Zion National Park Spring Break Vacation Ideas
Located in southwest Utah, this national park offers a variety of outdoor spring activities to enjoy. You’ll find something for everyone when planning a Zion National Park spring break vacation!
Use our Zion National Park travel guide to know expected weather, what to pack, where to stay, things to do, and more for a spring break trip.
Zion National Park should be at the top of your list of Utah spring break ideas if you enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, scenic drives, photography, and more!
Use these done-for-you Zion Itineraries to plan your spring break vacation:
Grab the FREE Zion Travel Bundle Printable below!
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A Photo Tour of Zion National Park
Take a visual tour through Zion National Park to see the stunning landscapes you’ll see when you visit!
Planning a Zion National Park Spring Break Vacation
Zion is a popular destination for spring break in Utah so be prepared for crowds!
Here are the important things you need to know before visiting Zion National Park in the Spring
Zion Shuttle and Parking During Spring Break
In the spring, Zion Canyon is only accessible by using the Zion National Park shuttle.
If you’re not staying in Springdale, be sure to arrive early to find parking at Zion National Park!
Spring Break Weather at Zion
- Zion National Park in March – highs 66° | lows 39° F
- Zion National Park in April – highs 75° | lows 45° F
- Zion National Park in May – highs 86° | lows 55° F
With the temperatures changing so much throughout the day, it is especially important to dress in layers. We recommend a fleece jacket, warm hat and gloves for the cooler mornings and evenings, especially in early spring.
Zion National Park Spring Activities
Check out this list of fun Zion National Park spring activities you can do to enjoy the outdoors at this amazing park!
Ranger-led Programs at Zion During Spring Break
Free ranger-led programs are offered at Zion National Park between mid-April and mid-October. Programs are designed to help visitors understand and appreciate the park more, and cover a range of topics like geology, botany, wildlife, and human history.
Ranger-led Activities at Zion include programs for adult, youth and families with children. There are a variety of ranger-led activities like 2-mile hikes, 30 minute talks at the Zion Human History Museum, evening lectures, ride with a ranger shuttle tours, 45-minute youth programs at the nature center, and nature center drop-in programs.
Scenic Drives at Zion During Spring Break
There are four Zion National Park scenic drives to see and photograph the landscape in the park. The views you’ll see along each scenic drive is breathtaking!
Zion Canyon: When you’re planning your Zion National Park vacation, you’ll find that the Zion Canyon is the hub of the park. But most of the year, you’ll need to use the shuttle to access Zion Canyon.
Mt. Carmel Scenic Byway: This section of road through Zion National Park never closes, and you can drive your personal vehicle. There’s no shuttle bus along this route.
Along the scenic drive from Springdale to the East Entrance, you’ll encounter two tunnels, switchbacks, slickrock and fantastic views. There are numerous spots where you can pull off the road to take pictures or enjoy a short hike.
Kolob Terrace Scenic Drive: This road starts near the town of Virgin. Because it’s a bit away from Zion Canyon and Mt. Carmel, it’s not as crowded. Kolob Terrace is a high plateau area towering above an open desert with amazing views of the colorful rocks famous at Zion.
The road is open all year, but early spring be prepared for unpredictable weather in this area. Access to the upper part of the Kolob Terrace Road, including Lava Point, could close due to a snow storm.
Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive: This section of the park is located 40 miles north of Zion Canyon at Exit 40 on I-15, about 17 miles south of Cedar City. The Kolob Canyon road is a five-mile drive that accesses the northwest corner of the park.
We recommend the Zion & Bryce Canyon GyPSy Guide App to hear fun behind-the scenes stories and local tips that play automatically as you drive, based on your GPS location.
Hikes at Zion During Spring Break
Spring is one of the best times to explore the various Zion National Park hikes. You’ll find some of the best, and most unique, hiking trails in the world like Angel’s Landing and The Narrows. Angels Landing permits are required year-round. The National Park Service (NPS) will issue permits using online lotteries at Recreation.gov.
Check current trail conditions at Zion in the spring for any closures that may be in effect. Zion National Park trails can close due to storm damage, high water levels, falling rocks, or any other unsafe condition.
There are a variety of easy Zion National Park hikes for all age levels and abilities!
If you’ll be visiting during the busy season, check out all the Zion hikes without the shuttle to avoid the crowds.
Depending on the amount of snow received in the winter, the higher elevations may still be snow-covered or icy in early spring. We recommend you check with the Rangers for the trails you want to hike because you may need winter hiking gear for these trails.
