Zion is different from the other parks in the Southwest. Here you do not stand up on the edge and look down, but stand below in the valley and gaze up at mighty rock walls up to eight hundred meters high. Add the green valley floor and the Virgin River winding through it. That makes Zion perhaps the most varied hiking park in the region.
The shuttle bus in the canyon
From roughly March to November the Scenic Drive through the actual Zion Canyon is closed to private cars. Instead you ride the free shuttle bus, which stops at all the trailheads. It sounds restrictive, but it is pleasant: less traffic, no hunting for parking, more calm.
Hiking is the point here
Unlike at the Grand Canyon, where many just step to the edge, Zion lives on setting off on foot. From a leisurely riverside path to an exposed scramble, there is everything. The best-known trails are Angels Landing and the Narrows.
Springdale on the doorstep
Right at the south entrance lies the pretty town of Springdale with hotels, restaurants and gear rental. From there the bus runs to the visitor center, and inside the park itself you do not need a car.
When you should come
Spring and autumn are ideal. High summer is hot and busy, then an early start helps. In winter it is quiet and often mild in the valley, but higher trails can be icy.
