angels landing hike is the only hike that you need a permit for.. that I know of! For the Narrows hike that starts from top of the road you can rent “long waterproof” pants and shoes at the village. I took the bus up to the end of the road and rode my bike down and onwards to the RV camp one day.
Angels landing is on top of the high mountain on the front
You can rent a e bike from the village and do the route that way as well, very popular way to explore the road up. You can not go off the road at any point but can park the bike and do a hike etc.
You can spot a Condor.. or just a live size pic of it!
Parking your car anywhere in Springdale will cost you $25-$40 a day (it’s a QR ticketing style, so they will get you!) Entering the park is $35 per car (for 62 years or older get The Golden Age Passport for free entry and lots more discounts) You can drive in to NP and drive little further and park but be early as by 8.30am there is no space left. They really try to push you to use shuttle busses in and out of the town, as place is a zoo of cars on ONE narrow road ending to the NP. All hotels, RV parks offer shuttle bus services to Springdale and I would use them if we would not have the kids with us.
Couple of not so smart wild Turkeys and Bambi’s do hop around
Springdale/Zion is one street strip mall.. Outfitter stores, coffee shops, e-bike rentals places, a brew pub, few hotels all in few miles just before you hit the gates to the NP. Just remember that if you want visit any shop/restaurant etc in Springdale you need to pay the same $25-$40 to leave your car for 30 min!!!!! Ugh….
The Patriarchs are the first sight that will drop your jaw on your way up on the Canyon road
PS. This place is not Dog Friendly! Only one “hike” that you can take your dog to and it’s very busy with ebikes screaming up and down on it + its really hot here, we are mid April and it’s 95F during the day so only time to do any hikes or activities is really from 7-10am!!!!!
After saying that … it’s not all doom and gloom for the kids !!!!
We did the Pa’rus Trail this morning with the kids while Ian was riding the Canyon. It is the only trail that dogs are allowed in the NP… or around here! The Trail runs both sides of the Virgin River and there are places where you can access the river and have some.. not so legal.. off leash time! Rhona was in heaven!!! ;)
Cooling swim and little drink!
Kaya was a trooper and kept up with her sister 9 years younger!!
At the beginning of the Zion Canyon
For mountain biking there are great trails just west of Virgin
There is a paved and dirt trail on the side of the big road to get there easy from the RV park, 2 miles towards Hurricane from Virgin.
