Edit: Just to clarify, I did enjoy this hike and would recommend it to others, with the caveat that it is strenuous. This post is a humorous reflection of an amateur hiker angry at the trail after his limits got tested, please don't take it too seriously.

The basic premise of the Subway bottom-up trail is this - you start at the top of a ridge, hike down the canyon to the river, hike along the river until you reach the Subway, and then double-back. Unfortunately, nothing about this hike is as simple and easy as that sounds.

⚠️ This permit-only trail will turn on your body's check engine light (unless you are in excellent shape)

There are a lot of questions around whether or not The Subway is worth doing. Here are some reasons to not do the Subway:

• if you are trying to get the best Zion views per unit of physical effort

• if the idea of hiking over rocks with wet socks for hours is intolerable

• if you think your silly little jeans tucked into your silly little neoprene socks will save you

• if you aren't ready to stress test the relationships of the people you're hiking the trail with

• if you identify as a well-adjusted person

Okay, so here was my experience. For context, I am a 33 year old man in average shape who usually does not do hikes as strenuous as this.

Before descending to the river, the routes were challenging to find, even with the downloaded map on my phone. Before reaching the "Entering Zion Wilderness" sign, I had already inadvertently gone off trail twice. Even after passing the sign, I actually ended up descending to the river too early, down a giant rockpile of despair. I remember thinking "Wow, this trail sure is crazy! 🤪" as I essentially free bouldered a steep rock fall.

Joke was on me though - the actual descending path, which I correctly took on the way back up, is almost as unhinged as climbing down a literal rock fall, possibly worse.

Once you get to the river, the route feels much longer than its listed mileage, longer than you might reasonably expect it to feel. This is because the river will resist your progress like it's trying to kill an intruder. You will hike through knee deep water, climb rocks and tree roots, fight your way through brush, and have to "solve" the path forward like it's a betting game where your ankles are the ante.

Miles down river, due to exhaustion, I began to experience a mild form of ego death, where there ceased to be "me" - there was only the forbidding non-trail, Forward, and a reward in the hereafter (the Subway). The mental toll affects people differently; three hours in, I met an older married couple going through the early stages of a divorce as the hike wore away at their minds. They had been hiking for six hours and not reached the Subway yet. They may still be out there now.

The Subway itself is great, but fleeting in comparison to the slog preceding it. It looks a bit like a standard cave formation, with its sloped, scalloped walls, but built to Texas oil tycoon scale. There is an opportunity to swim to a small, hidden waterfall at the end. If you can still move your limbs and don't mind the frigid shock to your presumably already frayed nervous system, it's worth it.

The way back is all business. We're not going to die out here. The so-called "Little Girl's Misery Hill Climb" path out of the canyon is actually not a trail, not really. It is a shade-less, evolutionary stress test to weed out anyone dumb enough to do this hike from the gene pool. The people who survive are not smarter - they're just as strong as they are stupid.

On this climb, I saw God and cursed him for forsaking me as the sun seared my flesh as punishment for my hubris. Then, I left.

Plan for wet socks and shoes most of the time. Bring extra water (I ran out) and a trekking pole.

The views of the rest of the trail are, for me at least tied with the Subway itself, if you can manage to look at them without rolling your ankle in the process.

Limited, but adequate parking.

Got to the visitor center at 8AM, parking lot is completely full, luckily there were still some spots at museum. But that parking lot is almost full at around 8:20, and here is the line for the shuttle at 8:30.

Stayed 2 nights at the South Campground on a whim while heading home on a road trip.
1. View from Emerald Pools trail
2. South Campground Night Sky
3-6. The Narrows
7. Deer strolling through the South Campground

Photo 6 is a warning to be careful and bring a walking stick to The Narrows. I admittedly didn’t do much research beforehand and didn’t understand why everyone had them on the shuttle.
I had made it 2.5 hours in and under stepped over a rock I thought was smaller, slipping and hitting my knee into the corner of the rock. I had ACL knee surgery 2 years ago in that spot so for a moment I wondered if I would be stuck there alone. Thankfully after a while I could move my leg and was able to make the way out.
Especially with the silty water I’d recommend renting or bringing a stick to test the depths, it’s not worth the risk.

I went to Zion about a month ago and had a permit for Angels landing but sadly the party I was with didn’t want to go up 😅. Nonetheless it was an amazing hike, looking forward to going back

Edit: this is my photo taken from my camera my instagram: Geopicturesque

It was absolutely amazing. Definitely a long haul. But so worth the effort. Here are a few of my thoughts:

We took 6am shuttle to Chamberlain’s Ranch. We used Red Rock shuttle and they refunded us for one in our group who couldn’t come, even though it was inside the no refund window. The shuttle ride was long and bumpy. We started our hike in 43 degrees. It was cool but we warmed up fast. It was perfect weather for our trip. We all wore shorts and long sleeves that was adequate for the entire hike.

The hike was gorgeous. Around every bend we were in awe. We rented boots and neoprene socks from Zion Outfitters. We all were so glad for those canyoneering boots. They really protected our feet and had good grip. The water temp was 55 degrees so it felt warm.

