Paul in the Parks

Zion National Park is hands-down one of the most beautiful places in the country. Towering sandstone cliffs, colorful rock faces, a dark night sky, and lush wilderness characterize this heaven on earth. Originally named Mukuntuweap National Monument – after the Southern Paiute word meaning “Straight Canyon” – Zion National Park was established in 1919. The park is an adventurer’s paradise. World-famous hikes like Angels Landing, the Narrows, and Observation Point reside in Zion. Additionally, options to rock climb and backcountry camp are plentiful in the park. For all of these reasons, the park is at the top of many peoples’ lists of favorite national parks. But, there is one major problem that prevents Zion from being even better: the crowds.

Every year, Zion National Park draws millions of visitors. It is one of the most visited national parks, annually ranking among the top 5 most popular parks. In 2021, it placed second (behind Great Smoky Mountains) with over 5 million visitors, and in 2022 it fell to third place with 4.6 million visitors.

The setting sun paints the Watchman in Zion National Park in brilliant golden colors as the Virgin River runs in front of the camera — This view of the Watchman – seen from the Pa’rus Trail – made Zion National Park famous

Though popularity isn’t necessarily a bad thing, Zion’s status as a world-renowned nature park has become a problem in recent years. Trails are often crowded, accommodations are scarce, and solitude is almost nonexistent. Park management has introduced measures to control crowds, but – as any visitor will tell you – those measures only accomplish so much.

Plan your trip to Zion National Park

The Problem with Crowds in Zion

The biggest reason that crowds are a problem in Zion National Park is simple: the park is just too small. Well, sort of. The overall park is actually quite large at nearly 150,000 acres, but most visitors and hikes reside specifically in Zion Canyon. At 15 miles long, Zion Canyon is comparatively small, about 10% of the size of the overall park. Only one single-lane road goes in and out of the canyon, resulting in lots of traffic jams.

A partly cloudy sky obscures the sun over Zion Canyon viewed from Angels Landing — Zion Canyon viewed from the summit of Angels Landing

On top of this, Zion doesn’t have many hiking trails. The park only sports about 90 miles of trails, which is small when compared to other national parks. Zion Canyon – where most hikers visit – only has about 50 miles. So, trails in Zion Canyon are often packed densely with hikers.

In summary, millions of visitors cram every year into a relatively small canyon with a single road and only a few dozen miles of trails. There are only a few campgrounds and hotels in the areas that can accommodate those visitors. This can create a host of problems.

Other popular national parks, like Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Great Smoky Mountains, also see millions of visitors every year. These parks, however, are generally much larger, which allows visitors to “spread out.” So, these parks feel less crowded than Zion.

Crowds vs. The Visitor Experience

So, how can crowds detract from your experience as a visitor? Here are the most common day-to-day problems that crowds cause:

Long lines at the entrance stations. The park’s south entrance station in Springdale can become nightmarishly packed with cars. From mid-morning to mid-afternoon throughout the year, the line to enter Zion National Park is often a mile long or longer.
Lack of parking. Parking at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center fills up early in the day. It’s common to find frustrated drivers circling the parking lot, waiting for somebody to leave. Other spots – like pull-offs along the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway and parking for the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail – fill up completely during the day. When parking in the park is impossible, you can alternatively park in Springdale and use the Springdale Shuttle Line to access the park.
Long shuttle wait times. Zion National Park introduced a shuttle system in 2000 to combat congestion in Zion Canyon. The free shuttle operates from March to November and during the Christmas season, providing access to Zion Canyon from the Visitor Center. During this time, you can not drive your personal vehicle into the canyon. Unfortunately, to board a shuttle, 20-30 minute wait times are common during peak season.
Delays at the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. The famous mile-long tunnel that connects Zion’s south and east entrances sees huge delays during peak visitation. The park sometimes enforces single-lane use in the tunnel, which can stop traffic for 15-30 minutes.
No overnight accommodations. Do you plan to book a last-minute hotel or campsite for your trip to Zion? Think again. Hotels and campsites in and near the park fill up months in advance. So, plan your trip early to avoid showing up to Zion without a place to stay.
Crowded trails. As mentioned earlier, the small number of trails in Zion Canyon means that trails are often congested. From mid-morning to mid-afternoon, you’ll likely be hiking with a lot of people. To avoid this, hike early or late in the day or seek out a lesser-traveled backcountry trail.
No solitude in nature. With so many people in the park, alone time with nature is scarce. Due to the long lines everywhere, Zion sometimes feels like Six Flags instead of a national park. This can detract from many visitors’ experiences, especially those who prefer the quiet of nature.

Clouds obscure the setting sun over Zion Canyon viewed from Zion Canyon Overlook with a crowd of onlookers behind the camera — Zion Canyon Overlook – a half-mile hike from the parking lot – is *packed* with tourists during sunset. When I took this photo, there was a swarm of people around me

Crowds vs. Nature

Zion National Park’s Foundation Document states the park’s mission:

“The purpose of Zion National Park is to preserve the dramatic geology including Zion Canyon and a labyrinth of deep and brilliantly colored Navajo sandstone canyons formed by extraordinary processes of erosion at the margin of the Colorado Plateau; to safeguard the park’s wilderness character and its wild and scenic river values; to protect evidence of human history; and to provide for scientific research and the enjoyment and enlightenment of the public.”
National Park Service

Millions of annual visitors can pose a threat to this mission. Notably, the “preserve” and “protect” part becomes difficult when people fail to respect park guidelines.

