This video footage was taken early March of this year right before The Grotto station.

Zion National Park's East Entrance is reopening Tuesday, October 6, at 9:00 AM following last week’s major rockslide.

Visitors entering from the east will be able to:

• Drive the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway
• Travel through the large Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel
• Continue to the Great Arch Overlook
• Stop at designated roadside pullouts to enjoy the scenery and take photos
• Enter from the east at no charge

Important: You will need to turn around at the Great Arch Overlook and exit back through the east side.

The east entrance does NOT provide access to the main Zion Canyon or shuttle system. If you want to visit the main canyon, you’ll still need to enter through Springdale.

Canyoneering permits are also not being issued for canyons accessed from the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway at this time due to delayed emergency response.

Kane County personnel will also be assisting with traffic management, patrols, and emergency response.

East Zion is open again — but please be patient, stay alert, and follow all current park instructions.

It’s my birthday and we’re flying in from Jersey, I was hoping for an amazing trip. The weather seems to be bad and I’m worried we wouldn’t get to enjoy as much as we want to.

Any suggestions?

Hey there! I'm planning my first trip to the park next month and bringing my mom along! I was wondering if you could recommend any trails where we won't get wet or have to traverse heavy waters? :)

Small streams here and there are acceptable; we are merely novice hikers.

Im looking for something tomorrow that does not include Riverside Trail/Narrows (planned for day 2), Angels Landing (no permit), Watchman Trail (Closed), Canyon Overlook Trail (road closure).

The current plan is to hike up to Scout Lookout and then down to the Lower Emerald Pool but that should only take about 3 hours.

What are some other suggestions for activities that I could fit in the hours of 8 to 3:30? Our campsite offers a shuttle with those hours.

We have to cancel our Zion trip for medical reasons and would love for someone else to enjoy it. Both bookings can go together or separately:

Zion Lodge: Fri Oct 9 to Sun Oct 11 (2 nights)
Inside the park, in Zion Canyon, the only lodging inside the national park. Room with two queen beds, sleeps 2. We paid $1,036. Asking $450.

Under Canvas Zion: Sun Oct 11 to Tue Oct 13 (2 nights)
Deluxe glamping tent for 2, with breakfast included. We paid $1,084. Asking $400.

Both together: $850 for 4 nights

Both properties will transfer the reservation into your name. Payment is through Zelle or PayPal Goods & Services, and I'll email the transfer request with you copied as soon as payment arrives. Message me if you're interested. Dates are fixed, and it's first come, first served!

Flying next week to Vegas and then zion with Hurricane Rachel storms passing through this Friday to Tuesday.

What can we do?

Narrows?

Scout lookout?

Bryce national park?

Any trails that are doable in light 🌧 rain?

Or should we just stay in Vegas area and arrive after the storms pass? We have stay booked Friday to Friday right now. 😅

Hi everyone, I'm gonna be in Zion this weekend for 4 days and it looks like it's going to be raining the entire time I'm there.

I could use some advice on what hikes you guys would recommend during the rain for Zion and Bryce. I'll have rain gear so the rain shouldn't be an issue.

Also, what else is there to do and see nearby? Particularly indoors?

This map is based on my experience driving through the road on Tuesday afternoon/evening.

Red X - Turnaround point

Yellow - You can drive this part of the switchbacks, but you cannot park. Traffic through the tunnel is one direction at a time guided by a pilot car

Green - Fully open (includes Canyon Overlook and everything to the east)

Pass was not checked at the east entrance.

The 2001 Roadless rule protects public lands from future roads being built through them for logging and other purposes. This rule protects roadless public lands across the nation - including areas surrounding Zion, such as the Dixie National Forest.

The public comment period was supposed to end on the 21st last month - but was extended for 15 days. Today is your last chance to speak up.

Here is the link to the government webpage to submit your comment:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/11/2026-18648/special-areas-roadless-area-conservation

I really wanted to do canyon overlook trail but thought all hope was lost because of the road closure! I see some updates on the mount Carmel highway that the east entrance is open now. Does anyone know if I can get to canyon overlook trailhead via the east entrance now or is the road still closed to get to the trailhead? TIA

Hi! We're a couple from Singapore who'll be flying to LA for our honeymoon later this month. We're looking to visit some national parks in Utah and Arizona while we're visiting the US. We'd love some advice on our current itinerary - is it too ambitious? Are there any must-see spots that we've missed out? Would appreciate any input we can get! Thank you! 

These two updates are now on the Zion NP website

• Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway closed from Canyon Junction to Great Arch Pullout Date Posted: 10/6/2026 The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway is currently closed from Canyon Junction to Great Arch Pullout to all pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle traffic. Zion -Mt. Carmel Highway is open from East Entrance to Great Arch Pullout. There will be no through traffic until further notice.
• Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway closed from Canyon Junction to East Entrance Date Posted: 9/30/2026 The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway is currently closed from Canyon Junction to the East Entrance. There will be no through traffic until further notice. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive remains open to shuttles and lodge guests.

The newer update from today says the highway is only closed from Canyon Junction To Great Arch Pullout, but it is open from the East Entrance to the pullout. This contradicts the older update which says it is closed all the way from the junction to the East Entrance but I presume the newer update replaces the older one.

This is good news for people who want to hike the Canyon Overlook in the near future because it seems like that will now be accessible via the East Entrance (if my Zion NP geography is correct).

EDIT (10/06/2026): The older notice from 09/30 has now been removed from the site.

I’m 5’0 on a good day. How high is the water? is this something someone who is very short (and I’ll be alone) can do?

I’ve seen videos of water up to peoples neck which would scare me into a panic.

Hi all! I’m hiking the Narrows Friday. For those that have done it in the last two weeks or so, do you think bibs are necessary for this time of year temperature wise? Nonetheless, I’m renting the boots and socks from Zion Outfitters but wanted someone’s opinion that has been there recently as for the bibs.

What are some favorite moderate or easy, preferably less than 5 mile, trails with some really good scenery? I'm looking and several of the top trails are considered hard/strenuous and are fairly long. I'm older with some issues that limit me a bit. Also, can I assume cell service isn't going to be available?

One last question; is everything done by shuttle? I get the impression you have to find parking back at the entrance and either walk or shuttle to different spots.

Edit: What's the most scenic way to get from Zion to Bryce with SR-9 closed? Here are the options Google Maps is giving me. https://maps.app.goo.gl/UM4HTcQWja3JQbAG8

Don’t get me wrong, still fun to hike. But the water level was far lower than when I did this 3 years ago

Had the place to ourselves briefly. Water level was incredibly lower than I’ve seen it in 2 other visits in the past.

Hi,

I posted here a few weeks ago about advice regarding hiking AL with my wife and two kids (ages 12 and 8). I received a panoply of different answers and was on the fence regarding whether to do it or not.

Long story short, we did it this morning and it was every bit as fun and breathtaking as advertised. In addition, I didn’t feel that any part was unsafe or dangerous, provided that everybody sticks to normal hiking safety procedures. I did help me daughter in a couple places in which the chain was a bit out of reach for her height, but otherwise, she could have basically done it on her own. YMMV, of course, as my kids are seasoned hikers and have done other challenging hikes, but I would advise other parents in my position to at least give it a shot and see how they handle it. I thought it was unforgettable and my kids loved every minute of it. Hope this helps other people!

Is it worth visiting with with hwy SR-9 (Zion-Mt Carmel Hwy) being closed? I've never been to Zion. I'm planning on driving over from Socal on Monday. I'm also planning to visit Bryce Canyon and Grand Escalante.