Nov 7, 20214 min read

One Day in Zion National Park, Utah

Updated: Nov 17, 2021

With over 140 thousand acres to its name, Zion National Park is one of the most popular parks to visit in the United States - and a great stop on any national park road trip. The park is located near the town of Springdale in southern Utah. Named to represent a place of safety or refuge, Zion National Park's mission is to protect the natural and constantly evolving environment within its bounds, and to educate its visitors about its significance as they marvel at their surroundings. Best day trip in Zion National Park Utah.

The entrance fee for Zion is $35 US dollars per vehicle and grants you access for one week., but if this is just one national park of many that you are visiting on your road trip, it may be worth it to buy the U.S. National Park Pass, which grants you access to any national park in the country for a year. The annual pass costs $80 US dollars.

While there is surely enough to do to spend a few days in the park, if you only have time in your trip for one - here are our recommendations of the best way to see Zion National Park in a day and make the most out of your trip. Best day trip to Zion National Park.

1. Hike the Narrows

While there are ample hiking trails to explore in Zion, the most unique is the "Narrows." It isn't often that you get the chance to wade through a running river amidst cliffs that stretch over a thousand feet high.

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Before you touch the water though, you'll first want to get some gear. While equipment isn't "required" in order to participate in the hike, having it does make a huge difference. Regardless of the time of year, we recommend renting water shoes and a hiking stick at minimum. The bottom of the Virgin River - the Colorado River tributary that winds through the Narrows - is comprised of rocks covered by running water. Special water shoes and a hiking stick will make it a lot easier to keep your footing and move at a good pace while hiking through the water than if you were just wearing typical athletic sneakers. Don't be cocky! It gets slippery in there!

If you are making the trip during cooler weather - or if you're not a fan of wet clothes - you can also opt to rent waterproof pants, a waterproof backpack, or waterproof overalls ("dry bibs"). The depth of the river will vary based on how much rain the area has received recently, but most often the water level will be up to your knees with a couple of pockets that may go above your waist. While you have the option to reserve equipment in advance, there is typically plenty of gear in inventory and the rental companies will provide a recommendation of what to wear based on the conditions that day.

There are two main shops from which you can go through: Zion Guru, located in Springdale, and Zion Outfitter, located in front of the main entrance to the park. No matter which side of the park you enter from, you'll likely need to park your car near Springdale. (The closer you park to Zion, the more expensive parking is; the farther you park into Springdale, the cheaper. There is a free shuttle that runs every 10 minutes or so from Springdale to the park, so the park is easily accessible no matter where you end up). It's likely easiest to just rent your gear from whichever location is closest to where you leave your car.

Once you have all of your gear, the last thing you'll want to pack before setting out is some snacks. Walking through water can work up quite an appetite.

To get to the primary starting point for the Narrows, take the park's shuttle to its last stop: Temple of Sinawava. From there, you will walk about a mile along the Riverside Walk to the river's access point. The Virgin River is wide at the start, and heavily trafficked with visitors getting accustomed to walking atop the rocks. The farther into the canyon you trek, the less crowded the slots become. To avoid crowds altogether, begin your hike first thing in the morning.

About two and a half miles up the river, you will come to a fork in the canyon: to the right is a more narrow slot canyon with a few small waterfalls that you will need to climb; to the left is a wider slot canyon with a stronger current and larger rocks to maneuver. Whichever direction you choose, just keep in mind that however far you go in the canyons is the distance that you will have to trek back.

2. Choose a Hiking Trail

Depending on how far you go through the river, the Narrows could be an all day excursion or only a quick trip. On average most people seem to explore the water for about half a day. That leaves time for only a hike or two for the remainder. Depending on how much energy and time you expect to have left, you can change into some dry clothes and choose from the following:

Easier Trails:

Pa'rus Trail: 3.5 miles & 50 ft elevation gain
Grotto Trail: 1 mile & 35 ft elevation gain
Lower Emerald Pool: 1.2 miles & 69 ft elevation gain
Riverside Walk: 2.2 miles & 57 ft elevation gain

Intermediate Trails:

Canyon Overlook: 1 mile & 163 ft elevation gain
Watchman Trail: 3.3 miles & 368 ft elevation gain
Sand Bench Trail: 7.6 miles & 466 elevation gain
Kayenta Trail: 2 miles & 150 ft elevation gain
Middle Emerald Pool: 2.2 miles & 150 ft elevation gain
Upper Emerald Pool: 1 mile & 200 ft elevation gain

Advanced Trails:

Angels Landing: 5.4 miles & 1500 ft elevation gain (popular)

The whole park is beautiful and offers great views of the cliffs, canyons, and plateaus, so no matter which trails you choose to try, you'll have chosen the right ones.