In parks like Zion, violations of the Leave No Trace principles are common. You may see wildlife scurry up to people to beg for food, since they’re accustomed to people feeding them. You’ll probably find examples of graffiti on rocks and trees while hiking. You might spot trash next to a trail. You may be frustrated by large groups walking slowly and creating congestion on a trail.

Here are a few things you can do to help preserve and protect the nature of Zion in spite of crowds:

Do not feed wildlife, and correct other visitors you see who do feed wildlife
Don’t cut trails. Trail-cutting damages fragile vegetation and leads to the creation of “social trails”
Pick up trash – including other peoples’ trash. If you see an empty water bottle or chip bag, grab it and bring it to a trash can
Follow trail etiquette and help others do the same. Never hog the width of a trail, always yield to faster hikers, and be respectful of others’ enjoyment by avoiding loud voices or music
Always follow the Leave No Trace principles

Visit Paul in the Parks for more national park stories and travel tips!

Tips for Avoiding Crowds in Zion

So, now that I’ve established that Zion National Park has big, problematic crowds, you’re probably wondering: How do I avoid the crowds?

Here are a few simple tips to avoid crowds in Zion…

Visit in the Off-Season

Zion National Park is busy year-round. Peak season begins in March and ends in October. The busiest months are May, June, and July.

Paul poses in front of Angels Landing - partially covered in snow - on a sunny afternoon in Zion National Park without crowds — You won’t find that many people on Angels Landing when there’s snow on it. Don’t forget trail crampons!

One way to avoid crowds entirely is by visiting in the winter, from November through February. Though the park is colder and often covered in snow, there are far less people to deal with. If you enjoy winter recreation and aren’t opposed to using traction devices or snowshoes to hike, winter might be a good time for you to visit the park.

March and October – though technically part of peak season – see less visitors than other months in peak season. These are the best months to get a balance of good weather and smaller crowds in Zion.

Avoid Weekend and Holiday Crowds

Weekends are usually busier than weekdays in Zion National Park. The biggest crowds, however, come during holiday weekends. Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day are all notorious for drawing large crowds into Zion.

If you’re able to, visit Zion National Park during the week. But, if you are only available to visit the park on a weekend, be sure it’s not one of the holidays I listed above. Christmas – despite being in the off-season – can also draw large crowds to the park.

Hike Early or Late

Trail congestion is one of the biggest inconveniences that crowds cause. To get around this, you can get an early start on the trails or wait until mid-afternoon to start a hike.

If you want to get an early start, I recommend catching the first or second shuttle into Zion Canyon to be one of the first people on the trail. If you’re on the trail at the crack of dawn, you’re doing something right. Generally, you have a 1-2 hour window after the shuttles start running before crowds start appearing on trails.

Two hikers scramble up the chains on Angels Landing in Zion National Park without crowds — My friends – Jack & Shane – hiking up Angels Landing early on a morning in March

Alternatively, you can start late in the day – after 2 PM – when most people are already off of the trail. I especially recommend this strategy for Angels Landing, which is coincidentally an incredible spot to watch sunset. Do not do this in the summer, when afternoon temperatures can exceed 100 °F.

Avoid Congested Areas

Most visitors to Zion National Park stay in the relatively small Zion Canyon. If you want some peace and quiet, check out the Kolob Canyons or Kolob Terrace areas of the park. These places get far less visitors: Kolob Canyons, for instance, receives around 10% of the visitors that the South Entrance in Zion Canyon receives.

Maria smiles for a photo in the snow in front of the red rocks of Kolob Canyons — Maria in the Kolob Canyons area in March, happy because of the lack of people on the trail!

Avoid entering Zion National Park through the South Entrance after 9 AM, if possible. This is when you will encounter the most traffic congestion. At this time, the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway also starts to get congested.

At sunset, visitors flood the Zion Canyon Overlook and the Canyon Junction Bridge. Angels Landing and the Pa’rus Trail – respectively – are great, less-crowded alternatives for watching the sunset.

Pro Tip: Camping and Biking!

If you can nab a campsite at Watchman Campground or South Campground, you won’t have to worry about parking in Zion Canyon! From either campground, you can simply walk to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and hop on a shuttle into the canyon.

A camper van sits in front of the Watchman at Watchman Campground on a morning in Zion National Park without crowds — Watchman Campground early in the morning, only a short walk from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center

If you don’t want to deal with the schedule and lines of the shuttle, bring or rent a bike! Cyclists are allowed to use the roads in Zion Canyon, and every trailhead has a bike rack. Using a bike allows you to see Zion Canyon on your own schedule and without dealing with the crowds.

Is Zion Worth Dealing With the Crowds?

I hope none of the things I said above deter you from visiting Zion. Zion National Park is a beautiful, special place that holds an important place in my heart. Along with Yosemite, the park led to my love of the outdoors and is a place I want to visit again and again.

Understanding how to navigate Zion’s crowds is necessary to enjoy your visit to the park. When you visit Zion, bring plenty of patience, understanding, and the willingness to meet new people. While the presence of so many people can be annoying, it also offers an opportunity to make new friends! A positive attitude and outgoing persona can go a long way on Zion’s crowded trails.

Paul smiles as he stands in front of a waterfall near the Court of the Patriarchs — When I took this photo – on a dreary morning in March near the Court of the Patriarchs – there was nobody around. The scenery that morning was *stunning*

Visit my Zion National Park guide page for a full list of recommended hikes and tips for your visit to the park. Also, read about nearby national parks – including Bryce Canyon, Arches, and Grand Canyon – at paulintheparks.com!

As always, thanks for reading. Happy trails!

— Paul