Imagine spending two unforgettable days exploring Zion National Park, trekking along the Virgin River, biking through the canyon, and hiking some of the country’s most iconic trails.
Make this happen by following my adventurous two-day Zion National Park itinerary!
During both of my road trips to Zion, I discovered some pretty amazing hikes, overlooks, and unique activities that I can’t wait to share with you in this itinerary!
Get ready to check off all the iconic hikes and do things many other visitors won’t with my 2-day Zion itinerary!
Let’s dive in!
Amazing 2-Day Zion National Park Itinerary
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Getting to Zion National Park
Zion National Park is tucked into the southwestern corner of Utah, near St. George.
If you’re not local to Utah or don’t live within driving distance, the easiest way to get to Zion National Park is by flying into Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada.
From the airport, rent a car and drive less than 3 hours to the park entrance.
Where to Stay When Visiting Zion National Park
If possible, plan on staying three nights so you can spend two full days exploring Zion National Park.
I recommend camping inside the park or staying in Springdale. Here are the best places to stay:
- Watchman Campground – in-park year-round campground within walking distance of the Watchman Trail and Visitor Center
- South Campground – in-park seasonal campground just off the Pa’Rus Trail
- Zion Lodge – in-park lodge in the Zion Canyon, just steps from Emerald Pool Trail
- Petty Ranch Inn – Springdale lodge within walking distance (or a short shuttle ride) from the Visitor Center
IMPORTANT: Watchman Campground reservations sell out very quickly, so plan ahead and book your campsite 6 months in advance.
When to Visit Zion
While Zion is beautiful (and open) year-round, I recommend visiting in the spring or fall to avoid the extreme heat, cold temperatures, and snow.
We’ve explored Zion in late September and early May, and both months were pretty ideal. Overall, I’d vote September because the Narrows is often closed in the spring due to high water!
2-Day Zion Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Canyon Overlook + The Narrows + Emerald Pools + Watchman
Day 2: Bike the Zion Canyon + Hike Angels Landing/West Rim
Day 1: Canyon Overlook + The Narrows + Emerald Pools + Watchman
Since I’m a firm believer that scenic drives are the best way to get introduced to a new national park, kick off your Zion itinerary (as early in the morning as possible) by driving the incredibly scenic Zion-Mount Carmel Highway!
Your destination? The Canyon Overlook Trail, ideally at sunrise!
While your drive may be in the dark on the way there, don’t worry; you’ll get to drive back in the daylight!
From Springdale, head east and take the many windy switchbacks out of the canyon, driving through the famous one-mile-long Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel along the way!
Be prepared to pay the $35 entrance fee or show your America the Beautiful Parks Pass before reaching the trailhead!
NOTE: Vehicles longer than 35 feet 9 inches, taller than 11 feet 4 inches, wider than 7 feet 10 inches, and/or heavier than 50,000 pounds are not allowed on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. Get more info here.
To hike the Canyon Overlook Trail, park in the trailhead lot right off the highway. The moderate 1-mile roundtrip trail leads to an epic viewpoint that rivals Angels Landing, but without the crazy effort!
Next, it’s time to head into the Zion Canyon. You’ll get to drive the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway again, this time going back down into the canyon, and this time in the daylight! The views around each bend are jaw-droppingly gorgeous.
Unless you’re staying at the Zion Lodge, you won’t be allowed to drive on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive from March through November. So to get around the canyon and to the major trailheads, you will have to bike or ride the shuttle bus.
Since, spoiler alert, you’ll be biking tomorrow, I’d utilize the Zion Canyon shuttle bus today. That is, unless you want to rent bikes two days in a row, of course! Up to you!
If you decide to take the shuttle bus, you have a few options for parking:
- Visitor Center – walk to the shuttle station
- Your campsite at Watchman or South Campground – walk to the shuttle station
- Your Springdale accommodations – take the free Springdale shuttle bus into the park
Pay the $35 entrance fee (or show your America the Beautiful Pass to get in for free) and board the shuttle bus near the Visitor Center.
The bus driver will make several stops along the way, but take it all the way to the very last stop, Temple of Sinawava. This is the location of your next hike, the Narrows!
As the name suggests, the Narrows is the most constricted section of Zion Canyon – some sections are just 20 to 30 feet wide! With the raging Virgin River winding between towering, thousand-foot rock walls, it’s no wonder this is one of the most iconic hikes in Zion National Park.
The hike begins gently, with an easy, scenic 1-mile riverside walk. But once the paved portion ends, you’ll step into the water and begin your adventurous, exciting trek through the Virgin River!
While it’s 16 miles end to end, the beauty of this trail is that you can hike as far into the canyon as you want (up to Big Spring) before turning around.
A few popular turnaround spots along the way are:
- Mystery Falls – 110-foot waterfall, 3 miles roundtrip
- Wall Street – narrowest and most scenic section, 6-8 miles roundtrip
- Big Spring – furthest you can go as a day hike, 9.4 miles roundtrip
Go as far in as you’d like, up to Big Spring, then turn around and head back the way you came!
