How to Do Zion as a Day Trip from St. George

Zion is the reason a lot of people discover St. George in the first place, and you do not need to stay in the park to do it right. It is under an hour away. Here is how to have a great day and skip the worst of the crowds.

Leave earlier than you want to

The single best thing you can do is get there early. Aim to be parked in Springdale and on the shuttle by 8 a.m. By mid-morning in spring and fall the town lots fill up and you are circling for parking. Early also means cooler temperatures and softer light down in the canyon.

Learn the shuttle

For most of the year you cannot drive the Zion Canyon scenic road. You park in Springdale, or at the visitor center if you are lucky, and ride the free park shuttle, which runs every few minutes out to all the trailheads. It is simple once you know it is coming; just budget the ride time into your day.

Pick one big hike, not three

• The Narrows. Wading up the river between thousand-foot walls. Unforgettable, and doable for most people as far up as you want to go and back. Rent neoprene socks and a stick in Springdale if the water is cold.
• Angels Landing. The famous chains-and-dropoffs climb. Just know it requires a permit now, a lottery you enter ahead of time, so do not show up expecting to walk on.
• Easier legs. Emerald Pools and the Riverside Walk are flatter, pretty, and kid-friendly if you want the scenery without the suffering.

Pack two liters of water each, real shoes, and a hat, because the sandstone throws light and heat around. Eat lunch in Springdale on the way out and you will be back in St. George by dinner.