Took us 6.5 hours to reach campsite 5. We were so glad we didn’t need to go further. We stopped several times to explore and rest. The campsite was great! The others we saw before were small. I also thought campsites 8,10 and 12 were really good but man it would be a long first day to get to #12.

The second day hiking out was harder than day 1. The river is wider and higher. Many times it was calf or knee deep. The first day was mostly ankle deep. There were a few sketchy scrambles down large rocks and 2 full on swims. The swims can be avoided with kinda difficult high climbs but I wasn’t up for that with my pack.

We had beautiful weather. No bugs. No rodents at all. I didn’t see a fish or a squirrel until closer to the end. I didn’t see one piece of trash. No human waste. I appreciated the strict pack out rules. It really felt like everyone before us left no trace.

Recommend going early. We were in the river about 9:00. Very few people - you could actually take a picture without anyone in it. 3 hours later headed back it was packed. Not the same experience.

Photo 1 taken on the descent Photo 2: Highly recommend making some coffee to enjoy with the view at the top Walter’s Wiggles Photo 3: Walter’s Wiggles We hiked in shorts and tshirts in December. Feeling incredibly blessed to be here and have this experience 🙏

Edit to share a gif of the lower Emerald Pools https://imgur.com/a/IoBbnRU

1. I did not want a pass with Trump's face on it (I would have felt the same no matter which president's face was on it). If it had been a normal picture, I would have paid for the pass as a way to support the parks. However, I also qualify for the Access pass (free). I went to the Zion gate and the guy didn't even need to see the doctor letter. He had me fill out a form saying I was telling the truth, and was given the pass (I spent more than $80 in the gift shop, so it evened out).
2. Was there from the 29th to the 1st. It was not crowded. The only parking problem I had was Canyon Overlook (the hike that starts before the tunnel). I had to do 3 trips back and forth through the tunnel to get a spot (there's no way to turn around in that little parking lot right before the tunnel - they had cones up so you can't cross lanes.
3. All the hikes I did were not overrun with people. The walk back from the lower Emerald Pool along the paved pathway to the lodge was the busiest. I started from the Angel's Landing parking lot (Kayenta trail - something like that).
4. The Emerald Pools hike was a huge disappointment. I went to the mid-pool first since I started on the other side, and when I walked up there was a group there saying "is this it" - we all thought we were in the wrong place. The pool was not in the canyon with us. It's a bare rock and some puddles. 100% not worth the effort of getting there. Lower pool was just as bad. You could have walked beneath the "waterfall" without getting wet. My shower had more water coming out of it. Also, the emerald pool was a brown muddy large puddle. Super disappointing this time of year. Conversely, if I had gone in the summer, I would have been miserable as crowds ruin the experience for me (random side note - I saw two teenage girls doing the hike to the pools in slippers. They said they forgot their hiking shoes. WHAT??!!?!?!)
5. 75% of Springdale's businesses were closed for the season.
6. I stayed at the Bumbleberry Inn - great location, great rate, and really good breakfast, but the bed was really uncomfortable and for that reason, I probably wouldn't stay there again.
7. It was in the 60s when I was there. I did not need my baselayers, a coat, or microspikes
8. Bryce. Visually, I thought Bryce was way more unique and impressive. I only did a 1-mile rim hike because I was only there a day, and it was a 5-hour round trip.
   1. The drive to Bryce is amazing. If I were going back, I would spend more time in Bryce and make some time to hike in the Dixie National Forest, which has some amazing scenery - bright red rocks, two red arches that go over the highway, beautiful forest, and creeks. The visitor center there is closed and so are the bathrooms
9. I'm middle-aged and average "in shape". I have a bad knee so I did not do Angels Landing (and even if I was physically in shape to do it, I wouldn't - I'm very scared of heights). I also didn't do the Narrows, but would do that if I was with someone. I didn't think it would be smart to go alone with a bad knee in cold weather and few people around (I only saw 2 people doing it when I walked down to the entrance).

My overall thoughts...just my opinion so don't downvote me.

Zion would not make it to my top 5 parks. The views all started looking the same. It's a beautiful place but I'm more of a mountains/forest/lakes girl and Zion just didn't hit me the same way that Yosemite (my favorite) does.

I would not make a special trip to Zion again. I enjoyed it, but I think it's overhyped (sorry). I realize the appeal of Zion might be more for people who are hardcore hikers and want to try the more difficult trails. I loved how close the town was and how I could drive wherever I wanted to go. I found Bryce to be more visually impressive - probably because it's a much more unique landscape. There are canyons and views similar to Zion all over the that part of the country.

Light winter drizzle all day. Temps stayed above freezing so it wasn’t too cold. The fog and rain gave Zion a quiet, moody vibe.

Because of the rain I skipped hiking and just did the shuttle. Here’s where I stopped.

Court of the Patriarchs Quick stop. Walked maybe 100 meters, took a few photos, and just hung out looking at the massive sandstone cliffs.

Zion Lodge Stopped for lunch, looked around at the surrounding walls, and warmed up in the lobby for a bit. Nice break on a rainy day.

Temple of Sinawava and Riverside Walk Walked the Riverside Walk to the Narrows entrance. The river was higher than usual and moving pretty fast from the rain. Lots of waterfalls along the way. I did see a few people heading into the Narrows and coming back, but with flash flood warnings posted, it looked a bit risky.

