Visiting Zion National Park During Covid-19

To read about our pre-Covid experiences and family friendly hikes in Zion, visit these posts:

Zion National Park: 5 Family Friendly Hikes

The Ultimate Guide to Hiking the Narrows with Kids

Are you planning to visit Zion National Park soon?

There are a few things to know before heading out to the park.

In the era of needing to social distance, people are taking to the great outdoors to safely enjoy a sense of adventure. A trip to a national park is a wonderful way to spend time outside, explore and hike in the midst of a pandemic. Parks have reopened, but operate a bit differently now than before.

The Zion Shuttle System

The Zion shuttle operates seasonally, and most of the park is inaccessible to private vehicles during that time. The shuttle provides access along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive to areas including Emerald Pools, West Rim Trail, the Riverside Walk, and the Narrows. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, you will need a ticket to ride the Zion shuttle in the park. This ticket system will stay in effect until November 29, 2020, and then again from December 24^th-January 2^nd.

Important Information about tickets:

-Tickets are only $1 USD each, non-refundable.

-Tickets are not sold in the park, you must purchase in advance on Recreation.gov

-You must have a ticket for every day you would like to ride the shuttle.

-Tickets are good for only one boarding at the visitor center. Once in the park, you can get on and off as many times as you would like with your ticket.

-Tickets are available in 1-hr blocks starting at 7am until 2pm. Guests can board the shuttle at the Visitor Center any time during the one-hour window that is reserved on their ticket.

-Either print or download your ticket on your phone for easy access to be scanned at the shuttle stop. There is not reception in the park, so saving or taking a photo of the QR code is a good idea.

How do you get shuttle tickets?

Obtaining tickets for the shuttle bus is somewhat tricky due to high demand. With the right planning, you should be able to get shuttle tickets for your trip. There are a few ways to get tickets for the Zion shuttle.

Create an account

First, you will need to create an account on recreation.gov. You must have an account in order to purchase tickets.

Purchase tickets during a booking window

There are two booking windows. The first block of advance tickets are released 2+ weeks in advance. The second block of tickets are released one day in advance. You can visit the Zion NPS website for information on ticket release dates here. 

Tickets are released at 9am MT. It’s important to understand what time zone you are in and make sure you are ready to order right at 9am MT, because tickets sell out quickly!

Didn’t get tickets?

No worries! There are a few ways you can still enter the canyon.

-Walk Up

Guests can arrive at the visitor center from 2-4pm and try to board a shuttle on a first- come, first-served basis. Boarding is not guaranteed and there may be a long line.

-Hop aboard a private shuttle

There are a few companies shuttles that offer service to certain stops in the Canyon (Narrows and Angels Landing/Emerald pools hikes) The cost will range from $20-$50++ pp, round trip. Note, the shuttles aren’t private, but shared rides, and masks are required. Check out companies like Zion Guru and Zion Rock Guides 

-Hike/bike in

Probably not the preferred option, but you can technically hike or bike into the canyon. Keep in mind that the canyon drive is over 8 miles long, so you really have to be committed to wanting to visit!

No tickets, no problem…

Did you not get shuttle tickets? Or maybe you don’t feel like waiting in a long line hoping to get tickets or don’t want to pay out-the-wazoo to go on a private shuttle. No worries, there are plenty of great options to enjoy Zion if you couldn’t get shuttle tickets on a particular day of your trip.

Drive the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway

This part of the park is open to private vehicles and offers beautiful views. The entire distance goes for 40 miles, so you can make a scenic drive go for as long as you desire and then turn around to come back.

Hike Canyon Overlook Trail

Canyon Overlook Trail is located on the Zion-Mt.Carmel Highway just past the tunnel. This family-friendly trail is 1.1 miles long and offers amazing views! Parking for this trail is very limited.

Hike the Watchman Trail

The Watchman Trail is a 3.1 mile loop trail and offers beautiful hiking views. The trailhead begins right at the Zion visitor center, so you will not need to board the shuttle bus to do this hike!

Visit Kolob Canyons

The Kolob Canyon section of Zion is located about 45 minutes to the west of Springdale, exit 40 from on Interstate 15. Kolob Canyons is part of Zion, so they accept the Zion National Park pass permit. Kolob offers a beautiful scenic drive and plenty of hiking options for all skill levels. For a family friendly hike, we recommend the Timber Creek Overlook Trail.

Important Note about the Virgin River

**One other piece of important information if you are planning a trip to Zion this year, is that there is a toxic algae bloom in the Virgin River. It is not recommended to touch the river, much less submerge yourself in it. Therefore, hiking the Narrows is discouraged, but still permitted. The park is especially discouraging children from going in the Virgin River or hiking the Narrows because they have a much higher risk of contact with or ingesting water.

Even with the shuttle ticket system in place, Zion is still a great place to visit! With careful planning and flexibility of schedule, you can enjoy a trip to this amazing national park!

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