Dirt In My Shoes

Trip Itineraries and Hiking Guides for America's National Parks

Zion National Park Trip Report

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Zion National Park

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Podcast Episode Overview

We just spent three days in Zion National Park in the middle of summer, on purpose, in 105-degree heat. Why did we do that, you ask? Because we don’t want you to have to go through all the guesswork that comes with planning a trip to Zion National Park in the summer.

In this episode, we cover:

  • Why we deliberately visited Zion National Park in the summer, and what we’d tell you before you do the same
  • Why understanding the Zion Canyon Shuttle and the Springdale shuttle together will save you from many days of frustration
  • What gear actually works in the Narrows
  • The new vehicle restrictions through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, and what changed for regular drivers
  • The bighorn sheep herd, deer, and turkeys we spotted once we slowed down and got quiet
  • How we weighed location versus price for lodging, and what the South Campground looks like without its shade trees

Your task for today: Have you hiked the Narrows or driven through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel? Tell us about it over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page!

Planning your own Zion National Park adventure?

Zion National Park Trip Report

Zion National Park is small, and in the summer, that smallness turns into one of the biggest planning challenges in the entire National Park System. We spent three days there this July, right in the middle of that challenge, with the added heat to the mix. 

Was it chaotic? Absolutely. But was it worth it? 100%! 

We went specifically so we could double-check every detail in our Zion planning resources and see what’s changed. Now, let’s share what we noticed, and how you can plan your next (or first!) trip to Zion National Park.

Zion National Park

1. Crowds and Parking Haven’t Gotten Any Easier

We know most people visit Zion in the summer, which is why we generally steer people toward late October instead. It’s a great time to visit because Utah’s fall break crowds clear out and it’s before the weather turns. 

Still, we wanted to see the park at its busiest and hottest, so we went anyway.

Driving into Springdale, we noticed what we already knew to be true: Springdale is the busiest gateway entrance to the park, and you should expect to find parking gone, lines at the entrance, and a wait for the first morning shuttle no matter when you show up in the summer months.

2. The Zion Shuttle Is Still the Best in the National Park System

We say this every time, and this trip only confirmed it again: understanding the shuttle system is the single most important part of planning a Zion trip. 

For most of the year, private vehicles aren’t allowed on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive at all. You either park in the park (if you can), park in Springdale and ride the Springdale shuttle to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, or walk or bike in yourself.

Needless to say, with a crowd like the one we saw in Springdale, the shuttle is the way to go. 

Traffic Entering Zion National Park

This trip, though, we noticed something we’d never caught before. Zion runs extra shuttles that aren’t part of the regular rotation, and they get dispatched the moment a stop gets too crowded for the scheduled buses. Outside of the very first morning pickup, we never waited more than five minutes for a shuttle the entire trip.

3. The Narrows Needs the Right Gear to Hike

We hiked the Narrows all the way up to Wall Street with our kids this time, about six miles round trip from the Temple of Sinawava. The Riverside Walk is a flat, paved trail that gets you to the start, and from there you’re in the river the entire way.

The Narrows at Zion National Park

We rented gear from Zion Guru, and we cannot say this enough: don’t do this hike in sandals or regular shoes. The riverbed is covered in loose, rounded rocks, and without proper canyoneering boots and neoprene socks, you’ll crush your toes before you get very far. 

Regular trekking poles aren’t much better, either. We watched someone’s pole snap in half fighting the current. The wooden hiking staffs the outfitters rent out are much thicker and can actually take your body weight.

INSIDER TIP:
One more thing worth knowing before you go: don’t drink the water, and try to keep it out of your mouth. The Virgin River can carry harmful cyanobacteria, along with runoff from upstream farmland, so treat every drop like it’s off-limits.

4. The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel Rules Just Changed

If you’ve driven through Zion before, you might remember waiting while oversized vehicles were escorted through the historic tunnel using both lanes. 

That’s no longer an option. As of June 2026, oversized vehicles are no longer permitted anywhere on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance, not just in the tunnel itself.

For those of us in regular vehicles, it’s actually made the drive better. We drove straight through without waiting at all, and the east side of the park past the tunnel, including Checkerboard Mesa, was noticeably quieter than the Zion Canyon side. If you’re planning to bring an RV or a larger rig, though, plan your route around the park instead.

5. We Saw More Wildlife Than We Expected

We weren’t expecting much wildlife in 105-degree heat, but this trip surprised us. 

On the quiet east side of the park, we spotted a herd of 15 to 20 bighorn sheep resting in the shade right off the road, plus turkeys and deer near the Zion Human History Museum, one of our favorite spots to catch wildlife around golden hour.

Bighorn sheep at Zion National Park

INSIDER TIP:
The east side of the park past the tunnel almost always has bighorn sheep somewhere along the road, but they’re not usually standing in the open. Slow down and actually look for them in the shaded areas near the rock formations. Most drivers cruise right past without noticing.

6. With Food and Lodging, You’ll Have to Choose Between Location and Price

This trip, we stayed in Springdale at Cable Mountain Lodge, right next to the pedestrian entrance into the park, so we could walk in without needing our car at all. It’s an incredibly convenient location, but you’re paying for that convenience.

If you’re staying in the park itself, Zion Lodge is still the only option, and the South and Watchman campgrounds are both right by the visitor center. 

We did notice that South Campground recently lost a significant number of its trees as part of a park rehabilitation project, so the campsites there are far more exposed to the heat than they used to be.

Campgrounds in Zion National Park

Staying further out in Virgin, Hurricane, or La Verkin will save you money, but it comes with a trade-off: you’ll need to start much earlier in the morning to beat both the entrance lines and the crowds.

Whichever way you go, that’s the real decision to make before visiting Zion National Park in the summer: are you sacrificing time, or money?

Our Conclusion? You Should Absolutely Still Visit Zion National Park!

The crowds, the heat, the lodging…none of what we noticed on this trip should scare you away from visiting Zion National Park in the summer. It just means you need a plan! 

Know how the shuttle works before you get there. Rent the right gear for the Narrows. Understand the new tunnel rules if you’re bringing a bigger vehicle. And decide up front whether you’re prioritizing location or price with your lodging, because trying to have both is where most people’s trips fall apart. 

Need a little extra help planning your trip to Zion National Park? Our itinerary will give you 1-3 days full of the best lodging and dining options, the best activities, and even a “secret” hike to make your experience even more memorable!

We came home happily exhausted, with sunburns and sore feet and a six-year-old who’s still talking about the bighorn sheep, and that’s exactly what a good trip to Zion should feel like.

Links Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

While You’re in the Area:

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