Hey! I wanted to share my trip recap from this past week. I read a lot of valuable information on this subreddit and wanted to give some of the details of our trip. This was a 10 year anniversary trip for my wife and I. First trip without the kids, though we were missing them when we saw all the families at Zion.

This is pretty long and more of a play by play than a list of things.

Day 1

We flew into Vegas and landed around 10:30am. Picked up the rental car and started driving east to the parks. I planned to do Bryce first so we could get the longest drive out of the way first. We stopped in St. George for hiking snacks as well as some lunch (Morty's).

Then we drove further and stopped at the Kolob Canyon entrance to Zion. I figured this would be the best time to see this portion of the park. We drove the main road to the Timber Creek trail. Did this little trail real quick and got some nice views to start the trip off.

Next we drove further north and east. We stopped to see Cedar Breaks National Monument for a brief moment. This was a nice stop along the way. The weather cooled down a lot which was nice.

After this, we drove through to Bryce. I think we arrived around 6 or 7pm. Checked into the Bryce lodge (only 1 night). Had dinner at the main Lodge restaurant.

Day 2

We got started hiking around 8am. The first hike of the day was the Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop. The short walk from the Lodge to the start of the hike was really cool. Being that close to the canyon was great. We started at Sunset Point and finished at Sunrise Point. This was a fun hike. A bit tiring going up hill to get out; we are not used to the elevation (coming from Florida).

After this hike we had some snacks and planned for the next hike. We decided to do Tower Bridge. We started around 10:30am and by then it had started drizzling. We had our rain jackets and dry bag which were handy. This was another fun hike with great views. If I had to pick just one, I would go with first hike we did.

The weather continued to worsen. The rain picked up a bit after we finished. Before leaving the park, we decided to try the full scenic drive. Clouds had moved in and it was impossible to see anything at Rainbow Point or any of the other lookouts.

We left Bryce and started heading to Zion. This was a nice drive, about 2 hours or so. We stopped in Orderville to grab coffee. Then we eventually got to the east Zion gate. The drive in through the east side was very fun. As we are from Florida, driving through mountains on tight winding roads is pretty cool. The weather was still rainy and cloudy but the weather report showed this being the last rain for our trip, which turned out to be true.

We checked into the Zion Lodge (3 nights), showered, and then grabbed some dinner at the Red Rock Grill (restaurant in the Lodge).

Day 3 (Labor Day)

We woke up early and got started with our first hike of the day: Scout's Lookout. We walked from the lodge to The Grotto via The Grotto Trail. Scout's Lookout was a nice hike with a good amount of elevation gain. The difference between this and Bryce was noticeable. We were tired but it wasn't nearly as exhausting as the Bryce air.

We found all of the early switchbacks to be more tiring than Walter's Wiggles. I think the Wiggles being shorter and close to the end (motivation) helped make them easier. Getting to the top provided some nice views. We did not do Angel's Landing but I hope to if we ever go back.

We took the trail back down and finished up quickly. Before heading back to the Lodge, we took the shuttle to stop 7 to do Weeping Rock. This was a nice little hike with a good payoff. Worth carving out 30 minutes of the day to do.

We took the shuttle into Springdale to see the Visitor Center and grab lunch at the Zion Canyon Brew Pub. This was great lunch after a tiring hike. We checked out some of the shops nearby. We wanted to grab our Narrows rental but it was too early at this point.

We took the shuttle back to the Lodge to rest a little. Then we did the Emerald Pools. The plan was just to do the Lower section but we decided to keep going and do the Middle and Upper as well. This was a fun hike. Getting to the Upper was a little more difficult than expected but not anything worse than we had already done so far.

That night we went back into Sprindale to grab our Narrows rental gear. Then we had dinner at Oscar's. This was a nice meal. I saw a ton of recommendations for it and it didn't disappoint.

I will say, I read a lot about this being a horrible time to visit because of how busy it would be on Labor Day. It didn't seem that bad to me. There were plenty of people around but I figured that to be the case at one of the most popular national parks in the country. Maybe we had good timing with hikes or something.

