Zion National Park – Know before you Go

It is different to travel through Zion National Park during the high season than the off season.  That sounds like an obvious statement but the primary difference is that during the off season you are able to drive your own car anywhere in the park where there is a paved road.  During the high season your driving privileges in the park are restricted.  Honestly, it works out great because the shuttle service that runs outside the park also has a circuit within the park.  There are plenty of shuttle stops at key locations and they run so often that you never have to wait long. They offer the shuttle service to help keep the park as pristine as possible but also because there are so many people that traffic would otherwise be unbearable.

When you first enter the park, the visitor center is off to the right.  Both outside and in, they provide a wealth of information about the different trails, wildlife, and weather.  The most repetitious statement is that your safety is your responsibility….and flash flooding is probably the greatest concern.  Even if it is hot and sunny over the park, that doesn’t mean the day before or farther up the canyon there isn’t rain that could quickly create a dangerous situation.  The park rangers are really good at posting written communication and verbally conveying the current weather conditions and chances for flash flooding.  You can also expect to be notified if there have been any large predator sightings recently.

The visitor center is where you can pick up the first shuttle.  The visitor center is also where you will have to go if you want to pick up any back country passes.  Some of the passes are available without much issue but the most popular ones have a lottery system at the beginning of the year and then a limited number at the ranger desk that can only be picked up within 24 hours of the day you want to hike.  We were hoping to hike the Subway and got in line at about 5:45AM the day before we wanted to hike (the window opens at 7AM)….we just missed getting passes.

Water, water, water!  Make sure you have more water with you than you think you’ll need because you will very likely need that much and then some.  I highly recommend investing in a Camelbak if you don’t already have one.  I believe they suggest 1 gallon per person per hour.  It sounds like a ton of water but when the temperature is 105 degrees and you’re exerting physical activity you will go through it quickly.

Along with water, I also would urge you to wear a breathable hat or bandanna and sunglasses.  The nice thing about a bandanna is that you can get it wet to help cool your head faster but then you’ll also want sunglasses to shield your eyes.  While we’re on the subject of clothing, as with any hot and sunny location you want to wear light weight, breathable clothes that will cover a good deal of your body. I also suggest carrying a fleece or windbreaker for the shaded areas and early morning/late night hours.  For footwear, we were directed towards Five Ten amphibious shoes.  They were amazing!  We were walking through the Zion Narrows, stepping on wet rocks and had no trouble finding our footing.

To round out my gear recommendations, carry a first aid kit and some runners energy gels.  I found the SportBeans by Jelly Belly to be my favorite.  They have a great flavor and are least likely to melt in the heat.  They kept me going when I didn’t think I had anything left.

Bottom line….follow the Scouting motto, “always be prepared” and also remember that “your safety is your responsibility.”

Safe travels!