Perfect ONE DAY in Zion National Park (Itinerary+Maps+Tips)

Planning on spending one day in Zion National Park? It is not a very long time, because there is so much to see and do in Zion. But, if you can only spend one day in Zion National Park, then I have this perfect one-day Zion itinerary for you that ticks off the best national park highlights.

Zion National Park can easily be combined with a visit to Bryce Canyon National Park: Zion to Bryce Canyon in 3 Days – Perfect Rod Trip Itinerary.

Looking for a longer road trip? How about this Epic 7-Day Road Trip Through Utah National Parks?

Zion National Park is located within the state of Utah, in the southwestern United States.

• By Plane

Two International Airports are the closest to Zion National Park that you can fly in: Las Vegas, Nevada located 170 miles from the park, and Salt Lake City, Utah located 300 miles from the park.

The closest Regional Airports are located in Saint George, Utah – 49 miles from the park, and Cedar City, Utah – 60 miles from the park.

• By Car

If you are driving from Las Vegas, Nevada, and/or Saint George, Utah following are the directions:

• Interstate 15 North
• Exit 16 – Right on State Route 9 East (33 miles)
• Right to stay on State Route 9 East in La Verkin, Utah (20 miles)
• Stay on State Route 9 East into Zion National Park, the Visitor Center is ahead on the right.

If you are driving from Salt Lake City, Utah, and/or Cedar City, Utah following are the directions:

• Interstate 15 South
• Exit 27 – Left on State Route 17 South (26 miles)
• Left on State Route 9 East in La Verkin, Utah (20 miles)
• Stay on State Route 9 East into Zion National Park, the Visitor Center is ahead on the right.

• Spring or Fall

To start with, the best time to visit the park is during spring or fall, specifically April – May and September – October. The weather is mild with daytime average temperatures in the 60s and 70s F.

• Summer

Furthermore, summer, specifically June – September is the high season. The number of tourists skyrockets during these months. The temperatures skyrocket as well ranging from the high 80s to 100s F.

• Winter

Finally, winter, specifically November through March, is a good time to visit Zion National Park. Above all, you will be able to find some solitude. Snow seldom reaches the canyon floor and that being the case, the scenic drive and hiking can be enjoyed during that time.

However, make sure to check the weather and local snow conditions. You need to make sure that the trails you are planning to hike are clear and safe. For example, during the winter months trails like Angels Landing can be snowy/icy on the higher sections. Temperatures can range from low 50s to sometimes low 70s F.

• Staying Inside Zion National Park 

Hands down, nothing beats staying inside the park! However, accommodations are very limited and you will need to make reservations at least a year in advance. Zion Lodge is the only hotel inside the park. It is open year-round and has several different types of accommodations like cabins, hotel rooms, and suites. My recommendation is to get a cabin. They all have gas log fireplaces, private porches, full baths, microwaves, and mini-refrigerators.

Zion National Park has three campgrounds. South and Watchman Campgrounds are inside the Zion Canyon, Lava Point Campground is about 1-hour drive from Zion Canyon on the Kolob Terrace Road.

South Campground is located about 0.5 miles from the South Entrance. It is open from March through October. It has 117 sites.

Watchman Campground is located about 0.25 miles from the South Entrance. Tent and electric campsites are available year-round. Watchman Campground has 190 sites.

Reservations for both South and Watchman Campgrounds need to be made well in advance at Recreation.gov.

Lava Point Campground is located about 1-hour drive from Zion Canyon on the Kolob Terrace Road. This campground is typically open May through September, as weather allows. There are 6 primitive campsites available first-come, first-serve. The campground has pit toilets and trash cans, but no water. Vehicles longer than 19 feet are not permitted on the road to the campground.

• Staying Near Zion National Park

Springdale, UT is conveniently right at the entrance to Zion and it is the perfect getaway to Zion National Park. There are many options of where you can stay in Springdale and several good places where to can grab a bite to eat.

I stayed in Springdale several times and my two top choices are Hampton Inn & Suites Springdale/Zion National Park, and SpringHill Suites by Marriott Springdale Zion National Park. Both places are clean and comfortable, and the location is perfect.

Where to eat in Springdale, UT? Hands down, if you are in Springdale, UT then head to Oscar’s Cafe. Everything on the menu is simply delicious! However, make sure to try the murder burger or the pork burrito.  Another place you should check out is Spotted Dog. My recommendation is to try the Southwest Chicken with wild rice and fresh mango avocado salsa.

• To start with, the United States Congress established Zion National Park on November 19, 1919. A separate Zion National Monument, the Kolob Canyons area, was proclaimed on January 22, 1937, and was incorporated into the park on July 11, 1956.
• Secondly, Zion National Park covers an area of 229 square miles.
• Next, the park is named after the Hebrew word, “Zion.” This word translates as “a place of peace and relaxation.”
• More importantly, Zion National Park is home to one of the most endangered species, the California condor. Its population as of December 2016 remains at 446 living wild and in captivity.
• Lastly, Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel is located in Zion National Park. It is 1.1 miles long and it opened and was dedicated on July 4, 1930. Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel is considered an engineering marvel.

