Two days is enough to see the best of Zion National Park without spending the whole time in a rush. This itinerary is built around our own days in the park: the Watchman and Pa’rus trails, the Emerald Pools, a packed lunch instead of the queue at Zion Lodge, dinner in Springdale and a night under some of the darkest skies in Utah. We’ve added the big-ticket extras too, from The Narrows and Angels Landing to a sunset at Canyon Overlook.
Day one covers the main canyon’s classic short hikes and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. Day two starts in The Narrows and ends with the stars. Trail conditions in Zion change often, so we’ve included the latest closures, the shuttle timetable and the Angels Landing permit system.
Planning a road trip to all of Utah’s national parks? Our Utah national parks road trip itinerary links Zion with Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands.
Handy Tips for Planning Your Zion National Park Itinerary
Park Fees and Passes
Entry to Zion costs $35 per private vehicle and is valid for seven days, so one pass covers both days of this itinerary. From 1 January 2026, non-US residents aged 16 and over also pay a $100 fee per person on top of the entrance fee, unless they hold an annual pass. If you’re visiting several parks, the $250 non-resident annual pass covers the holder and everyone in the same private vehicle. Check the latest on the National Park Service fees page.
What to Pack for your Zion Itinerary
Before you throw your clothes into your suitcase and be done with it, there are a few things you want to make sure you have on hand.
- You’ll need hiking essentials such as a good pair of hiking shoes, a water bottle and a lightweight hiking day pack. Fill up from the park’s water stations, not the river.
- Environmentally friendly sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses are essential. Several of these trails have little or no shade.
- Bring protein-rich snacks to keep up your energy when hiking, like a classic trail mix or a vegan and gluten-free fruit and nut bar, plus the makings of a packed lunch.
- Dress for the weather you’re hiking in. In spring and autumn it can get chilly, especially in the mornings and after dark, so pack lightweight jackets and longer hiking trousers.
- The Narrows means wading in the river, so if you’re visiting in one of the colder months you might need a wetsuit or a dry suit to keep you warm. Outfitters in Springdale rent dry suits, canyoneering boots and walking sticks.
- A head torch (ideally with a red light) for stargazing.
Where to Stay in Zion
If you want to stay inside the park, Zion Lodge is the only option, and it books up well ahead. Otherwise, Springdale sits right outside the South Entrance, with plenty of hotels on the free Springdale shuttle line. For more ideas, see our full guide to where to stay in and near Zion National Park.
Cable Mountain Lodge (Luxury)
Cable Mountain Lodge is about as close to the park as you can stay without being in it: a four-minute walk from the pedestrian entrance, with the Zion Canyon Village shuttle stop just across a footbridge. All its suites and studios have kitchens or kitchenettes, handy for making packed lunches, and there’s a pool and hot tub looking up at the canyon walls.
Hampton Inn & Suites Springdale (Mid-Range, Where We Stayed)
This is where we stayed. Hampton Inn & Suites Springdale is keenly priced for Springdale and the rooms are very spacious; some have a view of the Watchman. It isn’t luxurious and the breakfast is forgettable, but it’s good value about a mile from the park, with a Springdale shuttle stop right outside.
Hyatt Place Springdale (Mid-Range)
The former Holiday Inn Express in Springdale became Hyatt Place Springdale/Zion National Park in 2025. It’s about 1.6 miles from the entrance at shuttle Stop 6, with a seasonal heated pool, two hot tubs and free breakfast.
Useful Resources for Your 2-Day Trip to Zion
- The National Park Service App: maps, trail information and park alerts. Download the Zion content before you go, as phone signal in the canyon is patchy.
- Zion current conditions: check trail closures and The Narrows’ flow rate on the morning you hike.
- Rentalcars.com: for car hire deals for your trip.
- Booking.com: hotels and lodges for a range of budgets.
- Tripadvisor: for restaurant reviews.
- Skyscanner: for flight deals into Las Vegas, St George or Salt Lake City.
