USA Zion Canyon

The 6.3 mile (10 km) drive through Zion Canyon is one of the highlights of a visit to Zion National Park. The road parallels the Virgin River and the red rock of the 2000 foot high canyon walls are beautiful. It’s very common to see mule deer and wild turkey along the route. A keen eye can spot rock climbers perched high on the canyon walls. If you’re lucky, you might also spot huge California condors with wingspans ranging from 2.49 to 3 m (8.2 to 9.8 ft) soaring high in the canyon. For most of the year, you must ride on the free park shuttle to explore the canyon. With the exception of a few weeks in January and February, private vehicles are only allowed to drive as far as the Zion Park Lodge (about 2.7 miles/4.3 km) only if you have booked lodging there. On the shuttle, there is a recorded narration describing the history of the park and various features in the canyon. Prior to Covid, the shuttle stopped at 8 or 9 locations between the visitor center and the last stop at the Temple of Sinawava. As of Sept/2021, several stops have been eliminated. Hopefully, this is temporary.

If you’re interested in photographing the abundant wildlife and/or rock climbers, you’ll want to carry a telephoto lens. Otherwise, a wide angle lens. I like to carry both a 14-24mm and a 24-70mm.

It’s best to arrive at the Zion National Park Visitor Center as early as possible to ensure a parking spot. The parking lot is huge but still frequently is full by 9 AM. There is a souvenir shop, restrooms, and water filling stations at the visitor center. Board the shuttle at the visitor center. You can get on and off the shuttle at any scheduled stop as often as you like.