A First-Timer's Guide to Zion National Park: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

If this is your first time visiting Zion, welcome to what may become your favorite place on earth. A few things to know before you arrive that will make the whole trip run more smoothly.

The shuttle system is your friend. Private vehicles are not permitted on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive during peak season, which runs spring through fall. You park at the visitor center or in Springdale and ride the free park shuttle to the trailheads. It sounds inconvenient until you realize the alternative would be gridlock on a single-lane canyon road.

Permits matter more than you think. Angels Landing requires a permit drawn by lottery. So does top-down Zion Narrows during peak months. Check the recreation.gov website well before your trip and enter the lottery early. Missing out on Angels Landing because you did not plan ahead is a real disappointment.

Start early. In summer especially, trailhead temperatures climb fast and shuttle lines build by 8am. Hitting the trails by 7am or earlier means cooler temperatures, better light for photos, and fewer people on the path.

The park is bigger than the main canyon. Kolob Canyons, accessible from Interstate 15, is a stunning section of the park that most visitors skip entirely. It is worth building in a half day.

Stay somewhere that makes the trip complete. Zion is extraordinary. Having a private, comfortable property to return to each evening makes the whole thing sustainable over multiple days. Zion Red Rock sits minutes from the park entrance and gives you a base that feels as intentional as the park itself.