- Get Your Guide: tours in and around Zion, from canyoneering to stargazing.
Is this your first time going to Zion? Before you go, check out these 17 things to know before you visit.
How to Get Around During your 2 Days in Zion National Park
For most of the year, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private cars and you explore the main canyon on the free Zion Canyon Shuttle. In 2026 it runs from 7 March to 28 November, with a holiday service from 26 December to 2 January. There’s no need to book: just show your park pass and hop on. Buses run from 7am from the Visitor Center; the last bus up the canyon leaves at 6pm until 24 October and at 5pm from 25 October.
Our top tip is to take the shuttle to one end of the canyon and work your way back to the other, hiking and hopping on and off as you go. Which end you start at depends on which hikes you want to do, and in which order.
The car parks at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center are first come, first served and often fill early in the morning, especially in summer. If you’re staying in Springdale, leave the car at your hotel and take the free Springdale shuttle, which has nine stops through town and drops you at the pedestrian entrance. You’ll still want a car for the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway on day one and for Canyon Overlook on day two, as the shuttle doesn’t go there.
2 Days in Zion Itinerary
Ready for the start of your adventure? Day one packs in three of Zion’s best short hikes, so start early. Let’s go.
Zion Itinerary Day 1
Watchman Trail
Closure update, October 2026: the Watchman Trail is currently closed pending repairs, with no reopening date announced. Check current conditions before you go. If it’s still closed, start your day on the Pa’rus Trail instead, which begins from the same place.
The Watchman Trail was one of our favourite hikes in Zion and it’s the perfect way to start your two days, as the trailhead is right by the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, a short walk from Springdale. It’s not too difficult, but it rewards you with superb views of the Watchman and down over the Zion valley. The trail is 3.3 miles (5.3km) round trip with about 480 feet of climbing, and it took us about an hour and a half.
Lots of people turn back at the first plateau, but don’t. Carry on and do the short loop at the end: it’s not much further, it’s not at all strenuous, and it has some of the best views of the Watchman on the whole trail.
Top Tip for Visiting: There’s no shade on this trail and it gets very hot, so do it first thing in the morning, which is exactly what we’re doing here.
Pa’rus Trail
Next up is the nearby Pa’rus Trail, a lovely introduction to the park. It’s a flat, paved path that follows the Virgin River for 3.5 miles (5.6km) round trip between the Visitor Center and Canyon Junction, and takes around two hours if you walk the whole thing.
Don’t let this laid-back Zion hike fool you: the green riverbanks are a brilliant contrast to the red rock towering on all sides, with wildflowers in spring and mule deer grazing in the mornings and evenings. There are spots where you can cool your feet in the river, though the park currently advises against putting your head under or drinking the water because of toxic cyanobacteria.
Top Tip for Visiting: The Pa’rus is the only trail in Zion open to bikes and to dogs on a lead, and because it’s paved, it’s the easiest trail to navigate after dark. Remember it for stargazing on day two.
Emerald Pools Trail
Take the shuttle to Zion Lodge (Stop 5) and cross the footbridge for the Emerald Pools, a series of pools and trickling waterfalls below the cliffs. The footbridge reopened in a new position in June 2025 after two years of repairs, so you’re back on the classic route.
The Lower Emerald Pool is an easy 1.2 miles (1.9km) round trip, taking about an hour. The trail leads to an alcove where water spills over the rock above into the pool below. Expect it to be busy, as it’s so close to the lodge. The pools are pretty rather than jaw-dropping, but it’s a lovely stroll.
From here, the trail climbs to the Middle Emerald Pools on top of the alcove you just walked under, then up a sandy stretch to the Upper Emerald Pool at the foot of the cliffs. The full round trip to the upper pool and back is around 3 miles (5km), so allow about two and a half hours. It’s busy too, so don’t expect to move quickly. The upper pool is a good spot for a snack before you head back down, or you can return on the Kayenta Trail to the Grotto (Stop 6).
Top Tip For Visiting: The Emerald Pools can be affected by flash flooding. If heavy rain is forecast, skip this trail.
