Zion National Park Shuttle System
Everything You Need to Know About the Zion Canyon Shuttle
When visiting Zion National Park, you will find the most popular sites are all located along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive through Zion Canyon. However, private vehicles are not allowed to enter this part of the park. Instead, the park runs a free shuttle service from the Zion Canyon Visitor’s Center up the Scenic Drive to Zion Lodge, past the canyon’s popular trail heads, all the way to the very end of the canyon at Temple of Sinawava where you will find the entrance to The Narrows.
This article contains affiliate links.
Sustainability & History of the Shuttle System
With regard to sustainability efforts, Zion National Park is best known for its role in creating a state of the art green transit system.
Back in the 1990s, the park recognized the need for reducing its carbon footprint given the astronomical numbers of visitors it was seeing each year. In an effort to protect its fragile environment, it added propane buses to transport visitors throughout the canyon. Each bus replaced 28 cars which equated to a reduction in green house carbon dioxide emissions of over 12 tons per day. It also had the added bonus of reducing noise and the stress of traffic jams and fights over parking spots that once plagued the park.
Since then, Zion has been replacing out-going vehicles with even more fuel-efficient options and maintains a fleet of 10 hybrid vehicles, 2 electric campground carts and 2 plug-in electric cars. Today, with over 4 million visitors a year, the park’s shuttles eliminate literally thousands of vehicles from driving through the park every single day.
Schedule
Shuttles are available on a first come, first serve basis. They typically run daily starting at 6:00 a.m., operating 6-10 minutes apart, from March through November and on weekends in February and March. In winter, they only run between Christmas and New Year’s. For an up-to-date guide, download the Park Newspaper.
The last shuttle of the day usually leaves Temple of Sinawava at 8:15 p.m. (May 9 through September 19), arriving back at the Visitor’s Center around 9:00 p.m.
Due to limited capacity, you may risk missing the shuttle if you wait for the last one so always double check its departure time. If you miss this last shuttle or it’s full, you will have to walk up to 8 miles back. Zion is a certified International Dark Sky Park so this walk gets very dark. If you get stranded, you can walk to Zion Lodge and ask the front desk to call an after-hours shuttle van ride for you. However, this is very expensive and it can still be an extremely far walk to the lodge.
Shuttle Stops
The park currently has 9 shuttle stops at key locations throughout the park. The shuttle runs both north and south, and you can exit at any open stop, each of which provides access to a host of things to see and do.
Shuttle Stop 1 - Zion Canyon Visitor Center
Restrooms. Water-filling Station.
Access to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, South Campgroup, Watchman Trail and Pa’rus Trail.
Shuttle Stop 2 – Zion Human History Museum
Restrooms. Water-filling Station.
Access to Zion Human History Museum.
Shuttle Stop 3 - Canyon Junction
Access to the entrance to Zion Canyon and Pa-rus Trail. This is a popular spot for night sky photography.
Shuttle Stop 4 - Court of the Patriarchs
Access to Sand Beach Trail and Court of the Patriarchs Viewpoint.
Shuttle Stop 5 - Zion Lodge
Restrooms. Water-filling Station.
Access to Zion Lodge, Emerald Pools Trail, Red Rock Grill, Castle Dome Cafe and Gift Shop.
Shuttle Stop 6 - The Grotto
Restrooms. Water-filling Station.
Access to Grotto Trail, Grotto Picnic Area, Angel’s Landing Trailhead and Kayenta Trail.
Shuttle Stop 7 - Weeping Rock
Restrooms.
Access to Weeping Rock Trail, Observation Point Trail, Hidden Canyon Trail and Echo Canyon.
Shuttle Stop 8 - Big Bend
Access to Big Bend Viewpoint and Virgin River Trail.
Shuttle Stop 9 - Temple of Sinawava
Restrooms. Water-filling Station.
Access to Temple of Sinawava, Riverside Walk and The Narrows.
Tips for Visiting
Shuttles are free on a first come, first serve basis. You do not need a ticket or reservation.
If you drive to the park, parking lots fill up quickly. There is paid parking in the nearby town of Springdale. You can leave your car here and catch a ride on the free Springdale Line shuttle to enter the park. The Springdale shuttle buses come approximately every 10-15 minutes. When entering the park this way, you will have to pay the entrance fee at the pedestrian entrance after de-boarding at Stop 1 (Zion Canyon Village).
Eating and smoking are not allowed on shuttles.
Only capped water bottles are allowed on shuttles.
Pets are not allowed on shuttles.
All shuttles are wheelchair accessible. However, the shuttle cannot accommodate chairs larger than 45” long or 25” wide and drivers are currently not allowed to assist riders with wheelchairs due to COVID restrictions.
Strollers and bicycles are allowed but they must fit on the bike racks on the front of the shuttles. Drivers are not able to assist riders when loading bikes and strollers due to COVID restrictions.
The shuttle system runs daily from March through November. It operates at limited capacity other times of the year including weekends in February and March and the holiday season around Christmas and New Year’s.
Masks are currently required.
Do not wait for the last shuttle of the day. If you miss the last shuttle or it’s full, you will have to walk up to 8 miles back under very dark skies. If stranded, you can walk to Zion Lodge and have the front desk call you an after-hours van ride but it’s very expensive and it can still be a very long, dark walk there.
READ MORE:
Climate Change Endangers Beloved Zion National Park despite its being a world leader in implementing change
