Zion National Park-2 Day Itinerary
Exploring Utah’s first national park, Zion National Park, should be on everyone’s bucket list. Expansive canyon views and the rushing Virgin River make this park a beautiful place for adventuring. We’re going to tell you how to make the most of your trip in our Zion National Park 2 day itinerary.
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Zion National Park is a place you need to experience. Pictures don’t quite do its majestic canyons and colorful landscapes justice. From the moment we entered the park, we were in awe. During our trip in late March, the weather changed our plans, leaving us with only two days to explore the park. So we’re here to tell you that it is possible to really get a sense of what makes Zion so special in a short amount of time.
How to Get There
If you are flying, there are two options that are relatively close to Zion. St. George Regional Airport is a smaller airport in Utah about an hour away from the park. The list of airlines that use fly in and out of SGU is limited. The other option is Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. It is about 2 and a half hours from the park. We had plans to visit Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada, so we chose Harry Reid International.
Where to Stay
We highly recommend staying at Cave Lakes Canyon Ranch. It was a bit of a drive to and from the park each day, but staying here was an experience of its own. When I think of national parks, I don’t always think of luxury stays, however, staying at Cave Lakes Canyon Ranch was a dream. We did a whole post about our stay which you can read below.
Read More: Our Stay at Cave Lakes Canyon Ranch
If you prefer a stay inside the park, check out the Zion National Park Lodge. The rooms are simple, but you are in the park and the shuttle stops right outside. We stopped here twice during our trip to eat at the Castle Dome Cafe, and the grounds were so pretty.
Zion Canyon Shuttle System
Starting in March, Zion National Park utilizes a shuttle system. During the shuttle season, you are unable to drive your personal vehicle on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The shuttle is free and does not require any permits or reservations. The first shuttle leaves the Zion Canyon Visitor Center at 7 am and the last shuttle out of the canyon leaves the final stop (the Temple of Sinawava) at 7:15 pm. For more information, check out the national park website.
Day 1
Time to explore Zion National Park! After you take a picture by the park sign, head to the Checkerboard Mesa. This Navajo sandstone formation can be viewed from the parking lot and viewing area or by hiking the 8 mile Checkerboard Mesa Canyon Trail. From there, enjoy the views as you make your way to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. Make time to stop at some of the many viewpoints and be prepared to capture the amazing scenery as you exit the Zion-Mt.Carmel Tunnel.
You will board the shuttle here and get off at stop 3-the Zion National Park Lodge. Across from the lodge is the Emerald Pools Trailhead. We recommend hiking to all three pools, the lower, middle, and upper. If you hike all three, it’s a 3 mile roundtrip hike. After your hike, head over to the Castle Dome Cafe for a late lunch or dinner in the park.
Head back to the visitor center via the shuttle and walk or bike the Pa’Rus Trail. This trail is a 3.5 mile paved trail along the Virgin River. This was one of our favorite trails because of how beautiful the views were. We stayed for sunset and the canyon looked so vibrant. We also happened upon a group of mule deer near the river.
Read More: How to Take Better Travel Photos
Day 2
On your second day, park at the visitor center and ride the shuttle all the way to the final stop-stop #9. The ride is about 45 minutes long, but its a chance to see everything along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The Temple of Sinawava is the stop for the Narrows. You can walk the one mile paved River Walk to see the Narrows. As you walk further, you will be hiking into the Virgin River. The hike through the river is often closed during the spring as snow begins to melt which was the case during our visit. If you are able to hike the Narrows, check the weather forecast and risk of flooding before you go. Be prepared and dressed for hiking through deep water.
To close out your time in the park, take the shuttle back to the visitor center then drive to the Canyon Overlook Trailhead. We hiked this trail in the evening, so we could watch the sunset from the top. Parking is limited, so we recommend arriving well before sunset to secure a spot nearby. We’ve seen this trail described as a mini Angel’s Landing, and since we did win the lottery for a permit to hike Angel’s Landing, this was our other option. It’s a short one mile hike that is moderately difficult. The view is incredible for how short the hike is! We spent awhile up here taking it all in.
Outfit details: Lululemon Align Leggings, Lululemon Top, Sorel Hi-Line Hiker Boots
That ends our time in Zion National Park! We hope you enjoy this beautiful place as much as we did.
