Zion National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. As you pull in, be sure to check in at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center to show your park pass.

   20 min

2. This short, easy trail leads to a panoramic overlook of Kolob Canyons, the Pine Valley Mountains, and Red Butte. If you only have time for one short hike while in Kolob Canyons, be sure to do this one!

   30 min

3. At La Verkin Overlook, you’ll get a beautiful panoramic view of Zion Canyon, the Virgin River Gorge, Pine Valley mountains, and, of course, La Verkin itself. To get there, we’ll take a 15-minute round-trip drive down a gravel road.

   15 min

4. We’re now passing one of the most popular canyoneering locations of Zion: The Subway. The Subway requires a Wilderness Permit from the Zion lottery, so, in order to take The Subway, you really will need a ticket. You can take The Subway two ways: from the bottom-up or the top-down. The bottom-up is less technical, requires no canyoneering, and begins at the Left Fork trailhead on our right.

   Passes by

5. Lava Point Overlook is a basalt cliff that overlooks a green volcanic valley filled with pinyon, juniper, and white pine trees. From the over 2,400-meter-high overlook, you can see all the way out to the Paunsaugunt Plateau of Bryce and even the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. This viewpoint has no required hike, so as long as the weather is safe for us to travel, let’s continue on Kolob Terrace Road.

   15 min

6. Explore the most photographed ghost town in the West! This abandoned Mormon settlement still has several cabins, houses, and a town hall to explore. This well-preserved window to the past was the filming location for the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’s famous bike scene. Be sure to take lots of selfies and share them with us on social media!

   40 min

7. Grafton is a ghost town with a somewhat unusual history. While the majority of abandoned settlements were once mining towns—subject to the boom and bust nature of mining—Grafton is an agricultural ghost town. Visitors today can see the abandoned houses and even go inside a few.

   15 min

8. We made it to Zion Canyon! Here at our first park stop, take a moment to talk to the rangers, grab a map, use the restroom, and fill up your water bottles. If you need a wilderness permit, this is where you’ll pick one up. Be sure to check the schedule for any ranger talks or walks you might be interested in. There is also a bookstore and gift shop, but it’s probably best to save all that for after your hikes. When you’re ready, get in line for the shuttle (if it's shuttle season) and get ready for adventure!

   20 min

9. Does the line for the park shuttle look a little daunting? Well, there is another option for those in the know. Rest assured, I am in the know. And lucky for you, you know me. You can skip the line by taking the sunny Pa’rus (pah-roos) trail to the Human History Museum and board the shuttle there. This is the only trail in Zion where you can ride bikes or walk dogs. While it is both paved and pleasant to walk, it’s also 1.7 miles long, so it may not be suitable for everyone. Follow the signs at the Visitor Center if this sounds like a good option for you.

   Passes by

10. If you pull into the Zion Human History Museum, you can make your way over to the back patio of the Human History Museum to enjoy a highly-recommended ranger talk. Even if you stop by when no talk is being held, the view of the Towers of The Virgin formation is truly amazing and well worth the visit.

    10 min

11. Your next viewpoint is the Court of the Patriarchs formation. From left to right, visitors can find Abraham Isaac, and Jacob— the patriarchs of Judaism. Take a moment to hop out and get a better view.

    10 min

12. Your first must-see trail is the Lower Emerald Pools. This 2-mile hike features water drizzling from sandstone cliffs, glittering hanging gardens, and bright emerald pools. This trail is family-friendly and can be accessed across the street from the Zion Lodge.

    1 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 4 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in St George

• Its from-price is 92% below the median of the 63 experiences we list in St George.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 38 of 63.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About St George

St George is a red-rock city in south-western Utah, near Zion National Park, with sandstone canyons, dinosaur tracks, a pioneer temple and mild winters.

St George sits in the south-west corner of Utah, where the Mojave Desert, the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin meet, surrounded by red sandstone cliffs and black lava ridges. Settlers founded it in 1861 to grow cotton, which earned the area the nickname Utah's Dixie. The St George Temple, completed in 1877, is the oldest working temple of its church, and Brigham Young's winter home is preserved in town.

See all 63 experiences in St George