Driving into Zion National Park, from the west, on Hwy 9, also known as Zion Park Scenic Byway, is an awe inspiring experience.
Zion National Park
Once you enter the park, you will quickly come across the landmark rock formation known as Checkerboard Mesa.
Zion National Park
The Zion National Park sign, on the side of the road, will let you know when you officially enter the park.
Zion National Park
Zion Park Scenic Byway is 54 miles long and includes towns prior to the park.
Zion National Park
The entrance fee does not need to be paid until you reach the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel.
Zion National Park
There is plenty of spectacular scenery to enjoy before you get there. There are also some hikes you can take.
Zion National Park
You will drive through two tunnels, carved through the mountains, to get into the heart of the park. All of the pictures in this post were taken from the car as we were driving into the park along the Zion Park Scenic Byway.
Zion National Park
You will pay the entrance fee to the park prior to entering the mile long Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel.
Things to Know Before You Go:
- The current entrance fee for U.S. residents is $35/car. The pass is valid for 7 days. Entrance to the park is also included in the America the Beautiful pass. Current prices can be found here.
- The park is open 24/7 365 days a year.
- During the peak season, driving is not allowed along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. You must take a shuttle, which is free. You can find shuttle information here.
- You may drive the Zion Park Scenic Byway during peak season.
- The Zion Park Scenic Byway gets curvier the farther you get into the park. The drive will take longer than the 54 miles suggests. Plan for several hours.
- Currently, the only thing that requires a reservation is hiking Angel’s Landing. You must apply far in advance.
We did not enter the heart of the park until tomorrow. Instead, we went to check into our hotel, get dinner, and explore the town of Springdale. The next day had us hiking the Emerald Pools Trail and the Riverside Walk Trail, which ends at The Narrows. As always, wishing you happy travels and fantastic adventures in this thing called life.
(All pictures are available as Fine Art Prints or Digital Downloads for purchase through Alamy. If you see something you like, click on the link. If you are unable to find it, use the Contact Me page and I will make sure the image is available.)
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Zion Park Scenic Byway
