Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [457]
All vehicles more than 13 feet, 1 inch tall, and certain other particularly large vehicles, are prohibited from driving anywhere on the park road between the east entrance and Zion Canyon.
Bicycles are prohibited in the Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel, in the backcountry, and on all trails except the Pa'rus Trail.
Backcountry hikers should practice minimum-impact techniques and are prohibited from building fires. A limit on the number of people allowed in various parts of the backcountry may be in force during your visit; prospective backcountry hikers should check with rangers before setting out. You can purchase a backcountry permit at the visitor center the day before or the day of your trip. Permits can also be reserved in advance through the park's website (www.nps.gov/zion) but must be picked up in person at the visitor center. A free booklet, Backcountry Travel, lists all regulations and has descriptions of close to 20 backcountry trails.
SEASONS & CLIMATE
Zion experiences all four seasons, although the winters are mild and rarely bring snow. The best times to visit the park are spring and fall, when the temperatures range from lows in the 40s (single digits Celsius) to pleasant highs in the 80s (upper 20s Celsius). Remember that summer daytime highs often soar above 100°F (38°C), with lows in the 70s (lower 20s Celsius). During the summer, do your hiking in the early morning to avoid both the heat and the frequent afternoon thunderstorms (in July and Aug), which can change a babbling brook into a raging torrent in minutes.
If You Have Only 1 Day
Those with just a day in the park should stop first at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center to see the exhibits and look through the free Zion Map & Guide, which describes the various options for exploring the park. Then hop on the shuttle bus, which hits the major Zion Canyon roadside view points. When you get to the Temple of Sinawava, instead of just taking a quick look and jumping on the next shuttle, hike the easy 2-mile round-trip Riverside Walk, which follows the Virgin River through a narrow canyon past hanging gardens. Then take the shuttle bus back to the lodge (total time: 2–4 hr.), where you might stop at the gift shop and possibly have lunch in the lodge restaurant.
Near the lodge you'll find the trailhead for the Emerald Pools. Especially pleasant on hot days, this easy walk through a forest of oak, maple, fir, and cottonwood trees leads to a waterfall, a hanging garden, and the shimmering lower pool. This walk should take about an hour round-trip. Those with a bit more ambition may want to add another hour and another mile to the loop by taking the moderately strenuous hike on a rocky, steeper trail to the upper pool.
If time and energy remain, head back toward the south park entrance and stop at Watchman Trailhead. Here, a moderately strenuous, 2-mile, 2-hour round-trip hike takes you to a plateau with beautiful views of several rock formations and the town of Springdale. That evening, take in the campground amphitheater program.
Exploring the Park by Car or Shuttle
If you enter the park from the east, along the steep Zion–Mount Carmel Highway, you'll travel 13 miles to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, passing between the White Cliffs and Checkerboard Mesa, a massive sandstone rock formation covered with horizontal and vertical lines that make it look like a huge fishing net. Continuing, you'll pass through a fairyland of fantastically shaped rocks of red, orange, tan, and white, and you'll encounter the Great Arch of Zion, carved high in a stone cliff by the forces of erosion. At the east end of the Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel is the trailhead parking for the Canyon Overlook Trail, a relatively easy 1-mile walk to a great view point. After driving through the tunnel, you'll traverse a number of long switchbacks as you descend to the canyon floor.
A shuttle bus system has been implemented in the main section of the park to reduce traffic congestion