The Subway · Zion National Park
Overview
Zion National Park is southwestern Utah's headline canyon — a 15-mile cleft of Navajo sandstone where the Virgin River cuts 2,000 feet below the rim and the cliffs glow rust, cream, and lavender across the day. The main canyon is small, walkable in a single morning, and stays with you for the same reason: every trail puts the wall right above your head.
Current conditions
Active alerts and closures for Zion, updated daily.
Headline Hikes
4.8 mi 1,745 ft gain 3–5 hr
The chain-clutch ridge walk to a 1,488-ft fin above Zion Canyon. Permit required since 2022 — apply via the seasonal or day-before lottery on Recreation.gov. Budget extra time for the technical sections and avoid when wet or icy.
3.8 mi 1,141 ft gain 2.5–3 hr
Same trailhead and switchbacks as Angels Landing but stops at Scout Lookout — no chains, no permit, and the same canyon overlook the chain section leads to. The smart play if the Angels Landing lottery didn't go your way.
9.3 mi 872 ft gain 5–8 hr
Wade straight up the Virgin River where the canyon pinches to 20 feet wide. The bottom-up day hike from Temple of Sinawava needs no permit — turn around at Big Springs. Rent neoprene socks and a walking stick in Springdale.
16.8 mi 2,076 ft gain 8–10 hr
The full through-hike from Chamberlain's Ranch. Permit required — caps at 80 hikers per day. Arrange a shuttle from Springdale. Can be done as an overnight with reserved campsites. The deepest water and tallest walls are in the final 4.5 miles.
6.4 mi 1,581 ft gain 3.5–4 hr
A taste of the Narrows without the full commitment. Starts on the paved Riverside Walk, then continues into the river to Floating Rock. The water gets knee- to waist-deep — proper shoes are non-negotiable.
7.0 mi 705 ft gain 2.5–3 hr
The big view down onto Angels Landing — taller, quieter, and now best approached from East Mesa Trailhead (4WD required) while the original Weeping Rock route remains closed. Sunrise is the move.
Trail descriptions are field-tested summaries; verify current conditions and closures with NPS before hiking.
Permits & Reservations
Recreation.gov runs every permit lottery and reservation listed here. Apply in their window — there is no in-person walk-up alternative for the chain section of Angels Landing, the top-down Narrows, or the Subway.
Lottery
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Lottery
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Lottery
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Lottery
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Reservation
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Lottery
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Lottery
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Reservation
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Lottery
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Reservation
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Reservation
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Reservation
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Reservation
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Permit listings sourced from the Recreation Information Database (RIDB). Recreation.gov is the only authorized issuer — verify dates and fees there before applying.
Where to Stay
The top picks across the gateway — in-park, in-town, and basecamp. Each card carries who it suits, why, and a direct booking link; the full lodging list sits below.
In-park lodge
Inside Zion Canyon (shuttle stop #5)
Season Year-round; books out 9–13 months ahead in spring and fall. Off-season (December–February) is the only realistic walk-up window.
The only in-park lodging — mid-canyon at shuttle stop #5, across from the Emerald Pools trailhead. Cabins and lodge rooms. Book directly through the concessioner; the lodge is the one place inside the park where a private vehicle can park during shuttle season.
Top pick for accessibility-priority
Concessioner direct booking — operator Xanterra (per NPS Zion 'Lodging' page).
Hotel / inn
Springdale, UT (south entrance)
Season Spring and fall book 3–6 months out. Summer fills 1–2 months ahead. Winter is open with steep discounts.
The primary gateway, immediately outside the south entrance. The town shuttle ties into the canyon shuttle, so you can leave the car parked all week. Boutique inns, mid-range chains, and a handful of higher-end properties along Zion Park Boulevard.
Top pick for families
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Hotel / inn
Rockville, UT (3 mi west of Springdale)
Season Smaller inventory; book early in shoulder season. Often the fallback when Springdale is sold out.