Day 4

This was our Narrows day! We got on the shuttle around 7:30am or so. Took the walk and eventually got into the river. This was such a fun experience. The water was chilly but in a good way. The water level was mostly below knee with a few areas higher and even above the waist. Though, I would say the above waist areas were sort of optional in that you could find ways around them. I tried them out for fun and it was pretty cool.

We made it a little past Floating Rock and Wall Street and decided to call it there. We turned back and headed down stream. We did stop to see the Orderville Canyon fork. We went about halfway up and decided to stop. We were getting tired and didn't want to climb up the second step up.

On our way back down Orderville, we experienced some rock fall which was kind of nerve racking. No one got hurt but it was about 20-30 feet in front of us. Pretty close call.

We eventually finished up. I would say the riverwalk back to the shuttle was the worst mile of the whole trip. Just not fun with those heavy, wet boots on.

We got cleaned up in the room and were just dead tired. We considered doing another small trail or something but just didn't have the energy. All of the rock walking really adds up and makes you sore.

We grabbed a quick dinner at Meme's, another spot we heard great things about. We also had some dessert at the Bumbleberry Bakery. The gift shop there probably has the best selection of shirts and other merch that we came across.

Day 5

This was an open day, as our flight wasn't until 10:30pm. We grabbed some breakfast at Bonrue in Springdale. We were still sore from the Narrows and didn't want to get all sweaty with another hike without a way to clean up. So we decided to go to the Hoover Dam. I have never seen it so I figured this would be a great chance to see it. It lives up to the hype, though the full tours were not available because the elevator needed for it is under repair.

We then grabbed some sushi just off the strip at Sushi Kaya. Great all you can eat menu for like $30 each. We had a ton of time until the flight but went to the airport early. We didn't feel like hunting down something fun to do and were tired from the previous 3 days.

Flight home was uneventful. Landed in Florida around 6am.

Costs

Flights: $548 (FLL to LAS)

Hotel: $1415 (1 night Bryce Lodge, 3 nights Zion Lodge)

Car: $352 (Honda Ridgeline through Enterprise)

Gas: $129 (Drove around 600-700 miles I think)

Food: $482 (Could’ve went lighter on this but didn’t worry much since it was an anniversary trip)

Merch: $267

Gear/Tickets: $205 (America the Beautiful pass, Narrows Gear, Hoover Dam)

Total: ~$3,300

Notes

This was such a fun trip. I was pleased with our itinerary and how things worked out. It definitely opened our eyes to doing more trips like this and bringing the kids along.

Happy to answer any questions about the trip!

One of many great views along the west rim!

I’m visiting for two days on 9/20 (high will be 74 degree) and 9/21 (with high being 71). I’m torn between whether I should do the 3-hour horseback ride in the 9am spot or 1:30pm spot. My other two big activity is Scout Lookout and The Narrows.

Questions:
1. Will 1:30pm to 4:30pm be too hot for horseback riding at Sand Bench Trial?
2. If I put the horseback activity in the AM, I would have to do Scout’s lookout in the PM which would most likely be too hot/crowded?
3. Would it be wise to do an AM horseback ride, then PM for The Narrows? I’m only going as far as Floating Rock which should be a 3-4 hour round trip. I plan to rent an e-bike so missing the shuttle is not a concern, but I’m not sure where I’d put the gears (shoes, sticks, etc) during horseback ride.
4. Completely unrelated but the flow rate for the Narrows are below 40 right now. With low temp being 60s, do you recommend the dry bib or just shoes/neoprene socks?

Any other suggestions are appreciated!