Zion National Park is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. However, some facilities reduce the opening hours during winter.

All visitors are required to purchase a recreational use pass. You pay for the pass at the entrance to the park. The pass is valid for seven consecutive days including the date of purchase and costs $30.

Please check the National Park website for detailed prices.

If you are visiting several national parks during your vacation, you should consider purchasing an annual pass. The cost of the annual pass is $80.

The annual pass is a great deal! It is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites, such as national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, and grasslands.

Buy America the Beautiful National Park Pass here.

If you are visiting the park between April and October, then using the shuttle is mandatory. No private vehicles are allowed inside the park.

By the same token, the shuttle is free. Your park entrance ticket covers the cost of the shuttle.

The shuttle operates in Springdale, Utah, as well as inside the park. You can hop on/hop off at any of the shuttle stops.

I have been to Zion National Park several times. I have done different versions of this itinerary.

These are my suggestions of how to spend one day in Zion to get the most out of it.

Keep in mind, that trails might be temporarily closed during different times of the year usually due to the damage they sustain during the heavy rains. This one-day itinerary will give you a couple of different options just in case there are trail closures.

This itinerary concludes with the Zion Narrows Hike. In my opinion, a visit to Zion National Park needs to include Zion Narrows. It is a legendary hike! The river is your trail. However, some advanced planning is necessary. You will need some waterproof pants, shoes and a walking stick. That is why I suggest that you start your one day in Zion National Park at Zion Outfitter Store in Springdale.

1. Zion Outfitter Store in Springdale, UT
2. Court of the Patriarchs
3. Emerald Pools Trail
4. Angels Landing Trail (option #1)
5. Weeping Rock Trail
6. Observation Point Trail (option #2)
7. Riverside Walk
8. The Zion Narrows

Our first stop of this one day itinerary is in Springdale at Zion Outfitter Store. Address is: 7 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767. You can’t miss it. It is a busy place!

We are going to rent some gear so that we will be able to comfortably navigate the wet, uneven terrain in the Zion Narrows. The Zion Narrows is a hike upstream the Virgin River. We are going to hike for at least half a mile, just to get the feel for the Zion Narrows and take some spectacular pictures. Plus, it will be a lot of fun!

Reservations for the rentals are not required but are available on the Zion Outfitter site: Zion Outfitter. Adjustments can easily be made to all reservations upon arrival. They keep plenty of equipment in stock in order to accommodate all walk-in customers. All Narrows equipment can be picked up either the morning of our hike or the evening prior after 4pm.

Rental Packages and Prices:

1. Warm Weather Package  – it is recommended during summer months and includes canyoneering boots, neoprene socks, and a hiking stick. The canyoneering boots provide a great grip on wet or dry rock. In addition, they give an awesome ankle support. Further, you need to know that your feet will get wet, but they will be kept warm by the neoprene socks. The wooden hiking stick is ideal for balance and stability. Believe me, you will need it!The rental cost is $24.
2. Dry Pants Package – it is recommended during fall when the water levels are low but the water is absolutely frigid. Dry Pants Package includes dry pants, which are waist high, canyoneering boots, neoprene socks, and a wooden hiking stick. The pants will keep all water out so you are able to wear your regular hiking clothes underneath. The rental cost is $41.
3. Dry Bib Package – it is recommended during spring and winter. The water levels are high and of course the water is icy cold. The Dry Bibs come up to the armpits providing more coverage than the dry pants. The package includes: dry bibs (waders), canyoneering boots, neoprene socks, and a wooden hiking stick. The rental cost is $45.

More importantly, you will need some kind of waterproof backpack to keep all your documents, phones, cameras, etc safe and dry.

Court of the Patriarchs is our second stop of the day. It is located right at Zion Shuttle stop number 4. It is the most iconic image of Zion National Park.

Make sure to take a 50-yard staircase uphill to get to the best view of the Court of the Patriarchs.

Right in front of you are three peaks. From left to right are: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The view is particularly beautiful in the morning light or at sunset.

Emerald Pools Trail is our third stop of one day in Zion itinerary. Emerald Pools Trailhead is located right next to Zion Lodge, which is shuttle stop number 5.

Emerald Pools Trail is a Zion classic! It is an absolute delight to hike this trail. It intertwines past a small stream that rolls down the cliffs and forms several waterfalls and pools.

Emerald Pools Trail consists of three sections and if you are up to it, then you can hike from Lower Emerald Pools to Middle and finish your hike at Upper Emerald Pools. However, I would keep it short and just hike to Lower Emerald Pools, since it is a full day and there are more hikes ahead.