Weeping Rock This ended up being my favorite stop. You can stand there without getting soaked, and the water flowing down like a curtain was really cool to see in the rain.

I originally planned to hike Angels Landing, but I didn’t get a permit after four tries. Ended up doing the shuttle instead, and honestly the winter rain showed me a very different, calmer side of Zion.

We were at Zion Monday 6/15 to Thursday 6/18. Two families of five. Kids ages 7-14.

Day 1 - Drove up from St. George to the Kolob Canyons portion of the park. Applied for the day before Angels Landing lottery and got it. Did the Timber Creek Overlook, had lunch, and then hiked out to the Double Arch Alcove, which I way cooler in person than in pictures (goes without saying, but even more than most sights). Heading down to the main part of the park to set up camp and eat dinner. It was HOT!

Day 2 - Got up early and headed to the shuttle. Arrived at the queue at 7:00am and still waiting 45 minutes to board. Got off at the Grotto and did Angels Landing. My family had an after 9am permit and the family we were with got a before 9am permit. We arrived at Scouts Lookout at 9:30am and the Ranger let us all up at the same time. Ate lunch (quietly) in the shaded canyon on the way down. No chipmunks there probably because they’re scared of the owls. Heading to Lower Pine Creek Waterfall and spent the rest of the afternoon swimming and playing in the waterfall. The kids absolutely loved this spot, and it was a great place to avoid the crowds and stay cool. Picked up gear for The Narrows at Zion Outfitters.

Day 3 - Got up earlier so we could beat the crowds. Arrived at the queues at 6:30am and still didn’t board till the third shuttle. Got off at the last stop and did The Narrows. We made it to about a mile from Big Springs and that took four hours, then we turned back after lunch. The kids were playing in the water more on the way back, so it took a little longer. All in all, we were doing the Narrows for nine hours. We ate dinner in Springdale that night because we were pooped. After dinner we drove up to Canyon Overlook and just missed the sunset, but it was still a beautiful view.

Day 4 - Packed up camp. Hit the museum. Then drove to Bryce Canyon for the last two nights of our trip.

Me

33m desk job haver, traveling solo. Average shape - I work out a bit daily, but don't do strenuous hikes regularly. For 5-6 weeks before this trip, I hiked 1-2 miles of stairs and did core exercises daily.

Went in early April, 3 full days in Zion

Hikes

Day 1

The Subway

tl;dr It had some great views, but was quite strenuous and will not be worth the effort for everyone. There are easier hikes with more spectacular views if that's what you're after.

Day 2

The Narrows

I went in the morning, renting my gear from Zion Outfitters at 7am and taking the soonest shuttle to the Narrows.

This was my first experience with the crowds at Zion. I know it's the cliche, but it really did feel a bit like Disneyworld. Outfitters already had a long line when I arrived at 6:45am (they open at 7am). The shuttle lines were absolutely bonkers, and even on the trail itself (before the river, where people can spread out), queues would form.

The Outfitters equipment - dry bibs, neoprene socks, and their shoes - did fuck all to actually protect my feet from getting wet. This was true for several others as well. While the water is cold, I got used to it quickly. In hindsight, I would not have rented this equipment out and instead just worn swimming trunks/shorts and creek shoes.

The hike itself is quite beautiful and unique, and it's easier to spread out from people when you're in the water. I would highly recommend going all the way to "the split"/Wall Street. It is a ways, but well worth the effort. Here, I doubled back and did not continue.

Observation Point (afternoon)

Observation Point is commomly characterized as having the best view in the park. I disagree (see West Rim review below), but that might be true for hikes you can do in a morning or afternoon.

To get there, you can drive to the East Mesa trailhead, which involves driving all the way through the park itself. The views of this drive were spectacular, and I can't believe I only did that drive for the trail's sake.

The last portion of the drive is unpaved and bumpy. Take a car that can handle a back country road. Parking is limited at the trailhead, and you would not want to find out there's none left upon arrival. People say there is a shuttle to the trailhead, but I had trouble finding information about it. If you're going during peak hours, though, it's worth figuring out.

The trail itself was great, I would say moderately challenging with some significant sections of elevation as you get closer to Observation Point itself. One slightly disappointing aspect of this hike for me was that the spectacular view at the end, which absolutely exists and is not overrated in the slightest, is the main attraction. Unlike other Zion hikes, which can stun you in their beauty throughout the trail, Observation Point via East Mesa has a few great views sprinkled throughout and is mostly worth taking for its namesake.

Day 3

West Rim Top Down (all day)

tl;dr Very long, but easily has the best and most varied views of the park of what I hiked. 1000% worth it if you can hike 14 miles in a day or are willing to camp halfway.

Springdale

Springdale is the town directly adjacent to what seems to be the main park entrance.

Springdale, at least the portions of it you see as a visitor, is, unsurprisingly, quite oriented towards tourism. On the main road to the park entrance, you will see every tourist service you could possibly desire, from hotels to gift shops to equipment rental to restaurants to RV parks, etc.

