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Utah’s Zion National Park is a Natural Gem: A Visitor’s Guide

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It’s no secret. Zion National Park is one of America’s most spectacular national parks.

It’s also one of the most popular, ranking second or third in number of visitors in recent years, according to National Park Service figures. And it’s easy to see why.

“Zion National Park includes some of the most scenic canyon terrain in the United States,” said Jorge Hernandez, Zion education supervisor.

Unlike the Grand Canyon, where most visitors enter from the rim of the canyon, visitors to Zion begin their exploration from the canyon floor.

“You look up and you see these huge Navajo Sandstone cliffs on either side of you. And as you go into the canyon, you see those walls narrowing, which I find really fascinating,” Hernandez said. “Zion National Park also sits at the intersection of the Colorado Plateau, the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin ecoregions, and that creates a very unique environment for a variety of life forms and ecosystems here in Zion. Zion also preserves an abundance of human history.”

Here’s what else travelers need to know about visiting Zion, the final park in USA TODAY’s year-long series.

Where is Zion National Park located?

Located in southwestern Utah, Zion is the most visited of the state’s five national parks.

The other four parks are Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef.

The nearest airport with commercial flights is St. George Regional Airport, but the nearest major airport is Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, 176 miles (283 km) from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.

How much time should you spend in Zion National Park?

Hernandez recommends spending at least a few hours in the park, taking in the free park shuttle and perhaps doing a short hike, but many visitors choose to spend multiple days exploring Zion.

What is the most visited national park? Answers to your biggest park questions

Do you need a reservation for Zion?

No reservations are required to enter Zion.

Permits are required, however, to hike the popular Angels Landing, as well as the 16-mile traverse of the Virgin River Narrows. They are also required for activities such as backcountry camping and technical canyoneering.

The story continues below.

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The Angels Landing hike in Zion National Park requires chains for safe navigation

The Angels Landing hike in Zion National Park, one of the most popular hikes in the US, requires the use of chains to hike safely.

Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY

Can I bring my car to Zion?

Yes, but the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is only open to private vehicles for a few months each winter.

During the Zion Canyon Shuttle season, March through November, visitors are not permitted to drive the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.

The entrance fee is $35 for cars, $30 for motorcycles and $20 for snowmobiles. Admission is $20 for persons over 15 years of age who arrive without a vehicle.

Where to Stay in Zion National Park

There is one hotel in the park, Zion National Park Lodge, which is operated by a third-party concessionaire and is open year-round. There are also three campgrounds: Watchman, South, and Lava Point. However, South Campground is closed for rehabilitation. Backcountry camping is also permitted with a permit.

What is the best month to visit Zion National Park?

It depends on what visitors are looking for. For example, Hernandez said summer offers blue skies and green foliage, but also warmer weather and sometimes monsoons.

“Winter brings cold temperatures, of course, but in the winter, when it snows, sometimes you see snow-capped sandstone cliffs, which I think are absolutely beautiful,” he said. “There’s no bad time to visit Zion. Depending on the season, you’ll see Zion completely differently.”

How to Avoid Crowds in Zion

“Come early in the morning or later in the day,” Hernandez said. Parking lots can fill up before 8 a.m. in the summer.

The park’s main visitor center is open every day, and rangers can advise you on places to escape the crowds.

“In a very busy place like Zion, there are places where you can just stop, reflect and connect with the natural and cultural resources we have here,” Hernandez added, noting that the park is 84 percent wilderness.

Who are the original inhabitants of Zion?

At least 37 indigenous tribes and nations have historical ties to the land. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Chemehuevi Indian Tribe of the Chemehuevi Reservation, California
  • Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Nevada and Utah
  • Hopi Tribe of Arizona
  • Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians of the Kaibab Indian Reservation, Arizona
  • Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute Indians of the Las Vegas Indian Colony, Nevada
  • Moapa group of Paiute Indians of the Moapa River Indian Reservation
  • Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah
  • Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico
  • Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah
  • Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah – Cedar Band
  • Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah – Indian Peaks Band
  • Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah – Kanosh Band
  • Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah – Koosharem Band
  • Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah – Shivwits Band
  • Village of Acoma, New Mexico
  • Village of Cochiti, New Mexico
  • Village of Isleta, New Mexico
  • Village of Jemez, New Mexico
  • Village of Laguna, New Mexico
  • Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico (Nanbe Owingeh)
  • Village of Picuris, New Mexico
  • Village of Pojoaque, New Mexico
  • Village of San Felipe, New Mexico
  • Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico
  • Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico
  • Village of Santa Clara, New Mexico
  • Village of Tesuque, New Mexico
  • Village of Taos, New Mexico
  • Village of Zia, New Mexico
  • San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe of Arizona
  • Village of Santo Domingo
  • Skull Valley Goshute General Council
  • Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado
  • Ute Indian Tribe of the Unitah & Ouray Reservation, Utah
  • Ute Mountain Ute tribe
  • White Mesa Ute
  • Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico