Hiking

Hiking is what most people come for, from paved walks to the chain ridge. Most Zion Canyon trailheads are reached by shuttle when the bus is running. Permits apply to specific hikes, not to “being in the park.” Angels Landing’s chains need one. A bottom-up Narrows hike does not, until you want the top-down route. Suits every group that picks a distance on the time page and carries water. Start at NPS trail descriptions and our hiking notes.

Pale slickrock, pines, and sandstone peaks in Zion's east side backcountry.
East side slickrock, Zion National Park. Photo: NPS Photo / Caitlin Ceci, public domain (U.S. National Park Service work), via Wikimedia Commons.

Mountain biking

Bikes are allowed on the Pa’rus Trail and on park roads that are open to bicycles, including the scenic drive, Kolob Terrace Road, and Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive. They are not allowed on other trails, off trail, or riding through the Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel. Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes follow the same places and rules. Pa’rus is shared with walkers and leashed pets. Suits riders who want a paved river path or a road ride, not singletrack in the wilderness. The shuttle does not replace a bike plan. Read NPS bicycling before you assume a bus will carry the bike.

ATV and UTV

Not allowed. NPS laws and policies say ATVs, OHVs, and other off-road vehicles are not permitted in Zion. The wilderness transportation page says the same for UTVs. There is no OHV permit to apply for. A street-legal car on a paved road is not an invitation to leave the pavement. If OHV riding is the point of the trip, this is the wrong park.

Horseback

Two different things are published. The horseback page says a park concessioner offers guided one-hour and three-hour rides along the Virgin River and Sand Bench. Book that operator through the park’s page, not through us. We are not naming a second company and we are not selling the ride. Private horses, mules, and burros are allowed only on listed trails, including several wilderness routes and the Sandbench Trail for public stock only from November 1 through March 1. Off-trail stock use is limited to a few washes named on that page. Suits people who already understand stock rules and will read them before hauling a trailer to a trailhead that is not on the list.

Guided tours

The park authorizes some businesses with a commercial use authorization, including small-group and larger-group interpretive hikes, bicycle tours, and other listed services. Road-based tour CUAs were not being issued for the 2026 season, according to the commercial use page. That can change. A concessioner horseback ride is separate from those CUAs. We do not employ guides. No partner booking is listed here yet.

NPS commercial use page

Kolob Arch, a huge red sandstone arch, framed by trees in the Kolob Canyons backcountry of Zion National Park.
Kolob Arch, Zion National Park. Photo: NPS Photo / Rendall Seely, public domain (U.S. National Park Service work), via Wikimedia Commons.

On your own

This is the default. Pay the entrance fee or show a pass, ride the shuttle in season, and hike within your permit and daylight. The plan page and loadout are the DIY kit. Overnight trips, canyons, and bivouacs move to the reservations page.