Zion is one of the greatest national parks on earth and we know we’re not the only ones who think that. But if you haven’t visited before there are quite a few things that you might not know could go wrong. The last thing you want to do is find yourself at the back of a soul destroying two hour long queue because you turned up at the wrong time!
There’s plenty more mistakes you can easily make, so we’re here to outline all the common errors so that you have the best possible trip to this incredible place.
Mistakes to avoid in Zion National Park
Avoiding Zion in the winter
Visiting Zion in winter was one of the best travel decisions we have ever made. Given we left our home in 2012 and haven’t moved back since, that’s quite a big claim.
I’d read a lot of doom and gloom in travel forums about how all the trails will be closed and it’s just not worth it, but our trip coincided with winter and I had always wanted to visit Zion so we went anyway.
We chanced it and it was amazing!
Seeing those deep red canyon walls speckled with snow was a sight we will never forget. Add to that the lack of crowds and cheaper prices and we couldn’t believe our luck.
Some of the very short walking trails which would have been good but not spectacular normally were transformed into a scene so magical it felt like walking through a very unique Christmas card. We’d visit in winter again in a heartbeat!
Just don’t forget your Yaktrax if it’s a heavy snow year! At between $15 - 30, it’s a worthwhile investment - you can find them on REI or Amazon.
Missing Observation Point because the trail is closed
If you didn’t know already, the main trail from Weeping Rock in Zion Canyon to Observation Point is closed due to rockfall (with no re-open date in sight). We met many people on our visit who had no idea that there is actually another way to get to Observation Point.
Using the East Mesa Trail we were able to visit this spectacular view point at sunset, and have it all to ourselves for the most part!
Now the trail itself is nothing compared to the main track but the viewpoint is the best in the park in our opinion and can be reached in just over three miles using the East Mesa route. You can read our full guide on what to expect here.
Not hiring boots for the Narrows
We get it - the boots are super expensive if you’re on a budget, and we were a bit reluctant to shell out $25 to use a pair of boots for a few hours, but they really are a game changer.
The Narrows conditions vary from month to month, and year to year, meaning you never quite know what you will get - apart from one thing which is always the same. The rocks you are hiking on in the river are slippery.
If the flow is low and current not so strong you will fare better, but there’s no doubt that in any conditions the hike is most easily tackled with the special boots.
As you walk on the rocks you can feel your boots are sticking to them and - whilst I wouldn’t say I never thought I’d slip - I definitely felt pretty secure most of the time, and that greatly enhanced my enjoyment of the track. You don’t really want to skimp on one of the best hikes in the whole of Utah.
The neoprene socks they give you with the boots also help keep your feet warmer (note “warmer” and not warm!) too, which is a huge deal if you are going to walk most of the trail, which can take between 6-9 hours!
If you’re hiking in the cooler months you might also want boots for nearby Kanarra Falls, both gear hire companies offer a second day’s rental at half price.
Thinking the water in the Narrows is ever warm
So we’ve already eluded to this, but basically the water is freezing all year round.
It will obviously be a bit better in summer, but it’s still really, really cold. Given that the water can come up to your neck in places it’s definitely something to consider when you’re planning your Narrows trip.
Feeling the freezing cold water in the Narrows
In any season other than summer the air temperature is also likely to be cold which meant we’d rarely felt so icy in our entire lives!
We’d definitely recommend taking on this trail in summer if you can, for the most enjoyable experience because at least the air will be warm! If you can’t though, still do the hike, despite the fact we froze for 8 hours straight it was still amazing and a must do when visiting Zion.
You can read our full guide to the Narrows hike here.
Hiking to Angels Landing in the middle of the day
Angels Landing has a reputation for being one of the most dangerous trails in the US. Having hiked it ourselves, we’d say that your major danger on the trail is congestion.
The track is often very narrow with 1000ft drops on either side, if you have to pass people along the way this makes for a potentially risky situation.
Angels Landing without the crowds
It’s even more of an issue in the middle of the day when crowds are at their largest, and those who are not afraid of heights try to skip round people who are nervous and are moving slowly. Whilst on any trail with exposure you could have an accident and slip, on Angels Landing the risk is greater simply because of its popularity.
I watched way too many Youtube videos and - I’m not ashamed to say - I was pretty scared about trying this hike, but after failing an attempt in winter (spoiler alert it was a baaaaad idea) I knew I wanted to try one more time.
My first thought was to get the very first shuttle, but after researching online and talking to a few people, I realised this is what lots of people think.
So instead, we used this hack to beat the crowds. And it worked!
Believing all the best views are on the hard trails
If you’re a non-hiker and you think that Zion is not worth visiting because all the photos you’ve seen are always from the hard tracks, then think again. It’s hard to believe the kind of views you can get on one of the easier Zion hikes.
You can feel the canyon walls towering over you on the flat Par’us or Riverside trail, take in a waterfall flowing into the emerald pool on the Lower Emerald Pool track or take in one of our favourite views in the park on the short Canyon Overlook trail.
Whichever hike you take on in Zion you won’t be disappointed.
The view from the end of the Par’us trail
Thinking you can drive to, and park at the trailheads
Although there is a short window when you can drive to the trailheads (yet another perk of visiting in winter!), for the majority of the year using the shuttle service is mandatory.
If you are caught driving through the Zion Canyon you will be fined (the only exception is driving to and from Zion Lodge if you have a permit).
This makes our usual favourite trick of starting hikes really early or late to beat the crowds a bit of a no-no in Zion, which is a real shame.
The only hack to get around the shuttle service is to hire a bicycle from Springdale and cycle to the trailheads instead. If you’re pretty fit this would be a great way to avoid hiking the trails at the same time as everybody else.
Giving yourself just one day
With just one day, you will only get a small taste of what this magnificent park has to offer.
For most people taking on the iconic Narrows hike is a day in itself. If you also want to brave the Angels Landing trail and drive out to the alternative Observation Point trail, watch a sunset from the famous Canyon Junction and take on some of the beautiful shorter tracks, then you’ll need at least two days. The more the better!
If you can only spare one day you’ll have to prioritise, for that we have you covered in our guide on Zion’s hikes ranked best to worst. We know that often time is limited so even though we recommend spending more time we’ve put together the perfect one day itinerary to help you make the most of your time.
Packing suggestions for Zion
Having the right gear can make a huge difference, whether it’s hiking during the hot summers, or the potential snow in the winter. Here’s what we pack and have relied upon for years:
Day Pack: Osprey Talon 22 (we’ve owned this for years). Check on Amazon, REI or direct with Osprey
Hiking Boots: Merrell Moab (for men and women). We’ve both used these for over three years and they just keep going. Check them out on REI or Amazon
Gloves for Angels Landing: Something that makes it a lot easier to grip those chains- Check on REI or Amazon
Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic. Check then out on REI or Amazon
For winter
Where to stay in Zion
Cable Mountain Lodge
When it comes to staying in Zion, the majority of accommodation is concentrated in the nearby village of Springdale. We stayed at Cable Mountain Lodge and absolutely loved it.
The lodge is literally steps away from the entrance to the park and the Visitor Centre, meaning you won’t lose any time driving to and from the park!
The rooms here are beautiful, comfortable and have stunning views of the Watchman and Zion Canyon.
Many rooms also come with kitchenettes which allows you to self cater which was a massive bonus for us. It was the perfect place to relax after a long day covering many of the best Zion National Park hikes.
There’s a pool and hot tub with great views. The pool wasn’t open on our visit as it is outdoors but we definitely made use of the outdoor hot tub - even when it was snowing!
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Are you planning a trip to Zion? What are your top tips for visiting? Let us know in the comments below!
