The Perfect One Day in Zion National Park Itinerary
If you are looking to explore one of the most beautiful national parks in the United States, Zion National Park is it! Zion National Park has something for everything, including waterfalls, epic hikes, and stunning viewpoints. It was one of my favorite national parks in Utah, so I know you will love it.
Although you could spend a few days exploring everything it has to offer, you can spend one day in Zion National Park and explore the most beautiful areas. We saw most of the must-see attractions in one day when we visited. This guide has everything you need to know to spend one day in Zion National Park!
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Tips for Spending One Day in Zion National Park
Start your day early. Zion National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the US, so it experiences heavy crowds throughout the year. But do not let that stop you from experiencing its beauty! I recommend arriving at the park as early as you can. I found that arriving before 8 AM worked well to find a parking spot in the shuttle lot!
Start or end your day with hiking. If you want to hike some of the iconic trails in Zion National Park, I highly recommend hiking it as soon as you get into the park or later in the afternoon. The popular trails are always crowded and typically see the most hikers midday.
Pack food and water. Because getting a parking spot in the shuttle lot can be difficult, especially midday, you may not want to leave the park to get food. I recommend packing your meals, snacks, and water so you can have a picnic in the park. There are restrooms throughout Zion National Park that have water fountains, so you can fill up your water bottle as you travel through the park.
Give yourself plenty of time for hiking. If you plan on hiking in the park, I highly recommend allocating more time for the hike than you think you’ll need. The summer heat can be a lot, and we ended up needing more time than we expected on some of the trails.
Use the Zion National Park shuttle. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private cars from March through November. There is a shuttle service that will take you to all of the sights on that road! The shuttle lot fills up very quickly, which is why I recommend arriving earlier than 8 AM. I know it’s early, but trust me, it’s worth it.
Use Springdale’s shuttle service if the shuttle lot is full. Springdale is the town right outside of Zion National Park and offers a shuttle service around the area. It can bring you to Zion Canyon Village, which is only a short walk from the park entrance, where you can get on the Zion National Park shuttle.
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
How to Get to Zion National Park
Zion National Park is located in the southwest corner of Utah on the border of Arizona and Nevada. The closest airport to Zion National Park is Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. From the airport, it is pretty much a straight shot following along I-15N for just under three hours to Zion National Park.
The second closest airport is the Salt Lake City International Airport, but it is a five-hour drive to Zion National Park. We flew into SLC because we were visiting all of Utah's national parks, starting in Moab. But we flew out of Las Vegas because it was closer to Zion National Park, which was the last one we visited.
I highly recommend renting a car for the drive to Zion National Park because there is so much to see on the drive from Las Vegas, including Valley of Fire State Park, but there is also a bus that will go between Las Vegas and Zion. Since Springdale has a great shuttle system that connects with Zion National Park’s shuttle, it is possible to not rent a car for your trip to Zion!
Where to Stay During Your One Day Zion National Park
If you plan to spend the night near Zion National Park during your one-day itinerary, Springdale will be the place you want to stay. The cute town has everything you need, including hotels , restaurants, cute shops, and a grocery store.
We stayed in Springdale and loved the town. But it can be expensive. Other towns a bit further out may have less expensive accommodations.
If you have or can rent camping gear or a campervan, I highly recommend it because there are campgrounds close to Zion National Park. If you are interested in renting a campervan, I highly recommend renting from Escape Campervans!
Best Hotels:
Best Campgrounds:
What to Pack for One Day in Zion National Park
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
The Best One Day in Zion National Park Itinerary
It is time to begin your fun-filled day in Zion National Park! If you are not looking to tackle any of the big hikes in the park, there are plenty of beautiful areas that are easy to get to by a short walk or hike. We spent most of our time on shorter trails and beautiful overlooks when we visited.
Hike to Canyon Overlook
It is time to start your day off with an easy and short hike to a beautiful view for sunrise. Canyon Overlook has one of the best views in the park and only requires an easy 1-mile roundtrip hike! Experiencing this view at any point in the day will take your breath away!
The trail begins right before the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel near the east entrance of Zion National Park and only has a small parking lot that is difficult to access when there is traffic going through the tunnel. There are many pull-off areas leading up to the trailhead, so I recommend parking wherever you see an opening.
The trail immediately ascends a short rock staircase before flattening out along the canyon ridge to a beautiful view, overlooking Zion National Park! Canyon Overlook was our favorite short hike in the park because of its incredible views.
After you finish hiking Canyon Overlook, you should head back to the shuttle parking lot to secure a spot and hop on the shuttle!
Explore the Waterfalls at Emerald Pools
Did you know Zion National Park has waterfalls? Emerald Pools is a beautiful 3-mile roundtrip hike that brings you past small but beautiful waterfalls. The trailhead is across from the Zion Lodge and follows an easy and flat trail to the Lower Emerald Pools.
There is a small waterfall cascading off of the rock that you can walk underneath! This was our favorite area on the hike. You can either end the hike here, which many people do, or continue to hike to Middle and Upper Emerald Pools.
The trail to Middle Emerald Pools is steeper and brings you to the top of the cliff you were just under and to beautiful views of the surrounding area. The final section continues to Upper Emerald Pool, which has little to no shade and gets quite hot in the summer months. The Upper Emerald Pool is at the base of large cliffs and is worth every step for the beautiful view!
Once you experience all of the Emerald Pools, you can either hike back the way you came or continue the loop on Kayenta Trail and Grotto Trail back to Zion Lodge.
Enjoy a Walk along the Riverside Walk
The Riverside Walk is a fantastic and easy hike along the Virgin River through an epic canyon. This 2-mile roundtrip trail is an easy way to feel like you are hiking the Narrows without getting your feet wet.
