Visiting Zion National Park in Utah had been a dream of mine for years, so when I found out about a work trip to Las Vegas that would leave me with the weekend free, I was quick to look up options for getting to Zion from Vegas. While there are buses that make the trip, I decided a car rental was worth it for me on this trip – partly to make it easier to camp in the park, and also just for the reassurance that I had control over my timing and could be sure to make it back for my flight out of Vegas. Read on for how to make the most of a weekend in Zion National Park!
Day 1 – Camping in Zion National Park
Arrive at the main entrance to the park in the town of Springdale, Utah around 7pm. There are plenty of restaurants, as well as a few grocery stores, in Springdale – although most are fairly expensive. The South Campground and the Watchman Campground are both right near the entrance of the park and within walking distance of Springdale (the South Campground is just a little farther down the road).
Check the National Park Service website for current information, but as of January 2023 the South Campground is closed in the winter but the Watchman Campground is open year-round. However, reservations are needed up to 6 months in advance for the Watchman Campground but only available 14 days in advance for the South Campground. So, if you’re planning a last minute trip in the fall like me (or spring is also a great time to visit) – be sure to check the reservation site 14 days ahead and you should hopefully be able to snag a spot at the South Campground. The cost to camp in a tent site at either of these campgrounds in Zion National Park is $20 per night.
Day 2 – Exploring Zion National Park
6am – Wake up early to hike the 3.3 mile Watchman Trail for sunrise views. The trail starts just behind the visitor center, within easy walking distance from either campground. Bring your breakfast and a hot beverage to enjoy at the lookout where you can enjoy views of the entrance to the Zion canyon, or grab breakfast at the coffee shop inside the Cable Mountain Lodge just outside the park entrance.
10am – While the lines for the park shuttle bus are craziest, avoid the crowds by exploring Springdale. There are free shuttle buses that go from the park entrance to various points in town – the “Springdale Line.” It’s also not a bad walk from the park entrance to the edge of most of the action in town, basically around the Springdale Visitor Center. Between there and the park you’ll find plenty of restaurants and cafes, gift shops, ice cream and necessities.
12pm – Grab lunch at Cafe Soleil – lots of healthy and delicious options, reasonably priced for Springdale – and then head back into the commercial area right next to the park entrance. If you want to rent any gear for hiking the Narrows, grab it now since you’ll be leaving before the stores open in the morning.
Many people rent waterproof boots, coveralls/waders, and/or walking sticks; your preferences will depend on the time of year (air and water temperature) and your comfort level hiking in water. Personally I felt that my feet would probably still be wet in the waterproof boots, and I could wear enough layers on my torso to be comfortable in shorts and not have to deal with pants getting wet or waders. I won’t offer significant advice on safety for hiking the Narrows here, but be sure to do your research, know your own limits, and plan for what to do when cold and wet. I will share my observation that there were many “unofficial” walking sticks abandoned right at the start of the hike and free for hikers who decided not to rent walking sticks!
1pm – Back at the park visitor center, be sure to check out the 3D displays of the canyon to learn the lay of the land. The lines for the free park shuttle should have eased up by now, so hop on a bus and get off at the Zion Lodge. Take the Emerald Pools trails across the road from the lodge. Start on the Lower Emerald Pools trail, which takes you past a waterfall and then connects with the Upper Emerald Pools trail. Return via the Middle Emerald Pools trail.
4pm – When you finish the Middle Emerald Pools trail, you can either get back on the shuttle at the Zion Lodge and take it back up the canyon to the Court of the Patriarchs stop, or take the trail along the side of the river for closer views of the Patriarchs as you pass them. (Note that this trail is sandy in parts, and also used by horses.)
6pm – Take the shuttle from the Court of the Patriarchs to the Museum stop, where you can see Bridge Mountain and the East Temple from the patio behind the Museum. Then take the Pa’rus trail and enjoy sunset views of The Watchman on your way back to camp. Dinner at camp and early to bed, tomorrow is an epic day!
Day 3 – Epic Hikes in Zion National Park
*I did in fact do the hike to Scout Lookout (most of the way to Angel’s Landing) in the morning and the Narrows in the afternoon – but this is a long day and not for everyone (and I didn’t actually go all the way to Angel’s Landing that day – although I did hike up beyond Scout Lookout on the West Rim trail). If you have more time it’s certainly more relaxed to spread them out. If you have to pick one or the other, permitting and weather conditions may make the decision for you. Otherwise, which would you rather – hike upriver in a canyon, or along a narrow precipice above the canyon?
6am – The shuttle schedule varies with sunrise times, but be sure to get to the visitor center stop 45-60 minutes before the first shuttle leaves if you want to catch it. (The shuttles do come frequently – I would guess everyone who was there by the time the shuttles were scheduled to start, got on a shuttle within 30 minutes or so.) Angel’s Landing requires timed-entry permits, so be sure to understand the permitting system and get a permit for the morning entrance time if you can.
The round-trip hike to Angel’s Landing and back is 5.4 miles and is estimated to take about 4 hours. I actually did the section to Scout Lookout twice (on two days) and felt that while the section from Scout Lookout to Angel’s Landing is more dramatic and the time to hike it depends on crowds, the beginning of the hike from the trailhead to Scout Lookout is more strenuous. There are lots of great photos, videos and detailed hike descriptions to give you a sense of what the permitted section beyond Scout Lookout is like; I will say that for me personally, it wasn’t as scary as I expected – although I don’t generally have a fear of heights. And the whole experience, not just the views but the hike itself, was even more incredible than I imagined! I felt really lucky to have snagged a next-day permit after trying the lottery 4 days in a row.
12pm – Eat some lunch! There is a restaurant at the Zion Lodge but there are no options to purchase food to go within the park, so if you want to have a quick pit-stop, pack a lunch and find a scenic spot to enjoy it. Then hop back on the shuttle from The Grotto stop where the Angel’s Landing trail starts and ends, and take it down the canyon to the Temple of Sinawava where the Narrows trail begins.
Like Angel’s Landing, the Narrows “trail” is definitely worth researching in advance. And note that while it does not require permits (as of January 2023), it will be quite crowded at least at the start of the river. Be careful to time yourself hiking up the river, and allow ample time to return to the shuttle stop before the last bus leaves. Many people consider Big Spring, 5 miles up the river (making for a 10-mile round trip) to be a turnaround point – I’m pretty sure I made it that far (based on GPS map tracking) and didn’t find it to be a particularly climactic destination. Personally if I were to do it again, I would just hike for as long as I found the canyon and experience of hiking through the river to be enjoyable (keeping in mind that you have to go back as far as you came), rather than aiming for a specific turnaround point.
7pm – What a day! Celebrate with a beer and a burger at the Zion Canyon Brew Pub.
And there you have it, an action-packed weekend trip to Zion National Park. Google probably wants me to make sure you know that you can find other sample weekend 48-hour trip itineraries here, and other national park guides here. Hopefully my tips for camping in Zion National Park, using the free shuttle system, and epic hikes in Zion National Park are helpful for planning your trip. Happy walking!