After your bucket-list hike through the Virgin River, you’re probably going to be ready for lunch! Hop back on the shuttle bus and stop at the Zion Lodge for a bite to eat at the on-site Red Rock Grill.
Once your food has had time to digest, conveniently walk across the street to hike the next trail on the itinerary, Emerald Pools!
Emerald Pools is an ideal spot to spend a warm, sunny afternoon because of all of the pools, shady areas, and waterfalls sprinkled throughout the 3-mile trail.
IMPORTANT: The pools are fragile, and wildlife relies on these rare water sources, so don’t go in the water!
Finally, jump back on the shuttle one last time today and take it all the way back to the Visitor Center. From the Visitor Center, walk over to the Watchman trailhead and hike the highly underrated 3.3-mile Watchman Trail.
The Watchman Trail, which is way less crowded than all of the others on this itinerary, follows the river at first, then winds around towering cliffs and climbs to a panoramic viewpoint of Springdale and the Watchman.
It’s a perfect sunset hike and a great way to cap off your first day in Zion!
After your first adventurous day in Zion, cook dinner at your campsite or head into Springdale for some mouthwatering pizza at Porter’s. Then get a good night’s sleep because you have two more big (exciting) adventures tomorrow!
Day 2: Bike the Zion Canyon + Hike Angels Landing/West Rim
For your last day in the park, you absolutely must do my favorite activity in Zion: bike the Zion Canyon!
Exploring the Zion Canyon by bike is a wildly different (and superior) experience than riding the shuttle.
Unlike riding the shuttle, exploring the Zion Canyon on a bike gives you ultimate freedom and flexibility. Not to mention no obstructed views and no crowds!
You can hop on and off wherever you want, whenever you want – never subject to the bus’s limited timeline.
Get an early start by renting bikes in Springdale right when they open. You’ll need to book your reservations well in advance; walk-ins are rarely available.
Consider what you want to do for lunch before heading into the park. You can eat at the Zion Lodge again today, or you can pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of the overlooks or on your hike. Your choice!
Alright, it’s time to pedal into the Zion Canyon! You’ll ride your bike from Springdale to the Pa’Rus Trail to the Zion Canyon.
Enjoy your morning e-biking through the canyon, zipping up the road, and stopping at viewpoints that catch your eye. The entire bike ride is so scenic; this is definitely one of my favorite things I’ve ever done in any national park!
After you reach the end of the road, at Temple of Sinawava, turn around and stop at any overlooks you may have missed on the way back. Don’t skip the Big Bend Overlook!
When you’re ready for a break from riding your bike, I’d suggest hiking Angels Landing and/or the West Rim Trail! Don’t forget to lock up your bike at the trailhead (they’re included with all bike rentals).
Angels Landing is a classic 4.8-mile roundtrip trail that I’m almost positive you’ve heard of.
The trail starts at the West Rim Trailhead (across from the Grotto Picnic Area) and ascends the canyon. After a steady ascent and following the famous 21 tight switchbacks, hilariously known as Walter’s Wiggles, you’ll reach Scout’s Landing.
But the final half-mile, past Scout’s Landing, is the most iconic. You’ll be climbing a dangerously narrow ridge, using chains for assistance. It may sound scary (it is!), but the views at the top are some of the very best in the entire park, so it’s worth it for most people.
But there’s one caveat. If you want to hike Angels Landing, you’ll first need to snag a hard-to-win permit. Permits help limit the foot traffic on this harrowing peak, maximizing safety.
If the chains intimidate you or you can’t snag a permit, I’d recommend just hiking a portion of the West Rim Trail instead. This is what we did!
You’ll start at the same trailhead as the Angels Landing hikers, but when you reach Scout’s Landing, instead of ascending the chains off to the right, you’ll head left and continue on the West Rim Trail.
Since the West Rim Trail is about 15 miles point to point, take this trail only as far as you feel comfortable or have the time.
And the reason I love this trail so much? It ascends higher than Angels Landing (you can actually look down on Angels Landing from the West Rim Trail!), so the views are equally amazing. Plus, this trail is significantly less crowded. Win, win!
After your epic hike, hop back on your bike that’s waiting for you at the trailhead, and finish pedaling down the Zion Canyon.
Return your bikes in Springdale and then catch a beautiful sunset from the Pa’Rus Trail. There are many great spots, especially from the bridges!
After catching a sunset, grab a delicious dinner at the classic Zion Pizza & Noodle Co before heading back to your campsite or accommodations. Make sure to look up and see if you can spot the Milky Way!
Continuing your road trip to the other four Utah National Parks? Grab my free 10-Day Utah Mighty Five National Parks Itinerary!
Finish Planning Your Trip to Zion
Make trip planning a breeze with the help of my guides!
- Complete Guide to Exploring Zion National Park
- One Day in Zion National Park
- Biking in Zion: Everything You Need to Know
- Should You Visit Zion in September? Yes! Here’s Why
- Complete Guide to Hiking the Zion Narrows
- 7 Things to Know Before Visiting Zion National Park
- Zion Vs Bryce Canyon: Which Is Better?
Discover Your Next Adventure
Where to next? I’ve got some suggestions!
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Arches National Park
- Canyonlands Needles
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Antelope Canyon X
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