CAMPING
Campgrounds in Zion
Canyon have restrooms,
drinking water, picnic
tables, fire grates, dump
stations, and recycling. All sites are half
price for holders of Interagency Senior
and Access Passes. There are no showers
available within Zion National Park. Pay
showers are available in Springdale and
east of the park. The availability of these
services varies throughout the year.
FIRES
When fire danger is
high, all campfires may
be prohibited. When
permitted, fires are only
allowed in fire grates in the campgrounds.
Bring or buy firewood. Collecting any
type of wood in the park is prohibited.
BICYCLING
Bicycling is permitted on
all park roadways and on
the Pa’rus Trail. All other
park trails, off-trail routes,
and the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel are
closed to bicycles. Bicyclists attempting
to travel though the Zion-Mt. Carmel
Tunnel must obtain a ride through
the tunnel. Hitchhiking is permitted.
Rangers are not allowed to provide, or
arrange for, transport through the tunnel.
Bicyclists must ride single file and stop
to let shuttle buses pass. Do not pass
a moving shuttle bus. Each shuttle bus
has a rack for at least two bicycles.
CLIMBING
The sandstone cliffs of
Zion National Park are
famous for big wall climbs.
Zion is not a place for
inexperienced climbers. Climbing in the
park requires appropriate hardware and
advanced technical skills. There are few
top roping areas and no sport climbs.
Permits are not required for day climbs,
but they are required for all overnight
bivouacs. Climbing information and
route descriptions are available at the
Zion Canyon Wilderness Desk in the
Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
Some areas and routes are closed each
year to climbing from early March
through August to protect nesting
peregrine falcons. Some areas that
are routinely closed to climbing
include The Great White Throne, Cable
Mountain, Court of the Patriarchs, and
Angels Landing. Check at visitor centers
or visit www.nps.gov/zion for current
closure information.
Map and Guide 5
Watchman
Campground
South
Campground
Lava Point
Campground
no water; pit toilets
Group Campsites
organized groups
of 9 to 40 people
Fees
$16 per night
$18 per night for electric hookups
$20 per night for river sites
$16 per night
No fee
$3 per person per night
Sites
181
126
6
6
Campgrounds
Private campgrounds with showers and hookups are available outside the park. South
Campground is closed from December 1 through February 26. Watchman Campground
is first-come, first-served from December 1 through February 26. The number of available
campsites may vary throughout the year.
Reservations
www.recreation.gov
877-444-6777
Up to six months in advance
First-come, first-served
First-come, first-served
www.recreation.gov
877-444-6777
Recreation
HORSEBACK RIDING
Horses traditionally have
been used to explore the
terrain of Zion National
Park. Guided trips are
available starting at the corral near the
Emerald Pools Trailhead. For private
stock use, see the Wilderness Guide
or inquire at visitor centers.
WATERCRAFT
All watercraft use in Zion
National Park requires
a wilderness permit.
Permits are issued only
when the river is flowing in excess of
150 cubic feet per second. Inner tubes
are not permitted at any time on any
watercourse in the park.
HIKING AND
CANYONEERING
Hiking in canyons, even
short hikes, requires
advance planning. Some
hikes involve walking in water. Rivers
and washes are subject to flash flooding.
Know the weather and flash flood
potential forecasts before starting your
trip. Daily forecasts are posted in park
visitor centers. Many canyons require
ropes, hardware, and advanced technical
skills for rappelling and ascending.
BACKPACKING
Permits are required for
all wilderness camping.
There is a fee. Permits
and hiking information
are available at visitor centers. The
maximum group size is 12 people.
Please read the Wilderness Guide for
more information.
WILDERNESS PERMITS
Permits are required for
overnight trips, through-
hikes of The Narrows
and its tributaries, Left
Fork (The Subway), Kolob Creek,
and all canyons requiring the use of
technical equipment. Reservations are
available online for many permits at
www.nps.gov/zion. Permits must be
obtained at the visitor centers before
your trip.
Wilderness permit fees are based on the
size of your group:
• $10 for 1-2 people
• $15 for 3-7 people
• $20 for 8-12 people
The maximum group size is 12 people
of the same affiliation on the same trail
or in the same drainage on the same day.
The limit for some canyons is six people.
THE NARROWS
The Virgin River has
carved a spectacular
gorge in the upper reaches
of Zion Canyon—16 miles
long, up to 2,000-feet deep, and at times
only 20 to 30-feet wide. The Narrows,
with its soaring walls, sandstone grottos,
natural springs, and hanging gardens can
be an unforgettable experience. It is not,
however, a trip to be underestimated.
Hiking The Narrows means hiking in the
Virgin River. At least 60 percent of the
hike is spent wading, walking, and
sometimes swimming in the river. There
is no maintained trail because the route
is the river. The current is swift, the
water may be cold and deep, and the
rocks underfoot are slippery. Flash
flooding and hypothermia are constant
dangers. Good planning, proper
equipment, and sound judgment are
essential for a safe and successful trip.
Your safety is your responsibility.
There are three ways to hike The Narrows,
weather and water conditions permitting.
DAY HIKE FROM THE BOTTOM AND BACK
To experience The Narrows, start at the
Temple of Sinawava and hike one mile to
the end of the Riverside Walk and wade
into the river. In less than a mile, you
will be hiking in one of the narrowest
sections of the canyon. There is not a
formal destination, and you will return
the same way you came. Some hikers try
to reach Orderville Canyon, a tributary
roughly two hours upstream from the
end of the trail. Travel upstream into
Orderville Canyon or beyond Big Spring
is prohibited. No permit is required for
this day hike. Groups size limits apply
beyond the junction with Orderville
Canyon.
DAY HIKE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
This strenuous 16-mile all-day hike
requires a permit and a private shuttle to
the trailhead. Please see the Wilderness
Guide or inquire at the Zion Canyon
Wilderness Desk for more information.
OVERNIGHT HIKE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
This two-day hike requires a permit
and a private shuttle to the trailhead.
Maximum stay is one night. Please see
the Wilderness Guide or inquire at
the Zion Canyon Wilderness Desk
for more information.
THE NARROWS CHECKLIST
• Obtain weather and ash ood
potential forecasts before your trip.
• Wear closed-toe shoes or sturdy boots
with ankle support, not sandals or
water shoes.
• Take a walking stick. Do not cut tree
branches for sticks.
• Children should not hike in the river
due to strong currents and deep pools.
• Carry out all trash, including food
wrappers, apple cores, fruit peels, and
toilet paper.
• Carry one gallon of drinking water
per person per day, food, sunglasses,
sunscreen, and first aid kit.
• Take a eece or windbreaker, The
Narrows is much cooler than other
areas in Zion Canyon.
• Pack your gear in waterproof bags.
• Use the restroom at the Riverside Walk
trailhead before hiking. There are no
toilets in The Narrows.