Three miles west of Springdale on UT-9. Quieter, slower, and several B&Bs along the Virgin River — a good pick if Springdale is booked, noisy, or priced past your line.
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In-park lodges book direct through the concessioner; gateway-town stays surface through partner search.
Where to Base
Most visitors base in one of these towns and ride the shuttle in. Springdale puts you at the south entrance; Hurricane and Kanab trade distance for more rooms and lower rates.
Basecamp
Hurricane area — budget I-15 chain basecamp 17 miles west of Zion. Aggregates lodging across Hurricane plus St. George. Compare lodging tiers, prices, and entrance proximity for Zion.
Population ~115,378
Basecamp
Kanab — three-park east-entrance basecamp 25 miles southeast of Zion. Compare lodging tiers, prices, and entrance proximity for Zion.
Population ~4,683
Gateway Town
Springdale — in-town walkable basecamp right at Zion's south entrance. Compare lodging tiers, prices, and entrance proximity for Zion.
Population ~514
Camping
Three campgrounds sit inside the park. All take reservations through Recreation.gov — book the moment your window opens in spring and fall.
In-park · Frontcountry
Inside the park. Reservation-only — book ahead on Recreation.gov.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
Inside the park. Reservation-only — book ahead on Recreation.gov.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
Inside the park. Reservation-only — book ahead on Recreation.gov.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
Campground listings sourced from the Recreation Information Database (RIDB). Recreation.gov is the only authorized booking site — confirm fees, dates, and site counts there before reserving.
Getting There
Most visitors fly into Las Vegas and drive 2h 45m up I-15. The east entrance is the smart play if you're routing in from Bryce or Page.
Las Vegas, NV 2h 45m
via I-15 N + UT-9 E
Most common approach. Add 30 minutes in peak season for the Springdale shuttle queue.
Salt Lake City, UT 4h 15m
via I-15 S + UT-17 + UT-9
Longer but flat and freeway-fast.
Bryce Canyon, UT 1h 45m
via UT-12 + US-89 + UT-9
The classic Mighty 5 east-entrance route — clears the Mt. Carmel tunnel.
Page, AZ 2h 15m
via US-89 + UT-9 (east entrance)
Skips Springdale traffic entirely if you base on the east side.
South Entrance (Springdale)
The main entrance, fronting the canyon shuttle hub. Expect lines from 8am to 11am in spring and fall; arrive before 7am or after 3pm.
Best for Zion Canyon, Angels Landing, Narrows bottom-up
East Entrance (Mt. Carmel)
Drives in via the historic Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway and the 1.1-mile tunnel. Oversize vehicles (>11'4" tall or >7'10" wide) need a one-way tunnel escort and a permit.
Best for Canyon Overlook, scenic drive-throughs, Bryce-to-Zion route
Kolob Canyons Entrance
Separate north-end entrance off I-15 exit 40 — 40 minutes from the main canyon. A different geological face of Zion, almost always uncrowded.
Best for Day hikes (Taylor Creek, Timber Creek), avoiding shuttle lines
Required during peak season
Private vehicles cannot drive into Zion Canyon from roughly March through late November. The free park shuttle runs from the visitor center to nine canyon stops; expect a 30–45 minute wait at the southern end during peak season. Off-season (typically December–February), private vehicles are allowed back in.
Season Mar – late Nov (verify current year)
Shuttle dates shift year to year. Confirm the current operating window on the NPS Zion alerts page before your trip — early-March and late-November dates are the most volatile.
Sightseeing
From roadside pullouts to the chained summit of Angels Landing — the canyon's best views, sorted by how hard they are to reach and when the light is best.
Summit
Narrow fin summit reached by chained switchbacks with sheer drops over Zion Canyon; lottery permit required.
Best at midday
Roadside Pullout
Shuttle stop with a sweeping view of the Great White Throne and Angels Landing from the canyon floor.
