How Busy Is Zion National Park Right Now?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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.

Can you drive through Zion National Park right now?


You may drive yourself on all open park roads except the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

. During most of the year, the Scenic Drive is accessed by shuttle bus only. Shuttles are free and can be found at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.

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.

What is the best month to visit Zion National Park?

The best time to visit Zion National Park is between the months of

April and November

when the park's free shuttles are running and the weather is comfortable.

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 time does Zion parking lot fill up?

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Do you have to wear a mask at Zion National Park?


Visitors are required to wear face masks in federal buildings including the Zion Park Store

. When outdoors, face masks are required on NPS-managed lands when physical distance cannot be maintained. Visitors should follow CDC guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and recreate responsibly.

Do you have to wear a mask in Zion National Park?

Following the latest science and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and to promote staff and visitor safety,

the NPS is requiring visitors, employees, and contractors to wear a mask inside all NPS buildings and in crowded outdoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status or community

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.

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.

Does Zion have snow?

Zion in Winter Overview

Winter in Zion National Park can be beautiful with temperatures cold enough for snowfall. It may be hard to conceive during the extreme temperatures of Summer but Zion National Park sees

occasional snow in Winter months

.

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.

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.

Can you drive an RV through Zion National Park?

Driving Through the Park –

You can Drive through Zion National Park, although you'll still need to pay a full-priced entry fee

. If you drive through Zion in an RV – or any large vehicle – you also have to pay an ‘escort' fee to go through the tunnel to the upper part of the park.

Are there scorpions in Zion National Park?

Scorpions. Although they are not as many scorpions as spiders,

the park contains at least 4 species of scorpions

. The most frequent type that you are likely to see is the Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion. They spend most of their time under objects, where they hide from enemies – including humans.

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.

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.

Is Zion or Bryce more popular?

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.

Why is Zion so busy?

Zion National Park's

warm climate allows for reasonable access to the park all year long

. March through November is the busiest time of the year. Within that, holidays and anytime kids are out of school are the busiest of all. The week between Christmas and New Year's is also busy.

Can you get into Zion without a shuttle pass?

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

.

Is there free parking at Zion National Park?

If you are visiting Zion for the day, you can park in one of Springdale's various parking lots or roadside parking spots, but

you must now pay for parking in town and you will get ticketed if you park in prohibited areas

(like side streets with “no public parking” signs).

Kim Nguyen
Author
Kim Nguyen
Kim Nguyen is a fitness expert and personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has trained a variety of clients, from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts. Kim is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.