Zion National Park Scenic Drives: Zion Driving Trails (2026)

You cannot drive the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive in your own vehicle from March through November, unless you have a reservation at the Zion Lodge inside the canyon. That single fact shapes every plan for zion driving trails here. The shuttle bus is your only option inside the main canyon during peak season, and the parking lots at the visitor center fill by 7:30 AM in spring and fall. Plan around that constraint, and the rest falls into place.

For anyone looking to explore zion driving trails, the key decision is whether to come during the shuttle season (March-November) or the winter window (December-February) when private vehicles are allowed all the way to the Temple of Sinawava. Each season offers a different experience.

The Drive at a Glance

Zion National Park has three distinct scenic drives. The main one - Zion Canyon Scenic Drive - is 6 miles one-way from the visitor center to the Temple of Sinawava. During the shuttle season, you ride the park's free shuttle from stop to stop, getting off and on as you like. The entire round trip with stops takes 90 minutes if you just ride through, but plan two to three hours to actually get out and look around.

The other two drives - Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (UT-9) and Kolob Canyons Road - are open to private vehicles year-round (weather permitting). The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway runs east from the visitor center through the 1.1-mile tunnel and then down to the east entrance. Kolob Canyons Road is in the separate Kolob Canyons section, 5 miles of paved road ending at a viewpoint.

• Total distance with stops: Zion Canyon Scenic Drive round trip: 12 miles, 2-3 hours. Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway from visitor center to east entrance: 13 miles, 45 minutes without stops. Kolob Canyons Road: 5 miles one-way, 1 hour.
• Road surface: Fully paved. Guardrails on most switchbacks.
• Vehicle restrictions: RVs and vehicles over 11 feet 4 inches tall (including cargo carriers) must pay a $15 fee and be escorted through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Vehicles over 13 feet 1 inch are prohibited unless the tunnel is in single-lane mode.
• Seasonal openings: Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles March-November (except lodge guests). Kolob Canyons and Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway stay open but can close during extreme weather.
• Best direction: For the mountain highway - drive east to west (from the east entrance toward the visitor center) for afternoon light on the canyon walls. For Kolob Canyons - drive to the end early, then stop on the way back when the sun hits the cliffs.

Stop by Stop (Zion Canyon Scenic Drive)

The shuttle makes nine stops. These are the ones worth getting off for. The rest of the stops are trailheads better covered in our hiking trails guide.

### Canyon Junction (Stop 2)

This is where the scenic drive begins. You can see where the North Fork of the Virgin River enters the canyon. Not much to do here except watch the river and catch the sunset over the Towers of the Virgin. Most visitors ride past. If you want a quick photo of the river without hiking, this stop delivers.

• Best time: Late afternoon for warm light on the canyon walls.
• Time needed: 5-10 minutes.

### Zion Lodge (Stop 3)

This stop is the main access point for the Emerald Pools trails and the Grotto trailhead. The Lodge itself is worth a walk-through for the historic stonework and the large lawn. From the lawn, you get an unobstructed view of the Great White Throne - a 2,000-foot cliff of Navajo Sandstone that catches morning light. Most visitors hurry past this spot on their way to a trail; take a minute to just stand on the grass and look up.

• Best time: Mid-morning, when the throne lights up.
• Time needed: 10 minutes if not hiking.

### The Grotto (Stop 4)

A shaded picnic area with a small footbridge over the river. Rangers lead programs here in summer. The view up-canyon toward Angels Landing is better from this bridge than from most trail viewpoints. The sound of the river is loud enough to cover crowd noise. Not a photography stop (too much tree cover), but good for a snack break.

• Best time: Any time in the shade.
• Time needed: 15 minutes if you eat.

### Weeping Rock (Stop 5)

The short paved trail (0.2 miles, steep at the end) leads to an alcove where water seeps through the sandstone year-round. In spring, the hanging gardens of ferns and wildflowers are thick. The drip line creates a constant mist; you'll feel the temperature drop 10 degrees as you walk in. Many visitors skip the walk and just snap a photo from the bus stop, but the alcove is worth the brief uphill.