Optional Alternative: Angels Landing Trail
If you have a permit and a head for heights, you can swap the morning’s three hikes for Angels Landing, Zion’s most famous trail. It follows the West Rim Trail up a series of switchbacks to Scout Lookout, then along a narrow, exposed fin of rock with chains to hold on to and long drops on both sides.
It’s strenuous: 5.4 miles (8.7km) round trip with 1,488 feet (454m) of climbing, and around four hours for most hikers, longer if you stop often to take in the views (you will). If you’re nervous of heights, this is not the trail for you; walking to Scout Lookout and back still gives you great views without the chains section.
Top Tip For Visiting: You need a permit to hike beyond Scout Lookout. There are seasonal lotteries a few months ahead, plus a day-before lottery that opens at 12:01am and closes at 3pm Mountain Time the day before you hike. Applications cost $6, plus $3 per person if you win, on Recreation.gov.
Stop for Lunch
Zion Lodge is the only place inside the park that serves food, with the sit-down Red Rock Grill and, from spring to autumn, the Castle Dome Café. It’s also very busy at lunchtime and can eat (pun intended) into your afternoon. You’re much better off bringing a packed lunch and just picking up a cold drink at the lodge instead.
The bonus is you can eat wherever you like: the lawn in front of the lodge or any viewpoint you reach around lunchtime will do. Remember to leave no trace and take all your rubbish with you.
Zion-Mt Carmel Scenic Drive
Now it’s time to hop in the car and rest your legs while the wheels do the work. The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway climbs out of the main canyon in a series of switchbacks, through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel and into the slickrock country on the park’s east side, ending at the East Entrance.
There are plenty of pull-outs along the way to stop and take photos in the late-afternoon light. Look out for the swirling, sculpted sandstone east of the tunnel and for Checkerboard Mesa near the East Entrance, its pale face criss-crossed with lines like a giant chessboard. Canyon Overlook, just east of the tunnel, is saved for sunset tomorrow.
Since 7 June 2026, large vehicles are banned from the whole highway: anything over 35 feet 9 inches long, 7 feet 10 inches wide or 11 feet 4 inches high, or 50 feet in combination with a trailer. A rockfall closed the road from 30 September to 9 October 2026, and there’s a temporary gravel section until it’s repaved, so check current conditions before you set off.
To round off the day, take the two-hour Parunuweap Canyon sunset jeep tour with East Zion Adventures, which heads off-road into the backcountry east of the park (from around $79).
Back in Springdale, book dinner at Spotted Dog at Flanigan’s Inn. We really liked the food there. It’s open for dinner only, from 4pm, and it’s popular with locals and visitors alike, so book a table in advance.
Zion Itinerary Day 2
Day two! We hope you slept well, because it starts in the river.
The Narrows Trail
Lace up your shoes for The Narrows, one of the world’s great river hikes. Take the first shuttle you can to the Temple of Sinawava (Stop 9), the last stop up the canyon.
The hike begins gently on the paved Riverside Walk, about a mile each way. Where the path ends, you step into the North Fork of the Virgin River and walk upstream between walls that rise hundreds of metres above you.
Much of the time the water is ankle- to knee-deep, but it can reach your waist or higher in places, depending on the flow. The riverbed is a mix of sand and slippery, rounded boulders, and wading against even a gentle current is surprisingly tiring, so a walking stick and proper canyoneering boots help a lot.
The canyon gets more dramatic the further you go. Around 2 to 2.5 miles up, near the junction with Orderville Canyon, you reach Wall Street, where the walls close in and soar overhead. Many day hikers turn around here. Without a permit you can go as far as Big Spring, about 4.7 miles from the Temple of Sinawava, where springs seep from the canyon walls. That’s a round trip of about 9.4 miles (15km), so if you’re going all the way, allow most of the day and push lunch in Springdale back.
