A bold desert beauty, this 230-sq-mile park is a highlight of southern Utah. Hikes range from trails traipsing the ridge lines to river wading under steep canyon walls. Many come for a canyoneering experience but there are also family friendly hikes and scenic drives. If possible, enter Zion from the east, following Hwy 9 west from Hwy 89. The route is jaw-droppingly scenic as it rolls through colorful red rocks and a gallery-dotted tunnel before switchbacking 3.5 miles into the canyon.
Zion National Park
Top choice in Southwestern Utah
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
27.32 MILES
Kanab's most famous attraction is outside town. Surrounded by more than 33,000 mostly private acres of red-rock desert 5.5 miles north of Kanab, Best…
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Maynard Dixon Living History Museum
18.62 MILES
In Mt Carmel, the Architectural Digest–noted Maynard Dixon Living History Museum is where renowned Western painter Maynard Dixon (1875–1946) lived and…
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Cedar Breaks National Monument
25.32 MILES
Sculpted cliffs and towering hoodoos glow like neon tie-dye in a wildly eroded natural amphitheater encompassed by Cedar Breaks National Monument. The…
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25.62 MILES
Mountains rise sharply in the 70-sq-mile Pine Valley Wilderness Area in the Dixie National Forest, 32 miles northwest of St George off Hwy 18. The highest…
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9.79 MILES
The freely accessible Grafton ghost town, outside Rockville, achieved its 15 minutes of fame in 1969 as the setting for the bicycle scene in Butch Cassidy…
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3.37 MILES
Whether you plan to stay at the Zion Lodge or not, a visit to this historic lodge, smack in the middle of Zion Canyon, is a must. Although the…
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15.67 MILES
West of Virgin on Hwy 9, before La Verkin, a 1.5-mile gravel-and-dirt road leads south to La Verkin Overlook. Stop for a fantastic 360-degree view of the…
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20.62 MILES
In the ghost town of Silver Reef, the restored 1878 Wells Fargo building houses a museum and art gallery. Diagrams of the rough-and-tumble town and silver…
Nearby Southwestern Utah attractions
3.37 MILES
Whether you plan to stay at the Zion Lodge or not, a visit to this historic lodge, smack in the middle of Zion Canyon, is a must. Although the…
3.64 MILES
This fern-fringed spring is a 5-mile hike from the Temple of Sinawava area via the Narrows.
4.06 MILES
These sandstone cliffs named for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (from the Bible) are a notable viewpoint on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
5.51 MILES
A half-mile from the park's southern entrance station, the Human History Museum presents a modest exhibit of the geological and human history of Zion. A…
5.77 MILES
During the summer, many children's programs are held at the Zion Nature Center, just past the South Campground. There is a variety of interactive exhibits…
9.79 MILES
The freely accessible Grafton ghost town, outside Rockville, achieved its 15 minutes of fame in 1969 as the setting for the bicycle scene in Butch Cassidy…
15.67 MILES
West of Virgin on Hwy 9, before La Verkin, a 1.5-mile gravel-and-dirt road leads south to La Verkin Overlook. Stop for a fantastic 360-degree view of the…