NPS says summer daytime temperatures in Zion regularly exceed 100°F, and that mid-to-late summer monsoons raise the chance of flash floods. This plan is for days when the group should not hike at all. It is not medical advice.

A no-hike Zion day

  1. Ride the Zion Canyon shuttle up and back. It is free, needs no ticket, and takes about 45 minutes each way between the visitor center and the Temple of Sinawava. The bus narration is a tour on its own. Don’t wait for the last shuttle.
  2. Get off at Court of the Patriarchs for a paved viewpoint path about 150 feet long.
  3. Cool down indoors. The Zion Canyon Visitor Center is cooled in summer. The Human History Museum is cooled in summer, shows park films, and has an ADA-accessible patio.
  4. Or drive. The Zion–Mount Carmel Highway is open to private vehicles year-round; Checkerboard Mesa is near the East Entrance. Large vehicles are restricted between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance; check the large vehicles page. Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive ends at the Timber Creek Overlook parking lot, which has accessible parking and restrooms.

For grandparents

All shuttle buses are wheelchair accessible. People who cannot ride the shuttle for medical reasons can ask the visitor center information desk about a special permit to drive up-canyon. U.S. citizens and residents 62 and older can buy an America the Beautiful senior pass ($20 annual, $80 lifetime on the fees page).

Shallow water of the North Fork of the Virgin River below red cliffs and cottonwoods, Zion National Park.
North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park. Photo: Nikater, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

For babies

Keep it to the shuttle, the indoor stops, and short paved paths in the morning. Do not leave anyone in a parked car; NPS warns that vehicle interiors heat to dangerous levels for most of the year. See the toddler page for stroller details.

Water and heat warnings from NPS

  • Carry at least one gallon of water per person per day, and drink it.
  • Water is available at visitor centers, campgrounds, Zion Lodge, and some shuttle stops. Do not drink untreated or river water.
  • NPS lists heat exhaustion signs (nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache, pale, cool clammy skin) and heat stroke signs (confusion, disorientation, behavior changes, seizures). Heat stroke needs immediate medical help. Read the safety page before you go.

Related: water for a day hike, shuttle or car, no-signal safety.

Quick FAQ

What can we do in Zion on a hot day without hiking?

Ride the free shuttle with its narration, stop at the Court of the Patriarchs viewpoint, cool off in the visitor center or Human History Museum, or drive the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway or Kolob Canyons road.

How much water does NPS say to carry?

At least one gallon per person per day.

Can someone who cannot ride the shuttle still see Zion Canyon?

NPS says a special permit for a personal vehicle up-canyon is available at the visitor center information desk for people who cannot ride for medical reasons or whom the shuttle cannot accommodate.