However, we recommend riding through the park and not using the shuttle. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Do you know any spectacular road?Click here to send us all the info, and we'll publish it! The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel (and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway) provides direct access for travel between Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Zion National Parks. If you want to use a personal vehicle on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive at a time of year when the shuttle is not running, check the Zion Canyon Shuttle Schedule. 2023 You can also refill on water here. Im visiting the park tomorrow, August 3, and Tuesday, on my birthday, August 4. you can RIDE YOUR BIKE all over the park which is certainly the best way to see Zion! That may work for you temperature wise, but just think and plan ahead. I was a little muddy from the snow and everyone walking on it. Here in the northwest corner of the park, narrow parallel box canyons are cut into the western edge of the Colorado Plateau, forming majestic peaks and 2,000 foot cliff walls. If Winter is not mentioned, the road may be closed during the winter. What it lacks in challenge (it is 1.1% for 6.2 miles, but we had to include it!) Please enable Javascript in your web browser and reload this page. Today the canyon continues to spark a sense of wonder and disbelief in those who come and stand beneath its 2,000 to 3,000 foot high walls. Short drive along the canyon floor. Built in the 1930s, the 5,613-foot long tunnel is carved out of the solid mountain and was the longest tunnel road in the United States when it was built. When the Zion Canyon Shuttle System is operating, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is only accessible by shuttle. : As of 2019, the entrance fee is $15. However, before reaching Hurricane, take exit 40 for Kolob Canyons Road (T5). You can reach it by turning right onto the unpaved Grafton Road. Two of the tunnel's windows. Both routes climb into forests of pinyon and juniper; ponderosa pine, fir, and quaking aspen are found at Lava Point. Road is in great condition, other riders are courteous, and everyone is very friendly. Catherine Parker. Have more destinations? If you buy from the shopping links on our website, National Park Trips may receive an affiliate commission. We rode Cruisers no need for an e-bike if youre in reasonable shape two 60+ers had no troubles. Explore festivities ideal for maximizing the sweater weather season. Zion National Park is one of those parks we keep going back to; perfect weather, different activities available to do in one park, and perfect views! This area of the park is designated as a Wilderness, which means the Kolob Canyons are protected and preserved for their pristine and primitive nature. I advise you to get to the park as early as possible before checking into the hotel (which will be there when you're finished touring) and go back in the morning after checking out. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. Going through the tunnel was pretty cool too. I hope my boyfriend and I are still able to visit tomorrow and Tuesday as we drove from far away to get here. Come with U.S. News on a tour of the InterContinental Boston. Please walk your bike through the Visitor Center plaza. 2,211 reviews #12 of 43 things to do in Zion National Park Scenic Drives Visit website Call Write a review About The mandatory shuttle leaves from the visitors center and travels six miles through the most popular canyon road, with seven stops in between. Am I allowed to ride on other roads in the park? It is impossible to park at the visitor center if you arrive past 7:30 am, so be prepared to park in town and take the very inefficient Springdale town shuttle to the visitor center. The speed and sound of a bicycle can startle animals. When a shuttle bus approaches, find a safe place to pull over and allow the bus to pass. Listen to recorded information by calling anytime 24 hours a day. Icy spots remain through the winter. E-bikes will not fit on the shuttles bike rack, so please plan to ride the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive both ways. For a longer trip, continue on north to Kolob Reservoir. Improve this listing Tours & experiences The Zion Shuttle provides access to Scenic Canyon Drive from the Zion National Park Visitor Center to the Temple of Sinawava. From the South: Travel I-15 north. In 8-miles, Navajo Lake (W1) will be on your left. This five-mile scenic drive along Kolob Canyons Road allows visitors to view the crimson canyons and gain access to various trails and scenic viewpoints. Bicycles are not allowed on trails other than the Pa'rus. We started the process at the designated 5pm time to secure a time for the next day it was not a pleasant experience with either the software crashing or getting knocked out. One can hop on or off at any of the scheduled stops. Beautiful drive with all sorts of photo ops. The next morning you can get there early and get to see the remaining places you may have missed. All of the NatGeo maps are printed on waterproof, tear-resistant material. Can I drive my private vehicle into Zion Canyon? The website is for information purposes only and we assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here. Know your airline's carry-on luggage size restrictions before you fly. 