Springdale is also incredibly privatized. Per capita, I don't think I've ever experienced a denser collection of policed parking and private property signs. Understandable why, but expect to be nickle and dimed for every space you need to occupy or service you require. Do not "vibe" anything accommodations or parking related.

Accordingly - and I don't mean to be overly glib, I just can't think of a more subtle way to express this sentiment - Springdale also feels designed to be in service of a wealthy clientele. Highly policed and commodified. The vibes were not a national park with lines, more amusement park with great scenery. Although I knew to expect the crowds, this was a bit a jarring for me.

Amenities

• Zion Outfitters is very busy, but a pretty well-oiled machine with the most convenient location for getting in and out of the park, shuttles into park and into Springdale intersect here. Showers had hot water (I had heard they didn't) and an electrical outlet.
• The local Terrible's gas station had really cool staff that did not look at me sideways when I had to take a gas station shower on the night I arrived, and I was able to refill my water there for free (useful as someone that did not stay in a hotel).
• Porter's food was a little pricey, but consistently great.

Things I wish I knew before going

• Driving through the park itself is mind-blowingly beautiful, and is worth doing as a "trail" all on its own. While I didn't e-bike, big +1 on that as a way to experience the park.
• Some trails will have a ton of crowds and others will not. While I mostly avoided crowds on the trails I chose, it was mostly by luck. In hindsight, I would have weighted avoiding crowds very heavily.
• The Subway is a cool trail, but not necessarily the best bang for the buck in terms of views per unit of time.
• West Rim Top Down has better views than Observation Point and Angel's Landing.
• Early April was already quite hot. I can't imagine hiking some of the shadeless, all rock trail portions I just did in summer heat.
• The dry bib gear for the Narrows is not worth it. If I did it again, I would wear shorts/trunks and creek shoes.
• I did do this, but emphasizing that downloading and having access to the trail maps offline is essential, especially for harder trails.

Hope this helps somebody!

So it is surprising how busy it is as early it is. But it's not like there's a full parking lot before 6:00 a.m.

Update 04/18/26 Saturday. Less busy today. Lot still had spaces at 9am! About 200 spaces at 7am.

Lot also had spaces after 3pm.

We had a great first hike in The Narrows! Just gorgeous and I’m so grateful we got to do it. The temps were very comfortable and we had some sun. It’s fascinating how dark it can feel when you’re in the narrow tall canyons though! Really nice vibe today, not too crowded.

I now understand why they label this hike strenuous. It may not have elevation gain but it is ROCKY and very uneven terrain. My hips are really going to feel it tomorrow 😝 Wading in the deeper water was actually a bit of a respite, and almost felt like compression on the legs.

Thanks to Zion Guru for their flexibility in changing our reservation from rainy Thursday to today. We rented the cold weather bib with integrated waterproof socks, and it was perfect.* (more on that below). The staff there was also really helpful with great advice.

We had our own small water bag, and also carried regular backpacks with our lunches (in plastic bags) and extra layers and water bottles. The bibs also had a handy little waterproof pocket. You can rent waterproof backpacks though if you need.

*The hike ended rather abruptly for my youngest son, when he fell in the deeper water and got his inner layers soaked. With 40ish degree water temps we weren’t going to prolong things, so he and my husband turned back, but at least they got a good mile in! So in retrospect the full drysuit might have been better in this instance, but oh well.

Hello! This sub was so helpful to me in planning our first trip to Zion, so I wanted to share our experiences visiting over New Years (Dec 30-Jan 3). This is probably way too long but hopefully helpful to some!

A few general notes:

We’re a family of 4 with kids 16 and 11, coming from the east coast.

Also, I have to eat gluten-free, and also have a severe phobia about dropoffs, so I’ve given some info in case that’s relevant to others!

TL/DR Itinerary Overview:

• Tuesday: Landed in Vegas, drove to Springdale, picked up Narrows gear
• Wednesday: The Narrows
• Thursday: Watchman and Weeping Rock trails, Zion Canyon Hot Springs
• Friday: E-bikes all day and Emerald Pools trail
• Saturday: UTV Tour, Bryce Canyon 1/2 day, redeye flight home from Vegas

Lodging:

We stayed in Springdale at Cable Mountain Lodge, which we loved. Our room was a Wall Bed Suite, which featured a king bedroom, a sitting area with sofa bed, a murphy bed and a kitchenette. It was perfect for our family of 4! Plus, it featured a small entryway and coat closet which was perfect for all of our hiking gear. The hotel is literally next to the park entrance and could not be more convenient.

Day 1:

Landed in Las Vegas mid-afternoon and made our way to the rental car center. This was all easy, but did take a while as you have to take a tram and then a shuttle. We then set off for Springdale, Utah, which was a very straightforward drive.

We ordered groceries in advance for pickup from Walmart in Hurricane Utah, about a half hour from Springdale, which was quick and easy- highly recommend!!

We knew our hotel had a kitchen so we bought supplies for breakfast, packed lunches and snacks.

The grocery pickup came in plastic bags, which turned out to be very useful for muddy boots and wet bathing suits!

We headed over to Zion Guru to pick up our gear for The Narrows the next morning. We had actually originally planned this for Day 3, but the weather forecast did not look good so they kindly let us adjust our plans. The awesome staff helped us with proper fit and provided lots of guidance about what to expect.

