Your Zion National Park CME conference.

Zion after your study day

Study days finish at 2:00 PM local time. For an easy afternoon, choose one outing near where you stay: the Riverside Walk at the end of the canyon, the Pa’rus Trail beside the Virgin River, or the galleries and boutiques of Springdale. Leave time for the shuttle, because from March through November most Zion Canyon hikes are reachable only by the park shuttle, and the park advises not waiting for the last one of the day.

Travel, lodging and any park entrance fees are arranged separately. Your conference is built around your specialty and interests; the canyon is simply the setting you choose for it.

Easy walks in the canyon

The Riverside Walk starts at the Temple of Sinawava, shuttle stop 9 at the end of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The park lists it as 1 mile each way on a fully concrete trail, though some sections can be slippery from sand. It also leads on toward the Narrows. If you want to stay dry, you can turn around where the pavement ends. Sections may close in winter because of ice, so check current park conditions first.

The Pa’rus Trail follows the Virgin River between the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and Canyon Junction. It is paved, open year-round, and the park describes it as the only Zion trail that allows leashed pets as well as bicycles and wheelchairs. The trail is also open to cyclists, so expect bicycles as well as walkers.

The park groups its Zion Canyon trails by difficulty. Easy trails run from 0.4 to 3.5 miles with little climbing, while strenuous trails involve steep cliffs and chains. A permit is required to hike Angels Landing, though hikers going only to Scout Lookout do not need one. Read the current rules before planning it for an afternoon.

Shuttles and the Scenic Drive

During the shuttle season, usually March through November, private vehicles cannot use the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The exceptions are guests of the lodge in the park and of the trail-ride outfitter, who have reservations. The Zion Canyon line runs nine stops from the visitor center to the Temple of Sinawava, and a separate Springdale line serves the town. No permit, ticket or reservation is needed to ride, and times vary by date. Private vehicles may still use the Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway, Kolob Terrace Road and the Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive.

Outside the shuttle season, usually December through February, private vehicles are generally allowed on the Scenic Drive. The posted schedule shows no shuttle service for part of late November and December, so check the current schedule if you travel then.

Kolob Canyons

Kolob Canyons lies in the park’s northwest corner at Exit 40 on Interstate 15, about 40 miles north of Zion Canyon, roughly an hour’s drive according to the park. A five-mile scenic drive reaches viewpoints and trailheads, and the area has over 20 miles of trails with scenery that differs from the main canyon. It makes a longer outing than the canyon walks, so it suits a day with no other plans after 2:00 PM. Check current road and trail status before you go.

Springdale for the evening

Springdale sits next to the park’s south and pedestrian entrances. The town describes local galleries, live music, independent restaurants and boutiques, and its shuttle line runs through town to connect with the park, running frequently during peak seasons. Choose Springdale if you would like to walk to dinner rather than drive.

Rockville and Virgin, along with Springdale, are among the towns the regional tourism office describes as the walkway into the park, and the office describes the area as a base for exploring both Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyons.

When to visit Zion

The park says daytime temperatures begin warming in March, though nights can still be cold, and visitation rises sharply that month during spring break. Snowmelt can raise the river enough to close the Narrows for extended periods. Summer is hot, with temperatures regularly over 100°F, and it is the park’s busiest time, with the monsoon bringing flash flood warnings from July through September.

Fall highs and lows can differ by 30°F in a day, and visitation slows, dropping more sharply in November. Winter days range from 50 to 60°F, with nights well below freezing, and the park describes the season as cold and often wet.

Getting to Zion and your study setting

The park lists three airports within driving distance: St. George Regional Airport, 49 miles away, Cedar City Regional Airport, 60 miles away, and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, 170 miles away. The St. George airport’s website lists taxi, shuttle and rental car services for onward travel. Springdale is the town beside the canyon, and the park’s east entrance is on State Road 9, 13 miles west of Mt. Carmel Junction.

The map shows straight-line distances from Shift’s designated center. These are orientation distances, not driving distances or travel-time estimates. Check your exact address against the conference’s check-in area before booking.