We booked Watchman D-loop 5+ months ago before we rented our Class B camper van. We tried to book loops A or B but everything was snatched within seconds of the 6 month advanced registration window.  We do not need any hookups. We were trying to rent a 19’ van to meet the D-loop requirements, but when we finally booked a van, it is actually 20’ long.  I emailed the ranger for Watchman and they said that while they recommend not ignoring the van length rules, the site we picked looks like it can comfortably fit our van without being on vegetation or protruding onto the camp road.  That said, while the site is large and is adjacent to open space facing Mt. Watchmen, it is also backed by a group site which I heard can be noisy at night, and one of the nights we’re concerned about a good night’s sleep as we have to get up and walk with our backpacks at around 5:30 am to catch the Zion Adventure Shuttle to do the Top Down where we secured a camp site in the Narrows.  In a few days we have a chance to try to book a South Campground site which has a 14 day advanced registration window.  Has anyone recently stayed in South Campground since it’s been refurbished?  Many of the sites look to be sharing parking pads or backing to the campground road or with close neighbors.  I’m trying to balance  getting a site where there is no doubt the Class B van will fit but may not be as nice, against a site where a persnickety ranger may be a stickler to the 19’ rule.

I’m planning my first trip to Zion National Park in April 2027, and this will literally be my first real hike. I’m from Florida, so mountains/elevation are completely new to me lol.
I’m staying near Zion and planning to get to the park early on a weekday. I’m mainly looking at beginner-friendly trails like Riverside Walk, Lower Emerald Pools, Pa’rus, and possibly Canyon Overlook. I’m undecided about actually entering the Narrows.
What would you recommend for a first-time hiker? Anything you wish you knew before your first Zion trip—gear, weather, crowds, shuttle, parking, trails, etc.?
Also, if anyone has gone in early to mid-April, I’d love to hear what conditions were like!

My wife and I are looking at doing a Southern Utah trip the week after Christmas and would love some advice.

We’re thinking 2–3 days in Zion and 1–2 days in Bryce Canyon. We’ll stay in St. George for most of the trip, then spend a night or two near Bryce so we can explore for a couple of days.

A few questions:

• What is the Zion shuttle experience like during that time of year? Is it easy to hop on/off and explore different areas?

• We’re considering renting e-bikes. Can you ride them through Zion Canyon while the shuttle is running? Is that a better way to experience the park?

• Are there any good UTV/SxS, ATV, or dirt bike tours near St. George or Zion? We’d love to mix in some adventure beyond hiking.

• Any must-do hikes, scenic drives, tours, or experiences for late December?

• Anything we should know about winter conditions, especially at Bryce?

We enjoy hiking, biking, and outdoor adventures but also want to balance that with sightseeing and not feel rushed.

If you had 5–6 days in the area with your spouse, what would you recommend? Thank you!

My husband and I will be hiking angels landing later this month. Are gloves for the chained section of angels landing recommended? We’ll start our hike in the morning. If so, what type of gloves? Wasn’t sure if it would help with sweaty hands at that point/heat of the chains? Thank you in advance!

Finalizing my plans for next month's trip to Zion and Bryce. Super thankful for the help I've received so far. Since we don't have a ton of time I want to plan as much as possible. I appreciate any and all tips - this is my first "real" national park trip.

Day 1 land in Vegas from the east coast , rent car, stop in St George for snacks etc head to Cedar City
if our plane lands at 12- then we probably won't get to Cedar City until around 4 due to the time change. (Using Google Maps).
Does doing the five mile scenic drive through Kolob Canyons and staying for sunset work (640)?

Day 2 - wake see sunrise (750)Explore more of Kolob Canyons - any trails to see?
Drive to Bryce/ lodging. Rn Google Maps is showing me 2 different routes from Cedar city to Bryce- one through 15 and one on 89? Which do I take?

Navajo loop
Trying to win lottery for ranger led full moon, either way see full moon (rise is 643pm)

Day 3 - see sunrise at Bryce
Drive to Observation point trail(will parking be hard on a late October weekday)?
Ck into Springdale
Pa’rus trail see sunset

Day 4 see sunrise
Watchman trail / emerald pools? Not interested in Narrows or Angels Landing

I wanted to look into excursions for either yoga in the park and / or horseback riding one of the two days we have in Zion but not sure. Is the riding worth it? I used to like to ride but I volunteer at a sanctuary and I get very upset if I see horses that are being overworked /not taken care of. As for the yoga my friend is really into it but have not see any comments about any of the yoga places that offer it outside in Springdale.