So, if you just hike to Lower Emerald Pools, it should take you no more than 30 minutes to do the hike. All in all, it is an easy hike with very little elevation change.

What is cool is that this trail takes you under an alcove with the waterfall spilling over it.

However, I need to mention that if you are visiting during the summer months, there might not be very many waterfalls, they probably will be reduced to just a mere trickle.

Yet, something to keep in mind is that late summer is a monsoon season and it brings quite a few downpours. So, if there is a chance of rain, then I would immediately head to Emerald Pools and you would be amazed how beautiful this place is after the rain.

Angels Landing Trail is one of the most famous hikes in the United States and it has been named America’s Scariest Hike.

So, right off the bat, I have to say that Angels Landing Trail is not recommended for people with a fear of heights. What you need to know is that there are sections of the trail where you will be walking on a narrow spine of the mountain and using chains to help you up.

In order to hike Angel’s Landing Trail, you need to reserve Timed Entry Ticket. Visit recreation.gov to make reservations. From my personal experience, it is extremely difficult to obtain a Timed Entry Ticket. If all the tickets are already gone, do not despair. There is an even better hike in Zion with views that surpass Angel’s Landing, namely Observation Point Trail. It is listed on this itinerary as option # 2.

The total distance is 2.5 miles one way. Specifically:

• Grotto Trailhead to Refrigerator Canyon – 1.1 miles
• Refrigerator Canyon to Scouts Lookout – .85 mile
• Scouts Lookout to Angels Landing – .55 mile

The length of time to complete this hike is about 3 to 6 hours depending on your physical fitness. The total elevation change is 1,490 feet.

Angels Landing Trail starts at the Grotto Trailhead. This is shuttle stop number 6.

To begin with, cross the hiker’s bridge over the Virgin River and follow the trail. Initially, you are on the West Rim Trail. If you look up, the Angels Landing Peak is right in front of you.

The trail remains at an easy grade as it approaches the lower cliffs blocking the entrance to Refrigerator Canyon.

Next, as you get closer to the lower cliffs the trail begins a series of switchbacks. Although the switchbacks are wiggly, these are not Walter’s Wiggles yet. You will reach them later on. The switchbacks will take you to the top of the ridge above Refrigerator Canyon.

Next, the trail gradually climbs up the canyon and pretty soon you will get to the famous 1930’s CCC engineering section called Water’s Wiggles. Each wiggle is a short switchback. There are a total of 21 wiggles!

Next, you will get to Scout’s Lookout. Here you can admire the canyon below as well as get a good look at the final section of the trail leading to Angels Landing.

Additionally, at Scout’s Lookout, you leave West Rim Trail and continue on Angels Landing Trail.

Ahead of you is the most challenging part of the trail. You will be using chains to help you get higher up. There are guard rails as well as some carved steps to steady your climb.

A lot of people stop hiking right at this point. And, it is ok! If you are not up to it, then rest a bit and head back down.

However, if you decide to continue, you will be rewarded with an amazing 360-degree view.

When you are ready, simply retrace your steps and head back to where you started.

Weeping Rock Trail is the next stop of the one-day itinerary to Zion!

The trail will take you into a large bowl-shaped alcove with water flowing over its recess. The water causes the so-called “weeping walls”. And, the “weeping walls” form lush hanging gardens.

Be on the lookout for the hanging Columbine. It is endemic to Zion. There are two species of Columbine in the park – the golden one, which has yellow flowers, and the western one, which has red and yellow flowers.

Weeping Rock Trail is an easy trail. The round trip distance is about .5 miles and it should take you no more than 30 minutes to complete this hike.

The Weeping Rock Trailhead is located at Zion shuttle stop number 7.

Start by crossing the little hiker’s bridge. Then, turn left and hike up the paved trail to the viewing area. Depending on the season and weather conditions, you should see a beautiful waterfall cascading down and over the viewing platform.

Weeping Rock Trail has a nice shade and stays cool even during the hottest days. In addition, the water flowing down from the Weeping Rock provides invigorating refreshment in the dry heat. So, be prepared to get a bit wet. Likewise, use caution when walking since the path might be a little slippery.

If you are visiting the park in the wintertime, please be prepared for the trail closure due to icy conditions.

As I mentioned previously, if Angels Landing Trail is closed, or if all the Timed Entry Tickets are already gone, then another option is to hike the Observation Point Trail.

I have to honestly say that the view from the Observation Point is so much better than the view from Angels Landing. Why? Observation Point stands at 6,507 feet above the sea level, which is over 700 feet higher than the famous Angels Landing.

So, once you get to the top, you will be able to see Angels Landing and pat yourself on the back for being adventurous to conquer the higher viewpoint.

Weeping Rock Trailhead is the starting point for Observation Point Trail. It is shuttle stop number 7.