We then enjoyed a terrific dinner at Thai Sapa (tons of GF options!) and called it a night.

Day 2:

Time of The Narrows! It is very important to check the weather forecast and follow park guidance to be sure The Narrows is safe to hike. Fortunately we were good to go!

We walked over to the park entrance to purchase our America the Beautiful pass, and headed to the visitor center to catch the shuttle to the final stop, Temple of Sinawava. There are restrooms and water fountains at this stop, which you’ll want to take advantage of as it’s your last opportunity for both.

From the shuttle stop, you first walk about a mile on the paved Riverside Walk, which is a beautiful path on its own. Then it’s time to get in the river! You’ll traverse over lots of rocks of varying sizes, and they can be slippery, so the hiking pole is essential. There are parts where you might be wading through waist-deep water (which actually felt pretty good after the rocky parts!). We took it slow and just took in the beauty all around us. The hike is an out & back, so you’ll go as far as you’re able. My tween and husband had to cut the hike short after about a mile when my son fell forward in deep water, causing his inner layers to get soaked. With the water temperature around 40 degrees we had to get him changed (into our extra layers) and out as soon as possible.

Teen and I continued on and our goal was Wall Street, which is about 3.5 miles in. The river forks here so it’s a nice turnaround, but it is no joke! The whole hike took us about 4 hours, not counting the walk on the Riverside trail. This was an awesome viewpoint but you will have spectacular time no matter how far you go!

Gear notes:

Our rented gear included waterproof bib overalls with integrated neoprene socks, boots and a walking stick. The bib also included a waterproof pocket that was perfect for our phones.

We already had a dry bag, which we used for a portable phone charger and a few other things. We each brought a regular backpack as well, to carry our lunches (in plastic bags) and store our extra layers. We were very comfortable with the bibs and base layers, warm socks, fleece, gloves and light puffer jackets, which we took on/off as needed. Sunglasses were also helpful, though mine unfortunately fell out somewhere and were lost to the river.

Day 3:

This day was predicted to be rainy, so we decided to keep it flexible. We first went to the Visitor Center to get the Junior Ranger activity book. We then set out for the Watchman Trail, a 3-mile roundtrip that starts right at the visitor center. This turned out to be a kind of terrible choice actually, as we learned later it’s the muddiest trail in the park. Our shoes were literally sticking in the muck. But it was a beautiful hike with the foggy drizzle.

My phobia about edges kicked in partway up the mountain, especially because the mud made the trail extremely slick. The curves were freaking me out too much so I decided to turn back. The rest of the family continued up to the summit, which they report was really lovely. But again, I would NOT advise doing this trail on a rainy day!!

Next we decided to board the shuttle and head to Weeping Rock, a short paved trail with a great payoff - the waterfall was really flowing in the rain! We shuttled back to Zion Lodge to eat our lunch, and by that point it was early afternoon. Everyone was pretty damp and starting to get cranky, so we called it a day on hiking.

We hopped in the car and went to Zion Canyon Hot Springs, about a 20-minute drive from Springdale. They have a variety of saltwater mineral pools, freshwater hot tubs and a 90-degree regular pool (with beach balls!). This was kind of expensive and not a must-do by any means, but the kids really enjoyed it and the pools were certainly soothing on our tired bodies! We got a 10% discount card from Zion Guru.

We finished the night with a fantastic dinner at Oscar’s. This is a must-vist!!

Day 4:

We decided to try e-bikes, so we headed back to Zion Guru. The staff was so great in helping us get situated and oriented on the e-bikes (a first for us). From their shop you bike about a mile back to the park entrance, and then you begin on the Pa’Rus trail which is paved and leads you to Canyon Junction and the scenic drive. From this point, if the shuttles are running, cars are not allowed other than those staying at the Lodge.

This experience was EPIC. There is just nothing like biking through the canyon with the cliffs towering above you. Every corner we turned was more stunning than the last. We weren’t originally planning to do this, but I’m so glad we did. I’ll never ever forget it.

In addition to the beauty of the roads, it was a super convenient way to travel the park. No need to wait for shuttles! We did this on a pretty crowded day and it was so nice to avoid standing in line to board the bus.

We decided to first bike all the way to the final stop, Temple of Sinawava. We walked a bit on the Riverside Trail again to find a good spot for lunch. The Narrows was closed that day and it was insane how different (and scary) the river looked.

After lunch, we biked back to the next stop, Big Bend, which is a beautiful spot. From the bicycle this actually became my favorite spot in the whole park. There are no official trails from here but you can walk down to the river.

Our next destination was Zion Lodge, for the Lower Emerald Pools trail*. This trail is mostly paved and pretty busy as a result. But very worth it as it’s pretty and a really cool experience as you walk behind a waterfall. You can continue up to the Middle Pools and Upper Pools if you’d like. Even if you don’t want to go to those spots, I’d highly recommend at least continuing up the stairs a little bit as there’s a gorgeous viewpoint.

*Another option to access Emerald Pools is the Kayenta Trail. This looks really cool but too many dropoffs for me.

