We researched a lot online before deciding to visit Zion National Park in winter. To be honest it was a bit of a gamble, we’d read in many forums that hiking was unpleasant at this time of year, if not impossible. We decided to roll the dice and give it a go as it is a park we’d been longing to see for many years.

It is easily one of the best travel decisions we’ve made in many years on the road. This park is breathtaking, to say it stole our hearts seems an understatement. We were already planning our return before we’d even left, four days was just not long enough!

Obviously different years will have different weather during winter but considering we had some of the most snow anyone had ever seen in Zion and some pretty icy conditions, we think we can give you a good low down on what to expect in a Zion National Park winter. We think the benefits far out weigh the cons and feel so incredibly lucky to have experienced this magical place at the quietest time of the year.

*The Watchman from Cable Mountain Lodge*

What to expect when visiting Zion in Winter

Here’s a full index of what to expect in Zion in the winter. Click on any of the links to go to the section below.

Which hikes are open?
Benefits of visiting in Winter
Disadvantages of visiting in the Winter
Should you go?
How to plan your trip

Which hikes are likely to be open in Zion National Park in winter?

This was first and foremost in our minds and probably in yours too. And the answer is a little more complicated than we thought it might be before arriving.

This is because conditions in Zion mean that trails can be closed unexpectedly at any time of year. Flash floods and rock fall can scupper your chances on many trails, even in summer.

We’ll take you through the major trails one by one and what the situation was on our winter visit.

Angels Landing

Along with the Narrows this is the most famous trail in the park and on many hikers bucket list - including ours!

Now technically speaking the trail was open for our visit, although we had plenty of snow and ice which meant they don’t recommend hiking the last 0.5 miles of the trail, the spine over to Angels Landing itself.

I personally made it easily over to Scouts Lookout (the start of the chained section) with no problems and Joe made it halfway on the Angels Landing hike along the chains before conditions felt too treacherous.

Some people did make it all the way to Angels Landing and back although this would only be suitable for experienced hikers and you should have YakTrax or chains on your boots.

We do not recommend taking on the spine of Angel’s Landing in the winter if it has snowed or rained recently - it comes with inherent risks as it is slippery - but you can and people did do it.

*Angel’s landing in the snow - one for the adventurous*

It did break my heart a little not to make it the whole way…until we decided to walk along the West Rim trail to the left of Scout Landing.

Update - we’ve since returned to Zion and completed the Angels Landing hike without the snow, it’s definitely one of our favourites in Utah!

West Rim Trail

This trail was hardly used by people with everyone’s focus being on Angels Landing, which was great for us because it was both quiet and breathtaking. We’re talking so beautiful I could not stop filming it and couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

To say it was a great consolation prize is not doing it justice! In fact, even if you do conquer Angels Landing add in at least a mile of the West Rim before you head back down.

It’s also worth noting that we had an exceptional amount of snow, if you didn’t have this you might very easily make it all the way to Angels Landing.

Observation Point

Observation Point was closed on our visit but not due to winter conditions, but due to immense rockfall in September, see you could come in summer and still not manage all the hikes on your list!

Parks told us they hope to have it open in May but it’s not guaranteed. Had it not been shut for rockfall you could hike this trail in winter. It’s definitely one we’re coming back for!

Check on this page on the National Parks website to see the latest status of the trail.

The Narrows

The Narrows were closed for a couple of days of our visit and open for the rest. This is due to the speed of the water.

You will need a special suit to wear to safely hike the Narrows in winter and ideally a stick or sticks for support.

You can hire the specialist gear from one of the many outfitters in Springdale village (by the park entrance). One thing to note is that it will be harder to walk this track in winter as it is more slippery and usually faster water.

It can definitely be done and you won’t suffer the crowds but it won’t be an easy ride. Still we spoke to people who did it and they were smiling from ear to ear. We know we are coming back so made the decision to hike it in the warmer months.

The Watchman

This trail was open and rarely closes. However, it is worth noting that after rain or snow melt around 3/4 of the track becomes very, very muddy.

Now this is totally doable but if squelchy isn’t your thing then save this for a dry day! We actually missed walking it in perfect conditions (with packed snow) and hiked as the snow had melted meaning mud galore! The views were great but the trail not so much. Time this one wisely.

Canyon Overlook

This was a fabulous trail to see in winter. The snow made the views at every turn even more beautiful. The trail was a little icy in places but nothing that YakTrax couldn’t handle with ease. This trail has extremely limited parking so hiking it in winter means it is much easier to get a space.

Other trails that were easy to hike in winter: Lower Emerald Pools (note that the middle pools are closed due to rockfall and parks said they may not reopen them at all, again not winter related), Pa’rus trail, The Grotto, Weeping Rock (open for the most part but closed briefly when the icicles began melting and dropping onto the track), Riverside Walk (very icy but easy with YakTrax).

Note that the Kolob section of the park receives far higher amounts of snow that the main Zion Canyon so if you have snow in the main canyon it is likely all trails around Kolob will be closed.

Benefits of visiting Zion National Park in winter

The trails are far less crowded

It is not uncommon to get large sections of track to yourself, when there are people around it is few and far between.

Now we haven’t visited in any other season yet but from what we’ve heard from many people, including Parks themselves Zion gets busy, like incredibly busy.

*One of the views on the Lower Emerald Pool Trail*

You will not experience that in winter. Wherever we went locals kept telling us how lucky we were to experience the park without the crowds, we didn’t even need telling, we already knew.