What you need to know is that the round trip distance is 8 miles. It will take you at least 4-5 hours to complete this trail. All in all, it is a strenuous hike with an elevation change of 2,100 feet.

Notably, almost right from the beginning, you start climbing. It will be a switchback after switchback, however, slowly you will be gaining elevation. You will be able to start enjoying the views fairly shortly after you start.

After 0.7 miles of climbing up the switchbacks, you will reach the junction to the Hidden Canyon Trail.

From here, the trail takes a turn and enters Echo Canyon. You will immediately notice a change of scenery. You are now surrounded by canyon walls.

There are more shady areas and the temperature is much lower at this point. Also, the trail flattens a little as well.

By the way, Echo Canyon is quite beautiful. You will definitely take some great photos of the small slot canyons.

After 2.1 miles, you will pass a junction that connects to the East Rim Trail. Next, continue through a series of steep zigzags. This will be a final ascent through the upper White Cliff formations.

Right after, you are standing on the rim of the sandy upper plateau. The last mile is mostly level as the trail heads northwest.

Next, you will pass the last trail junction, which is East Mesa Trail. Subsequently, the trail heads south, and there you are! You made it! The view is magnificent with Angels Landing and the valley far below.

Riverside Walk is an easy trail with little elevation change. It is about 2 miles long round trip. Riverside Walk Trailhead is located at Temple of Sinawava, which is Zion shuttle stop number 9.

It is perfect for a family stroll, and children and it is wheelchair accessible. Riverside Walk meanders along the Virgin River. And, at every turn, you will be captivated by another breathtaking spot.

By the way, historically, Riverside Walk was called Gateway to the Narrows. And, this is right here where the legendary hike called Zion Narrows starts!

So, if the weather is good and the water level is safe, then make sure you include the Zion Narrows hike in your one day in Zion itinerary. If you rented the shoes and the dry pants, then the hike should be a lot of fun and you will not get cold. Plus, you should have a walking stick for the balance, which will be very handy.

The Zion Narrows is a legendary hike. Notably, you are hiking the Virgin River upstream. In other words, you are hiking the Zion Narrows “Bottom-Up”.

In the summer this hike is especially pleasant in the late afternoon, or an early evening when this part of the canyon is out of direct sunlight.

The starting point for this hike is the last stop on the bus shuttle, number 9, Temple of Sinawava. We start with the Riverside Walk, which takes us to the Zion Narrows.

Keep in mind that you can alter the length of this hike. Go only as far as you want to go! If you feel like you are getting too cold or too tired, just turn around and go back.

The Zion Narrows Quick Facts:

• Distance – 5 miles one-way
  • Temple of Sinawava to Gateway to the Narrows – 1 mile
  • Gateway to the Narrows to Mystery Falls – .5 mile
  • Mystery Falls to Wall Street – 1.25 miles
  • Wall Street to Orderville Canyon – .25 mile
  • Orderville Canyon to Big Springs – 2.5 miles
• Length of Time  – 3-4 hours
• Elevation Change – mostly flat
• Difficulty Level – moderate to strenuous river hiking (It is a gradual ascent up the river. You are hiking in knee-deep to waist-deep water)
• Access – Temple of Sinawava – number 9 on the map

The Zion Narrows Practical Information:

• No Permit is required if you are hiking the Zion Narrows ” Bottom-Up”
• Weather forecasts need to be taken very seriously. Do not hike the Zion Narrows if there is any kind of rain in the forecast. Flash floods can develop within minutes with strong, rushing water.
• The Zion Narrows might be closed during the spring months due to snow melt and spring run-off.

Three Options of Hiking the Zion Narrows “Bottom Up:

1. Mystery Falls – Mystery Falls is less than half a mile from the Gateway to the Narrows. It is a very beautiful spot where the water falls down the walls. You can stop right at Mystery Falls and retrace your steps.

2. Wall Street –  if you feel like you are able to continue on, then,  it is roughly 1.25 miles from Mystery Falls to Wall Street. Notably, Wall Street starts when the walls narrow and the Virgin River fills the canyon bottom. The scenery is beautiful here.

3. Orderville Canyon – just a few minutes up from the start of Wall Street is the junction with Orderville Canyon coming in on the right. If you have any energy left, or there is enough time then continue on. This section lasts about a mile and is stunning. As the walls begin to open, I would recommend this as the turnaround spot.

By the way, It will take you 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the junction with Orderville Canyon.

If you are into photography, then you will absolutely love taking pictures of Zion Narrows. It is one of the visually stunning places that you will ver visit. If taking pictures is something that interests you, then check out my post: Best Photography Locations in Zion National Park

Zion Narrows hike concludes your one day in Zion adventure. Needless to say, it is a full day packed with many activities. I know you will have fun and enjoy your one day in Zion National Park!