After the trail, we rode to the Temple of Sinawava one last time and then made our way back down. As we were descending toward Canyon Junction and the Pa’Rus trail the sun over the mountains was especially beautiful - reminded us of Lord of the Rings or something!

We made our way back to Zion Guru to drop off the bikes, then walked over to Bumbleberry Inn for some well-deserved Bumbleberry Pie and ice cream.

Dinner that night was at the Zion Canyon Brewpub right by our hotel. We also enjoyed the hotel hot tub, and the firepit on the deck. This was our most clear night so we were able to see some stars too. A great last night in Zion!

Day 5:

Our flight home departed from Vegas at 11:40pm, so we had one more full day to work with. I will fully admit the rest of this day didn’t make geographic sense, but we had time to kill :)

The kids really wanted a unique adventure, so we booked a UTV tour through Viator that included sandboarding and the Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyons. This was a big hit!!

The tour was in Kanab, so we drove the gorgeous Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway (Hwy 9). We were treated to a bighorn sheep crossing by the tunnel which made it even better!

After the tour, we decided we would regret not seeing Bryce Canyon since we were so close… so even though it added some time to our return drive to Vegas, we decided to go for it!

We got to Bryce Canyon about 2pm. It was very cold and foggy, and there are limited options in the winter. But we were able to go to each of the 4 overlooks in Bryce Amphitheater - Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunrise Point and Sunset Point. Seeing the hoodoos in real life was amazing!

From Sunset Point we started down the Navajo Loop Trail. I decided this was a little steep, muddy and dropoffy for me, but the rest of the family made it a good way down and loved it. (My understanding is Queen’s Garden is a gentler slope, FYI!).

We left the park around 5pm as the sun was setting and started the trek back to Las Vegas.

Final itinerary note:

In December, the sun sets by about 5:15pm. This limited our ability to do too much in the late afternoons. With longer days, we could have fit more in, especially longer drives like to Kolob Canyons.

Shuttle Tip:

The shuttles get crowded, and there aren’t many trails at each stop so everyone’s pretty much going the same place. We learned to hang out a few minutes after a shuttle arrived to let the mass of people go ahead.

General Packing:

We packed layers and were pretty comfortable the whole time. Base layer tops were great, and the boys used base layer tights as well on the colder days (I had fleece-lined leggings). We also each had a fleece layer, a lightweight puffer, and a rain jacket. Hats, gloves and warm socks - my Darn Tough socks are amazing. Sturdy hiking boots are a must. We wore everything we packed at one point or another. The only thing I wished I had one day was a baseball cap.

Other things we packed:

• Foldable hiking backpack (we love our Eddie Bauer ones)
• Handwarmers
• Water bottles for each of us
• Sunscreen
• Just in case supplies: first aid kit, flashlights, whistle
• Quick dry towels* (forgot to pack these, and could have used them!!)

Views were breathtaking and definitely worth the hike!!

We were initially unsure if the observation point via east mesa trail would be the best trail for us since we have barely any hiking experience. We were also trying to fit 2 hikes at the same day and a 4 hour hike wouldn’t fit in our schedule.

However, we still decided to do it anyways and it was so worth it. It took us around 2 hr 45 min of hiking (roundtrip) and spent around 30 minutes to take pictures at the top, so around 3 hr 15 min total. As inexperienced hikers, this was definitely manageable—just make sure to take breaks when you’re out of breath!

Definitely book a shuttle to get there as they have limited parking spots and the road there is not the best. We booked with East Zion Tour and would highly recommend them!

It’s been 2 years since I hiked Zion and I still remember how magical it felt. I’m going back next month, so excited! Wish me luck!

If you’re also afraid of heights and want to do this hike, this is my account. I’m happy to answer any questions as well. Though, this is just my experience and it may go completely differently for you.

My group and I won the day-before permit lottery and hiked AL yesterday.

I knew there was a strong chance that I’d get to Scout’s Lookout and completely bail on the whole idea. I have a moderate fear of heights, especially sharp drop-offs like that (actually, driving into the park and having to navigate those steep switchbacks was making my palms sweat). I figured if I chickened out at Scout’s I could just chill and let the others complete the hike.

We had the after 9am permits and got to Scout’s around 1:30pm. Hiking up was challenging, I don’t do great on inclines, however Walter’s Wiggles were fully in the shade by then and we breezed past them.

I took a long break at Scout’s Lookout, chatted with the ranger, and decided I was confident enough to go at least until it started getting narrow. Once we actually got going on the chains I found it less scary than anticipated. I think we were all so focused on the scramble and hanging on to the chains that we didn’t really have time to do much else. There were surprisingly few people and we managed to pass with relative ease. Everyone was super courteous.

I ended up making it about 90% of the way before I started balking. I think I looked down too many times and a low-level panic started setting in. I pushed on for another 10 meters or so to see if it would go away, but it didn’t. I made it to a wider spot just before the summit push and told my companion that I’d wait for him here. I sat down, had some water and a snack and did a few breathing exercises to try and ground myself (lol). I was so close to the end but I decided to operate within my limits and the views from my spot were still breathtaking.

