Zion National Park itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Zion National Park, from Springdale at the south entrance, day by day: the Riverside Walk to the start of The Narrows, the Emerald Pools, the Court of the Patriarchs, the Human History Museum and the Pa'rus Trail, with sunset at Canyon Junction Bridge, first; then the climb to Angels Landing and the Emerald Pools, and on a second day the canyon floor, a drive east through the tunnel to the Canyon Overlook Trail and Checkerboard Mesa, and back for sunset at Canyon Junction Bridge. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Zion National Park in 1 day
Day 1
Zion Canyon Visitor Center
The park's main visitor centre at the south entrance, with ranger advice, trail and river conditions and the shuttle stop.
Riverside Walk (Temple of Sinawava)
Easy paved path along the Virgin River from the last shuttle stop to where the canyon narrows and The Narrows begin.
Emerald Pools Trail
Trail from the Zion Lodge to pools and seeping waterfalls under red cliffs, from the easy lower pool to the steeper upper one.
Court of the Patriarchs
Short walk from the shuttle stop to a viewpoint of three sandstone peaks named after Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Zion Human History Museum
Small museum near the south entrance on the native peoples, Mormon pioneers and making of the park, with a short film.
Pa'rus Trail
Flat paved trail along the Virgin River from the visitor centre, the one trail open to bikes and dogs, lovely at sunset.
Canyon Junction Bridge
Bridge over the Virgin River where the scenic drive leaves the main road, the classic sunset view of The Watchman.
Zion National Park in 2 days
Day 1
Zion Canyon Visitor Center
The park's main visitor centre at the south entrance, with ranger advice, trail and river conditions and the shuttle stop.
Angels Landing
Strenuous climb up switchbacks to a narrow sandstone fin, its last section on chains, with views straight down Zion Canyon.
Emerald Pools Trail
Trail from the Zion Lodge to pools and seeping waterfalls under red cliffs, from the easy lower pool to the steeper upper one.
Day 2
Riverside Walk (Temple of Sinawava)
Easy paved path along the Virgin River from the last shuttle stop to where the canyon narrows and The Narrows begin.
Court of the Patriarchs
Short walk from the shuttle stop to a viewpoint of three sandstone peaks named after Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Zion Human History Museum
Small museum near the south entrance on the native peoples, Mormon pioneers and making of the park, with a short film.
Canyon Overlook Trail
Short rocky trail east of the tunnel to a viewpoint high over lower Zion Canyon, with ledges and a small alcove.
Checkerboard Mesa
Sandstone mountain on the park's east side, its pale rock cut by a grid of cracks like a checkerboard, seen from the road.
Pa'rus Trail
Flat paved trail along the Virgin River from the visitor centre, the one trail open to bikes and dogs, lovely at sunset.
Canyon Junction Bridge
Bridge over the Virgin River where the scenic drive leaves the main road, the classic sunset view of The Watchman.
When to go to Zion National Park
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, with mild days for hiking, though spring snowmelt can keep The Narrows closed. Summer is very hot in the canyon, and July to September brings afternoon thunderstorms with a risk of flash floods. Winter is quiet and cold, with snow on the high country and fewer shuttle days.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Zion National Park on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Zion National Park on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Zion National Park on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Zion National Park
- For most of the year, from spring to late autumn, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to cars and the free park shuttle runs from the visitor centre; park early or take the Springdale shuttle.
- The chains section of Angels Landing needs a permit won in a lottery on recreation.gov; without one, walk to Scout Lookout and turn back.
- Summer days are very hot: hike early, carry plenty of water and salty snacks, and rest in the shade at midday.
- Wading The Narrows depends on the river: it closes when the water is high, and flash floods are a real danger in summer storms, so check at the visitor centre.
- The east road through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is driven in your own car; large vehicles need a tunnel escort, and the Canyon Overlook car park is tiny.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Angels Landing: Óðinn, CC BY-SA 2.5 ca
- Canyon Overlook Trail: Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0
- Checkerboard Mesa: Raymond M. Coveney, …, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Court of the Patriarchs: Zion National Park, CC BY 2.0
- Emerald Pools Trail: Phil Whitehouse from London, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0
- Pa'rus Trail: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Riverside Walk (Temple of Sinawava): Jon Sullivan, Public domain
- Zion Canyon Visitor Center: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Zion Human History Museum: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA – God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