• Best time: Morning, before the mist obscures the view.
• Time needed: 20 minutes round trip.

### Big Bend (Stop 6)

This is the only place on the main canyon floor where you get a direct view of the white, red, and purple sandstone layers without a lot of roadside vegetation. The river makes a sharp bend here, and the canyon walls rise 2,000 feet almost straight up. Photographers: come here in late afternoon for the light on the West Temple. The shuttle stop is a wide pullout with interpretive signs.

• Best time: Late afternoon.
• Time needed: 10 minutes.

### Temple of Sinawava (Stop 9)

The end of the road. The canyon narrows, and the paved Riverside Walk follows the river upstream toward the Narrows. You cannot drive past this point. The walk is flat and easy (1 mile one-way), and it ends where the canyon walls close in. Early morning is your best bet for fewer people - the first shuttles arrive around 6:30 AM in summer.

• Best time: Early morning or late afternoon.
• Time needed: 30 minutes for the walk minimum.

The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway

This drive is often overlooked by first-time visitors focused on the canyon floor. It's a 13-mile stretch from the visitor center to the east entrance, and it includes the 1.1-mile tunnel and a series of switchbacks known as the Zion-Mount Carmel Switchbacks. From the tunnel's east portal, you can see the great arch of Checkerboard Mesa - a rock formation whose cross-hatched surface looks like a woven pattern.

Pullouts along this road are limited. The main one is at Canyon Overlook Trail, which is a short (0.5 mile) trail with a view 900 feet down into the canyon. If you're driving this route, stop at the Canyon Overlook trailhead (parking for about 10 cars). The viewpoint from that trail shows the switchbacks and the tunnel entrance below. Most visitors drive straight through without stopping; the few who do stop often walk the trail and find the best photo of the entire park.

• Time needed: 45 minutes drive plus 30 minutes for the Canyon Overlook hike.
• Vehicle restrictions: Tunnels require escort for tall vehicles; see above.
• Cell service: Drops out completely in the tunnel and for about a mile on either side.

Kolob Canyons Road (the quiet drive)

The Kolob Canyons section is 40 minutes from the main canyon, just off I-15. The road climbs 2,000 feet over 5 miles, ending at a viewpoint that looks down into the red-rock canyons of Timber Creek and the Kolob Pocket. This is the least crowded scenic drive in the park. On a summer afternoon, you might share the viewpoint with 20 people instead of 200.

The road has six pullouts. The best is at point 2 (Apache Creek overlook) where you can see the layered cliffs known as the Kolob Arch area. The end viewpoint is named Kolob Canyons Viewpoint; from this overlook you can see the Hurricane Fault line, the Pine Valley Mountains in the distance, and the striped sandstone layers of the Vermilion Cliffs. The trailhead for Kolob Arch is at the end of the road, but the arch is a 7-mile hike each way - you won't see it from the viewpoint.

• Time needed: 1 hour including stops.
• Fees: The entrance fee covers this section as well (no extra charge).
• Services: No gas, no food, no water beyond the visitor center at the entrance.

Timing and Crowds

The shuttle system starts running in early March and runs through the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The first shuttle departs the visitor center at 6 AM in summer (7 AM in spring and fall). If you want to avoid the busiest shuttle stops (especially Weeping Rock and Temple of Sinawava), arrive at the visitor center before 7:30 AM. Tour buses start unloading around 9 AM.

During the winter season (December-February), private vehicles can drive the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Parking at the Temple of Sinawava lot is limited but usually available before 10 AM. The downside: no shuttle means you have to drive back, and the road can be icy on the north-facing sections.

For the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, the afternoon sun lights up the canyon walls from the east entrance side. The tunnel is one lane during construction or maintenance (check the best time to visit guide for updates). Expect 10-15 minute delays if the tunnel is in single-lane mode.

For Kolob Canyons, the sun hits the cliffs best in the late afternoon, but the road is winding and narrow - leave before 4 PM in winter to avoid driving back in the dark.

Driving Logistics

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