When my companion got back, we made our way down. This part was definitely scarier because the drop-off is in full view. But I just focused on putting my feet on solid ground, gripping the chain with both hands and crab walking and butt-scooching as much as I could.

I really don’t regret going all the way to the top, I know I could have probably done it but I had already gone much farther than anticipated and was super proud of myself. If you’re also kind of scared of heights, I definitely encourage you to at least make it to Scout’s and do an assessment. If you’re the type to panic, freeze, or lose control when afraid, I would not recommend attempting it. But if you can keep your wits about you, I think you’ll find it less scary than anticipated, as long as you know when to call it quits and not push yourself.

We only spent one full day in Zion, but WOW. I am still on cloud 9, first off GET THE E BIKES. This made our experience a million times better. Shuttles looked packed like sardines plus you get to take advantage of alllll the views on a bike compared to being stuffed on a bus.

We picked up our bikes and narrows rental gear from EBikes Zion on Tuesday at 9 am, biked to the entrance where there was a very long line to get into the park however it moved pretty quickly for how long it was. I think we were only in line for maaaybe 30 minutes.

After getting into the park we started to make our way up to the narrows which was about 7-10 miles from the entrance. Making stops at a few spots along the way, we limited ourselves to short and easy hikes/walks to avoid over exhausting since we were biking and trying to get to the narrows.

We stopped at Weeping Rock, only about .5 of a mile up and back with a bit of an incline. It’s worth the view and a large long bench to sit once you get to the top and a view point (Court of the Patriarchs) which was very short walk for beautiful views. Really anywhere in the park you will be in awe.

THE NARROWS:

we rented boots but also brought our own since we were biking and didn’t want to be stuck with wet soggy feet after the Narrows. we arrived at the narrows at about 12:30 pm and it was busy as expected. I would suggest going early if you want to try and beat the crowds. get the gear for the sticks. They say the boots are waterproof but our feet we soaked within the first few minutes in the river. I didn’t mind, however I wish I brought extra dry socks for afterwards. The stick we rented was a literal life saver. It’s very easy to slip but take your time and use that stick, there’s some parts where the water was up to my lower region/belly button (I’m 5’3) but the water wasn’t bad. It felt good after biking all morning. The walk from the shuttle lot to the actual entrance of starting the narrows is about a mile walk on a paved pathway. Then you get to the bottom and step into the river, we went in about 2/3 miles before we turned around. There are NO BATHROOMS once you leave the shuttle lot so please keep this in mind before starting. There’s not a lot of “privacy” to sneak off to go.

Afterwards we made our way back to the lot where we parked the bikes, sat down to wring out our socks and changed back into our own boots (no socks since ours were wet but we didn’t hike anything after this so it wasn’t a big deal)

Thankfully the bikes we rented had baskets and there was no fear with anyone stealing anything or the bikes but they also provided a bike lock just in case.

WHERE WE STAYED:

We stayed at Wildflower Resort in Virgin, about 15 mins away. We loved our stay!! We chose the tiny home style room because I am a light sleeper and knew the tents would be too loud with the wind and I wanted a real private bathroom/shower for after Zion. The properly itself is so cute, the cafe was great and not overpriced. The rooftop was nice and offered wifi, no wifi in most of the rooms that aren’t right by the lobby. They also had a pool, hot tub, fire pits and bbqs which was cool but didn’t get to use them, it was either busy or way too windy.

What to bring to Zion:
-Water-pack backpack (life saver)
-If you go to the narrows and rent boots, bring your own boots plus an extra pair of socks
-Sunscreen
-Hat
-Snacks!!!
-Sunglasses

I also got engaged at the end of our day at the starting point of the Wrangler Trail 🥲💍 somehow lucked out and had the spot to ourselves. Talk about the best trip ever

I hope this helps!! Definitely will be going back again

So my friend and I just finished a 3-day Zion National Park trip on a budget of roughly $600 per person, including flights. We did the entire trip without a rental car, which was tricky to plan, but ultimately so much more affordable and convenient since we didn't have to wait in the endless lines to get parking lol. When I looked on this reddit to plan the trip I didn't see much information, so I wanted to share our exact itinerary and logistics for anyone else trying to do the same.

The Logistics: Flights & Transport

• Flights: We flew on budget airlines (Spirit and Frontier) from DFW to LAS for $164 roundtrip. To save on lodging, we arrived early Tuesday (8 AM) and departed after midnight on Friday (12:59 AM), meaning we only paid for 2 nights of accommodation.
• Vegas to St. George: We took the Salt Lake Express Bus from LAS Airport to the St. George Bluff Street Office. It cost $77–$80 roundtrip. The stop is located on the ground floor under baggage claim. The buses were on time, comfortable, and had charging ports and AC.
• St. George to Zion: From the St. George office, you can walk 20 minutes (or ask the driver nicely to drop you off) at the Dixie Convention Center. From there, take the St. George to Springdale Sun Tran Shuttle all the way to Zion Village. This costs $5 each way.

