Zion National Park Tours

Zion National Park has tours and guides to help make a trip to the park a memorable experience for one and all. Most tours are run by private companies, running from major cities, whereas others are run straight out of the park itself. Tours vary, including shuttle bus, tour bus and on foot. However, each one is unique and well worth looking in to.

Guides and tours are something that go hand in hand with any visit to Zion National Park. There are tour companies operating limited runs through the park and to other national monuments, but the best by far are operated by the park, including ranger guided and shuttle bus tours. Most people who visit the park year after year will attest to the fact that the best one is onboard the shuttle buses, a free ride and detailed information from the very people who know the park better than anyone.

This popular park attracts close to twice the number of visitors than that of others combined. In fact, the park tours clearly show that Zion is much more than just water, rocks and incredible scenery.

The park offers a shuttle bus system that has regular routes throughout the park, heading to all the major interest points. However, along with a free trip, forest rangers regularly ride the routes, giving incredible insight not only into the park's geology, but its history, flora, fauna and wildlife. Private bus tours usually begin in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Cedar City or St. George, covering not only Zion, but other parks in one trip.

The most recommended tours are run through the free forest ranger programs. These run through April to September, with limited ones being available during the winter's seasonal months. Some are run from the shuttles, but others are more comprehensive, including hikes, patio discussions, lodge talks and amphitheater campground activities.

Hiking tours cover up to 2 miles to varied viewpoints. Patio discussions provide twenty minutes at the park's museum about the history of humans in the area. Lodge talks/amphitheater campground activities run around forty-five minutes and include a slide show. The shuttle tours generally last about ninety minutes, but due to their popularity, getting tickets in advance is strongly advised.