- What to Bring on a Day Hike
- Hiking Gear and Tips for Kids
- Tips for Hiking with Kids
- Photography Gear for Hiking
Bicycling at Zion During Spring Break
A great way to explore the park and avoid the shuttle is bicycling at Zion. Riding a bike is a great alternative to riding the shuttle to access Zion Canyon. You can rent bicycles in Springdale.
Be aware of the rules for riding your bike at Zion:
- Bicycling is permitted on the park roadways and the Pa’rus Trail. The areas closed to bikes: all other park trails, off-trail routes, and the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel.
- Bikes must be ridden single file on the right side of the park roads and Pa’rus Trail. Due to the narrow park roads, there is a limit of 6 bicycles or less for every cycling group.
- Wear your helmet.
Pay attention to the unexpected turns, frequent wildlife, and blind corners along the Pa’rus Trail. Cyclists must warn pedestrians before passing. All traffic rules and regulations must also be obeyed and observed.
Zion makes it easy for cyclist with bike racks located at major shuttle stops and trailheads. You may also take your bicycle on the shuttle bus as long as you can get the bikes on and off the front racks by yourself.
Canyoneering at Zion During Spring Break
There are world-famous Zion canyoneering trails that involve route finding, rappelling, hiking, and swimming.
The two famous trails that require technical canyoneering skill are The Subway and The Narrows from the top-down. Both hikes require a permit, and all overnight trips in these areas also require a permit.
Spring snowmelt may raise the water level of the river which will close The Narrows hike. Check with the Rangers for the most current trail conditions.
The spring runoff also means cold water so you’ll need to rent special water suits and boots in Springdale for hiking The Narrows.
You can also find plenty of unique canyons to explore in Zion to accommodate all levels of canyoneering skill. If you’re new to this outdoor activity, try a Zion National Park canyoneering tour!
Photography at Zion During Spring Break
The Zion landscape is filled with amazing things to photograph: towering rock walls, the majestic Virgin River, intricate canyons, and views from above after a hike.
There are many Zion National Park photo spots where you’ll catch the reflected light on the canyon walls:
- Towers of the Virgin at sunrise on the Museum patio in the back
- Canyon Overlook trail at sunrise
- Zion-Mt. Carmel Scenic Highway
- The Three Patriarchs
- Riverwalk along the Virgin River
- Views from Angel’s Landing and Observation Point
- Pa’rus Trail at sunset (great time for wildlife as well)
- The Watchman with the Virgin River near sunset
- Kolob Terrace
- Kolob Canyons
Stargazing at Zion During Spring Break
Remember to take time to enjoy the park after dark! The vast and dark sky in Zion National Park is something you have to see to believe!
If you’re there during a new moon (no moon in the sky) you might experience your first encounter with the Milky Way!
When stargazing at Zion, be sure to carry a flashlight or wear a headlamp with a red light. You don’t want to shine a white light into someone’s eyes!
It’s important at night to never stop or stand in the roadway. Always use pullouts and parking lots. This is a good safety tip in daylight or at night!
Horseback Riding Tours at Zion During Spring Break
You can enjoy horseback riding at Zion and Bryce Canyon – the only two Utah National Parks to offer this experience.
This fun activity will give you a view of Zion many don’t see as you ride through the iconic red canyons and cliffs of this park.
Camping at Zion During Spring Break
There are three campgrounds for camping in Zion National Park:
- South Campground – Zion Canyon
- Watchman Campground – Zion Canyon
- Lava Point Campground – Kolob Terrace Road
These campgrounds are busy from March to November so be sure to plan ahead and make reservations!
All campsites are drive-up and allow a maximum of two vehicles. Only one RV or trailer is allowed. Each campsite allows a maximum of six people and two tents. Hammocks are allowed but are limited to the footprint of the campsite.
There are flush toilets, cold running drinkable water, and trash containers, but no showers or electrical outlets. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire pit with attached grill.
If you can’t find a place to camp in the park, there are many RV parks near Zion National Park.
More Zion National Park Spring Break Activities
Things To Do Near Zion National Park During Spring Break
There are even more activities and things to do near Zion National Park:
- Bryce Canyon to Zion
- Bryce Canyon Spring Activities
- Visiting Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
- Guide to Kanab Photography
BUY ZION GUIDES & MAPS AT AMAZON
Plan Your Vacation To Zion National Park
- Zion National Park Itinerary
- Zion National Park Packing List
- Best Time to Visit Zion National ParkThings to do at Zion National Park
- Zion National Park Tours
