Home to massive sandstone cliffs and canyons, high plateaus and rushing rivers, Zion National Park is beautiful beyond belief. This is a place where native tribes and pioneers once roamed and a unique array of plants and animals continue to exist. It’s no surprise that President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill in 1919 establishing it as Utah’s first national park – landscapes this special simply demand to be preserved. And while the park is humongous, spanning 229 square miles of red rock landscapes, it’s possible to tick off some of the main sites in a day or so as part of a Western USA road trip. Read on for our recommendations for how to spend 24 hours in Zion National Park…
Morning
Kick off your 24 hours in Zion National Park with a hike (naturally). Angels Landing is one of our favourite routes, a 4.8-mile roundtrip which is worth slowing down for to give yourself time to take in the epic scenery. The first part of the trail follows the river and is fairly level, with a few switchbacks that begin to climb the canyon wall. The path then follows another series of switchbacks, called Walters Wiggles, which are very tight, allowing you to gain elevation rapidly. It is a tough climb, but short, so the pain is over fairly quickly. The Wiggles put you on top of the ridge at Scout Lookout, where the views are truly jaw dropping. The final half-mile is not for the faint hearted. The trail follows the ridge across a saddle and up the Hogsback; this is where you will feel the butterflies take flight in your stomach and you’ll become very grateful for the bolted-in chains. For those who are comfortable with heights and rough terrain, the vantage point from the top is well worth the adventurous route to get there, with some of the best views in all of Zion National Park.
Lunch
With a morning of hiking under your belt, make your way to the quaint town of Springdale, which lies at the entrance of the park. Brimming with cafes, galleries and specialty shops, it is the perfect place for refuelling before an afternoon of jam-packed activities. Indulge in some homestyle cooking at MeMe’s café or grab some delicious baked goods from Feellove Coffee for the ultimate sweet treat.
Afternoon
Spend the early afternoon escaping from the sun at Sand Hollow Reservoir. With its warm turquoise waters and dramatic red rock surroundings, it’s a wonderfully unique swimming spot. Head out in a boat or paddleboard for a laid-back introduction to the reservoir or rent wakeboards and skis for the ultimate adrenaline hit. If you love rock climbing and have a head for heights, make a beeline for the cliff section of the shoreline or take it easy and spend a few hours swimming, wading, and relaxing on the soft sandy beach.
Late Afternoon
For a spot of culture, we recommend going on the Norwegian museum tour, the best way to learn about the city's fascinating history and cultural heritage. There's the Viking Ship Museum, which houses three remarkably well-preserved Viking ships, and the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, an open-air museum showcasing the country's culture, architecture and handicrafts. If the weather is good, Vigeland Park is another option. Here you'll find the world's largest sculpture park (home to an array of wonderful and wacky statues) and two more museums: the Vigeland Museum and Oslo City Museum. If you’ve got time, don’t miss a visit to the Akershus Fortress, a 13th-century medieval castle and fortress complex which once served as a royal residence.
Early Evening
For the majority of the year, you can only visit the main canyon by taking the shuttle bus. Give your feet a rest as you ride the shuttle into the Canyon - you’ll get to see some pretty epic scenery and learn about the park as you listen to recordings about Zion’s rock formations, the Virgin River, flash floods and wildlife. We recommend setting aside at least one-and-a-half hours for this, but it shouldn’t be much longer than that to ride it all the way into the canyon and back out.
Dinner
To round off your 24 hours in Zion National Park, enjoy dinner in the local hot spot, The Spotted Dog, a casual bistro serving gourmet dinners in art-filled dining rooms or on European-style patios. Dedicated to wholesome homecooked cuisine using fresh local produce and boasting an extensive wine list, it is the perfect dinner spot after a day in the wild.
If you have 48 hours…
24 hours in Zion National Park isn’t enough to cover everything that this beautiful landscape has to offer, so if you’re able to extend your trip for an extra day we recommend the Narrows hike, which takes you through the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. The gorge, with its thousand-foot-tall walls and river that is sometimes just 20 to 30 feet wide, is one of the most popular areas in Zion National Park. You can see the Narrows by hiking along the paved Riverside Walk for one mile from the Temple of Sinawava or, if you want to see more, you can wade upstream along the Virgin River.