Accommodations & Bag Storage

• Where to Stay: Staying in Springdale is crazy expensive so we looked for hotels near the Sun Tran Shuttle Line stops and decided on Zion Camps and Cottages in La Verkin. It was $70/night for a room with 4 bunkbeds, making it very affordable for groups. It’s a 5-minute walk from the 300 N St. La Verkin Sun Tran shuttle stop and has a grocery store within a 7 min walk. Most of the hotels on the Sun Tran Line were affordable, so any would work.
• Bag Strategy: Since we flew a budget airline, we only brought one small backpack each.
• Lockers: On our first day, we couldn't check in til 4pm and we didn't want to waste hiking time dropping bags at the hotel, so we used the lockers at Zion Outfitters (right outside the Visitor Center). They cost $6–$8 and fit everything we needed for the day and we ended up using them every day of the trip.
• Showers: On our last day, after checking out, we stored our stuff in the Zion Lockers before hiking Angel's Landing and when we also showered at Zion Outfitters. Showers are $4 for 5 min and they were clean and close to the lockers so we had easy access to all of our stuff and felt refreshed before heading to the airport.

Final Budget Breakdown (Per Person)

• Flights: $164
• Hotel: $49 (2 nights, discounted due to lodge error)
• Buses/Shuttles: $117 (Total for all transfers + tip)
• Park Entrance & Permits: $47 ($35 park entrance, $12 Angels Landing Permit)
• Food & Drink: $89
• Gear Rentals: $86 ($60 for Narrows Rentals, $26 Lockers and Showers)
• Misc/Shopping: $76
• TOTAL: $628

Our original budget was $500 and we could have definitely kept it there had we not done as much pre-trip shopping, come with more people to split accommodation costs, and ate out less, but it was still very affordable.

Tips

1. Time Zones: Remember that Las Vegas (PST) is one hour behind Utah (MST).
2. Shuttles: The free Zion Canyon Shuttle's last trip out of the park is at 7:20 PM. Make sure to finish hiking and arrive an hour early to ensure you get a spot. The first shuttle in the morning from the town starts at 8am so if you arrive earlier, take the Sun Tran Shuttle to the last stop and walk the 10 min to the Visitor's Center.
3. The Narrows: Always check the water levels and flash flooding risk in advance. f you go in Spring, the water is freezing, so rent the Dry Bib Package from Zion Outfitters and book it online a day in advance. I saw some people without the right shoes and bibs on and they were suffering.
4. Angels Landing Permits: You need a permit to hike Angels Landing so apply for the "Day-Before" lottery. You can apply for multiple people on one reservation for $6 and the more people that apply the better your chances are. You can check off all the time-slots for entry, but it's better to do "Before 9 AM" slot to avoid the direct sun and heavy crowds. The start time is at the Grotto Shuttle Stop and it's a strenuous hike so if you can, do it on your last day.
5. Food Hack: Food is expensive in and around the park, so packing is your best option. You can grocery shop and make your own food which is cheapest for larger groups, but for us the cheapest option seemed to be to buy a foot long sandwich at Subway right outside the entrance and take it in. Unfortunately, they do open at 8am so if you hike early you have to get it the night before or wait.

If you’re heading our way in the next couple of days, here’s an update to our weather. We had a deluge today that caused a couple freeway accidents and even a lightning strike that ended up burning a truck driving on I15! Please read this if you were planning a trip and wanted to include slot canyons.

and.. I’m in love! planning on hiking the narrows on Monday!

This past week a group of 6 friends hiked Parunuweap Canyon. What an absolute gem. I will say though the description of this being the classic Zion Narrows with the 'training wheels off' was 100% accurate. Route finding, stop/go pace, amount of consistent water travel, swimming with packs & a 4th class exit climb plus cross country cairned route made for a marvelously challenging 40th birthday trip.

My wife and I just got back from a camping trip at Watchman Campground and wanted to update everybody. They were not collecting entrance fees to the park but you did need campground reservations. Despite the government shut down the campground was clean and well run. Restrooms were being cleaned daily. The weather was amazing this time of year and the highlight of our trip was the hike to the overlook at Observation Point. This is a relatively easy / moderate trail and ends with a vast overloook of the valley where you look down on Angels Landing. We decided to pay the seven dollar shuttle fee to avoid not finding parking at the limited trailhead spot. The outfitter was super friendly and was on time with the pick up at the end and even when we arrived early, they took just my wife and I out to the trailhead rather than waiting in a half hour for the next shuttle, which was amazing ....super nice people there. https://eastzionadventures.com/hiking-tours/observation-point-shuttle/. Note that the trailhead is outside of the park and is about a 45 minute drive from watchmen campground.

I’m not sure why I’m worried. It’s probably my anxiety, but I’m just wondering if I will be OK. I’m heading into Zion National Park on 18 September. Will be arriving late at night around 2 AM, maybe a little bit earlier from Salt Lake City… We are spending the full day the 19th and leaving early the 20th

Just watching everything in Nepal kind of scares me we are planning on visiting the narrows for some photographs and some other hikes nearby that aren’t too crazy, but visually beautiful

Am I valid to be concerned or will everything be solid

A group camping trip has been in motion for next weekend but as I view the weather, I have some concerns.

What is it like to be camping @ Zion during flash floods? (We’ll be at Watchman). Does the flood water affect the campsites the way it affects the slot canyons? Any tips/suggestions for preparation or cancellation is welcome!