From narrow slot canyons to steep red rock formations straight out of a movie scene, Zion National Park is any explorers dream come true! It’s no surprise that it’s one of Southern Utah’s most visited tourist destinations, expected to see an estimated 4 million visitors this year alone.
I visited Zion National Park 5 years ago as a day trip from Las Vegas and knew that one day I had to go back! I was in complete awe of everything! Literally everything! Having grown up in flat ass Florida most of my life I was not use to towering red mountains, or any mountains at all lol.
I’ll go into details about everything from my 3 days at Zion NP to help you make the most of your trip! BUT!! If there is something I missed or you still have questions about I highly recommend stopping into the Zion Springdale Visitor Center. I had about a million questions and every last one was answered in detail with recommendations! The staff here is so knowledgeable and so eager to help you. Ask for Felicia, she was immensely helpful and such a sweet person!
Getting There
I had already been in Las Vegas for a couple weeks for the World Series of Poker (WSOP) when my girlfriends finally made it out to visit. We rented a car and the next morning were on the road to Zion. The drive to Zion National Park is about a 2.5-3 drive from Vegas and is pretty straightforward. Once you cross the border to Utah is when the scenery gets insanely gorgeous! You’ll be completely mesmerized by the enchanting red rock canyons and sky-high sandstone cliffs that stretch as far as the eyes can see! I highly recommend renting a car to embark on this journey as it provides you with the ultimate freedom to explore. But just know that there are also roundtrip shuttle services that leave from McCarran International Airport to Zion NP too!
Entrance per vehicle into the park is $30 and good for 7 days.
Entrance per person into the park is $15 and good for 7 days.
If you plan on staying longer or visiting any other US National Parks within a year then definitely consider purchasing an America the Beautiful Pass (Interagency Annual Pass) for $80. This pass cover entrance and standard amenity fees for you and up to 3 adults at over 2000 national parks and federal recreation sites.
During the summer months, the parking lots inside Zion can fill up fast! To avoid this hassle, consider parking in Springdale, the small town right outside of Zion and taking the free town shuttle into the park.
Once you’re in the park the shuttle system is amazing! You’ll never wait more than 15 minutes for a ride. Taking advantage of the shuttles allows you to go from hike to hike without dealing with hassles of parking.
Camping/Accommodations
There are 2 campsites within the park, Zion’s Watchman Campground and the South Campground. The Watchman Campground requires reservations. It fills up fast during the summer months of March thru November. I would make reservations online as soon as you know your trip dates. The South Campground is on a first come first serve bases. Of course, we didn’t have any reservations. We heard that people start lining up at 5am to maybe snag a spot at the South Campground. Waiting in line at the ass crack of dawn to maybe get a spot did not sound fun at all. We asked what our other options were as we were really set on camping. And what do you know, there are 3 campsites outside of the park on federal land that is completely FREE!
If camping isn’t your thing no worries! There are plenty of hotels in Springdale, the small town south of the park.
These are the directions from the Zion Canyon Campground & RV Resort. We ended up pitching our tent at the BLM Camping off of Kolob Terrace Rd. We picked this spot as It was the closest to the park. How cute is our campsite?!
The Best Hiking Trails
In the 3 days we were there, we did 4 hiking trails. But let me be perfectly honest, we could have done so many more! The problem with 3 girls camping and hiking solo is that it is damn near impossible to be organize or on time to anything! That was our biggest problem. Take my advice and start early! We didn’t start any of our hikes till around mid-day, the hottest part of the day. That’s pretty much your whole day when you’re doing 5-8miles hikes. On the flip side though, racing down the mountains to catch the last shuttle when the sun is setting and you are literally the only ones on the mountain is pretty freakin awesome!
Angels Landing
One of the most popular hikes of Zion National Park and hands down my most favorite one! The hike takes about 4 hours and can be quite strenuous, especially near the top. The steep path is barely 5-feet wide with long drop-offs on both sides. Yikes! If you’re not scared of heights, this hike is awesome!
Observation Point
This was my second favorite hike of the trip! Nowhere near as crowded or as strenuous as Angels Landing but with stunning views of Zion Canyon. Britney and I were the last ones on the mountains the day we went. Hiking down at golden hour was honestly so breathtaking and peaceful.
Watchman Trail
At only 3.3 miles roundtrip, this was a super easy trail with moderate drop-offs. You get really good views of the lower Zion Canyon and Towers of the Virgin.
Pa’rus Trail
A paved trail perfect for biking or walking the dog. This short trail follows the Virgin River near the south entrance of the park.
The Narrows
While I didn’t get to experience The Narrows due to weather conditions and my stubbornness, this is a must!! I was so set on doing the full 16-mile hike from top to bottom. I refused to do it any other way. Looking back, that was quite silly of me. The time of the year you visit could greatly depend on whether or not you can do the full hike. I was visiting Zion in the middle of July and flash flooding’s were highly likely all 3-days we were there. So, I didn’t do it at all, BUT this is what I should have done. You can do a short hike starting at the Temple of Sinawava to the end of the Riverside Walk. I should have at least done that because my friend Briana did it and she said it was amazing! Don’t be stubborn like me, and do the short hike if it’s not possible to do the full day hike.
Zion National is a must visit! I hope my photos inspire you and my tips help you get the most of the park. It really is one of the most remarkable places i have ever visited!
Great, I really like it! Youre awesome
Thank youuuuuu! 🙂
I love love love this❤️😍❤️😍
love love LOVE you!!!! now come visit already seriously 🙂
I was out there in 1984 I fell in love with it. Your pictures are incredible and your commentary is so engaging. He was fired me to at least pull my slides and see if my projector still works. Please don’t sit too close to the edge! You really did an incredible job on this I’m so impressed.
WOW! Thank you so much for your kind words!! 🙂