Southern Utah's Zion Canyon rises in towering red walls, and Bryce Canyon's hoodoos are a short drive east. Spring and fall give the best hiking weather; summer is hot but the Narrows are at their coolest.
Good to know
- Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is shuttle-only most of the year; park in Springdale and use the free town shuttle.
- Angels Landing requires a permit lottery; apply for the seasonal or day-before draw.
- Check flash flood warnings before entering the Narrows or any slot canyon.
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Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Walk in the river between 1,000-foot walls; rent water shoes and a stick in Springdale.
Strenuous scramble with chain handrails (permit needed), or the longer Observation Point for views without the chains.
Easy to moderate hike to waterfalls and small pools, good for families.
Free shuttle through the canyon with stops at the Court of the Patriarchs and Weeping Rock.
Short exhibit on the Ancestral Puebloans and settlers who lived in the canyon.
Historic highway through a 1.1-mile tunnel to the slickrock plateau and Checkerboard Mesa.
Short, easy trail ending at a rock ledge with views over lower Zion Canyon.
Bowl of hoodoos best seen at sunrise; descend Navajo Loop and return via Queens Garden.
One of the darkest skies in the lower 48; rangers lead astronomy programs most summer evenings.
Walkable town at the park gate with gear shops, breweries and rooftop patios.
Local brewery with a patio near the park entrance, built for the end of a long hike day.
Quieter northern section with fiery fins of rock and the Taylor Creek trail.