Best at sunset
Overlook
Railing perch over lower Zion Canyon and Pine Creek, a 1-mile round-trip hike east of the Mt. Carmel tunnel.
Best at sunset
Overlook
Short paved climb to a vista of the three sandstone peaks named for biblical patriarchs.
Best at sunrise
Overlook
High rim viewpoint looking down on Angels Landing and the canyon, reached via the East Mesa Trail or East Rim.
Best at midday
Trailside
Riverside Walk leads to the mouth of the slot canyon where the Virgin River squeezes between towering walls.
Best at midday
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Spring & fall. Summer is hot and crowded; the canyon shuttle runs spring through late fall.
Plan Your Trip
Sweet spot
April – early May, late September – October
Cottonwoods leaf out or turn yellow, daytime highs 70–80°F, river temperatures still cool but tolerable for the Narrows.
Shoulder
November – early March
Quietest. Private vehicles often allowed into the canyon. Snow possible on rim trails; Angels Landing chains can ice.
Avoid (if you can)
Mid-June – August
Canyon temps push 100°F+, the Narrows closes during flash-flood watches, shuttle lines run an hour at the south entrance.
Angels Landing permit
Required since April 2022 for the chain section above Scout Lookout. Seasonal lottery runs a quarter ahead; a day-before lottery picks up cancellations. Apply via Recreation.gov.
Application window Seasonal lottery + day-before lottery
Narrows top-down permit
Only the through-hike from Chamberlain's Ranch needs a permit; the bottom-up day hike from Temple of Sinawava does not. Permit caps the through-hike to 80 hikers per day.
Application window Calendar lottery 3 months out
The Subway permit
Both top-down (technical canyoneering) and bottom-up (route-finding scramble) require permits. The Subway lottery is the most competitive in the park.
Application window Monthly lottery 3 months ahead
Recreation.gov is the only authorized lottery + permit issuer. Anyone selling Angels Landing or Narrows permits outside Recreation.gov is a scam — there is no in-person walk-up alternative for either.
What to Pack
The short list for a Zion day on the trails — what earns its place in the pack, and where to get it.
Packs
Whether you're bagging peaks or on a bikepacking adventure, the men's Osprey Talon 22 pack is the ideal solution for toting all the gear you need while keeping you comfortable for the long haul.
Why it matters Carries water, snacks, and layers for a full day on trail with a comfortable hipbelt.
Footwear
Take on urban landscapes in the Merrell Moab 3 Lux shoes. These hiking shoes use full-grain leather for a traditional look that doesn't lack support.
Why it matters Grippy, broken-in-comfortable boots with a wide toe box for mixed park terrain.
Footwear
Keep confidence underfoot. With excellent grip and the same reassuring comfort as the original, the men's Salomon Speedcross 6 trail-running shoes offer a powerful connection to the trails.
Why it matters Lighter than boots for fast, dry-trail days; many hikers prefer them.
Safety
Balancing comfort and reliability, the 3-piece-adjustable Black Diamond Trail trekking poles have updated EVA foam grips and plush straps for added security and improved handling on the trail.
Why it matters Save your knees on descents and steady you across stream crossings like the Narrows.
Water
With high-flow hydration and an on/off lever at the bite valve that makes it easy to prevent leaks, there's a lot to like about like the CamelBak Crux Crux 2-liter reservoir.
Why it matters Drink hands-free on the move so you actually stay hydrated in the heat.
Water
Stay refreshed and hydrated wherever you wander with a 32 fl. oz. Hydro Flask Wide-Mouth insulated water bottle equipped with a leakproof Flex Straw cap and 24-hour insulation.
Why it matters Keeps water cold all day; the most-used item in any park daypack.
Prices and stock change often — confirm the current price with the retailer before buying.
Save on Entry
The America the Beautiful annual pass pays for itself in two or three park visits. Free entry, free passenger fees, and no more fumbling for a credit card at the kiosk.
Ships from US Park Pass. Free shipping in the continental US.