With
nearly 4.5 million visitors per year
, crowds are commonplace. So much so that you should consider planning your trip to avoid crowds! Summer is the busiest season in Zion, with nearly half of the annual visitors coming between Memorial Day in May and Labor Day in September.
Is Zion crowded now?
Overcrowding is now a permanent fact of life in Zion
, but there are still ways to escape.
What are the busiest days for Zion National Park?
For Zion National Park, in particular, the busiest holidays tend to be
President's Day weekend, Easter weekend, Memorial Day weekend, the 4th of July, and Labor Day
. During these times, it's more than likely that you'll experience full shuttles and the like.
How do you avoid crowds in Zion National Park?
Other tips to avoid the crowds are to
hike the popular trails during the weekdays and the unpopular trails on the weekends
. Waking up early before the noon crowds will also help you have key photo locations to yourself. Go Camping instead of staying at the cabins or in town.
Is Zion or Bryce more crowded?
With 2.6 million visitors in 2019,
Bryce Canyon
is America's 12th most popular park. Crowds are common at most scenic overlooks and a number of trails, especially in summer, but the atmosphere is quieter than at Zion.
Should I go to Bryce or Zion?
Both of these Parks offer great outdoor activities for all ages.
For canyoneering and rappelling, Zion beats Bryce
. You'll find world-class hiking in either Park, but in Zion you can find yourself hiking through streams or on sandstone ledges, like Angels Landing – one of the scariest hikes in the world!
What is the best month to visit Zion?
The best time of year to visit Zion and avoid the crowds is in the
late fall, winter and early spring
. While the weather may be chilly, and less facilities are open, the amount of visitors is exponentially less this time of year.
Do I need reservations to enter Zion National Park?
You do not need a permit or reservation to enter the park
. You do need to pay the park fee.
What time does Zion parking lot fill up?
Parking is usually full by
8-9 am
. The best way to avoid delays entering Zion is to park in Springdale and ride the town shuttle to the park.
How busy is Angels Landing?
Here are some facts from the Fourth of July 2019:
More than 94,000 people visited over the four-day holiday weekend
, the park said on Facebook. Wait times were up to 90 minutes to board a park shuttle. Hikers waited up to four hours at the trailhead for Angels Landing.
Why is Zion so popular?
” Zion's popularity rests partly on
its stunning landscape
, including some of the tallest sandstone cliffs in the world, and its tapering wild canyon you can hike through.
Is the Narrows crowded?
The hike to the river is crowded
and so is the first half mile in the Narrows. We kept our buff masks up, but many people did not have masks on the first part of the trail. Crowds thinned out the further we walked and Wall Street area had only a few others.
Can you hike at night in Zion?
At Zion Ponderosa you can even enjoy night hiking and exploring under the stars
! Zion Ponderosa Ranch and Resort is located far from light polluted areas, which make those shiny stars in the sky shimmer brighter than ever! On a clear sky night you can see the milky way as clearly as ever before.
How long should I spend at Zion National Park?
Ideally, you need at least
two to three days
to visit Zion National Park. This gives you enough time to hike the longer, more popular trails, such as Angels Landing and the Narrows, and you can also add in a few of the shorter, easier trails, such as the Riverside Walk and Canyon Overlook.
Is Capitol Reef better than Zion?
Like Zion, Capitol Reef offers spectacular ribbon-colored rock formations, jagged monoliths and gorge hikes that should be on any adventure traveler's bucket list.
Unlike Zion, however, it also provides plenty of solitude, especially for those willing to navigate its unpaved roads and twisting canyons
.
What is the least visited National Park in Utah?
Canyonlands National Park
is a gorgeous landscape made up of desert, mountains, canyons, and rivers. Of the state's five national parks, it is the least visited, with 2019 seeing fewer than 750,000 visitors throughout the entire year.
Which is better Grand Canyon or Zion National Park?
Zion National Park is more accessible, less expensive and also less crowded than the Grand Canyon
. On the other hand, Grand Canyon National Park is more expensive and crowded during peak hours than the Zion National Park. The Zion National Park is less popular in comparison with Grand Canyon.
Can you do Zion National Park in one day?
You can totally make it a perfect one day in Zion
!
One day will give you the chance to drive the roads of Zion National Park with the towering canyon all around you, and you will also have time to do some short hikes with more grand views of the canyon! There are affiliate links on this page.
How long does it take to drive through Zion National Park?
Explore this 12.6-mile out-and-back trail near Springdale, Utah. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of
4 h 56 min
to complete. This is a popular trail for road biking and scenic driving, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.
How far apart are Bryce and Zion National parks?
Two of the most popular are Zion and Bryce Canyon, both located in the southwestern corner of the state. Because of their close proximity to one another (
about a 2.5 hour drive
apart), they are often visited together by many travelers.
Is Zion crowded in March?
March is a great time to explore Zion without the crowds
. The winter/spring lighting of March makes the park very photography-friendly. Make sure to catch sunrise or sunset from Canyon Overlook Trail or Watchman Overlook Trail.
How early should I get to Zion?
What time should I get to Zion National Park? Plan to arrive at Zion National Park
before 9:00 AM
. Parking lots fill and shuttle lines get long by mid morning. From Spring to Fall, all visitors are required to take the shuttles from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
Can you drive through Zion National Park at night?
You can drive hwy 9 thru the park at any hour
. Its a state highway. As far as I know, you need a Red Pass (which means you are staying at the lodge)to access the canyon road to the lodge at any time the shuttles are running, either day or night.
Is there timed entry for Zion National Park?
While visitors to Zion National Park
do not need a timed ticket to enter
, those interested in hiking Angels Landing will need a permit as of April 1. To get a permit, you must pay $6 to enter either the seasonal or day-before lottery.
Can you hike Zion without shuttle?
You don't need to ride the shuttle to make the most out of your trip to Zion National Park. Even without the shuttle, you can still get to those Zion must-see spots (like Angels Landing, The Narrows, and Emerald Pools) by biking the Scenic Drive into Zion Canyon.
Do you need permit to hike Angels Landing?
You must have a permit to hike any portion of Angels Landing
. Permits are needed every day and at all times beginning April 1, 2022. Permits (issued in three time slots) are available by two lottery processes. The seasonal lottery application periods occur quarterly (see important dates below).