2.2 total. Always wear your helmet. If you get there early (we arrived just after 6 am for our first but up to Sinewava) there weren't any crowds and our bus had plenty of room. Carmel Junction, an important junction for those heading towards Bryce Canyon or Page. 2), Zion Lodge (shuttle stop No. Suggest edits to improve what we show. The best times to visit this trail are April through November. Come with U.S. News on a tour of the XV Beacon Hotel in Boston. Hello. The 1995 landslide: At approximately 2:00 am, April 12, 1995, a naturally occurring landslide blocked the Virgin River in Zion Canyon about 1/2 mile north of the main park road. From March through October, this road is closed to private vehicles. I was reluctant too but it was the best decision ever. The bicycle and pedestrian entrance is in Springdale next to the Zion Outfitter and the Zion Brew Pub. Is there any camping in Zion Canyon? We get around on bike quickly and can stop nearly anywhere we want to view and record the beauty of our surroundings -- it doesnt get any better than that. For hikers using the shuttle to reach trailheads, the canyon shuttle stops at the Pa'rus Trail (Canyon Junction, stop No. The Kolob Canyons Visitor Center is located just east of Exit 40. Each shuttle stop has an outside unmonitored bike area where you can lock your bike, so bring a cable and lock. US-Parks.com Inc. All Rights Reserved. Black and white layers of lava rock, red sandstone, colorful desert plants, petroglyphs and volcanic remnants that shaped the canyon combine to create a landscape of undeniable beauty. Soon you will arrive at Kolob Road (T1) which can be used as a back country route through Zion National Park to bring you back to Virgin, but our scenic drive continues west. The first 2 miles of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive are a little steep, so take your time and pull off the road completely to stop if you need to. If Im trying to catch the first shuttle at 6am, how early should I line up? The Belly of the Dragon tunnel was constructed to be a water drainage for Highway 89. There are lots of turns, bridges, blind corners, and wildlife along the trail. The zion canyon shuttle was clean and nice. You have to pull off the road and stop for the shuttle buses. The views were crazy beautiful and worth the hike 110%. Generally considered an easy route. Im visiting Zion from out of state for my birthday. All of the motorists on the road were very courteous as were all the hikers and bikers we encountered. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content. I think I did a pretty good job. The mandatory shuttle leaves from the visitors center and travels six miles through the most popular canyon road, with seven stops in between. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. The slide, over 500 ft long, consisted of over 100,000 cubic yards of rock and soil that slid down the steep, west embankment of the Virgin River, completely damming it. Select a portion of the route to retrieve climb & profile data for that segment. The road tops out at 1.362m (4,468ft) above the sea level. Or get the complete Utah National Parks Map Pack with five topographic maps. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. The views were incredible. Signup for our. Weather Report: The best times of year to visit and cycle Zion NP are in May (when the average high temperature is 85Fand there are only six rainy days on average), and September and October (when the average temperatures are 91Fand 78F respectively,and the average rainy days are 4.7 and 5.1). If you have questions, please email [email protected]. All the UT national parks have terrific scenic rides, and Zion is maybe the best. What is a red permit? We rented e-bikes in Zion and it was the best decision. Listen to recorded information by calling anytime 24 hours a day. The hike itself is easy to moderate up to the falls but the upper two were closed due to rockslides. We parked at the first restaurant on the road going into the park so we got great seats on the shuttle. The waterfall makes for some great pictures. If not, then when is the off-season for the shuttle? Be prepared for hazardous driving conditions during and immediately following storms. Come with U.S. News on a tour of The Langham, Boston. that has nine stops and picks up/drops off about every 7-10 minutes during the day, beginning at 6 a.m. from the Visitor Center, and ending at 8:30 pm (into the canyon) and 10 pm (into Springdale). Great bike. Kolob Canyon Road. The side trail to the Human History Museum is not open to bicycles. Cyclists must pull over to the side of the road and come to a complete stop so shuttles can safely pass them. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is approximately 7 miles long. The duration is an estimate of a one-way drive and does not include any stops or side-trips. Starting at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, this free shuttle takes visitors on a scenic ride up Zion's main canyon, making several stops at interesting locations and trailheads, including the Zion Lodge, the Grotto (start of the Angels Landing hike), Weeping Rock, and the Temple of Sinawava (close to the Zion Narrows where the steep canyon wall. Swimming is not allowed in the Emerald Pools. The scenic drive begins in the outskirts of Hurricane, which you can reach from exit 16 from I-15 for UT-9. Incredible experience! 159.