We felt the same when visiting the Grand Canyon in winter, how many people get hours of of some of the best hiking tracks in the world all to themselves?

It is the cheapest time to visit the park

If your budget is on the slender side, seeing Zion National Park in winter means lower prices. You can snag a bargain at one of the many places to stay in the area and availability is plentiful, even with little notice.

You will find that some restaurants may be closed but there are still plenty enough open, or grab a room with a kitchen and cook for yourself - saving even more money.

Visiting in winter made it much easier to stick to our tight USA budget.

You can drive your car to the hikes

In the winter months the shuttle system in the park doesn’t operate, meaning you can drive your own car right through the canyon. This was a fantastic experience and allows you to see more of the park in a shorter amount of time.

Note that the shuttle begins on weekends only from February 16th, from this point to March 9th (when daily shuttles kick in) you would need to visit midweek to be able to drive through.

Benefits of Zion National Park in Winter

You might see snow!

This is definitely not a given in Zion, and when it does happen it is more often than not just a dusting but if you get really lucky it will be a winter wonderland like it was for us!

Seeing the towering red cliffs speckled with white was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. We also think it made for some beautiful photos.

Disadvantages of visiting Zion National Park in winter

It’s cold!

We’ve spent the last seven years either living in Australia or travelling in Southeast Asia, to say I was nervous about the temperatures in Zion in February is an understatement. I may have been checking the weather reports about ten times a day for the week leading up to our visit….

I can honestly say when I got there it just didn’t matter anymore. As long as you have the right gear the cold won’t be a problem. More often than not we had blazing blue skies and gorgeous sunshine which made the hiking temperatures really pleasant.

One thing to note though is that as mentioned above the Narrows hike is trickier at this time and does require additional gear rental.

Conditions on the tracks can be challenging

As we mentioned conditions on Zion’s hikes can be challenging at any time of year but winter does pose the potential issue of snow and more importantly ice.

With traction on your boots we found walking on snow and ice way easier than we imagined, in fact it was fun and a novel experience for us! It does mean that the spine of Angels Landing is potentially more hazardous than usual.

You need more gear than in warmer months

This one kind of depends how much winter gear you own. For us the answer was virtually nothing so we did need to buy a few things before embarking on this winter adventure!

You will need traction devices for your boots (you can rent them at the park but we paid so little for our YakTrax that renting doesn’t seem worth it. You can find them on REI or Amazon).

You will also need a good down jacket or similar, warm socks and possibly thermals depending on the temperature at the time. We needed to wear thermals for around half our visit, the other half was warm enough that I didn’t even need a coat!

Overall thoughts on visiting Zion National Park in winter

We had the most amazing time visiting Zion National Park in winter and I honestly wince at the thought that we might have listened to the online forums and not made the trip.

It was such a special time to visit, and yes the snow added to the magic, but even without the snow the majesty of the scenery combined with the very few people around made for one of the best national park experiences we have ever had.

If you’re thinking about it, just do it!

How to plan your trip to Zion National Park in winter

Visit the NPS website for which trails are open

The National Parks’ website is regularly updated to let you know the status of the trails and which are open. Use this link to find out.

Check the conditions with the Visitor Centre when you arrive

The Visitor Centre will give you up to the moment information about the trail conditions, weather and recommendations.

Zion National Park Entrance Fee

You can use the America the Beautiful Annual National Parks Pass to get into Zion (US80 per annum), otherwise it will cost $35 for entry with a car for 7 days, $30 for a motorbike or $20 per person on foot or by bicycle.

As the National Parks Pass is $80 for the year, if you plan on visiting at least three parks in a year it is well worth it.

Packing suggestions for Zion

Having the right gear can make a huge difference in zion, especially in the winter. Here’s what we packed for our trip and we highly recommend you bringing:

Yak Trax: A game changer for hiking in the snow. Check them out on REI or Amazon
Icebreaker Base Layer: What we always wear in the winter and makes a huge difference for keeping warm. Check out on REI or Amazon
Down Jacket: Essential for keeping warm: Check out REI or Amazon
Merino Wool Socks: The best way to keep your feet warm. Check out REI or Amazon
Trekking poles: We’ve used Black Diamond for years as they are light, solid and durable. Check out REI or Amazon.
Day Pack: Osprey Talon 22 (we’ve owned this for years). Check on Amazon, REI or direct with Osprey
Hiking Boots: Merrell Moab (for men and women). We’ve both used these for over three years and they just keep going. Check them out on REI or Amazon
Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic. Check then out on REI or Amazon

Where to stay in Zion

Cable Mountain Lodge

Booking.com

When it comes to staying in Zion, the majority of accommodation is concentrated in the nearby village of Springdale. We stayed at Cable Mountain Lodge and absolutely loved it. The lodge is literally steps away from the entrance to the park and the Visitor’s Centre, meaning you won’t lose any time driving to and from the park!

The rooms here are beautiful, comfortable and have stunning views of the Watchman and Zion Canyon. Many rooms also come with kitchenettes which allows you to self cater which was a massive bonus for us. It was the perfect place to relax after a long day hiking. There’s a pool and hot tub with great views. The pool wasn’t open on our visit as it is outdoors but we definitely made use of the outdoor hot tub - even when it was snowing!

Check the latest prices and reviews below:

Booking.com

Hotels.com

Tripadvisor

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