Hiking and Camping in Zion National Park

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Cars just don’t do Zion National Park justice. Why view this breathtaking landscape passively through a window, when you can walk on the slickrock and trek through a river in the narrows? Hiking is undoubtedly the best way to enjoy Zion’s striking terrain and experience the nature around you.

What you get in this adventure:

• Certified Utah hiking guide
• Top-of-the-line tent
• Sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and day pack
• Trekking poles
• All meals
• Transportation
• National park entrance fees
• Emergency equipment

If you have your own backpacking equipment, like a daypack, sleeping bag or trekking poles, feel free to bring it along with you.

Hiring a local guide offers you the chance to experience Zion’s beauty to the fullest. Local guides know all the hidden gems the area has to offer, will explain the history and geology during the hike, and will transport you to and from the destination. Zion also is known for its share of unexpected flash flooding, but your guide will know just what to do if the weather takes a turn or something unexpected happens.

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

• Two 1L water bottles or hydration bladder equivalent
• Hiking boots or shoes
• Raingear
• Spare warm clothes; dress in breathable layers
• A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks
• Compass & map
• Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, first aid kit, toilet paper, etc.)
• High quality sunglasses
• Headlamp
• Neoprene socks and water shoes (optional but recommended)
• Camera (optional but recommended)

Day One
On this Utah hiking and camping trip in Zion National Park, we’ll start the first day at Snow Canyon State Park. Expect to leave between 5 and 8 a.m. You’ll walk along Navajo Sandstone and impressive walls evolved from lava-covered and slickrock. We’ll take breakfast in the lower canyon and continue along to the rim to start our hike to explore lava tubes. We’ll eat lunch on the trail. After a shuttle to the bottom of the canyon, we’ll take a one-hour drive to Zion to set up camp and cook dinner.

Days Two
The first day’s hike is eight miles up from the East Rim Trail to Observation Point. Prepare for a challenging day with uphill hikes on a paved trail accompanied by incredible views of Echo Canyon. You’ll pass slickrock formations and walk along white cliffs on steep switchbacks up Mount Baldy. You’ll take the trail to the top of the Observation Point or visit a combination of Scouts Lookout and the Watchman. Basecamp in Zion Ponderosa Ranch or Watchman Campground for the evening.

Day Three
We’ll eat a hearty breakfast at camp before breaking down on your last day of the tour. You’ll hike the Virgin Narrows, starting with a stroll down the paved River Trail next to a 3,000-foot cliff face. The River Trail gives us an up-close appreciation for the powerful hydrological forces that carved this incredible canyon. You’ll also get the chance to enter the river, if the season allows for it. We’ll then walk another 1.5 miles until reaching the turnaround point Orderville Canyon.

Our group will soak in to the Narrows’ stunning beauty while stopping off for a relaxing shoreline lunch before returning to the trailhead. We’ll then load up and head back to St. George before saying our goodbyes.

You need to be able to hike for full days, carrying a full daypack weighing between 25 and 45 pounds. Each day you will hike between five and eight miles, over three days. The desert terrain can be challenging and the weather unpredictable. That said, if you are looking for adventure and up to the task of multiple days of full-day trekking, you’ll be rewarded immensely.

Everybody over the age of 12 is welcome on this hiking adventure. Children five and older are able to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements on a case by case basis.

Hiking tour groups usually consist of seven people, six guests and one guide, but you can arrange a trip with up to 12 people if you’re traveling with a larger party. All pricing is per person.

Tours are scheduled to fit with Utah’s ideal seasons and hiking conditions. When the weather does not cooperate, your guide will know the correct course of action to take. Whether that’s shifting to a more favorable location or postponing until conditions approve, your guide will know just what to do. In the event of predictably bad weather, you will be contacted prior to the trip to discuss suitable alternatives.

It’s highly recommended that you cover all your bases with travel and medical insurance. While hiking might seem like a low-risk outdoor activity, accidents can happen anywhere and we recommend insurance to avoid paying out of pocket for costly medical expenses. And as we’ve recently seen, travel plans can be abruptly halted, so it’s a good idea to have cancellation insurance that also covers lost baggage. It’s tried and tested and it works.

All policies regarding cancellation, rescheduling and trip insurance will be clearly laid out by your guide prior to booking your adventure. Contact us if you’d like more information on a specific adventure.

This Utah hiking tour starts with transportation from your hotel where we will make the 1.5-hour drive from St. George to our first hike in red rock country though Snow Canyon. From there, we will continue to Zion National Park where we will camp for two nights.