National parks are a landmark staple for anyone road tripping around the country. They’re a great place to take a step back and enjoy the environment around you. These national parks preserve wildlife so adventurers can experience the great outdoors.
When you stay at our rentals in St. George, Utah, you’re close to one of Utah’s national parks! Zion National Park is located in the heart of Utah. It’s the perfect place to go out for a hike, take some pictures, and spend the day.
About the Park
Zion National Park is Utah’s very first national park. The park has massive sandstone cliffs that look like they were painted with shades of cream, pink, and red. Zion is home to such a unique variety of plants and animals. You’ll be amazed at all you can see as you hike or bike through the trails or take a river trip. The park is filled with so much natural history! Learn all about what created those beautiful sandstone cliffs. Dive into the rich history of the Native people who once lived on these lands and the pioneers who ventured through them. Start your own Zion National Park adventure when you visit the park!
Hiking
Zion National Park has multiple hikes depending on the difficulty you’re looking to have. They have easy, moderate, and strenuous hikes. These Zion National Park hikes are perfect for every level of hiker. Many of the hikes are only accessible by a shuttle from March through November. Here are some of the trails you can hike in Zion National Park.
The easy trails are perfect for those who want a short hike through Zion without too much strain. All trails in this section range from about 0.4 miles to 3.5 miles. There is a natural height elevation of roughly about 100 feet. Some of the trails are also wheelchair accessible, making the easier trails friendly for everyone. Here are a couple of the easy trails you can hike!
Pa’rus Trail: This trail has a roundtrip distance is only 3.5 miles with an elevation change of 50 feet. The trail is paved and follows the Virgin River from South Campground to the Canyon Junction. This is the only trail that will allow you to bring your pets! Make sure all pets are leashed as you hike this completely paved hiking trail.
Grotto trail: This one-mile trail is perfect for those day hikers who don’t want to venture too far. The small elevation shifts provide for easy walking throughout this trail. It connects the Zion Lodge to the Grotto and is primarily near roads.
For those who want to hike for longer, the moderate hikes range from 1 mile to 7.6 miles. These trails also have much more significant elevation gains. These trails provide stunning views of Zion Canyon. Make sure to plan and prepare with all the proper equipment and supplies.
Hard trails are for true adventurous hikers. These trails range from 2.5 miles to 9.4 miles in length. These strenuous trails have an elevation gain of up to 2,148 feet. Each of these trails provides a good number of physical challenges and can even prove to be mentally challenging. You’ll be hiking up cliffs and need to hold onto chains for safety. You will need to plan before going out on these trails. Ensure you have all the proper footwear, backpacks, clothing, and supplies required to complete a trail like these. If hiking in the summer, do note that the summers bring extreme heat. This can be dangerous if planning ahead is not done.
Bicycling
If you don’t want to take a shuttle bus or hike through Zion, cycling is the perfect alternative! Bicycling is permitted on roads throughout the park and the easy Pa’rus trail. All other trails, including Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel’s off-trail routes, are closed to bikes. You can also bike the Zion Canyon scenic drive! If you do bike the Scenic Drive, make sure you pull over and completely stop when shuttles are trying to pass. As with all bike trails, you must bike in a single file line to allow other hikers and travelers passage. Bikers who plan on traveling through all other roads through the park should use caution. Roads like the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, Kolob Canyons Road, and the Kolob Terrace Road have steep grades, sharp grades, narrow sections, and do not have a shoulder.
Plan Your Stay
These rentals in St. George, Utah, are the perfect place if you’re looking for a golf trip or just a relaxing weekend away with family. Our large St. George rentals are perfect for those who want to come and go as they please. With more amenities than a traditional condo, you can enjoy the freedom of being in your own home away from home.
River Trips
You can even enjoy the water when you come to visit Zion! You can use any watercraft when you visit the park as long as you have a wilderness permit. You can pick up these passes at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, and they are entirely free! You can float along the Virgin River as long as the river is more than 150 cubic feet. The Virgin River flows differently every day. Make sure to check the height before you head out on your journey. All watercraft must be designed for whitewater use. Make sure that you wear the proper flotation devices before you head out.
If you want to kayak through the park, The Narrows portion of the Virgin River is the perfect place for you to kayak. Expert paddlers should only access this. It is recommended that you have the skills to paddle class V whitewater. Some areas can classify for easier certification.
Directions to Zion National Park
It’s easy to get to Zion from your Ledges Vacation rental. This 50-mile ride is simple to follow. You’ll start by getting on to UT-18 S from Ledges Parkway. You’ll turn onto Shinnecock Dr, then turn left at the first cross street onto Ledges Parkway. At the traffic circle, you’ll take the 2nd exit to continue onto Ledge’s parkway. At the next traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Overpass Dr. You’ll turn onto UT-18 and continue for 48 miles. You’ll take exit 16 to merge onto UT-9E/W State St toward Hurricane. Continue to follow UT-9E until you get to the park.
After hiking and exploring Zion National Park, kick back and relax in one of our beautiful Ledges vacation rentals! Our St. George vacation rentals are perfect for the entire family to stay in. Everyone will get their spacious bedroom with super soft beds to fall asleep in after a long day of hiking in the sun. Each rental comes with stunning fast Wi-Fi with high-speed internet access. From your patio or balcony, you’ll be able to witness the beautiful St. Georges sunsets and sunrises.