At the end of the Riverside Walk, you will see many people begin their adventure into the Narrows. If you aren’t up for getting your feet wet, you can turn around here and head back the way you came.
Adventure into The Narrows
If you want to get your feet wet and experience one of the most beautiful trails in the park, you can continue into the river at the end of the Riverside Walk! The Narrows is one of the most popular trails in Zion National Park, so you will not be alone when hiking it, especially if you hike it midday.
If you are only looking to get a short experience of the Narrows, I recommend hiking 1-2 miles. Most people only hike a little into the Narrows. No matter how long you choose to hike the Narrows, you will be in awe of the beautiful scenery.
Things to know:
Remember to bring a change of shoes! Your feet will be in the water for the entire hike, so I recommend having a change of shoes.
The Narrows are prone to flash flooding, so I always recommend checking the weather before hiking it.
The river is also prone to cyanobacteria, so you should not submerge your head, swim, or drink the river water.
Walk or Bike the Pa’rus Trail
The Pa’rus Trail is the most accessible trail in Zion National Park and has beautiful views of the Watchman. It has some of my favorite views!
The 3.3-mile roundtrip trail links the Visitor Center to Canyon Junction Bridge, so if you want to hike from the parking lot to Canyon Junction or vice versa, you can easily do that. Or if you are looking for an easy stroll through a beautiful area, you can hike a short section of the Pa’rus Trail! If you decide to hike the trail one way, you can take the shuttle back to either end.
We hiked the Pa’rus Trail at the end of our one day in Zion National Park, and it was the best decision. We hiked it just before sunset and watched it set from Canyon Junction Bridge at the end.
Things to know:
Please obey the do not hike here signs along the trail. There is fragile vegetation that can take years to repair if stepped on.
The Pa'rus Trail is the only trail in Zion National Park that allows pets and bikes.
Watch the sunset at Canyon Junction Bridge
Are you ready to end your incredible one-day itinerary watching the sunset in one of the most picturesque places in Zion National Park? It was our favorite sunset spot in the park because of its incredible views of the Watchman.
Canyon Junction Bridge is the most popular spot to watch the sunset in the park. I recommend arriving here at least an hour before to get a spot on the bridge because it gets very crowded. Photographers will line up on the bridge looking to capture the classic photo of the Watchman. Even if you aren’t into photography, it is beautiful to watch the sunset on Canyon Junction Bridge!
The Best Hikes for One Day in Zion National Park
One of the best ways to experience Zion National Park is to hike. If you want to spend the day hiking in Zion National Park, there are three hikes you will want to do! You can also combine some of these hikes with the above one-day itinerary if you want to include at least one big hike.
The Narrows
The best way to start your day is to hike one of the most unique trails in Zion National Park, the Narrows, for sunrise. The Narrows is among the most popular trails in the park, so hiking it for sunrise will be much more peaceful and less crowded.
The trail begins on the Riverside Walk for one mile until it enters the river. Since you only have one day in the park, I recommend hiking 2-3 miles. Because the Narrows requires you to hike through a river, it takes a lot longer than a traditional trail.
No matter how long you choose to hike the Narrows, you will be in awe of the beautiful scenery, especially during sunrise. There is something special about the golden light shining into the canyon.
Things to know:
Remember to bring a change of shoes! Your feet will be in the water for the entire hike, so I recommend having a change of shoes for your hikes later in the day.
The Narrows are prone to flash flooding, so I always recommend checking the weather before hiking it.
The river is also prone to cyanobacteria, so you should not submerge your head, swim, or drink the river water.
Angels Landing
Because Angels Landing is one of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park, the park is piloting a lottery permit system to decrease the congestion on the trail. You can apply for a permit before your trip during certain windows of days or the day before. Once you get your permit, I recommend planning your one day in Zion National Park around when your hike is scheduled.
Angels Landing is the most iconic and popular hike in Zion National Park, and the trail is almost always crowded even with the new permit system. The 5.5-mile roundtrip hike offers gorgeous views of the park but is not for those who don’t do well with heights. Sections of the trail to Angels Landing have vertical drop-offs on either side, so it is not for the faint of heart.
The hike to Angels Landing begins on the West Rim Trail at the Grotto shuttle stop. The trail follows a paved path that climbs steeply before climbing 21 switchbacks known as Walter's Wiggles. It then arrives at Scout Lookout, which offers stunning views and is the beginning of the climb along the spine of Angels Landing. There are chains along the trail to help you, but it is crucial to be cautious during this section. Once you conquer hiking along the spine, you will officially arrive at Angels Landing and get rewarded with incredible views.
Things to note:
Most of the trail has little to no shade, so you should wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water.
If you do not want to hike the entire trail, you stop and enjoy the views from Scout Lookout.
Observation Point
Now it is time to end your one day in Zion National Park hiking to one of the most beautiful spots in the park. Observation Point is arguably the most beautiful hike in Zion National Park and will leave you speechless with its stunning views. The traditional trail is closed because of a rockfall and is likely not to open for a few years, so the only way to access Observation Point is via East Mesa Trail.
The 7-mile East Mesa Trail requires a 4WD or all-wheel drive vehicle to get to the trailhead. If you do not have one, you can park on the road before it gets rocky and walk to the trailhead. The trail is relatively easy and only gains about 650 feet of elevation. You will end your incredible one day in Zion National Park with some of the best views in the park!
This guide is the perfect place to start if you are planning one day in Zion National Park. If you want to spend more than one day in Zion National Park, you can spread out the must-see sights and plan your hikes for different days.
If you are looking for an epic Utah road trip to all five of its national parks, you can create the ultimate 7-day itinerary. If you have more days to spend in Southern Utah, you can consider spending one day in Bryce Canyon National Park or 3 days in Bryce Canyon and Zion!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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