over a year ago. Guests of the lodge are permitted to drive into Zion and park at the Lodge. They will mail you a driving/parking pass after you make a reservation.

54-mile
Open year-round, the 54-mile trip takes about 1 1/2 hours. A fee is required to drive through the park. The byway parallels the Virgin River in many areas. Near I-15, it provides access to Quail Creek and Sand Hollow State Parks.

No really scary parts. Switchbacks into Zion are definitely loopy, in fact my GPS looked like a kid was scribbling on it, but you should be fine. Just look at the road and ignore the sides.

If you’re driving yourself into the park during the shuttle’s offseason, drive into the canyon and park when you reach the Grotto picnic area. From there, cross the road and the footbridge that spans the Virgin River and head up the West Rim trail. You’re on your way to Angels Landing!

The main section of the Zion National Park, the “scenic drive” section of Zion Canyon, is closed to private vehicles and the only way to get there is on a shuttle bus.

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.

In 2021 large vehicles may only travel through the tunnel daily from: Starting November 7, winter hours of operations for the tunnel are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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!

Scenic drive can turn deadly From Kanab, US 89 proceeds north passing by Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument and Bryce Canyon National Park. In Utah alone, US 89 has seen 112 fatal crashes during the last decade, according to Geotab. A stretch running through Logan Canyon is especially deadly.

The truth is that Angels Landing is one of the most dangerous hikes in the country. People do fall off the edge of this very, very tall chunk of rock — there are no guardrails, after all. Some hikers either rush through perilous spots on the trail or try and go around slower hikers, both of which are dangerous.

Can you hike Zion without shuttle access? Yes. There are several other trails that made it on to my list of the Best Hikes in Zion National Park that you can do without needing a shuttle bus.

The shuttles run from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm seven days a week. Boarding to head into the canyon is from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm. The last shuttle leaves the Temple of Sinawava at 8:15 pm and arrives at the visitor center at 9:00 pm. Shuttles depart the visitor center every 6-10 minutes.

In addition, there are excellent cross country skiing opportunities in Zion National Park, Ashdown Gorge Wilderness Area, and other protected areas. Nestled into the Wasatch Range of Dixie National Forest, Brian Head Ski Resort is Utah’s highest ski resort at 11,307 feet.

Brian Head Resort. Brian Head Ski Resort offers The Greatest Snow on Earth®, with an annual snowfall of over 360 inches, and Utah’s highest base elevation. Covering over 650 acres, this Utah ski resort has two connected mountains, Giant Steps, and Navajo, offering 71 runs and 8 chair lifts for anyone who loves skiing or snowboarding in Utah.

Cross country skiing is a popular winter activity in southern Utah. Although often overlooked in favor of the more popular resorts around Salt Lake City, southern Utah boasts two distinct ski areas, Brian Head and Eagle Point.

Our mountain bike park is situated within a couple hour’s drive of both Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Five minutes from our base area lays Cedar Breaks National Monument, an unforgettable amphitheater of Red Rock. Take a ride on Giant Steps Express and see the inspiring beauty of Southern Utah from 11,000 feet.