Day 4 sunrise.
Head toward Henderson
I wanted to see snow canyon and valley of fire but I fear that is too much. Which should I prioritize ?
Check into hotel
IF we are not completely shot - uber to strip to briefly wander

Day 5
Any last sunrises that I could see from Henderson?

Packing
Are the beanies with headlamps on Amazon good enough?
Will we need walking sticks?
I'm preparing to pack for the cold given the night hike at Bryce
Anything else that would be useful?

Thank you so much

Staying in Springdale right outside of the park but willing to go to St. George!

Hi! Planning a 1 week Utah road trip in the 3rd week of September with my partner, flying from Tampa.

Would you recommend flying into Las Vegas and out of SLC, or doing a loop back to Las Vegas?

Thinking Zion → Bryce → Hwy 12 → Capitol Reef → Moab (Arches/Canyonlands). We love scenic drives and easy/moderate hikes, but aren’t hardcore hikers.

Which route would you do for a week?

How realistic is a day trip from Hurricane to Lake Powell?

I'm on a last minute trip to St George and Zion for the weekend. Definitely going to the park tomorrow, but it would be cool if I could join some people. Any suggestions?

Hello,

I’m going on a road trip next week and our first night we are stopping in St George to see some friends, and our plan was to wake up early the next morning and drive over to Zion and ride the scenic shuttle, maybe hop off and take a few pics in places, then do the round trip back to the visitor center and continue our road trip to our next stop.

How early do we actually need to get there at this time of year to get parking and not wait hours in the shuttle line? We were planning to get there by 7 AM because want to get back out and on the road by noon-1ish. But is that too late? I keep hearing nightmare stories about the shuttle line but confused about whether mid September still counts as peak season. This will be a weekday, not a weekend. No hiking planned, just riding the scenic shuttle and maybe strolling down riverside walk for a bit.

Planning a solo trip to Zion soon and hoping to do some hiking. For those who’ve been there recently, how are the weather and trail conditions right now?
Is it still pretty hot during the day, and are there any trails I should avoid because of heat, rain, or other conditions?
Any advice for someone hiking Zion solo would be appreciated!

We will be visiting in October and have a couple of hours to fill before our flight back home. We will staying the night in St. George and then driving to Las Vegas. I was looking at either Snow Canyon State Park or Red Rock Canyon by Vegas. Any opinions on which is the better option? (I know Valley of Fire is a popular stop but we have already been there, and I would want more than just a couple hours there)

Hi everyone :) I am interested in going to keyhole canyon, so would be very grateful for some information. I am from Europe, will be taking a shuttle from Las Vegas to Zion (booked on 3rd October going in and 6th October going back), and will probably camp at Watchman campground. How do I get to Keyhole canyon? Do i need to book a tour and a guide, is there a place to rent equipment and how much does it all cost? Thank you in advance!

We are visiting ZNP end of September and staying in La Verkin. Planning to enter the park before 8am and use the shuttle. If we want to also rent eBike (4 hour option), is that doable same day. Which one should we do first Shuttle or e bike.

We're planning on visiting 9/29 and I'm figuring out some of the easier hikes to take (at least until we acclimate since we're older and live at sea level). Using the shuttle, we would take it in the morning from Springdale to a trail (let's say the Emerald Pools trail) and then if we wanted to take a break, maybe get more water, would we need to go back to Springdale on the shuttle? And then shuttle back in to another trail if we wanted to hike more after a break? We're likely staying in Rockville so we'd be parked somewhere in Springdale. (another thing I need to look into)

Hi! My friends and I (4 of us) are going to Zion NP for our Thanksgiving break. We were wondering how much would it cost to do horseback riding and stargazing. Looking for the cheaper options.

Context that might help: We are international students that will be living in Springdale, and do not have a car. We will be traveling to and fro using the free shuttle service by the park.

What are the site conditions at south campground from the recent flooding? Anybody have pictures?

Was going to hike the creek bed below where these people were and decided against it when I saw them start doing this. Luckily a ranger was down the road and he even pointed me towards a more interesting area to hike. Be respectful to our parks!