Top Tip For Visiting: The Narrows closes when the river flow is above 150 cubic feet per second, which usually rules it out during the spring snowmelt, and during flash flood warnings. Check the flow and the forecast on the morning of your hike. Don’t drink the river water or put your head under, because of toxic cyanobacteria.
Lunch in Springdale
After your morning in the river, take the shuttle back to the Visitor Center and walk into Springdale for a lunch that wasn’t packed in a bag. It’s a tiny town, with just over 500 permanent residents at the last census, but as the gateway to a park that saw almost 5 million visits in 2025, it has far more cafés and restaurants than its size suggests. See our guide to the best restaurants in and around Zion for ideas.
If you didn’t make it to Spotted Dog last night, book it for tonight, between the afternoon’s activities and sunset.
Horse Riding on the Sand Bench Trail
After lunch, head back into the park for an afternoon ride. Canyon Trail Rides runs guided horse rides from beside Zion Lodge from March to October. The three-hour Sand Bench Trail ride ($125, ages 10 and over) climbs about 500 feet above the Virgin River, with views of the Court of the Patriarchs and the canyon walls. The afternoon ride leaves at 1:30pm.
Short on time? The one-hour Virgin River ride ($60, ages 7 and over) follows the river to the Court of the Patriarchs and back. Riders on both must weigh under 220 pounds.
Optional Alternative: Canyoneering
Fancy abseiling down a slot canyon? Grab your helmet for a real memory-maker of an afternoon.
Canyoneering, scrambling and rappelling through narrow canyons, looks daunting, but even complete beginners can do it on a half-day canyoneering experience from Springdale. It takes about four hours, with all the gear and instruction included, from around $210.
Set aside the whole afternoon, because if there’s one thing you don’t want to rush, it’s this.
Sunset at Canyon Overlook Trail
Yes, one more hike. Drive up the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and through the tunnel, and you’ll find the Canyon Overlook trailhead just beyond its eastern end.
It’s a short trail, 1 mile (1.6km) round trip with about 160 feet of climbing, taking around an hour, along ledges with handrails in places. It ends at a viewpoint looking straight down Pine Creek Canyon into the main canyon, and as the sun sinks the red rock seems to glow.
Top Tip For Visiting: The car park is very small and the trail is popular, so arrive well before sunset and be prepared to loop round and try again for a space.
Stargazing in Zion National Park
Drink an espresso if you must, but stay up for this. Zion was certified as an International Dark Sky Park in 2021, and we’d highly recommend spending time in the park after dark: the stargazing is incredible. On a clear night you can make out the Milky Way faintly with the naked eye, and a long-exposure photo brings it out in full.
Download a night sky app to tell you which constellations you’re looking at, and check cleardarksky.com for the best conditions. If you’re on foot, stick to the paved Pa’rus Trail, which is easy to follow in the dark. Mountain lions do live in the park, but encounters are very rare. If you’d rather have a guide, East Zion Adventures runs a one-hour East Zion stargazing trip with hot chocolate (from around $20).
Just watch out for bats. One of us was bitten by one while photographing the night sky and ended up in the ER for rabies shots. It’s rare, and the view is still worth it, but if you plan to spend time in Zion at night, make sure your rabies jab is up to date and watch out for rattlesnakes on warm nights too.
Top Tip For Visiting: Use a red light torch to find your way. A white light ruins your night vision for up to 20 minutes, while a red light affects it far less.
Zion Itinerary: If You Have More Time
Visit the Human History Museum
The Zion Human History Museum is a good addition if you have extra time. Its exhibits cover the area’s Native American peoples, the Mormon pioneers who settled the canyon and the creation of the park, and there’s a short film about Zion. It’s open from spring to autumn, 10am to 5pm, at shuttle Stop 2 (served by buses heading down the canyon).
Walk to Weeping Rock
Weeping Rock reopened in September 2025 after a 2023 rockfall. It’s a short 0.4-mile round trip from shuttle Stop 7 to an alcove where water seeps from the cliff, with hanging gardens of ferns and flowers in spring and summer. The trails to Hidden Canyon and Observation Point from here remain closed.
